Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-12-06

of house and dovecote three forlorn larches,
bowed double under prevalence of cutting
easterly gales, stretch their gaunt arms
westward, for all the world like witches on
q blasted heath.
Here dwelt, in the days of our story, a
widow woman who. with her two sons,
Peter and Leonard Gray, managed the
stealing in an oid-fashioned way; their
thrift and diligence often thwarted and
frustrated by the cold, sour clay, and un-
kindly climate.
The smugglers in the caves down below
were constant source of anxiety and
worry to the poor widow. Not that she
feared their violence or malice-far from
it. Her fear was lest the young men, her
sons, should become involved in some haz-
ardous enterprise. There seems no ques-
ton but that both the lads were on a
friendly footing with Trollop, even to the
extent of visiting his caves and secret
stores; but there is no evidence forthcom-
ing that their dealings with the gang
went beyond little very natural barter
OF goods-a sack of coarse-ground oat-
meal occasionally finding its way down to
the shore, while bottle of cognac, with a
parcel Of tea and tobacco, would cheer the
inmates of the house above
Peter and his brother Lennie were we'll
known figures in Hartlepool, where they
came almost weekly, wind and weather
permitting, on marketing errands in their
little cockleshell of boat Old Phebe's
shop was their common house of call f; and
while his brother was on the single be-
low, loading their boat for her homewarG
trip, Peter would linger long at the coun-
ter, unable to tear himself away from the
sweet Graciosa.
As time wore on, and the boating trips
followed one another with still increasing
frequency, the widowed mother grew
more troubled and suspicious than ever,
| especially when she observed in how silent
and pre-occupied mood her eldest son
now invariably returned from his voyages.
Little kenned she of the magnet that
drew her Peters shallop with such sure
and sweet attraction to the shop in Sand
well chare. She felt sure that some dire
secret lay deep within his breast and yet.
with the fear of those desperadoes down
below ever before her. she burst not ask or
seek TO know it, but passed her DAYS, dur.
ing the lads absence, in nervous misery
and heartache.
Phoebe Founder, crutch at hand, sat by the
freside knitting. A coy cat, coiled in the
old DANES lap, purred in warm approval of
the situation. The kettle on the hob sent
forth its jets of spouting steam with quick,
petulant clicks of Gathering lid. Rashers
of ham spluttered and frizzled in their fry
ing pan hard by. The knitting needles,
glinting in the glow of sea-coal flame,
! al -aA Of rbv+ Il
The solemn clock behind the parlor door,
in slow and measured tones, told the hour
of s.; and Graciosa rousing from some
pleasant fancy, bestirred herself to close
the shop and lay the cloth, when Peter
pavement without
| In he came, hale and ruddy from the
crisp sea air.
ooh, Peter! you stupid boy, how late
you are again y was Graciosas greeting !;
"the hour of sale is past-the shop is
closed. Where have you been so long?'
That last was surely pleasant sentence
to hear-that emphasis on haYe-from the
lips of the girl he loved. And perhaps
the young man knew what he was about
land Graciosa, too) in thus putting off
his visit till the shop should be closed, and
he could have the girl to himself, without
the interruption of stray customers and
prying eyes.
"Never mind her, Peter, my lad. You
know the girls saucy ways. Come in, and
welcome" cried old Phoebe from her chair.
''The moon is at full; plenty O time to
share our bit O. supper. Draw up to the
table, my lad, and fall to-
The bashful Peter, nothing loath, did as
he was bid, and drew up. And perhaps
no cheerier little supper party was to be
found in all Hartlepool that blessed night.
But the sweetest hour on earth must have
its end and the clocks first stroke of 8,
with Lennie's shrill whistle of Impotence
from the beach below, fell harshly and full
soon on lovesick Peters ear.
ooh, but Oracle" said he, turning back
when he had gained the doorway, Il must
have some sweets for the old mother at
home"
That doing out of sweets can be made
to take an unconscionable time; It's long
before some customers are suited to their
mind, and Lennie's whistles rose from
shri4l to shriller.
"Come, Peter, wish the girl good night
and be of, there's man-don't keep that
: lad waiting any longer out in the cold
; you've long pull back-and your old
mother'll be worriting herself to death"
/ Poor Peter seemed still to hesitate, and
silvery voice came back from the shop,
"Oh, Peter, Peter! what great baby you
are! hardbake, butterscotch, mint drops.
treacle taffy, barley sugar, sugar candy,
and now iqUorice and Spanish juice for
the old woman! l know right well Len
ME and you will eat them all up in the
boat. l thought it was only boys that
cared for sweets? ?"
"Ah, Oracle, Gracie?" cried old Phoebe.
peering at the pretty pair over the rims Of
her horn snectacles "Ah, Oracle, my
poor innocent! was there ever young
man yet that didn't care for sweets?''
That shrewd fireside remark brought all
conversation to an abrupt close. The
young man held the door aiar, latch in
! hand, apparently in the very act of going.
But no; they must needs have whispered
words on the very threshold, till Phoebe,
|, chilled past all patience, called out at the
top of her voice: "Shut that door, and be
/ gone! and you, Oracle, come in this very
minute"
The girl came quick, quick as thought,
flung her arms around the old woman's
neck, and whispered: ooh, grannie dar-
ling! it is just such lovely moon; do let
me just 60 down to the boat with him and
see poor Lennie."
'Run, then, run, if you must have it so,
you pretty wheedling tease; throw that
shawl yonder over you head and be back
in five minutes sharp, like good lass"
That Graciosa returned within the time
specified, will by no means take it upon
me to aver; leave it an open question, to
be decided by the expert reader at his Tor
herr own sweet will. But when she did
return and babe the old lady a loving good
night there was something in her manner