Telegram-herald., 1890-05-06
YOLFERT WEBER


49, zOe much i4rgsr tA11 . toLsFaEl- cox
hoxzs. IE ~as r1dsly constructed 4
fr.xne1Ds ~ srssks snd srlft vo0d Nni
huLs on ne roxy shore at the foot u
ia ola fort, Just zbouE shat al present.
fgrE4s ths point q tAs Battery A NEST
sncisnE 41d nsh Ike smell perYaisi Ihs
pl4cs Oars. psddlss aad fishing r0is
ssrs leaning Against the sal II the foru.
. nee ~As sPread 81 ths sands 20 dry,
sklff sas drawn - ca ths bach, and a
rhe door q his cabin az Mud SAN hlra-
self. ndulgins Ia . tTae negro luxury
-sieePtng u tho sunshine
Many years had pszsed away since the
lime OF sans youthf1 sdFenEare, anf
The SHOWS u m4ny winter lad s,rizzlei
fertly rsoollscted the circumstances,
however, fer hs had often been called
apon % relate thea. though Ia his YER
sson Of the story be differed Ia many
polnts fron Peechy krLlw, Is i not IN
frequsntly the case with authentic hls-
tOriAna As % the subsequent researches
= money digg-rs. sam Knew nothing
about them they were matters quite out
% his line. neither AID lbs cautious Vol
fert care % disturb his thoughts on that
point HIS only wish was - secure the
old fisherman as a pilot 10 tbs spot. and
this vas readily elected. The long time
that had interviewed since his nocturnal
adventure had effsced al Sans awe Of
ths place. and the promise q a trihins
reward reused hlra Al once from his sleep
and bis sunshine.
The tide sas adverse % making the ex-
petition By Saser. and Wolfert was too
impatient 70 get % the land ot promise,
% wait FOR iss turning. they SET OF, there
fore. bY land A wax Of four or i've
miles brought them 10 the edge Of a wood,
which a. that time covered the greater
part AZ the eastern side cf the island.
Il was Just beyond the pleasant region Of
Bloomen-daeL Hero they struck into a
long lane, struggling among trees and
bushes very much Oyergrown with weeds
and mullen stalks IS II but seldom used,
and 50 completely OvershadOwed as 10
enjoy bat a kind of twilight Wild vines
entansled the trees and aaunted IN their
faces. brambles and briars caught their
clothes as they passed; the garter snake
glidei across their path; the spotted toad
hoped and waddled before them, and
the restless catoird mewed at them from
every thicket. Had Wolfert Weber been
deep,y read il romantic legend he might
have fancied himself entering upon for
hidden. enchanted ground: or that these
were some OF the guardians set 10 keep
watch upon buried treasure. AS 1t was,
the loneliness OF tie place, and the wild
stories connected with il, had their effect
upon his nind.
On reaching the lower end Of the lane
they found themselves near the shore OF
the Sound. in kind Of amphitheatre,
surrounded by forest tree. The area had
once been q grass plot. but was now
shagged with briars and rank weeds.
At one end. and Just on the river bank,
w,s 4 ruined building. little better than
= heap Of rubbish. with a stack Of
chianeys rising Ike solitary tower
oct of the center The current Of the
sound rushed along Just below II. with
wildly grown trees dropping Their
branches into is wares.
WolieTt had not doubt that this was
the haunted house u father red cap.
and called 20 mind the story Of Peechy
Prauw. The evening was approaching,
and the Hsht falling obviously among
these places gave melancholy tone 10
the scene, well calculated % foster any
lurking feeling Of ave or superstition.
The nighthswk, wheeling about in the
highest regions o: the air. emitted his
peevish. boding cEy. The woOdpecker
gave a lonely tap now and then on some
hollow tree. and the frebird "a he
srreamed oy .hrm with bis GeCp reu
plumage. seemed ike some genius attlng
about this region OF mystery
They now came 20 an inclosure that
Rad once been garden. IL extended
along the foot of a rocky ridge. but was
httie better than 4 wilderness OF weeds,
with here and there a matted rose bush
CT a peach OF plum tree grown wild and
ragged ar covered with moss Al the
lower end u the garden they passed a
kinI q vault IN the sido Of the bank.
facin, tho water It had the look Of a
root house Tho door though decaved,
vas s,iI strong. and appeared 70 have
b-~n recently patched up. WOifert
pushed % oQcn. Il gaze q harsh grating
upon its hinges. and striking against
somsthinz Ike box. 4 rsttling
sound eaved and skull rolled
on the foor Wo.,er- drew hack
shutdor1E. but vas rcassured on
being informed 5v sam that this was a
family vault belonging o. one of the old
Dutch families that owned this estate.
an as=ertion which V-ss corr3boratcd by
the s.-as of coffins % various sizss piled
vvi-hln sam had been familiar with all
these sceues when n boy. and now knew
tha+ n could not D. far from The place
OF which thev were in quest
They pow made their wa7 % the wa
tsrs e1E,. scramblinE along lodges q
rocts and having often % hoil by
shrubs AMI grape vines 20 AVOID slipping
into the deep and hurried stream. As
length they came to a small cove. or
rather indsut ~ the shore. r. vas pro
fsrtad b7 steep rocks and ovsrshadowed
hva thick corse n osSs and chestnuts 80
1s.+o ID. sheltered and almost concealed.
Tbs beach sioped gradually within he
cove. hut the current swept deep and
black ard rapid along ga Iuttlng points.
sam paused rlised his remnant q a
hat and scratched his grizzed POI
\ aN.
nook then Suddenly ciappiug bis hands,
be- stepped sxuisingiY forward. and point
ing On arg. rcn rinZ. stspled 5rnl7 iu
the rock. INST where broad sheivs Il
stone furnished a comnodIous landing