Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1891-02-26
For the Ellsworth American.
The Mystery of Pirate Cove,

by A E SMALL.
A binding snow had been falling all day
Roads and fences were buried and the
trees, covered with their mantle of snow
stood still and ghost-like in the fading
light of the wintry day, on the bank. of
small inlet of one of our Maine isles
stood an old and dilapidsted house which,
by its appearance. seemed to be unoccu-
pied. The snow was heaped about the
doors and windows. and not a living Great
ure was visible to give life to the monot-
ony of that wintry scene Just below. the
waves. laden with floating ice, were dash
ing against the jagged and precipitou-
rocks with laundering crash, and the
frozen spray and broken ice mingled with
the falling snow.
Inside of the old house the scene WAS
more desolate and cheerless than the win
try elements without. The only occupied
room presented most uncomfortable APP
pearance. Broken plastering and soiled
paper were hanging from the walls or lay
upon the floor. The wind and snow were
kept out by old garments aud rags stuffed
into the broken panes. 4 pile Of green
boughs IN a corner Of the room served as
bed. dim fire hI>sed upon the hearth
and the smoke filled the room or issued
between the cracks in the ceiling. Upon II
stool beside the pickering embers sat a
woman. Her face. old with care but not
with years, was piuched and CHASTITY from
cold and hunger. With her bare and
bleeding hands she WAS beating the ice and
snow from the green ald-rs. and placing
them on the fire, for what: To keep from
freezing a british form of man, breath
ing the h0arse breath of a drunken sleep.
Broken bottles in a corner. cleaning and
scntillating in the changing light like
the evil eyes Of serpent, could tell the
story Of all this abject poverty and human
degradation.
The fading light deepcned into night.
The wind was rapidly rising and it whistled
drearlly about the house. The loose boards
and shingles cla;tered ominously and the
fire upon the hearth sputtered and snapped
with renewed force
Soon the Old man by his irregular breath
ing gave signs of awakening. The wom-
an by the hre looked about her for some
place to escape, but was too late. The
old man rising on his elbow turned his
beared eyes upon the crouching form
by the firesde. But the drunken sleep
wa. over and the old man was sober once
more Wife, he exclaimed, starting up
suddenly, How long have | slept? You
should not forget that tonight the pirates
are to come with the treasure, and we must
be prepared. Ii is useless for you to
preach honesty any longer. | must have
money and have il this very night. You
must assist me. you shall assist me or it
will be the worse for you. The two men
who are to bring the treasure shall never
leave here alive. You must help me do
the deed or you shall not live to expose my
crime. Speak, speak at once. for | am a
| desperate man."
The brutal man in his rage stood clutch
ing the shoulder of the woman who was
kneeling at his feet. She arose and in
calm and clear tones she replied Illus
band, you already know my decision. l
have always been faithful wife to you.
l have borne poverty, hunger and disgrace /;
yet | have always loved you. even since
your hand has been stained by crime.
l have never deserted you. for hoped that
some day you would forsake the accursed
wine cup and l could be near to help you
atone for your crimes. l have done no
wrong except to shield you from your de-
served punishment, and shall steep my
hand no deeper into crime. Do whatever
you may, will never aid you in your dew
ilish work; but will endeavor to prevent
any further crime, even at the cost Of your
life and mine"
The storm outside now ragged furiously
The wind had arisen and the frozen spray
beat against the window panes, and the
snow heaped in great piles about the house.
Suddenly loud rap sounded upon the
door, and the old man admitted two beard
heavy iron bound box between them.
None know what transpired within those
walls for the next two hours. About mid
night a neighboI heard several long and
piercing screams above the roaring Of the
gale, and fastening to the house he found
the door securely fastened and no light or
noise within indicated anything wrong
Many were the comments among the
quiet people of the village about the occu.
pants of the old house. Formerly several
neighbors had made friendly calls, bu,
without an excuse from the stranger they
were refused admlttance and after while
the people ceased to visit them. The only
person seen about the house was the old
drunken man as he wandered to and fro
from his boat to the lonely old house.
The months passed on. Winter had
passed and spring with her gentle breath
held sway over this quiet island of the
sea. For several days nothing had beer
seen of the old hermit, and the people be
gan to wonder what had become of him
So few of the bravest forced open thu
door and entered the house. There upoI
the green bougbs in the corner, lay ths
old man breathing his last. The greatest
agony was depicted on his worn and