Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-10-02
PEG WESSON.

pany RAISED ia Gl0acsster ~ Join the ak
petition against Louisburg was 70 leave
town with the rising Of the marrow's
Sun. Ia the spring twihsas three young
men made their way. with noisy jest
and song, toward a wretched cottage
that stood Ia the outskirts OF tho town
and raped loudly for admittance.
TIE door MAS opened by = withered
old erore. A candle. burning on a
small table. dimly revealed the black
eIed walls Of tbs interior. the punches
a herbs hanging from the ceiling, a
srant supply % battered pewter plates
and coarse es.rthenwsrs on some shelves
ID a corner. few old chairs and pack
Of worn and greasy cards apparently
tust flung down.
"Whar ye here fors on with yer cried
me old woman when she saw who her
visitors were.
''Oh. now. Peggy" said the tallest OF
khe thres IN a wheedhng tone. were
of in the morning for Louisburg. you
know. and We thought we'd pay you a
farewell visit and get our fortunes told"
''Tll warrant we've no siller To pay me
wi, Martin Sanders. said Peggy, keep
ing a arm grip on the door aud pushing
Il little closer as she spoke.
Here's bright new silver sixpence
for ye." displaying II as he spoke, land
Tom and Job have more Of the same
sort. So now let as come in and give
ns a good send off"
The money proved an argument not
A.
them. When they were seated she took
up her cards. shuftied them and pro-
eeeded 70 tell the young mems fortunes.
Job Ayers came hrst, then Tom Good
win. When Martin Sanders turn came,
and GoOdy Wesson crossed his palm
with the coin be handed her. his imper-
turbabls gravity, contrasted with the
trepressible snickering Of his compsn-
ions, made her suddenly suspicious. She
gave him searching glance; then. as
she WAS about 10 place the coin ON the
table with the others, she scrutinizsd 1t
keenly and balanced IL ON her hand.
Ayers and Goodwin giggled and moved
toward the door. But not the ghost Of
smile passed over Martin Sanders
face Peg struck the coin smartly
against the base OF the iron candlestick
and listened to the sound, then pressed
n against the edge Of the table. 1t bent
with the pressure.
Curse ye. Mart Sanders" she cried
b. a sudden fury; ''it's leadg'
Then Martin Sanders laughed, and the
three. roaring with laughter at the
rcsult Of their poor trick, opened the
door Of Goody NELSON'S cot and rushed
out into the night.
She ran after them, brandishing her
staG and rsvins Ike mad woman.
Curse ye. Mart Saudersr she
screamed; -curse tn three Of We, body
and breath, flesh and bonel Curse ye
Bing down and rising up. sleeping and
waking, living and dyingl I'll take
vengeance on 70 at Louisburgr The
night wind bore the dismal threat and
rs repetition 70 their ears and silenced
their laughter as they ran down the hill
y their homes in the more thickly set
lied part OF the town.
The great fleet Of nearly 100 vessels.
that made up the expedition against
Loaisburg sailed from Boston on the
Ist day Of April Favored by wind and
weather il soon reached Cape Breton,
aud was coasting along the shore of that
kland toward its destined haven. In
psny Of the vessels the soldiers were
watching the hills and woods on shore
with the interest inspired by new scenes.
but every indentation of the coast was
familiar ~ most of the Gloucester men.
Tor they had often been there on their
fishing voyages. Their attention was
attracted % the singular movements of
q solitary crow that lowered persistsntly
above them. now and then slighting on
the topmGst
As they were entering the harbor OF
Iouisburg. Martin Sanders was sent for
ward 20 assist in furling the Jib. A
rope parted suddenly under his feet and
b. fell headlong into the sea-
TIE last sound that fell upon his ears
before TIE rushing waters closed over
hin was the hosrss screaming Of the
grow A powerful current was running
an it was only with great difficulty
tast Sanders was rescued.
When the excitement was over, and
the half druwned man was once mOTe
safety On deck. the crow had disappeared.
The feet east anchor in the hsrbor
All countless boats took the men on
shore. Before the Siege could com
rlence the cannon must b landed and
placed - favorable position. IL was
s~iusus toil. for the soil was bogsy and
the men olsen sank n the knees, but all
workal with win and the guns, one
after another. we're landed.
Goodwin and Ayers. with others, were
DRAGGING cannon on = siedgs through
hal frosen mu,l when Suddenly with a
whis Of Winzs a crow aiighted on il.
- AYERS made a dash At it with his
CAP a. the very instant that be did -
tas rear ~ the sisdge sank in the tresch-
srous suil. the cannon gave Sudden
ls~-h ara me ARA he had fung cut wAs
raushs hstweeu the cannon and slesige
ard hsa.sisssly crushed The unfartu.
nae slaa vas carried into camp and his
sr,l aupusated
The wexk - The siege went % dsF
sfhar Iav FursSing parties we're seni
ont s-rlefirnes- FOR ths rsrion> were
somewhat stalls and monctonor's, ard
she~e wls excelienf ysme IN abundance
n the vicinity Ssnliers ard Good Twin