Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1892-03-31
I For the Elisw orth American.
Klaw.
BY y. l., " ARpN ELL.

\ Legend of tRstine.
by y. l.. WARpwELL.
Many years ago battered vessel sailed
into the hsrbor Of Castine. She had run
in for much needed repairs. Her Wild
many surmise> as to their business and
character. After the repairs were com
p.etcd she sailed away a. quietly and
peAceAhly a. she came. IL now a we'll
Charles Gibbs. the pirate. Gibbs was sew
eral years after captured and executed for
hi- crimes. His mate was hanged al the
same time, but--o the story gocs-no
body was found for burial Ii had strange
ly disappeared. My grandfather used to
tell story, and the legend Was rife among
the old people Of that ancient burgh, that
seems 10 clear up this mortusry secret.
Several months after thu hanging Of
Glib, there appeared in eastern Maine
singular and mysterious character Had
he been the inhabitaut of a planet there
would have been a. much known Of hi-
family history. Whence he came or
whittier he Was going were subjects equal
IL puzzling He seemed 10 have no fixed
abode. no place he called home. Had he
been au ancient csve-dweller or the pre-
historic man suddenly burst into life, his
wardrobe would have shown no more
signs Of decay. He was Of large physique
aud was clad in collection of superan-
nuated pants and as many crannied coats,
I full Of strings exalted u the Office of but
tons. From under an old wolf skin cap
fell masses Of tangled and grfzzled hair
| The poetic iiowng beard wss possibility
4 but Ike his wardrobe had been neglected
| until it Was kuotted and matted into a
| labyrinth Of dirty and greasy hair. Great
| holes In the heels Of his stockings hlinked
| through pair OF rundown shoes Strong
| hony hands with fingers tipped with claw
! Ike nail, were thrust into conspicuous
prominence through muliifarious sleeves
1 A long woolen comforter muttled his neck
! in all sorts Of weather. and no amount of
urgent persuasion could induce him to re-
move H. The barking OF dog would
throw him into paroxysm Of rage and at
the Growing of cock he would stop his
ears with his fingers and look from under
his wolf-skin cap with an expression of
agony and terror The simple country
people, however offensive his visits, never
turned him away from their doors. lie
was terrestrial comet moving in an &c
centric orbit through the eastern counties
of Maine Occasionally he would be seen
on the ST. CroiX, then he would appear in
some remote inland settlement; thence he
river town. The cloud of mystery hung
dense above him. Everybody regarded
him as a dark, impenetrabe man, claspine
a secret which no artful questioning could
release from his clutch.
At times he was moody and reticent
His conversation would not take him be
yond few simple sentences, expressly,
of his immediate wants. At such timei
the most inquisitive Interrogation woulC
elicit only monosyllabc replies. Then
again. he would charm with the beauty o
his conversation. No intellectual topi
could be introduced but he was able t.
make it the means of instruction. Trav
els biography, theology, philosoph,
seemed alike familiar to him. Like a ma
gician he was able to open chambers wher
were hidden rich stores. Through tn
CRIME, squalor and rags could be caugh
glimpses of magnificent ruin.
He had noticeable love for the sea. H
would seek the wild and lonely headland
of the coast, and gaze for hours seawar,
as one
'Looking over wasted lands.
Blight and famine, plague and earthquake
roaring deeps and fiery sands
Changing fights and flaming towns. and sink
ing ships and praying hands,
The villagers viewed him with dee
and solemn interest and interpreted hi
anxious, lingering gaze as backwar
look over guilty and stormy scenes.
Days when the winds sent billowy pos,
abroad, he would stand like pillar o
rock on Dice's Head and watch the vapor
clouds driven swiftly inland. Like
storm-spirit his soul would seem to noun
the gale and live free and joyous lif
while the jocund waves tossed their whit
caps high over Cape Roster.
Again, under the dome of summer. b
would stand needless of the oceans resi-
less feet on the polished surface of tn
shore, and cast steady, impassive an
tireless gaze to the outer world Of waters
The twilight shadows would creep owe
him and night steal down aud wrap he
spangled shroud around the feet-winge
day, and yet like figure of stone he seen
ed fixed to the headland. At last came
fateful day. 1t was when the village c'
rioso, an old sailor by the name OF Ne
Blake, tried to invade the secret OF b
vigils.
: ..Ahoy, shipmate. :" shouted Blake throug
his hands as he rolled up to the reclus
II can't read the name on your quarter an
s don't know your hailing port"
The recluse turned his eyes on Blah
and said: 'Call me Klaw, ii you like,
hail from nowhere"
Ned hitched his pants with both hant
and said: "It's mighty lone anchor