The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-04-08


through his soft, white hair. and what
snail It be to-nighty l promised this one
10 HAL but the next one shall be yours
little woman" and he put his arms round
Ldzoeth, who had slipped into his lap
and softly squeezed her little hands.
Hal stretched himself fun length upon
the rug and pulling old Sancho down upon
IL rested his head upon the dogs shaggy
back.
Does your chair know any stories like
those that Mr.. Hawthorne wrote about2"
said Hal. turning over on his side. so
as TO get his face from the tire. Il read
some OF his the other day and I think
they are bull-iine." he corrected. and
i Just was wondering if your chair knew
about anything"
How can a chair know about any
thing2" broke in Lizbeth, raising her
mead You certainly do ask funny ques-
tons. Hal; chairs can't talk" Grandpa
pulled her back in her place. Il wish 4
dld HAL, he answered. a little sadly. Il
ought 10 know good many, for this old
chair, like HawthOrne's, has been in
many places and seen many people and
strange sights and scenes. but l was not
fortunate like you, my dear. I'm seventy
you know. and my father died when
was an infant. and his father. to whom
this chair belonged. died when he was
but boy, so you see / didn't have
either father or grandfather to tell
me stories. But l have something here
which / think will answer our purpose
and I'm going 10 show ii TO you, ana tell
you about IL tonight"
Grandpa opened a box which ne had
brought with him and put upon the table
ana now he carefully drew out n very
curious cup. 1t odd in shape and
heavily trimmed in silver, with quaint
silver devices scattered here and there
upon IT. Hal looked at il curously and
thumped it soundiy. while Iizbeth fingered
softly its polished surface
What Is il made OFF, said Hat, looking
as II he didn't see how anything very
Interesting conl1 10 oh
ordinary thing as a drinking cup. even
though IL were large and OF curious shape
'Ah, that is what | can't tell you now
answered grandpa, but you must know
that this is very valuable Gun and
your Aunt Virginia, TO whom IL belongs
would not sell IL for all the gold dollars
| 1t would hold 1t belonged. originally. to
| one OF your many times great-uncles and
now am going to tell you about how
he got 1t.
once upon time. ever so long AGO.
| when Virginia was not q great h,p state
| hke II now is. but just a young struggling
| colony, It's capital was the quaint little
| town OF Wiiiiamsburg-did Won know thai
l-izoeth? and in those days the people
| were hardly wise and clever as thav
think themselves now, ana noanv ~ ,h.,y,
| stn believed in witches and witchcrart
and the powers OF the devil. etc.
some were ashamed to acknowledge
| IL Tor fear or being laughed at nv the
| others. Still. in their hearts many 49,
very sure that some people possossed a
| most uncanny power over others and
nearly every pocket held some taiisman
| carried to counterfeit the Influence ~ ,he
evii one. Now at the time OF y-n,cn 4
am telling you, there lived a most wicked
! pirate VINO long had been the terror or
the people both on land and sea. Tor
| though only sea-faring men had ex..,. s,,f
| Tered from his dreadful crimes sim Nv ~.
iahd-peopie and especially the women he
| was greatly dreaded and hated
| Enough no one had ever seen him naar
4 enough TO say what kind of a creature
| he really was, ana though he v,as l,no~,.,,
| py no other name than that OF ..Rlaclx
beard. the Pirate" stin every cbuo in
tue Nli,"se could tell OF the many ships
ne had wrecked and plundered ana of
the lives lost through his supernatnrai
powers. 10 '''' al
Now. as he was so greatly feared and
mated you can wen imagine how int,,so
was the excitement in this ntua -,
named after William and Mary whose
/. s'ree's were iaia out in an attempt Il
. form the letters w x M and You car
| perhaps understand how eager the r,ao,ts
, were TO hear the truth of a report hro,,sn,
| that morning into town. The reDort w.
4 ! this: That Elackbeard's vessel nad 49,
seen and that an expedition was soor -
| start out In an attempt To cantura ~.
> | pirate king, and rad the sea OF its erea,
! tyrant. s'N
The place. as 1 have told Won was
e | Williamsburg. the capital OF ,he 90
. | Dominion. and the time. the month OF
I | November. In the year MS and how all
up and down the streets. and staniiur
z | on the corners. the townsreople coula "a,
n seen. talking in eager. excited tones
e Many shook thesr heads distrels; fully ans
= mothers drew their children closer q
q them, as. with shawls thrown over thei,
: heads. they ran TO their neighbors' door,
e TO hear the latest news. And who az
y they say IL is that has seen his vesS.,
Z and where can IL be found~ asked one
4 who. coming op now. joined himself 1,
= a group OF men and women standin.
Il ! rear the churchyard gate.
4 Who is IL that has seen the x.ssef