The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1896-10-02
SMUGGLER kERN'S LAST Run.

On the wild promontory OF Portland,
8 little to the west of the famous blll'
n rude stone dwelling was dovetalieo
into a chas,n that broke the scarp OF
the cliff some 80 feet below the brink.
Inrress and egress on the landWaro
side could only be had through trap
door ON the roof; but, as much OF the
traffic to that house came from tne
sea. there was also door IN the sioe
flush with the cliff-face, from Whlch
anyone stepping would nave l"lieh
sheer on to the rocks below. This DIM
Guilty, however, was obyiated by the
dropping of a rope ladder when occa-
sion required.
The almost impregnable citadel
formed the lair of Steve Kern, the most
daring of all the .smugglers who' loo
years ago, burrowed and nested IN the
Island"
Every revenue cutter and preventive
man. from the Start to Dover, knew
Steve for smuggler; but it was MS
proud boast that not one OF them had
been able to catch him in the act OF
running a cargo or disposing OF MS
Goods. and TO this he owed his immun-
ity.
On a November evening in lSo4 the
large kitchen, used also as the general
living room of the queer roost, was oc-
cupied by three persons-an elderly
woman, a dark, well-dressed, younglsh
man of rather foreign appearance, and
a beautiful Cir! of IS.
The elderly dame was Mrs. Kern, the
girl was her daughter Margery, and the
man was Pierre Roublot, the French
brandy merchant of Fecamp, whose eX-
tensiye dealings with Kern necessitated
frequent visits to this side of the water
At least this was the Frenchman's eX-
PLANTATION, though old Kern had long
suspected that Margery's bright eyes
formed the real attraction.
The brandy merchant had arrived
in Kern's lugger the night before for
three days stay, and had just taken thu
opportunity of the smuggler's tempo
rary absence, and Mrs. Kern,s deafness
TO make the girl formal proposal o
marriage. Ay
But Margery shrank away from TIL
hand that sought hers. II am sorry
Mr.. Rouhlot, Lut | cannot listen to you,
she replied, speaking in very GOO
French, which she had learned fror
her mother. Mrs. Kern had been
Dretagne peasant girl.
"And why not?" persisted Roubio
a ysawl darkening his swarthy face
old or lI.innl
ing ano -
Spare me catalogue of your vi
tues" said Margery. You may be q
that and much more, but the reaso
why / cannot wed you is that do nc
love YOU. Besides" and the gi
paused and blushed.
"Ah-hai with your besides. whie
YOU hesitate to define,S cried the angr
lover. "Come, let me finish your Sc
tence for you. 1t is that you love IL
young sailor who assists your fath'
his mate, Dick Langston-is it NJ
SOP"
But before Margery could utter Il
retort that rose to her lips, an int
ruption occurred that relieved her fro
the necessity for reply. From far dow
at the foot of the rope ladder a pist
shot rang out, followed by another
muck succession, and Immediately ate
ward, evidently startled by the SCUM
tall young fellow came running in
the kitchen from one of the rock-hev
side chambers, where struggled goo
were stored.
"What was that2 Where il CAP
Kern?" he asked.
"oh, Dick cried Margery, son
thing has happened to father, fear
Dick Langston seized a pistol from
weIl-filled rack and ran to the doc
through which the moon was visit
sailing over the heaying sea. But |
fore he reached the ladder, the face
one ascending appeared over the do
sill, and the master of the house sIra
nimbly into the room-a miracle
activity despite his gigantic frame a
60 years.