Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1909-03-11

The. Grow and Archer presented
a busy scene on the evening OF the
day referred to In the last chapter.
A report bad been lately spread
through the country that the brig
Olive Branch---an occasional trader
between the province and the coasts
OF Holland and England had arriv-
ed at st. Mary's. In consequence
Of this report there had been. during
the last two days. a considerable &C.
cession to the usual guests of the
inn, consisting OF travellers both by
land and water. Several small
sloops and other craft had come in
into the harbor, and bali score
inland proprietors had journey
ed from their farms on horseback,
aud taken up their quarters under
the snug roof Of Garrett Weasel The
swarthy and gaunt watermen, ar
rayed- Ia the close jackets ard wide
kilt.like breeches and In the party
coIored, woollen caps peculiar to
their vocation, were seen mingllnQ
Ia the tap room with tho more sub
ssantial cultivators Of the soil. A
few Of the burghers OF 81. Mary s
were found 10 the same gronna.
drawn thither by the love of com
pany. the occasions, perchance, OF
business, or the mere attraction OF
On evening pot and pipe. Thegreat-
or portion of this assemblage were
lettering between the latticed bar OF
the common room, and the quay In
front OF the house, which had some
what of the occupation and hustle Of
q little exchange. On q bench, in
one corner OF the tap room, sat. In q
ragged, patched coat resembling a
pea jacket, o saucy, vagrant-looking
| fiddler, conspicuous for red face
and playful light blue eye; be
wore o dingy. plant white hat, fret
ted Of the rim, set daintily on one
side OF bis head. from beneath which
bis yellow locks depended over
either cheek, completely covering
his ears: and all the while scraped
his begrimed and greasy instru-
| ment to a brisk tune, beating time
upon the floor with huge hob nail.
cd shoe. This parsonage had q
vagabond popularity in the pro.
vince under the name OF Will Of the
Flats--a designation 40 less suited
| to his musical commodity than 10
the locality OF his ostensible
habitation, which was seated on the
| fats Of Patuxent, not above fifteen
miles from St. Mary's. where be was
tenant OF a few acres of barren marsh
and o lodge or cabin not much lar
ger than a good dog kennel.
Wills chief compeer and brother
In taste and inclination, though o
more afiiuent fortune, was Dick
Pagan, or Driving Dick according
TO bis more familiar appellation, the
courier who had lately brought the
missives from James Town; hard.
favored, weather. beaten, sturdy, lit
tie bow-legged fellow, In russell
boots and long spurs. and wrapped
10 a coarse drab doublet secured by
q leathern belt, with an immense
brass buckle In front. Old Pane.
sack. likewise, formed part OF The
group, and might have been obser.
we'd seated on settle at the door,
| quietly smoking bis pipe, as unmov.
cd by the current Of oilers which
ebbed and flowed past him. as The
old barnacled pier OF the quay by
the daily fiux and retiux0f The river
Such were the guests who now
patronized the thriving establish,
ment OF Master Weasel. These good
people were not only under the care
but also under the command Of our
hostess the dame Dorothy, who was
a woman by no means apt 10 over,
look her prerogatiye The dame
| having been ON q visit to q neigh
Dor, did not show herself In the tap
room until near the close Of the day;
in the mean time leaving her Gus.
toners to the unchidden enjoyment
Of their entertainment, which was
administered by Matty Scamper, =
broad chested, red-haired and in.
defatiQable damsel, who, 10 hei
capacity Of adjntant to the hostess
| bad attained TO great favor with the
patrons Of the tavern by Der imper
| turbable good nature and ready ans.
wer 10 all calls Of business. As fol
Master Weasel, never did pleasure
loving monarch more cheerfully sur
render his kingdom TO the rule d
| bis minister than he to whatever
power for the time was appermost,
whether the dame herself, 0F bel
occasional yicegerent, Matsy d ths