Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1909-01-21


times. Yet without violent eleanor
ana the salt tears were often wruup
from his eyes by the pent up laugh
ter which his vocation and his sub
ordinate temper had taught him I,
was unseemly 10 discharge In q vol.
ley.
His companion was q tall, sinewy
and grave person, habited In the
gulse of a forester-a cap, namely oI
undr. ssed deer skin, q buff ierkin,
guarded by broad belt and buckle
at the waist, and leggings OF brown
leather. This vas a Fleming, named
srrold de Ia Grange, who belonged
10 the corps of wood rangers In the
service of the Lord Proprietary. He
bad arrived in the provinces in the
time OF Lord Cecilius, many years
before. aud had shared much Of the
toll OF the early settlement. His
weather b"aten aud gaunt form,
tawny creek and grizzled hair, be
spoke a man ioured TO the hard ser
vice Of q frontier life. Wills. his
erect port and firm step evincad .ha,
natural gracefulness which belongs
20 men trained TO the self dependence
necessary to breast the ever sur
rounding perils OF such a service
he was man Of few words. aud
these were delivered in Low Dutch b
accent. which his long intersourse
with the English had failed to correct.
When his service on his range was
intermitted, Arnold found quarters
amongst the rstainers Of the Pro-
prietary mansion, and the Proprie
tary himself manifested towards the
forester that degree OF trust. and
even affection, which resulted from
a high sense OF his fidelity and con.
duct. and which gave bim a position
OF more privilege than was enjoyed
by the other dependents of the es-
tablishment. Being, at these inter
walls, an idler, he was looked upon
with favor by the Captain OF the fort,
who was not slow to profit by the
society OF such a veteran in the long
watches OF a dull afternoon. By a
customary conseaut nee. Arnold was
no less esteemed by the publican.
A bluff greeting and short cere
mony placed the visitors at the table
and each, upon q mute signal from
the host. appropriated bis cup and
pipe.
"You were never a true man.
Garret Weasel" said the Captain.
Ito daily so long behind your ap-
pointment; and such an appoint
ment too! The round dozen which
you lost to me on Dame Dorothy 3
head gear-a blessing on it-you
did yourself so order IL, was TO be
orcached at three o 'cluck-; aud now
il is something past foar. There is
culpabl6 laches in IL. Idleness is
the canker OF the spirit. but occu-
patton is the lard OF the body, as /
may affirm in my own person. Mis-
tress Dorothy. / suspect. has this
tardy coming to answer for Idoubt
the brow OF our brave dame has been
cloudy this afternoon How is it.
Arnold ?-bachelor and Dutchman.
TO boot. you will speak without
fear"
The woman" replied Arnold, Ia
a broken English accent, which
will not attempt to convey in sylla-
bles. had her suspicious.
Hold. Captain Dauutrees, Gag.
erly interrupted the iunkeeper
drawing up his chair to the table
for he bad seated himself full arm 6
length Oft. in awkward Difference &c
his host; "and Master Arnold INV
wife rules not me. as some evil
minded jssters report; no, in faith
We were much beset to day. could
not come sooner. Customers, yor
know Captain. better than most men
customers must be answered, wher
We poor servants go atbirst. W.
we're thrnnged TO day; was 1t no
so. Arnold?"
That is true" replied the fores
ter; the wife had her hands full as
well as Garret himself There wer,
traders In the port. to day, from the
Bay Shore and the Isle of Kent, Il
hear whether the brigantine bad ar
rived. They had Rotsome story thai
Cocklescraft should be here.
II see it," said Dauutrees; "tha,
fellow, COcklsscraft. has a trick Of
warning his friends. He never
comes into port but there are strapp,
rumors OF him ahead il seems Il
be told by the prickiug Of thumbs
st. Mary's is not the first harbor
where he drops his anchor, nor An
thony Warden the FIRST to docke,
his cargo. You understand me-"
You have bold mind Captain, ;
said the publican you meu OF the
wars speak your thoughts.
You ara none the losers by Mas
ter Cocklescrsft," interposed Ar
mold drily."
My wife paws honestly for the Ii.
quors, said Weasel. as his eve CLAN
ced timorously from one to the other
OF his comrades; Il take no heed O.
the accounts"
But the head gear, Garrett" re
joined Dauntress, laughing: ''you
pay for tnat, though the mercer sav
my coin for il. Twelve bottles O
Canary were q good return on that
venture. The bauble sits lightly or
the head OF the dame. and it is bu,
fair that the winnings should rise
as lightly into ours. But for Cock
lescraft. we should lack these means
TO be merry. The customs are at q
discount on q dark night. Well, be
IL so. What point of duty calls OF
US 70 baulk the skipper in his trade
We are OF the land. not OF the water
consumers. the disbursiug side o
the account, not Of the gathering IN.
The revenue has its own friends,
and we should neither meddle nor
make. Worthy Garret Weasel has
good report In the proxinca for the