Will Hardisty’s sister had recently come with her husband to reside in Hull. Therefore she was made acquainted with Susan, and requested to arrange for the wedding. Every young married woman is delighted to assist others of her sex in finding similar bonds, and Susan was accordingly warmly welcomed as her brother’s future wife, and the necessary preparation made for a quiet wedding. The interval soon passed. We will not pause to describe the event, but long before any news arrived from the distant West, the two long-suffering young people had become man and wife.
The trial of the smugglers had taken place in the meantime, all being convicted and sentenced to transportation, with the exception of Deaf Jacob, who, owing to the skilful manner in which he was defended, was fully acquitted. Unfortunately ascribing his escape to the fact of his having drank enough to stupify him, he resolved in future to drink more than ever.
When the excitement caused by this trial was passed, Susan and her husband settled down in a small home, quietly to await news from America, attending meanwhile to the sale of the old mill and cottage, and the furniture in the latter, which was purchased by the husband of Will’s sister, “For,” said he, “if I purchase it you can have it back if you like to return after a time. I know you will soon wish to be back in Old England.” But in this, he was wrong.
The letter at length arrived, and they heard how Old Nettleby and his son Joseph had made a new home near the growing town of Philadelphia. Susan was entreated to lose no time in joining them, along with her husband, for whom a warm welcome was awaiting, and they were asked to inform Stephen also of their home if they could find him, and beg him to come out along with them. This letter caused the newly-married pair much happiness. Its tone was so different from that which had usually been used towards Hardisty, and there being nothing to delay them in Hull, the following month saw them on board a small ship ploughing the waves of the broad Atlantic in search of a new home under the setting sun. Their future was never again crossed by such a dark time of trouble as that which arose from their connection with the Smugglers of Spurn.
THE END