The Boy Captain of the Black Swallow — page 17: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE SECRET PANEL, passed upstairs, the light form of Letty rotreat- ing before him like a fairy guide. ee el CHAPTER VI, THE SECRET PANEL. ETTY LINN preceded our hero to the L apartment where their late interview a had taken place. She did not speak a word until she had entered and closed the door. Her face wore a look of serious importance, as if something of great moment had occurred since he left her. Arthur took ascatat her re- quest, and looked at her with curiosity, to learn what she had to reveal, for her manner showed that she had something of great im- portance to communicate, She did not imme- diately speak, but reopening the door, listened carefully, and then closed it. She now approached him and said, in a low, earnest voice, while her countenance was strangely ale : “Arthur, I am glad you have been found before youleftfor the cove. If Jerry had not met with you, I should have put on my hood and shawl, and gone with him in the skiff to seek you.” “What has happened, dear Letty ?” he asked, in alarm. “‘T will tell you. You said you wished to do something to make me think higher of you than you believe I do, though nothing you could achieve would make me love you better,” and her eye beamed with affection, and the rich colour for an instant returned to her cheek. “J did say so, Letty. I mean to do some- thing worthy of myself. You shall not have the impression that I love inaction.” *“T have not. But hear what I have dis- covered since you left, two hours ago,” “T hope nothing that affects you,” cried Arthur, thinking that very possibly Thurrel was in the matter. “« No, only so far as = feelings as a daughter are interested. IknowI cantrust you, Arthur Denwood ?” she said, or rather inquired, in a solemn tone, “With life and honour, and all that is dear to you!” “T have not doubted it. You must prepare to hear a strange and painful thing. Oh, if my father were not concerned in the affair!” “What affair? Relieve me at once of my anxiety, dear Letty,” he said, as he saw that she paused and seemed to hesitate. “Do not fear to confide in me fully what is upon your mind.” “JT will not. Listen: “ After you left, the judge and the squire, who came into the parlour to drink together, after IT had left the wine and tumblers with them and gone out, were shortly afterwards joined by my father. I heard the key carefully turned in the door, after he entered, and this act excited my curiosity, not a little increased by overhearing It was for this I sent for you, 15 them talking in whispers; so, leaving my room, I moved softly to the door of the apartment— for twice before, the two nights previous, those two men and Mr. Sapping, the shipping-master, had been together there, talking in low tones, and were, late at night, when the lower bar was closed, regularly joined by my father; nor dié they separate till midnight. “TI now resolved, therefore, to endeavour to learn what they were talking about so secretly and mysteriously, and bent iny ear to listen. I should not have listened, Arthur, if my father had not been with them; but I wanted very much to know what he had in common with those gentlemen of such importance as to render it necessary that they should hold their conversations with closed doors.” “It was a very natural curiosity, Letty. But did they, the two preceding nights, lock their doors ?” “T have no doubt they did, for I heard some- thing like the sound of the key turning, but as my suspicions were not fairly awakened, L did not heed it; but to-night I listened to see if they did turn the key, and found that they did.” “Ttis very odd. But what suspicions had you? What did you, and do you, suspect ?” “J suspect nothing now, for I know all; but the other two nights I suspected without knowing what to suspect. It seemed as if something was wrong, or they would not meet so carefully together. Besides, last night my father passed my door on his way to join them, and seeing it open, said to me that I had better go to bed, but if I sat up, not to go into the parlour, as some gentlemen were there talking upon private business matters.” * But to-night you lHstened ?” “Yes. I was standing by the door trying to hear, yet quite ashamed, too, to think I was eavesdropping; but my father was there, and I did not know what he might be engaged in; for to speak fairly with you, Arthur, before the war he was engaged in smuggling spirits, though nothing could be proved against him, I therefore feared something of the kind now, especially when Mr. Sapping joined them, who, you know, though a rich, rough farmer, does not bear a fair name.” ‘““No. They say he has two vessels now engaged in tho slave-trade.” * T knew enough of him to feel that where he was there must be some wrong going on. So I trembled for my father, and my curiosity, instead of being a mere feminine caprice, was dictated by filial solicitude,” “JY ean understand your motive fully, dear Letty. Iam impatient to hear what you over- heard,” ‘TJ had not listened more than two minutes, and could only catch here and there a word, such as ‘ schooner, ‘ Fort Hunnewell,’ ‘ British,’ spoken in a louder tone than the rest of their conversation, when I heard a light footstep in the entry. Somebody had opened the outer door so softly that 1 did not hear the least noise. I drew back, and a man came forward, feeling by the wall—for the entry was dark— oO Comichboo S (©)