The Banner Weekly: 'The Captain's Enemy' — page 2: what you’re looking at

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' im a — -< > wi me , +4) = 7 , , = — — Vy; ' avenue slo ‘‘T feel, Mr, Moore, that youare deserving of the trust,” said Dudley, who saw in his father’s secretary no ordinary personage. ‘*] thank you, sir; but let me tell you that af- ter hearing of your supposed death, your father never seemed the same man, and in vain was it that we tried to draw him out of bis grief, ‘At last, as I feared, the end came, though sooner than we expected, and, believing you dead, your father left to my guardianship your sister, and the execution of his will, which, I re- gret to say, left all to Miss Beatrice, excepting a tew bequests, one of which he generously made to me,’ ‘‘T cannot wonder at it, Mr. Moore, es my father thought me dead, and Beatrice was there- fore considered sole heiress.” ‘‘ But, brother, the will must be broken, and half of our father’s wealth is yours,” said Bea- trice, quickly. ‘* You are ever my noble sister, and as frank- ly as you offer, so I accept, knowing that I was considered dead by my father.”’ ‘‘But there 1s one thing, Captain Delmont, which I suppose you must claim, as, strange to say, your father leftno word regarding them in his wi'l,and your sister positively refuses to claim them. y refer tothe jewels which are known as the Red Diamonds.” ‘* Yes, I remomber them but too well, and there seems a strange fatality about them, for they were taken from about the neck of a young girl, found dead in the cabin of a pirate craft which was captured by my father. ‘*She had taken her own life during the com- bat, and the necklace was stained with her blood. Father, therefore, called them the Red Diamonds, and took them as his share of the rize.” ‘* Your father seemed to prize them, and one day showed them to me with the remark that they had proven fatal to more than one wear- ? ‘* Yes, father gave them to his sister as a wed- ding present, and upon going home from the little chapel where she was married, with the | f jewels about her neck, the horses ran away and she was killed, the bride of an hour, while others in the carriage were unburt. ‘‘Her husband brought the Red Diamonds back to my father, who left them hidden away for years, and then gave them to my mother, to wear one night to the ee ‘* Alas! they proved fatal again, for though the theater burned down, and though my father brought my mother out, in his arms, she never recovered from the shock, never regained con- sciousness, and once more the Red Diamonds were sent into exile and thus were, I suppose, forgotten by my father.” ‘* And you will take them, sir?” ‘* Yes, if Beatrice refuses.” ‘Tl would not touch them on any oad brother, and wish that you would not,” ur; the maiden. ‘*T have not a grain of superstition in my/|_ WEE od hood, nature, and will take them—yes, I | them to the woman | marry as a wedding-pres- ent. Where are they, Mr. Moore?” The secretary arose, and taking a key brig na his pocket unlocked a massive iron dvuor set in the wall. From a drawer within he took out a large morocco-covered case, and unlocking ita superb necklace was revealed, of some fifty rare dia- monds set in a miniature gold chain. Captain Delmont took up the Red Diamonds and held them before the light, while Beatrice shuddered as she exclaimed: ‘* Brother, put them away, for, oh! I dread them so!” CHAPTER IV. THE LOST MINIATURE, SWINGING lazily in a hammock, stretched up- on the piazza of a lordly old mansion in Vir- ginia, a young lady was reading several letters, which had been brought to her by the negro ostman who, twice each week, rode to the anding on the Potomac to meet the mail steamer, The house was a large, rambling brick man- sion, built three-score years ago, and was situ- ated in a glade, running back from the Poto- mac, The situation was a beautiful one, and through a vista in the forest the river was in full view, a quarter of a mile distant, while an d gently down to the banks. River Glade—for such was the name of the estate —had been the home of the Yanceys for four generations, and at the opening of this story there dwelt there the owner and his daughter, who was’ his heiress, for a son, the only other child of Judge Yancy, had been lost at sea some years before. In the rear of River Glade Mansion were the out-houses of the plantation and the negro quarters, while upon the hills and valleys, for a mile around were the fields and forest belonging to the estate, Yesula Yancy was a belle in the county, her only rival n beauty and wealth being Beatrice Delmont of The Retreat, some ten miles distant from River Glade Plantation. As she reclined there in the hammock, lazily swinging to and fro, the grace of her exquisite form and the beauty of her face showed that ae held just claim to the title of a reigning e ? She was attired in a white dress that was most becoming, and her masses of auburn hair were simply caught up with an amber comb. Her eyes were large, black, and held an ex- poe of sadness when the face was in repose, ut lighted up brilliantly in conversation or ex- citement. Now, as she read a letter she held in her hand, a look of anger rested upon her face, and she said aren: ** How dare he do such a thing?’ A perusal of the letter aloud, for the second time, will give a motive for her words, It was dated at New York, and was from an old schoolmate, who bad married and was living on the Hudson River. It was as follows: ‘* My Dear YESULA:— “Do Apes know I nave found the lost miniature of yourself, or rather regained it? “When it was taken from my parlor. some months age, I was deeply distressed and naturally accused all of your old admirers of the theft: but they pleaded innocent, and I knew not upon just which one to fix the guilt, so could only hope some day a guilty conscience might make the one who ae '* — it back, oh wrote you. sy te ** Ten days ago a package came to me by ress, which contained your miniature, and along With it a note from one Captain Dudley Delmont of the army, who is stationed upon the far frontier. “*Ia his letter Captain Delmont states that a friend of his, Captain Mortimer Bainbridge, had been shot down by an assassin, and upon his bod was found your miniature with myname and ad- ee oe upon the back, and so he begged to return it o me. ‘* You remember poor Bainbridge, how desperate- ly he was in love with you, and I never once suspect- ed him of the theft. ‘Poor fellow! He has met a sad fate indeed, and I forgive him, only wondering that your picture did not vrotect him from the bullet of the assassin. ‘* But there is more to tell, for last night a young cavalry officer, a friend of my husband, came to us. and he at once took up your picture and told us that he had seen an exact painting of it, most artistical- ly executed, hanging up in the quarters of a brother officer in the fort —one Captain Dudley Delmont, a most daring aod dashing officer. **He said that the painting was exquisitely framed and had hanging over it a velvet curtain which shielded it from view and which could only be drawn aside by untying a silken cord, and he had seen it only by an accident, ** Now this means, to my thinking, that this hand- som-+, dashing Captain Delmont, like poor Bain- bridge, fell in love with your likeness. and, though sending the miniature back, first painted it, for Ee is a fine artist our friend says.”’ There was more to the letter, but not upon the subject of the lost miniature; but, we may add, it was the fact that Dudley Delmont had painted her Bg and had it in his room, ceeaee vailed, that caused Yesula to utter the words: ‘* How dare he do such a thing?” Then she mused, half aloud: ‘*How strange that I have never yet seen Dudley Delmont, though our families, it is true, | from being beard by Yesula, and she had been have been foes for two generations, and there is | a grave between us, and of my father’s digging, for he killed the brother of the commodore ina duel, when the two were rivals for the hand of | my mother. ) ‘And, that Dudley Delmont should paint my portrait is something I cannot pardon or for- get. . ‘* Were father to know it he would surely call him to account, and then another grave would have to be dug. | ‘**T hate Dudley Delmont for this, and but that [ knew a duel would follow, I would have father demand my portrait .of him. I must get it in some way: yet how?” With this question unanswered, Yesula Yan- cey arose from the hammock, her face flushed with anger, and the story of the lost portrait having suggested the idea, she took her easel and crayons and walked down the glade toward the river to finish sketching a landscape which she had been engaged upon for some weeks, When she returned to the mansion, near the sunset hour,she was met by her father—a stern- faced man of forty-five, who had given up his seat on the judicial bench to live a life of ease at his plantation. ‘* My child, I have just heard from a neighbor that Commodore Delmont’s son, Dudley, was killed out upon the frontier.” ‘* Indeed, sir?’ and the face of Yesula flushed and then paled, for she remembered that her anger of a few hours before had been against a dead man. ** Yes, and I feel sorry for the commodore, for [ have always liked him, though I killed his brother in that duel, you know, twenty odd years ago, ‘Young Delmont was considered one of the brightest officers in the service, and I happen to know that when your brother Bernard was a eee eo Say pa him, young Delmont sec help im out of some scrape, strange to mc when he knew of the feud between our es ** Indeed, father, I had not heard of this.” ** Nor I, until one of your brother’s old friends told me of Bernard’s mad acts there, and how he had been saved from expulsion by some one, whom it was found out afterward to have been Dudley Delmont.” Yesula bit her lips in a vexed way. A Virginia woman, she bad entered into the feud of her father aga'nst the Delmonts with heart and hand, and she liked not that her bro- ther had received a favor from one of the hated name, ‘“* He is dead, and I must not hold ill-will; but my it—what will become of that? I would like to see it, and J will /” she said, with earnest determination in look and tone. CHAPTER V. IN DEADLY PERIL. p way, after the news of Dud- nont’s death reached the neighbor- and Yesula Yancey was anxiously wait- ing for a letter from ber married friend, Mrs. 3 Jeffrey, of New York, to whom she , asking her to get for her the = Mrs. Jeffrey had written that she had placed the matter in the hands of her husband’s friend who was to return at once to the frontier, and Yesula anxiously awaited the result, Then came the news of the death of Commo- dore Delmont, and Yesula in her heart felt deeply for poor Beatrice, whom she had often seen, and could not but admire. “Tam for this feud between thé families, for I would like to go t. her in her sorrow,” she pew herself upon hearing of the commodore’s eath. Then the neighborhood was startled by the sudden coming of Captain Delmont, believed to be dead, and scene which had occurred at the ve of his father. ith Dudley Delmont living, Yesula Yancey’s hatred of his name revived. and she was more than anxious to get from his keeping the por- trait which he had dared to paint or her, and she wrote her friend, Mrs. Jeffrey, upon the subject at once, while she almost felt tempted to tell ber father about the affair. Several days after his return to The Retreat, Dudley Delmont mounted his horse, and, taking his rifle, rode away for a hunt through the hills, anxious by action or excitement to break the sad current of his thoughts, for his father’s sudden death had been e, bitter blow to him. Just as he was about to ride away, his sister said to him: ‘* Brother, when you return I wish to have a talk with you, for | have a favor to ask.” ‘Certainly, Beatrice, now if you will,” he answered, seeing that the face of his sister wore a look of anxiety. **No, to-night will do, for we will then be alone,as Mr, Moore will not return until to- morrow.” “Very well, sis, ll come back early,” was trait painted by the young officer from the reply, as Dudley rode away, He took the road down the valley, &nd not caring to strike out into the hills, held on down to the steamboat landing on the Potomac, re- membering that it was mail-day. He ree a number of letters, which had been forwarded from the fort, and not consider- ing them of immediate importance, rode on his way. are and there he brought down some game as be went along, and at last halted in a shady retreat for a rest. Leaving his horse to graze upon the grass about him, he walked to the edge of a cliff, overhanging a small vale, and threw himself down upon the pine straw to read his letters. For some time he was thus engaged, and then glanced about him at the reap? & The scene he overlooked was the glade at the head of which was situated the Yancey man- sion, and the view was a grand one. Suddenly he heard a voice gana, “Missy Y’sula! Oh! Missy Y’sula!” He started as an answer came almost beneath his feet, an answer in a voice full of music and yet clear as flute-notes: ‘* Here I am, Chips!” ** Yas, missy!” was the reply, and a negro lad of fifteen came frcm toward the mansion and advanced to where Yesula Yancey was seated, at the foot of the cliff. She had a camp-stool and her easel, and was at work teat g the scene presented from her poiut of observation. “*Got some letters for you, Missy Y’sula,” said the negro lad, handing two to her, Captain Delmont, from his place on the cliff, saw her rise quickly and seize the letters, while she cried: ‘“* Yes, one is from Clarice Jeffrey, and I hope 1 will know all now about the po it.” She hastily broke the seal, while the negro lad returned toward the house, after a glance full of awe at the sketch that Yesula was mak- ing. Then aloud she read, and the words reached the ears of the young soldier: “The picture was taken down from where it hung, and he has evidently carried it with him, as it is nowhere to be found in his quarters.” Sarg not comprehending what the words meant, Dudley Delmont saw that they caused the face of the maiden to flush with anger, and heard her exclaim; ‘* He shall not keep it! he shall give it up!” As she stood there, ber form drawn up to its full hight, her face flushed and eyes flashing. she made a beautiful picture indeed, and the young soldier gazed enraptured at her. He felt guilty in his heart of eavesdropping. and thus holding her at an advantage, for he was not one to do a mean act. But his vicinity to River Glade Mansion had not struck bim until he saw the negro approach- ing and discovered the maiden at her skatoliinie low him. The mansion was not in sight from his feos tion, and he had left the river-road to ride along ridge back to the valley highway and thence ome, The soft pine straw had prevented his step so close in under the cliff that be bad not seen her until his attention was called to her pres- ence by the coming of Chips. , In justice to himself the young soldier felt that he could do but one thing, and that was to retreat unseen and ride on bis way homeward; but the beauty of Yesula Yancey was to Gee that he failed to carry out at once his good tention, and, on the contrary,stood gazing upon her in rapt admiration. After the angry stamp of her foot, and her outspoken words. she had resumed her seat LS on her little camp-stool and again began w upon her sketch. And still Dudley Delmont lingered, watching her rapid work, but unable to see how artistic it was. Was it Fate that held him to that spot, when he knew that be ought not to tarry? It would seem so, for Fate often guides our footsteps and our will, against beart and rea- son. At last, with a deep sigh, he was about to turn away, when his gaze fell upon something which caused him to start and look with even deeper attention than before. At the side of the maiden, and not two feet away, was the old stump of a tree, and upon it was circled, with head raised to strike, a huge rattlesnake. Intent upon her work Yesula did not notice ber deadly danger, and the movement of her hand with the t brusb, seemed to have an- ered the huge reptile to strike a death-blow at is victim. The warning rattle reached the ears even of Dudley Delmont, on the cliff, yet Yesula was oblivious to it, so lost was she in the work before her, or in her thoughts about the letter which evidently had annoyed her greatly. One instant of borror to the heme | soldier, and then he threw his rifle to his shoulder, aim- ed quickly and fired at the head of the rattle- snake, as it was erect within a few inches of the shoulder of the maiden. (To be continued.) RETROSPECTION. BY HARRIET ESTHER WARNER. woman with silvered hair - rocked in an old oak chair ound her the flames of firelight fall Ana wthe valltrom the dre —s drew the v rom the ought of life, and how longit would last. And she Then th t e had been but a load of care, had marked its w on bh She had only words of love ema Hedged by poverty and bouna by care, She tried ethan ge partern her share, She thought of her children, one by one, That out to the battle of life had : She thought of him who bad laid fir down In the perfect faith of se g much to bear; Could I shut my eyes onthe world of care And touch the of the shadowed stream Then life would end like a troubled dream. * But it must not be: God understands :” And she bowed her bead on her feeble hands, And sbut her eyes ‘neath the shadowed skies, And op ‘ned them now in Paradise. Her dreams of Heaven seemed incomplete With the perfect vision before her f For fancy fails in its feeble flight When w. draw Heaven down to our puny hight, *Twas the spirit world! Yet she was there, - With tattered garments and silvered hair: But out from the mirage where she had toiled Her soul like a lily, rose unsoiled And it walked with her, now, in cloth of gold, And covered from Heaven her garments old; And the vision revealed the mighty whole Of human life—an unstained soul! It was only a dream, and it pa away Like the fitful flames on the arthstone gray; But the narrow room seemed royal grown | To her who felt she was not alone: And she took up her burden with willing hands, Cheerfully saying: ‘‘God understands! ~ — ) And I know the dream was in mercy given, To pave, with peace, my path to Heaven.”’ The Cohort of Five; Dick Talbot’s Great Clean-Out. The Romance of a Just Vengeance, the promi And she sadly sighed: **I have BY ALBERT W. AIKEN, AUTHOR OF ‘‘ OVERLAND KIT,” ‘‘ ROCKY MOUN- TAIN KOB,” “THE FRESH OF FRISCO,” ** BRONZE JACK,” *‘ THE LONE HAND,” ETC., ETC. CHAPTER XX, BLACK MAC EXPLAINS. GREAT was the astonishment excited by the announcement of the ex marshal, and the mem- , of the crowd looked at each other in won- er. | ‘“*Say,1 reckon I don’t exactly understand this hyer,” the mayor remarked, an on of profound amazement upon his face. “Do you mean to say that you claim this hyer mine?’ “That is my # esc aatry ! Black Mac replied, in the most decided manner, 4 Well, but I don’t understand how that kin **'You will understand all right when I ex- plain the matter to you,” the other replied. ** My claim is a good one, and I reckon you will allow that it is so when you come to hear the particulars,”” **Oh, yes, I shouldn’t be rised,” the of- ficial rejoined. ‘* You allers the reputation of being a level-headed man, and I reckon you wouldn’t go into arp ory of this kind without being sure that you had good ground to go on.” ** That is my little game always. Be sure you are right, then go ahead, and that is the motto! ma Well Mac . : your ap nce is asurprise to the town. We haven't heard from vou in so long that we almost caine to the conclusion you had either passed in your checks or else got out of this section of the country altogether. ‘‘ No, I have been in Tombstone all the time, but things did nat work exact'y right with me or else I would have been back here a long time ago. But I say, White, you hav