Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 429 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

——— ss wondered how his mother could ever think an instant of wedding old Dominie Finn, ‘*No, no; she shall not marry him—J/ swear it!” he said earnestly, as he stood in the parlor gazing at the portrait, half an hour after his leaving the school-house, where ho had had the interview with the dominie. He was now waiting in the parlor for the coming of his mother, for he had sent a servant to say be wished to see her there, CHAPTER III. MOTHER AND SON, DuncaAN DARE stood gazing fixedly at his father’s portrait, as his mother entered the room. It was the portrait of a man of thirty, per- haps, and in an undress naval uniform. x dark face, full of character, a trifle stern, but very handsome, and strangely like the young face, just half its years, that looked up into it. Duncan was dressed in sea costume, for he always wore it, to school and elsewhere, except on Sundays, when he attended the village church with his mother, and then he laid aside _ his sailor togs for a Sabbath-day suit of black. Mrs. Dare was certainly a handsome woman, and also the resemblance between mother and son was striking, and as strongly marked as was that between Duncan and his father. The husband and wife were not at all alike, the man being a brunette, the woman a blonde; and yet the son bore a strong resemblance to each. ‘Well, Duncan, I thought you had company, as you sent Liza to tell me to join you in the parlor,” said Mrs. Dare, speaking in a full, rich voice, and glancing around the room to see if mag one else was there besides her son and her- self. ‘*No, mother, I have no company; but I agked you to come here that we might have a little talk, and in the presence of my father.” ‘Your father! Great God, boy, has he re- turned?” and Mrs. Dare turned deadly pale. ‘*No, mother, not in flesh, though I hope he ‘will some day come back to us, and I believe it, ‘Don’t be frightened, mother, for I meant in the presence of yonder portrait, which you told me was a speaking likeness of niy father.” ‘Yes, Duncan, it is the image of what your father was soon after we were married; but what a start you gave me!” ‘*T am sorry, mother, but I also had a shock to-day.” 6b ou 97 ‘*’'Yes, mother.” ** Tell me of it, son.” **Tt was the schoolmaster, Silas Finn, who gave it to me.” ‘* What, did he dare strike you?” ‘‘ He did me no bodily harm, mother, but he hurt my heart, for he dared to say to me that you had promised to marry him.” Mrs. Dare choked up several times ere she could reply, and then said: ‘“-Yes, my son, I said, if you did not oppose it, I would become his wife.” ** Mother, look upon yonder portrait, and then picture in your mind Silas Finn, and see how you can give up the memory of that man for the reality of the schoolmaster.” ‘‘ Ah, Duncan, I know that they are not alike, and yet—” ‘‘ Mother, you risked your life to save m ae: and you loved him with your whole soul. ‘* Would you risk a, life to save Silas Finn, and could you even like him?” ‘¢ Duncan, I will not be questioned too closely by even you. ‘Mr, Finn has asked me to marry him, and I have consented, if you raised no objections.” ‘¢ But I do object, mother.” ‘‘Wor what reasons?” coldly asked the mother. ‘¢-You are not sure that my father is dead.” ‘‘ Ah yes, of that there can be no possible doubt.” : ‘‘T believe that he yet lives.” ‘‘ And I am sure that he is dead; but what else have you against Mr. Finn?” ‘He is an old cranky fellow, cruel as a Turk, and no one knows who he was, or where he came from before they cast him ashore here.” ‘That was many years ago, Duncan, and no one knew aught of your father, [ must admit.” Duncan winced a little at this, and then re- lied: aye Mother, you were happy with my father, but that old wretch will break your heart.” ‘‘ He is severe with his scholars, yes; but he is considered a good man, and, my son, I shall marry him.” ee ** Mother!” ‘“*Tam sorry, Duncan, that you hold such a prejudice; but you will soon get over it.” _** Never! you must not, you shall not marry Silas Finn,” and the boy sprung to his feet quiv- ering with emotion. “ Duncan Dare, lam your mother, you must remember, and Iam old enough to know what Ium about, and I tell you that I shall marry Silas Finn, and I ask you not to create a scene about it and make me more wretched than I am,” and Duncan Dare saw that there was some secret cause for his mother’s action, What it was he could not guess; but it made him the more determined that she should not marry the schoolmaster, and he said; ‘* Well, mother, I am sorry to give you pain, but I do not believe you wish to marry that man, or that you care for him even, and i am sworn to prevent it; but now kiss me, mother, and do not let us speak of the subject again until it has to come up between us,” Mary Dare threw her arms about her son’s neck and burst into tears, while from her shut teeth came the moan: ‘*My God! my God! have mercy upon me!” CHAPTER IV. THE SCHOOLMASTER’S REVENGE. THE next day, bright and early, as was his wont, Duncan Dare was at school. He was always punctual, never missed a day, if possible, and stood at the head of all his class- es, for he was studious as well as an athlete, and fond of all sports, Dominie Finn received him with a grim smile, and there was a wicked look in his eyes as he said: ‘* Good-morning, Master Dare. **T hope you are in better humor, to-day?” ‘‘T am in thesame humor I was yesterday, Dominie Finn,” was the quiet response of the boy as he went to his desk. That day it seemed that all Duncan Dare did was wrong. The scholars even said that he knew his les- sons perfectly, and yet he was told to stay after school and recite them over. He was found fault with, continually, when do- ing nothing, and at last driven to retaliation upon the schoolmaster, when he knew that hoe was doing everything to worry him, he began to play pranks in earnest. One boy’s pants were securely fastened to the bench with wooden pegs, and when called upon to come and recite his lesson, the youth could not rise, and, rushing tothe spot, Dominie Finn discovered the cause. Instantly he dealt Duncan Dare a terrible blow that felled him like an ox for an instant. ‘¢ Por shame, Dominie Finn, forshame!” cried a sweet, girlish voice, and the dominie turned fiercely. upon the speaker, It was pretty Jessie Hampton, a sunny-haired, blue-eyed little maid of twelve. Her blue eyes flashed as she fearlessly met the gaze of the infuriated schoolmaster, while he roared: ‘Do you speak to me thus, Jessie Hampton?” “T think it a shame, sir, for you to knock a boy down, for you are a man, and you have picked at poor Duncan all day, when he has done nothing before to deserve it.” The schoolmaster stood like one dazed, for such language he never had to listen to. Ho knew that Duncan liked the little girl im- mensely, and he hated her, for she never had seemed impressed with his great di ity. In those days whipping the schools was as common as was flogging in the navy, and girls and boys alike were the victims. Instantly the dominie determined to punish Duncan Dare still more by_chastising Jessie Hampton, and he whirled his birchen switch in air to bring it down upon her graceful, tender shoulders, She never flinched, but looked him straight in the eye, and in another instant the blow would have fallen with stinging severity, when the stick was seized by Duncan Dare from behind, and torn from the grasp of the teacher with a force that tore the flesh from his hands, then snapped in pieces and cast upon the floor. ‘You may punish me, Dominie Finn, and I'll not resist you, but you shall not strike Jessie Hampton,” hissed the boy, now aroused to fever pitch of anger. Dominie Finn was white with passion. He turned his gaze upon the youth, who stood defiantly before him, then upon Jessie Hampton, who calmly met his eyes, and next upon the two- score of children present. There was a silence like death in the room. The children stared in open-mouthed wonder Duncan Daro, the Boy Refugee. 3 1 at the dreaded Dominie, the defiant boy and the fearless girl, while Silas Finn seemed to be col- lecting his energies for a spring upon Duncan Dare to annihilate him. ‘* Dominie, you can thrash me all you wish, and | Ill raise no hand to resist you, but you shall not strike Jessie Hampton,” came in earnest tones from the boy’s lips. There was that in the look of the bold vouth that cowed the man, for he seemed to lack the courage to attack him, as he had intended; but instead he hissed forth: ‘*Duncan Dare, I will settle with you after school, ‘* As for you, miss, I’l] not forget your con- duct,” and the Dominie turned from the boy to the girl. Neither of the two uttered a word, and wheel- ing suddenly Silas Finn went back to his throne, as the scholars called his seat, and sat down, while a murmur arose in the school-roor that indicated st plainly that those who had so long trembled under the glaring eyes of the master now felt that he had met his match in both Duncan Dare and Jessie Hampton. With the same wicked smile on his face, which he wore when meditating punishment Silas Finn wrote a hasty note be dispatched one of the scholars with it, telling him to hurry back, The boy read the note, and to put Duncan Dare upon his guard, said aloud, upon re-enter- ing the school-house door: ‘Master, I gave the letter to Mister Barney Bolls and he says he will come, sir.” Silas Finn scowled, but made no reply, and half an hour later school was dismissed, Slowly the scholars filed out of their seats, all casting glances of commiseration at Duncan Dare, who nodded pleasantly and still remained at his desk. Jessie Hampton was the last to leave, and tears stood in her eyes as she held out her hand with: **Oh, Duncan, I am so sorry.” ‘T don’t mind the licking he'll give me, Jessie; but I hate to be kept in, for I brought my rifle and meant to go home by way of the forest and kill some squirrels. ‘‘ Now don’t cry, for a flogging isn’t so bad af- ter all.” ‘You have never been flogged, Duncan, and it will be a great deal for you to stand,” ‘* Don’t mind it, Jessie, for I won't.” **Tll beg the master to forgive you.” ‘Not for anything would I have you do so Jessie, for he would only get savage toward you, ‘* Now go, for he is glancing at us, and I’!l see you at school, to morrow.” Jessie sighed and walked away, turning aside to let Barney Bolls pass, for he just then enter- ed the school-room, For awhile the voices of the scholars, hesi- tating without, were heard, and then the sounds died away inthe distance, and only the murmur of the two men talking earnestly to- gether broke the stillness. Duncan Dare sat in his seat, quietly eying the two men, i He was pale, but firm, and had laid his books aside to face the ordeal, whatever it might be, ‘‘ Well, Mr. Bolls, I have told you the circum- stances, as they occurred, and, as one of the trustees of the school, [ ask your advice regard- ing this unruly and rebellious youth?” said Do- minie Finn in a loud tone, after he and Barney Bolls had come to an understanding as to what should be done. ‘‘ Flog him, master, flog him as he deserves, and I will help you.” ‘‘T will do so, and, did you say that you hada good switch?” ‘* Yes, here are several I picked up while on the way here, for I had an idea you might need them,” and the old miser held up half-a-dozen sticks, any one of which would have felled a man by a blow on the head. ‘Tl tie him first, for he’s a strong young ras- cal,” said Silas, and he produced a rope from his desk, and the two came toward the youth. Instantly Duncan Dare was upon his feet and standing like a stag at bay. ‘* Master, you can whip me before the whole school to-morrow, with the whips yowuse on the other scholars, but Pll not let you and Mister Bolls tie me now and thrash me with those sticks.” ‘You will not let us whip you?’ sneered the master, * I will not,” was the firm response. “We shall see,” and the two men started to- ward the youth, But, quick as a flash, he turned and glanced , ) 4 sj . ee se “at a | , ri om oe ee eee af ge «0A 4%