Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 483 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

— ee creel eee - a i. e— Naval Secretary, and you can thus leave the service on your resignation. ‘Then you must disappear wholly, giving out that you are going far ‘away, to invest your little savings.” ‘**T do not see what you are heading for.” *¢ You will soon discover. “You must pay your gambling-debts and all, leave here with a clean record, and when next you come back, come back with flying colors.” ‘** How can I?” “There is war threatening with England, and though it may be a year before it breaks out, it must come eventually, and, as captain of a rivateer, you can get reinstated in the navy, on’t you see?” ‘¢ How can I get a privateer?” “Get a vessel now, and you will have her for use when the time comes.” **T am all in the dark, Marks, as to what you are about.” ‘* Well, to explain, for you know very plainly my hints about it, I will furnish you with an armed vessel and crew within ten days, and you can put to sea in her.” ‘*'W hat for?” ** As a cruiser.” ‘¢ But there is no war.” nf: “True, but you must make a living in the mean time, at | I will give you the means,” ‘To turn pirate?” ** Exactly.” ‘‘ Marks, I do not know what to make of you.” ‘Do you remember the night I saved your life, when three deserters from your vessel had you at their mercy, and intended killing you?” ‘¢- You know that I cannot forget it,” ‘‘ Well, Casandra, I told you then that I was a man no one could fathom, and you have not yet found me out. ‘** Let me tell you that I was born in poverty, but swore to be rich, ‘I was well born, and my name was all I in- herited. ‘*{ drifted about, and at last struck the wake of that which would lead me to fortune, ‘*T am now a rich man, a very rich man, and I have-made it all by selling smuggled and pirated goods. ‘*T let no man know me as I am, excepting you of course, and no man’s life has been allowed to stand between me and my ends, and no life ever shall. ‘* This is all you need to know of me. ** Now I have watched you closely, and have seen just what you were coming to, so I have proven my friendship by preparing for it. ““T have had built a superb schooner, armed and equipped her fully, and she has a crew of seventy good men. ** Now, I want you to take her and put to sea in her, “Wear the disguise I gave you before, in your piratical capture of your prizes, and take command, ‘She is mine, as I tell you, and the other offi- cers and crew are to have forty per cent, of your earnings, ten per cent. are to go for expenses, and the balance we can equally divide between us, and this will make all things even, and you should make an independent fortune in a year.” Carl Casandra was thunderstruck, and knew not what to say. yor a long time he sat in silence, and then said: ‘“‘But Kate Kenyon will forget me, if I re- main @ year away.” ‘*Oh no, for you can write her that you go West, and I will send a letter out there for you now an‘ then, and have it mailed to her, so as to keep up the idea, ‘‘ When war breaks out you go to Castle Ken- on in a schooner, which you tell her you have ught and fitted out from your ventures out West, and shé will readily become your wife. * As you will have no debts, and nothing be against you, and you resign, she can but believe you all that her fancy has painted you. ‘Now, I pay your debts, if you take com- mand of this schooner, and I will dispose of all the booty you éapture, and tell you just where to send it and how. aoe ‘* What do you say, sir? **T know not what tosay.” ‘* You know what will follow if you donot ac- cept my terms.” ‘T am ruined.” “True, and more, you will be arrested b ’ Benedict and others, and then Kate Kenyon ‘i forever lost to yous but in following out m schemes, yOu win fortune, and in the end fame, when the war comes, for you turn your pirate eraft into an honest privateer.” | A Cabin Boy’s Luck. 7 ‘Tt is a fearful temptation, Marks.” ** Then you consent?” és Yes.” ‘*Enough! ten nights from this you sail in the schooner Spit-fire, and, as Captain Carl the Corsair no one will know you, for the West In- dian waters, must be your baunts for there are the richly freighted ships under all flags. **lcongratulate you, Captain Carl the Cor- sair, and wish you every success,” and Marks arose and bowed with mock gravity and respect while Carl Casandra buried his face in his hands and groaned: ‘Great God! I am lost! and my own acts have encompassed my utter ruin.” CHAPTER XI. A VISITOR AT CASTLE. KENYON, Ir was a bitter blow to Kate Kenyon when it became known to her that her lover had broken his pledges to her. She had received several anonymous commu- nications, telling her of his evil doings and at last had gone to her father with them. He had then told her what he had seen, and going up to Baltimore had satisfied himself that Carl Casandra was in every way unworthy of his daughter. : So he had returned and told her so, and then each wrote to the young captain the letters which he had received upon his return from his cruise, Soon after it became known, in the same mys- terious way, that Carl Casandra had resigned, to save himself from dismissal from the service, and that he had gone to some western State. It stated, however, that he had paid his debts, yet hinted that to do so he must have had a suc- cessful night at gambling. The next mail Kate received a letter from Carl himself. It was dated away outin St. Louis, and told her he had come there to make his fortune, had invested his little savings, and would return to | claim her some day, when he could prove to her | he had reformed his life. Kate was delighted, yet in her heart there was a doubt which she could not castaway from her; but she determined to wait for a certain length of time which Carl Casandra had asked and then, if he was not a different man to cast him out of her heart forever. Several days after this a visitor arrived at Castle Kenyon, He came in his private carriage, with slaves in livery, and the planter being away from home Kate gave him welcome. He introduced himself as Merton Regnier; a South Carolina planter, and an old college chum of her father. Kate had heard her father speak of his early boyhood friends often, yet never remembered the name of Merton Reenier as being among them; but she received, the gentleman cordially, and found him to be a most charming com- panion. He was very distinguished-looking, conversed pleasantly upon all topics, and said he was traveling North for pleasure, and had concluded to stop over a night with his old friend, Cyle Kenyon. Kate was not in the parlor when the planter entered, a servant having told him that a visi- tor had arrived. ‘“My dear Cyle, how are you?’ cried the stranger, arising. ‘* Merton Regnier! Good God!” Like a statue stood the planter, not even taking the orca hand of the visitor, who said pleas- antly: ‘“‘'You remember me then, Kenyon, in spite of the score of years passed since last we met?” ‘*Yes, I remember you; but I deemed you dead,” and the planter seemed deeply moved by some bygone memory. ‘No, [am not dead, Cyle, as you see, and be- ing on my way North I stopped over to see you, for I have kept track of you. ‘* As to the past, so bitter to you, let that pass, and let us be friends again.” “You forgive then, and are willing to for- et?” asked the planter in a low tone. ‘¢- Yes, so let the matter drop,” 6 A nd you will not speak of—” ‘¢No, no, it is with the buried past, and no one shall know; but what a lovely daughter you have.’ ‘‘You have seen her?” and the planter turned allid. arr Oh, yes, and had a most charming chat with her. ‘¢ She left the parlor but a short while ago, to see about some household matters. ‘¢-You did not tell—” ‘* No, no, no! don’t fret yourself, Cyle, for all is well between us, and I bury all ili feelings in the past. ‘*IT was a poor boy in those days, but now « am a very wealthy man,I assure you, and ! ee to have you visit my home some time.” The planter’s manner now changed, and «a. held forth his hand in welcome to his guest. Soon after Kate came in, and she saw that her father and the stranger had indeed been old friends, for they chatted over college days to- gether in a most pleasant way. Merton Regnier was ea few years the junior of Cyle Kenyon, for he had scarcely lived beyond forty years, and wus certainly a well-preserved man, while the gray was beginning to show up- on the temples of the planter, and he looked like one who dwelt in memory with the past, when left to his own thoughts. For more than a week did Merton Regnier re- main at Castle Kenyon, and then he took his departure, promising to stop on his return South for a short while. As for Kate, she did not know whether she liked the man or not, He was always courtly, and certainly most entertaining upon all subjects on which their conversation turned. He seemed to-have read everything; he knew how to handle a_ boat with skill, and in a tramp for game would bring back a full string. He was a good musician, sketched with skill and taste, and painted her several views, one of the little bur ring-ground on the hillside, In an indifferent way he let it ba known that he was very wealthy and had no family ties, while he added: ‘* T guess, for the sake of old times, Miss Kate, I will have to make you my heiress.” After his departure Kate could not get him out of her mind, He seemed to fairly haunt her memory, and she felt the influence of his large dark eyes. “Had I never known Carl, i believe I might have loved that man; but no, I do not think it is love I feel for him, and yet he seems to im- press me in a way I cannot understand.” So she said, and when Merton Regnier return- ed on his way South, she was both glad and sorry to see him, He brought the latest tidings in news, and the papers were full of a daring buccaneer that was a scourge tipon the Mexican Gulf. ‘‘ His name is Carl the Corsair,” said Merton Regnier, and planter Kenyon remarked with a smile: ‘*Carl the Corsair; yes I have heard much of him of late.” ‘‘He has the same name of your old lover, Kate; but he certainly cannot have turned pirate,” “Father, I received a letter from Captain Casandra two weeks ago, as you know, dated from St. Louis, and besides, he is not one to turn pirate, no matter what excuse he might have to drive him to such an act.” “IT was but joking, Kate; but this corsair seems to be a terror, Rdwire: from all accounts in these papers you brought with you.” ‘Yes, he has a score of war-vessels in chase of him, and I only hope he will be taken and hanged,” Whether it was the name that drew Kate to- ward the corsair, or not, I cannot say; but cer- tan it is she read all of the accounts of the daring sea rover before she went to sleep that night, and when she dreamed it was that Carl Casandra was the buccaneer chief and he came and carried her off to make her his bride. For a long time did Merton Regnier remain visiting Castle Kenyon, and ere he departed, he had asked Kate to become his wife, and her father for her hand. Kate had refused him, telling him frankly that she was engaged to Car] Casandra. ‘¢ But should he not return?” ‘* J will make no promises, Mr. Regnier,” was the firm response, “The girl must be urged to it by her father, and so I must see him,” and Merton Regnier walked out toward the cliff where he had seen Mr. Kenyon going a short while before, There he Ravn him, and a glance told him that the planter wore a fraubled look, CHAPTER XII, THE PLANTER’S REMORSE. ‘‘CyLz, my friend, I have sought you here to have a talk with you,” said Merton Regnier, as he walked up to his friend, the planter, where he stood upon the cliff, . “IT know what you would say, Merton,” sud- denly remarked the planter. Cc a : P Fs ~ —_ . ° e QM. 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