Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 483 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

* oo ; rather die than marry any one else, for I even ‘did you come here?” t * On the South Carolina coast, somewhere near Charleston, I believe.” ‘Well, Kate, I, not Merton Regnier, shall claim you, for I would rather see you dead than the wife of another man.” ‘‘T believe, now that I see you, Carl, I would forgive you your broken pledges; but, Carl, how onder vessel?” ‘* Do you see was watching her for a long *“* Yes, and time.” ‘She brought me here.” ‘‘ What! are you again in the navy?” ‘‘No; but I have a dear friend in the com- mander of yonder schooner, and he brought me here. ‘‘ T saw you seated on this cliff, and watched you for a long time with m class, *¢ Assoon asit grew dark | sprunginto the cap- tain’s gig and came ashore to see you, and [ would have done so, had I had to boldly face your father’s anger. ”” ‘* Tam so glad you have come; but when will you return to prove that your words are tr ue, and that you are not guilty of the things I have read and heard about you?” ‘‘ When are you to be married to this southern planter?” ‘“ Two months from to-day.” ‘¢ Then I will be here a week before that time and I will come to this spot every night until meet you here.” ‘J will count the hours, Carl, and pray that you may bring the proof that you have been cruelly maligned.” ‘Trust me, Kate, and remember, one week before the day set befor e your marriage, I will be here on this spot.” ‘¢ J will bring you the proof, and let you show them to your father. ‘Tf he still refuses to let you become my wife, and wishes to force you into a marriage with Merton Regnier, then I will claim you, and if ou love me you will fly with me. ‘*Should my father attempt to urge this other marriage upon me, Carl, efter I am convinced of your innocence, then I will go with you wherever you wish.” ‘You swear this, Kate Kenyon?” “7 do, though my word is as good as my oath.” ‘‘ Knough--l believe you.” **'Yes, Carl, prove your innocence, and I will give up ‘all for you.’ “T will prove it, Kate; but now I must go,” and after a fond farew ‘ell the young sailor de- parted. Kate watched him descend the pathway to the shore, saw a dark object she knew to be his boat out over the waters, which were now rip- pled by a breeze which had sprung up with the visthe moon, and soon after beheld the pretty schooner-of-war spread her white wings and glide swiftly away. CHAPTER XIV. THE APPOINTMENT. SLOWLY dragged the daysaway to Kate Ken- yon, after she had met her lover upon the cliff. The memory of Merton Regnier became al- most distasteful to her when she compared him with Car] Casandra, and she had no doubt but that the young sailor could clear his character of the tarnish upon it. True, she had received anonymous letters re- garding him. She had read the notice in the papers regarding his killing a man over a game of cards, and her father had told her how a friend of his, whose name he would not make known, had seen the young sailor in St. Louis, and knew him to be all that was bad. ‘‘T believe him true, for he says so,” was her argument, and she did not doubt but that he could prove what he said, One day, 2 short while before Merton Regnier was expected at Castle Kenyon, Kate said to her father: “Do you believe, pero that Captain Casan- dra was as bad as people made him out?” “T feel convinced, Kate, that he is even worse,” 4 * aang I believe that be has been bitterly mal ” ate, it seems strange that you should say SO, after all that you have heard. ‘‘ As for others, I know not the truth except as they tell the story : but for myself, Isaw him gambling, a8 you know, and he had lost an im- mense sum, “He was dri heavily . See recklessly, and, whee I was in “Was ington I . avas ‘assured that: he had only his pay and a few thousand dollars prize money. ty ~— aie : . at v x * oo -_ ¥ _ lL LLL LLL LLL A Cabin abin Boy's Lt Ss Luck. — 9 ‘*Yet, I saw him give his due bill for twenty thousand, and what was more, it was paid, for Benedict the ambler told me so.” ‘* Father, if he would give you. proof that he was keeping his pledge to me, would you let me marry him?’ ‘* Kate, are you mad?” ** No, sir. - Why, ‘within a few days you are to marry Merton Regnier, and you are talking of this sc apegoat Casandra.” Vill you answer my question, father?” **'W hat is it?” ‘Would you, with proof of his innocence, allow me to break with Merton Regnier, and | marr Carl Casandra?” de can bring no proof.” ‘* But were he to do so?” ‘‘He can give no proof that I would accept.” ‘‘Then you wish me to marry Merton Reg- nier?” ‘* Yes, although I would rather far that you had decided upon some one else.” ‘* Tt is not too late.” “Tt is, for the day is set, and you must mar. y Regnier. % ** And Carl?” ‘* 'W hat mean you?” ** You would not receive him?” ‘¢ Never! for I know more of his life, than I have made known to you.” Kate sighed, and taking her sun hat walked out into the garden, saying quietly: ‘This looks very much as though I would have to elope with Carl, for father will never give his consent. ‘*Poor, dear, Carl! I do hope he can prove all that he has told me, for then I will be hap- py indeed.” The next day Merton Regnier arrived at the castle. He came with quite a retinue of servants and horses, and looked like a prince traveling through the land. He was pleasantly greeted by the planter, though that same faraway look came back in- to the face of Cyle Kenyon, which seemed ever to dwell there when Merton Regnier was near. Perhaps it was the remembrancy his pre- sence revived of poor Ruth, the adopted sister of the man who had now come to marry the daughter of his university*chum of twenty-five years before. Kate felt a mm shudder at sight of the man she had promised tomarry; but she greeted him kindly, drew away when he would have kissed her, and, as soon as supper was over, excused herself, on the plea of a headache, and left the gentlemen together, But Kate did not go to her room, but slipped out into the flower-garden and wended her way to the cliff. She started as she got there, as a form came toward her. Even in the darkness she recognized that ele- pant, commanding figure, and sprung toward m ‘Oh, Carl! you are here?” ; “ Yes, 1 have been here since just after night- a ‘But you are in uniform; you are surely back in the navy?” **’You shall know all, Kate.” ‘* But the proofs?” ‘Of my innocence?” ** Yes.’ “T have only my word, my love for you, and if you cannot believe me, Kate, I will banish myself from your presence. **Come with me, Kate, and see if I do not prove my love in every way. “T° have a vessel not far away; you cannot see her from here, and I am her commander, for that much I confess to you.” ‘*Oh, Carl!” : More I cannot say.” ‘She is a vessel -of-war?” ‘Yes, Kate, well armed and equipped, the same pretty schooner that, you saw here two months ago and admired so.’ ‘You said your friend had—” ‘True, my friend is myself. ‘‘T am her commander.” “Then, Carl, why have you not captured that horrid pirate they say is at the entrance to the Coen doing so much damage to our ship- Kate, m Bev ou mean my namesake, Car] the Corsair, as they call him?” ‘Yes, and I start at his very name, although it is the same as yours.” ‘‘T will meet him some time, Kate; but now tell me what your father says?” | lovel | ——— Ol Se flict my com ‘* He will not believe other than that you are guilty, and says no proof will satisfy him.” nd this Merton Regnier id ** He arrived to-day.” ‘* And you intend to become his wife?” ‘Father expects me to; but, Carl, I thought you were out in St. Louis ” ‘**T was, for awhile, Kate.” “Let me tell you that I found out to-night that Mr. Regnier saw you there.” ** He saw me 2?” ** Yes, for he knows you well; and he it was who told father how dissipated’ you were, and how terribly you gambled, while he gave me the paper that spoke of your killing a man at. the card-table.” ‘* Kate, this is not true, and he has spoken falsel y to you,” our presence here seems to prove it, Carl.” “Yes, for I never saw this man Regnier in my life, ‘and mor e, Kate, wishing to see the man you had pledged yourself to, | cruised down the Carolina coast, and nowhere could I hear of such a person,’ ‘Oh, Carl! you could not have gone to the right par t of the country, for Mr. Regnier is very rich, and such a pr ominent person as he is, must be well known.’ ‘* 'W here did you address your letters to him, if you wrote?” “ Yes, I wrote several times.” “And how did you address his letters?” ‘*To Merton Regnier.” ** But where?” ‘“To the care of his agent in Baltimore, for he said he always forwarded them to him more quickly than By the regular mail.” ‘* And did your letters come through Balti- more?” “Yes, I believe they did.” % Kate, this Merton Regnier is a fraud.” On. Carl!” “T mean it.” ‘* But how can he be?” ‘** As easily as I could be, did I so wish.” ** Carl?” " ot at say he came here with his servants?” eS ‘* And horses and carriages?” ‘Yes, he has a valet, a coachman and foot- man, and half a dozen horses, two of which are saddle animals, and one he presented me with to-day.” ‘‘ Kate, you better marry me and hope for the best, and that I will prove all that you could wish, than marry that fellow who I am con- vinced is an adventurer. “ But, Carl, he is an old friend of father.” “f Well, even your father might be deceived in him,” ‘* But what motive would he have?” ‘* ‘Your money.” ‘But I tell you he is enormously rich, and he bought me a jewel necklace to-day worth a for- tnne.” ‘¢ Well, your beauty has won him, for you are enough, Kate, to make a saint sin.” arl, you must not tal kso; but let me ask you ou wish me to do?” eet me, to-morrow night, down at the boat- house at nine o’clock.” ‘You will be there?” **'Yes, with a boat, for you must fly with me, Kate, as that fellow shall never have you.’ “Ah, Carl! I feel sad to think I must run away from my home, and my dear father; but it would be sacrilege, to marry Merton Regnier loving you as I do, and to remain here would be to be bound to him. “T will go with you, Carl, and become wife, but, oh! do not ‘e ove yourself false seech you, for it bi sami? break my heart. ‘“T ‘will come, so be prompt; as I will be very nervous if I have to wait there alone.” ‘“T will be there, Kate, and you need bring’ no luggage, for I have a trousseau for you wor- what our be- thy of a princess.” ‘Why, Carl, you amaze me!” “Ttis true, Kate. as you shall see; but now ou must hasten back, and until to- morrow night farewell.” Thus they parted, he to return to his vessel, she, never dreaming of the trap laid for her, to i go back to her home believing him true, CHAPTER XV, KIDNAPPED, “WHat! going to leave us so soon?” said Merton Regnier, as Kate arose to leave the Fer lor, the evening after her interview with Casandra. ‘Yes, lam nervous vo-night, so will not in- ny upon you **Good-night, father!” and as she bent over