Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 468 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

7 > —_ - ‘ : ‘ " _ * m * ‘ oe eT ek ee Ps Ss ane eit &. ‘ <, - ._* ited i! a4 « Oye Ned, the Boy Coast . as mate f' Fe J. &* * sg baad 1. oN er, send young Lord Melton to an asylum, and that | ‘‘ Yes,” the keeper answered, willing te humor | ca, and how the hatred of Carl Brewer had in ' the end brought bim to his death. night he fled from his home, carry with him | bim. his bride, whom he wedded before his depar- The man departed, and soon called to Nep- The commodore listened attentively, but was » ture. tune Ned to approach. a man of little heart, and he heard the story The old Queen of the Gypsies, Molsey, took The keeper would have gone, too, but was | without emotion, and said that Mrs. Everard told to remain where he was, and Ned was led | had chosen ber path in life, and was no longer _ oe eptune $ the yu couple to sea in_ the Melton yacht, to \ oof head off an America-bound vessel, as the reader | to a large red tent some distance wre & kindred of those she had left in England, while ae has seen. Within it, lying upon 4 cot, was Molsey, the | he had cast her off at the time of her marriage, | / . Finding that his son had fled, and with him | one who had run the yacht out to the brig, and | and therefore did not longer regard her as - the Gypsy Queen, the old noble was so infuri- | whom the sailors ha said had ‘* queered” the daughter of his. vessel, giving them ill-omen. ‘My mother asks no favorsat your hands, . ated that it brought on a disease, with which he had long been a sufferer, in its most virulent form, and he soon followed his wife to the “You would see me, boy?” she asked in a | sir, and [am _ not here asa beggar! harsh voice, motioning for the man to depart. “But for the fact that I had to make known" ‘Yes, madam,” and Ned, with innate polite- | to you, as his former guardian, the death of © ness, removed his cap. Carl Brewer, I would not have come,” said Ned : “ Who is it you would see?” asked the woman | hotly, angered at the manner of the old commo- in a tone of some suspicion. 7 rag the Gypsy Queen.” olsey, ave. Thus Melton Manor-house became closed, only” a few faithful servants remaining there to await the return of its runaway heir. — It was to this deserted house that Neptune Ned wended his way one afternoon, going on foot along a green lane that wound toward the old mansion. } He had taken passage from Boston on the fey , clipper ship Dreadnaught, and arrived safely in ure, ; “Ah! you have that rebellious spirit of all “Tam and Roderick said that you | Americans, I see, boy, and even beard me in’ came from my child, the Lady Melton?” my own home,” replied the amazed old seaman. . ‘‘T came to England with messages from Lord ‘It is not my intention, sir, to be disrespect- Mel‘on to his brother and to you.’ ful to my grandfather, but I du not care to hear ~ “ And sent my child no word to me?” sharply | my mother referred to as though she had com- mitted some crime. London, where his inquiries had directed him | asked the woman. how to find Melton Manor-house. Ned hardly knew what to say, but after an “Give me a receipt, sir, please, for these, * As he reached the massive gateway leading | instant of hesitation answered: things of Carl Brewer’s, and I will depart at ) ‘Tam sorry tosay that I bear to you only | once.” : bad news.” “You have spirit, my ‘boy, and if you will » The woman sprung to her feet and asked | give up your home in America, Yes; your par-- hoarsely: : ents, I will adopt you and get you a midsiip- ‘4 Boy, does my child live?” ; into the ornamental grounds surrounding the st . handsome mansion, he beheld there an old man - with gray hair, who was watching him. Ss ‘Ts this Melton Manor-house, sir?” he asked, raising his cap politely. = a man’s berth in the British Navy.’ “T thank you, sir, but I amran American boy, . ‘“‘-Yos, lad, and what do you want here?” was ‘No, madam, she is dead.’ the reply. ‘© And Lord Melton?” and I would not wish t6 enter the English ser~- ‘‘T wish to see Lord Melton, sir?” ‘‘Ts also dead.” vice, while I love my parents too dearly to give She sunk down eee her knees, bent her face | them up ” was the spirited reply. to the earth, and thus remained for some Mo ‘“‘ Well, you will go the way that Carl Brewer did, and some day be hanged, if you are not. ments. At last she said calmly, as she arose: murdered for some act,” hotly. said the old com - ‘‘Tell me all you have to tell.” modore. In his own way Neptune Ned told the story of | Ned’s face flushed; but he made no reply; and the shipwreck, and his finding the boat drifting | bowing, left the room and the house. “1f you mean the old lord, my lad, he lies ever yonder in his grave; if you mean the young oF) master, he ran away with a Gypsy maid, and is \ wandering in foreign parts.” ‘T wished to see the elder gentleman, sir, for I came from the young master with messages to ay his father.” a ‘Ah! so?” said the old man, with surprise. ashore, and how he went to its rescue only to Having accomplished his mission wholly, the ‘Yes, sir; but where is the brother of Lord | see Lord Melton die soon after. boy returned to London, and after seeing the | ih Melton?” He gave the old Gypsy Queen the jewelry he | sights fora few days et in atrim brig | ‘¢ At, sea in his vessel.” had which had belonged to poor Vesta, and told | bound to Jamaica, from whence he intended to | > PS “And who is here that I can communicate | her how he had with his mother buried the two | re-ship for New York and thence home, for he i, , with, sir?” side by side. was anxious to get all the sea experience that he 5 | ‘©? am the keeper, my lad.” ‘My child is gone, and it is because I allowed | could on board of large vessels, for his ambition | : . “Then I will tell you why I am here, for I | her to wed with one who was not of our people. | was such that he had already made up his mind “ ‘She loved him and he loved her: but the | to commend a ship some day. have come from America.” ; ‘“T see, my lad, I see. Come up to my lod iy with me, for { know you have news I will =e glad to bear, as I don't like to see the old home so dreary as now, and will be glad to see its Ned had ship before the mast, but the mate a] had spoken to the captain of the brig about him and after the brig was on her course, he called tne boy aft, for he had watched his actions and observed tbat he attended to his work with al- Gypsy laws must not be broken, and bitterly am I punished. “My boy, I thank you for all that you have done, and 1 would bestow upon you gold for =. «& — ty N. open doors once more, even if we have to ac- | your trouble ” said the old woman. x . knowledge a Gypsy Queen as my lady.” ‘‘No, no indeed, not a piece of gold will I | acrity and was as thorough‘as any experienced | ee - And the old keeper led the way to the man- | touch,” cried Ned. seaman. : Pees} | bey sion, where he soon learned all that had bap- “Here, then, take this necklace of golden ‘* What is your name, my lad?” he asked. a pened, and he said quickly: links, and let me clasp it about your neck. ‘“‘ Ned, sir.” “Then Lieutenant Cecil Hammond is now “Wear it, for it will bring you good-fortune,; “You are not English?” ‘No, sir, I am an American.” but the day you pledge your love to woman, “Well, lad, I'll give youa softer berth than» , bi ee) Lord of Melton, seeing as how poor Master Loyd y ie Or is dead, ' take it from your neck and place it about hers, ; 1 “ Well, he’s a fine fellow, is he, and I gues and only luck can ever attend you both—fare- | foremast-hand, so you cango in the cabin as aaa a he'll give up following the sea and come home | well.” cabin-boy.” - aa and enjoy himeelf. She cl a necklace of solid gold links ‘Please, sir, but I went over to England on “But we must go to the city to-morrow, lad, | about Ned’s neck, as she spoke, and be, seeing | an important business, and though I have the. money to pay passageway, preferred to go as seaman to learn all 1 could and wish you would let me remain forward, sir, a8 I can not become a sailor working as cabin-boy.” ‘“ Well said, lad; but as you are so anxious ‘to - learn, I'll tell you what I'l do.” ‘e"Vee, Sie ae “D1 take you in the cabin with me and teach yu alll can, and my mates will do the same, . while you can. help in different ways to pay fo ' yur passage. “ sir, you are very kind,” said Ned, and ’ he was at once installed in the cabin as a kind of © supercargo. e captain, mates and crew all took a fancy to him, and whenever there was work alow or- ’ aloft to be done, Ned lent a ready hand, and . showed a skill beyond his years. — 4 The brig was a fleet sailer, some three bundred ry tons burden, and had a crew of twenty-three all. ae told, with a broadside of .two twelve-pounders, and a pivot stern cbaser, an eighteen-pounder, to protect her in flight. In those days pirates swept the seas,anda bright lookout was kept f¢r any strange sail, ed was anxious to take his trick aloft,anéd — one evening, just as the sun set, be called out: | ‘“* Sail, ho!” y= | ““ Whereaway,. lad? asked the captain, who: was on deck. , “Almost dead ahead, sir, one half point off the starboard bow, and with no sail set.” _ “Ay, ay! and a schooner lying under bare. Jes to hide while we ran upon him, “You have sharp eyes, ldd, and have keptus out of trouble, for thav fellow has an ugly that the woman would heve itso, made no re- sistance. Then he bade her farewell, while she raised his hands, one after the other, to her lips, say- ing: “Tet me kiss the hands that buried my child—farewell!” Ned then de from the tent, while sud- denly arose behind him the quick sounding of a vocsin. It rolled through the camp, and as its sounds reached the ears of the dusky people a wail of ang ish arose. ‘Then all counted the strokes, sounded by the old woman, and when one _ score had been struck, loud cries were heard on all sides, for that number told that Vesta the Gypsy Queen was dead. ‘Come, lad, let us get away from this howl ing gang,” eried the old keeper, in alarm, and whipping up his horse, they drove rapidly away from the Gypsy camip- CHAPTER XL THE CHASE, As the guest of the good keeper of the home of the tons, Neptune Ned remained all night, and the next day set out upon his trip to visit the kindred of Carl Brewer, make known his death. The few effects left by the dead maw Ned carried with him, and after some trouble found the homestead of his people and the stern father of his mother, who had become a commodore and make all known to the master’s attorney.” But I wish also to see the old Gypsy woman, y: ‘She has noright here now, lad ‘‘T have a promise to keep to the poor gentle- , man who died, and I must do so.” | ee “You area good lad, I say, and I'll tell you a”, what I'll do. ae “The Gypsy camp is down the shore a couple yee of leagues, they baving just come back to the a ; ‘neighborhood after their wanderings, and I will drive you there in my cart, so you can see her, and we can Fes back by nightfall.” Pe} “J will thank you, sir, if you will take me a there,” answered Neptune ed, and half an hour after the two werein a small cart going throuzh the forest to the camp of old Molsey, the Gypsy. ” CHAPTER X. NEPTUNE NED’S PLEDGE KEPT. Tue Gypsy camp was situated im a most pic- turesque spot, in the midst of a vast woodland bordering upon the sea. There were fully two-score tents and wagons, ie ‘ond nearly two hundred of these dusky children ae ae ‘of the forest, and the eyes of all rested upon the Vi gin old keeper and Neptune Ned as they drove up. ea. ‘What is wanted?’ asked a brawny fellow, XK addressing the keeper. Vay “This lad wishes to see your queen.” en. ‘‘ T will see if. she will speak with him,” and . the fellow disappeared, to soon return and state that Molsey declined to speak with any one. “'Tel] her that I come from her daughter,” and retired from the sea. gaid Neptune Ned, | ‘ The man started and said: In a few words Ned made known his errand, | look.” _ , ‘ “ From elton?” told the story of his parents’ dwelling in Ameri-' The brig was. still heading directly for” the | ‘ yes, . - : - ~ i Me arty J | ait & * Srcil -\ » . - yi é > }, ey. 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