Beadle's Dime Library No. 103 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

& heart of Merle; but it was a fair exchange, for | | rington blood. she left hers with him, and both were happy. If Wilber Sebastian felt grieved at this turn of the tide, that had first set in his favor, he had the good sense not to show it, and Esio'le’s kiss of congratulation was as warm as though Mildred had been engaged to her brother, instead of to Merle. A month after the departure of Mildred, Wil- ber Sebastian was ordered away; but a few days following Estelle wrote a note to Merle, begging his attendance at the Lodge, for with an old lady, a distant relative of some kind, she still made the place her home. Merle obeyed at once the call, and soon dis- mounted at the door of Darrington Lodge. Merle, The Mutineer. beautiful "girl, though in her veins fiows Dar- ‘*T will think of it; nay, I will marry her, if _Ican, for already I am half in love with her. ‘Poor Helen, I fear she is not happy in her married life; once I thought so, she seemed so _ gay; but, now, when she laughs, there seems a hollowness in it to me, and there is a sadness ’way down in the eyes that smiles will not hide. ‘‘How different all might have been—how true, how true: ‘“** Of all the sad words of tongue and pen, The saddest are these—Jt might have been.’ ‘* Had it been, poor Lance would not now be at the bottom of the sea, the brand of buccaneer upon his brow, and I—I would have been her ‘‘Mr. Grenville, a eS came to-day | husband—the father of her child. bringing me letters from my may be of interest to you,” said Estelle, after greeting her visitor kindly. “Anything that concerns yourself and Lieu- tenant Sebastian, Miss Estelle, interests me,” po- litely returned the youth. “Well, my brother says,” and she began to read from an open letter she held in her hand: *“*T have often heard Merle Grenville speak of the humdrum life he leads at the ese and wish that he had gone into the navy, as his ambition first prompted, and I now have an o portunity of giving him a chance, to take the first step up the ladder of fame. ‘**Through Commodore Brainard, and our unc:e, Senator Sebastian, 1 have been ordered rother, and they | | pacing the piazza musing, ‘* Poor Helen, I fear that wild, reckless son of hers will yet cause her trouble; she should have sent him to sea where he would have had whole- some training; now he rules the household, even to the old commodore, who was always so stern upon his ship’s deck; then he ruled all under him; now he is little better than a childish eld man, governed by a rattled-brained boy of seventeen. ‘‘ If Helen and I—bah! what a fool I am to be dreaming of that olden time—lI will let the dead ast bury its dead, and across the graves of her cindred and mine stretch forth my hand to Es- telle Sebastian.” In the meantime, while Captain Grenville was erle had reached to a large and swift-sailing schooner, lying in | the Lodge and given his letter to Estelle. Pensacola harbor, and which I am to arm, fit out and man with a good crew for secret and dangerous service—so read my orders. ‘** Otis Alden, formerly on the Constitution, | has reported to me as my First Luff, and I have made Dr. Lucien Bethune, your old admirer, Estelle, my surgeon, and have the privilege of appointing my Heoond Luff, upon condition that I select a man who is a thorough seaman. ‘¢ And what did your father say?” ‘‘Oh, he was willing, when he saw I had set my heart upon it; but I dislike toleave him—he will be so lonely.” ‘‘ We will have him come over here often, to drive and take tea with us.” ‘‘1t will be so good of you, and father is very fond of you, Miss Estelle.” ‘*Fond of me?’ and the maiden’s face crim- *** Now I know of no one who is better suited | soned. for the position than is Merle Grenville, or any one to whom I would rather give it, and hence, through you, I make him the offer. ‘** Thave already seen Mildred and talked with her upon the subject, and she says it will be a good thing for hi know she is ambitious that her future husband shall be other than a planter. ‘“** Now if Grenville accepts, ask him to write | meat once, and I will send him orders when | and where to report for duty, and we will have a jolly cruise of it. we are destined for southern waters—say the Caribbean Sea, after pirates; but this idea is of course entre nous.’” Having finished her letter, Estelle looked up with a smile. ‘It is certainly very kind of Lieutenant Se- bastian to remember me, and I appreciate his offer so much that I will take him at his word— that is if Captain Grenville does not object, for you know Iam not nineteen yet, Miss Estelle, and consequently under age.” “So young? I really would have thought you Hef -two.” ‘‘And I feel older than even that age; has your messenger returned yet?” ‘* No; he goes back to-night.” ‘‘Then I shall have my letter ready for him and let me thank you for your kindness,” and | Merle mounted his horse and rode away. Two hours passed and he was again at the Lodge, his letter of acceptance in his hand, for Captain Grenville had consented, when he saw how Merle’s heart was set on it. ‘‘A cruise of two years will do you good, Merle, I expect; then, if there is no war, resign your commission, ng Mildred, and come and settle down here, as [ don’t think I have a very long lease on life, and Grenville Grange must not be without a master—you know my will leaves you all my property?’ Captain Gren- ville had said. “Why will you talk that way, father! you are yet a young man, a fraction over forty, and there is a long life before you, and I wish you would marry—! think you would be happier.” ‘Marry! J marry ?’ ‘* Yes, father; why not?’ ** Whom should I marry, Merle?” ‘* Estelle Sebastian.” ‘‘Ha! ha! Merle, you are mad; I am double her age,” said Captain Grenvillle, in mock levity. “You do not look it, sir; she is young, beau- tiful. and certainly admires you greatly.’ ‘“ She admires me, Merle?” ‘‘ She does indeed, sir,” and Merle might have added, but he did not: ‘ You admire her.” It was true; Captain Grenville had been very much drawn toward the brilliant, beautiful girl; but he doubtless never would have thought of such a thing as marrying her, had not Merle put the idea into his head. : , Now, as Merle rode away, to deliver his letter of acceptance of the offer made him by Wilber Sebastian, Arthur Grenville muttered: ‘‘Marry Estelle Sebastian—why not, if she will accept me? ‘The old love for Helen has utterly gone, and there is a germ of affection in my heart for this But it was with a sudden thought that flashed into her busy brain. ‘* Fond of me, is he?’ she thought to herself: ‘*T must see to this, for he is not a man to be east aside; he is desperately handsome, as sty- m to accept my offer—you | lish as man can well be, and there is a certain fascination about him I have always felt in his presence, ‘‘He has won a good name, comes of good stock, none better, and is certainly not old—he hardy looks thirty-five notwithstanding the sil- | ver threads on either temple. **]l am not certain, but I have an idea, that | ‘But the graves between us? Nonsense! who _ cares for dead bones? certainly not I. We'll drop our tears together, equally over the dead Grenvilles and Darringtons, and if the specters don’t like it, why let them come to the wedding, for, from the skeleton fingers of the Grenvilles I will get my wedding dresses. ‘*Hal!l ha! every closet in the mansion can contain a grinning specimen of anatomy, if their mold does not rub off on the silk dresses, or tarnish the gold with which I will keep them hidden. ‘Yes, Arthur Grenville is a very rich man, and his son and mine would keep the inherit- ance from falling upon the shoulders of Merle, the waif.” Such were the yo that passed through the brain of Estelle Sebastian; but the sweet po on her face never changed, and she laugh- out: ‘Why, I never thought the captain hardly remembered my existence, when I was out of his ** Indeed he does; he often speaks of you, and I do hope you will be kind to him,” and Merle rode home thinking he had sown seed that would bring forth good fruit—and he had, for he had set two people to thinking of each other, and that is dangerous employment, where a man and Y Freak thas any Glefle begin his: peepersit rom that day Merle began re ons for his sea apaide, and two ssuntiee after re- — orders to report for duty at New Or- eans, In obedience he set sail for the city, by way of Lake Borgue, in the little yacht Captain Grenville given him, and he carried as pas- sengers the captain himself, Estelle Sebastian and her ancient relative, On arriving at the hotel where Captain Wil- ber Sebastian was stopping in New Orleans, Ar- thur Grenville for the first time in his life, wrote his name with an addition; he wrote: ‘‘ Arthur Grenville and wife.” The marriage had been a quiet one, the cere- mony a Pe Someta at Darrington Lodge the morning of their departure from home; the red feud between the two names had ended at last. The _ found the schooner ready to sail, and, after congratulations to his sister and her husband, Captain Sebastian invited all to a breakfast on board his beautiful vessel. It was a happy dejeuner in the little cabin, and toasts for happiness and success in the fu- ture, were drank all round; then farewells were said and Arthur Grenville and his wife, accom- panied by their ancient relative were rowed ashore, while the schooner spread her white wings and flew down the river like an eagle af- ter its prey. ‘How sorry 1 am that Mildred was out of town; it was such a Senta to Merle not to see her, and she will be really distressed to know that she missed him,” said Mrs. Gren- ville, as the party stuod on the pier watching tne rapidly-receding vessel. ‘* Yes, but the schooner sailed a week sooner than was anticipated, Estelle, and Mildred’s last letter to Merle told him that she was compelled to go to Mobile with her guardian, in regard to some legal matters about her property, but that she would return to-day; we will drive vy and see if she has — home aap * As Arthur Grenville spoke a stylish carriage, with servants in livery, dashed rapidly down to the river-side. From the windows peered the beautiful face ef Mildred Monteith—pale and anxious. Her eyes falling upon the distant schooner, she fell back upon the soft cushions, covering her face with her hands, and from her white lips broke the words, as though coming from her heart: “Too late! eh, too late! he has gone to his ruin! for Wilber Sebastian has taken him with him only for the love of hate.” CHAPTER XVII. THE PURSUIT. MILDRED, dear Mildred, what a disappoint- ment.’ The maiden started, as the voice met her ears, and her face flushed angrily, and hot words sprung to her lips, as she beheld the lovely face of Estelle peering into the carriage window.. But, with a mighty effort, she checked her anger, and another thought flashed through her brain, and, with a forced smile through her tears, she said: ‘* He is gone, then, and I did not see him?” ‘“‘ Yes; brother did not expect to go sosoon, and@ we were rised, upon our arrival last night, to have him tell us he must sail this morning; we hoped you would arrive up to the last mo~ ment, and Merle left you this letter,” and Es- telle handed a sealed missive to the maiden, who took it and said earnestly: ‘“‘Tam glad I was not forgotten; but I see Captain Grenville and Mrs. Dabney there.” ‘** Yes, and ah! Mildred, «ould you believe it? Iam Mrs. Arthur Grenville.” “You!” and the eyes were wide open now with wonder, and the face very white. ‘* Yes; Arthur and myself were married the morning we sailed from home; is it not all strange?” ‘Tt is all strange.” ‘You do not congratulate me, Mildred—are you dazed with grief at Merle’s departure?” ‘Yes, I do congratulate you, Estelle, and I am halt dazed with grief that Merle should have one. . Her manner was strange, and yet Estelle did not notice the emphasis upon the pronoun you. “Here comes my husband,” and Captain Grenville and Mrs. Dabney approached the car- riage. After a hasty greeting, Mildred said in earnest tones: ‘Captain Grenville, it was most important that I should have seen Merle before the sailing of the schooner, and lam going te ask you to do me a very great favor.” ‘*In any way that I can serve you, Miss Mil- ded, command me.” ‘*Can you charter a yacht here, do you think, or any vessel that is very fast?” ‘‘For what purpose, Miss Mildred?” asked the rise. n, im surp ‘**T will tell you; I wish to overhau! yonder scheoner, and for a vessel I will pay any price in reason.” “Why, Mildred, are you so silly as to throw away a large sum just for a farewell kiss?” said Estelle, re sep y: “T am not silly, and money is made to cater to eur desires; you have promised, Captain Grenville, and shall expect you to keep your word, for it is most important that I should see Merle—most impertant indeed, and what is done must be done at once.” Arthur Grenville gazed into the beautiful, earnest face befere him, and saw that she was in deadly earnest—that she had some good rea- son for her act, ether than a romantic desire to run after Merle and bid him good-by. After a moment’s thought he said: _ ‘*Let me make a suggestion, Miss Mildred?” “1 am listening, sir.” ‘ “Out at Lake rgue Merle’s yacht is await- ing us; it isa snug little schooner of thirty tons and will easily accommodate our party, so _———— ca propose that you ladies drive home and make” our parations for a cruise, while J purchase seeren end send them out to the lake, and b night we can set sail, and endeavor to head o Captain Sebastian at the South Pass of the Mis- sissippi. for he will not run very rapidly down the river; if we miss him there, we can run across to Havana, where he will touch, he told me, fora day.” ‘Captain Grenville, God bless you.” It was all that Mildred could say, as ber heart was full with joy. “You may go On your cruise, if you like, but I will return to my home in Vir nia, for now EMAC OOO KS 7€O