Beadle's Dime Library No. 103 — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

28 Merle, The Mutineer. ‘*1 know the price, and I know each buyer has to give guarantee of respectability, or be known to the committee; I prefer to remain un- known.” “Oh, ciel! I fear I cannot aid you,” and the ciao looked wistfully at the gold in the and of Merle. ‘“Is there no gendarme officer who will not attend to-night?’ ‘Out, monsieur, oui! The captain of my com- pany was called from quarters this afternoon, to visit his father who is ill, and he left his ticket upon his open dressing-case. I saw it there when I gave him the message calling him away, and [ think I can get it; but it is worth my place if caught.” ‘Gendarme, here are ten eagles for you; brin me a ticket to the Sainte Louis to-night, and will double these I now give you. I am in earnest. Come to the Cabaret d’Orleans and ask for Don Leon Merlino; do you understand?” ** Sacre ! how could I help it, monsieur? You shall have the ticket if—if—I have to—steal it.” ‘* Merci ; I will await you!” So saying, Merle turned on his heel and walk- ed away» e had accomplished his object, and would have paid far more than he did, to at- tend the Carnival Masquerade at the Salon Sainte Louis. CHAPTER XXXV. NEPTUNE AND THE SEA. THE scene of the grand bal masque, held the last night of Carnival, was the otel Sainte Louis, a Fk gy edifice, combining an ex- change, hotel, bank, and ball-salons, with their antechambers. The main front was on the Rue St. Louis, and hither, as early as eight o’clock, the carriages of the aristocracy began to arrive and deposit their human freight—all en masque. At nine o’clock a coupe dashed up to the door, and a single occupant stepped forth, the cos- tume which he evidently wore concealed by a long black cloak, and his face by a mask of silk of the same hue. Ascending the broad stairway, he gave his aie eceed ticket to a lieutenant of gendarmes, appointed to receive them, and passed into the anteroom for swords and robes, where a gend- arme received his arms, a pair of handsomely mounted pistols and short sword, for gentlemen were not allowed to enter the salon armed, under a heavy penalty. Throwing aside his domino he appeared as the impersonator of Neptune, and his perfect cos- tume was the admiration of all who saw him, for it was rich in the extreme, while a necklace of superb diamonds encircled his neck, and to it was suspended an anchor of ay vee rubies, the lights from the precious stones dazzling the eyes of the lookers-on. Entering the grand saloon a scene of gorgeous beauty and splendor met his eyes. He stood a moment, gazing upon the life and magnificence, with the murmur of voices rising like distant thunder, the regular tread of dancing feet, and the crash of music. Then he began to thread his way through the gorgeous throng, his eyes searching right and eft for some object, while he was If the cynosure of all whom he near. Peering into the alcoves which lined the walls, a little raised from the floor, he gave a search- ing glance at every costume. Whoever he sought he seemed determined to find. Presently he started. Before him stood four persons in a group, and evidently of the same party and known to each other. There were two gentlemen and two ladies, one of the former in the full uniform of a cap- tain of the United States navy, and his face se- curely masked; the other ia plain evening dress, yet also Mabe be a mask. The lady who hung on the arm of the officer had already won the name of the belle of the bal masque, from the exquisite beauty of her cos- tume, and the rare loveliness of her form. She represented ‘‘ The Sea,” and her dress was formed of the most costly green velvet, silk and satin, woven together so as to look like the deep green waters, while it was canoer, with lace, worth a small fortune, to resemble foam. The train extended far back, and upon it were erompen exquisite sea-sbells, while around her ny waist was a girdle of silk, made to imitate seaweed, and a most clever imitation, indeed, it was. A bodice of silver scales, a coronet of beautiful coral, from which fell a gauze vail of Nile-green, and of the finest texture, bracelets and necklaces of large pearls and emeralds, all real stones, a silver anchor to one side ,and a coil of golden rope to the other, completed this marvelous and wonderfully beautiful cos- tume, yt pn a mask of silver net-work. The fourth person of the group, who hung on the arm of the ag recog in citizen attire, was also beautiful form and rarely dressed in crimson velvet and black lace; a mask of exqui- site lace also concealing her features. ‘Father Neptune seeks The Sea! Make room, all, for Neptune and The Sea!” The voice rung out above all other sounds, from the lips of some mask whose eyes had sud- denly fallen upon the two characters. At his cry the crowd separated right and left, and the one who had so earnestly been search- ing the salon found himself face to face with the object of his search. e cry of the mask, caught up by half a hundred other voices, decided him, and he ste ped forward and bent low before the now roost ing Sea, at finding herself so suddenly made disagreeably conspicuous, ‘‘Old Father Neptune bends low before thy beauty, oh, Sea! and casts the anchor of his hopes at thy fair feet.” s he spoke he offered his arm, while the lady hesitating, her escort, the naval captain, an- swered for her, for he cared not to lose her Po. “We are not crossing the Equator, Father Neptune, where thou hast a right to shake thy hoary locks in our faces.” ‘One of thy trade, as thy buttons show, whose vw ges Bg is to tinge the green waves with the blood of his fellow-men, should remember he is not upon his own deck now,” was the quick retort, and a murmur of applause greeted the reply of old Neptune, while the one addressed, and the lady upon his arm, started at the words. Then again bending low before The Sea, Nep- tune continued: ‘*The dancing of thy waves, oh, Sea, it is ever my joy to behold, and I pray theé allow the winds to waft us through the mazes of this rip- pling dance.” There was something in the tone of the speak- er that caused the one addressed to again start, and ingyesr prety her eye fell upon his hand. Then, with strange eagerness, she left the arm of the officer, who said, coldly: **T will await you here.” Another instant and she was floating around the room upon the arm of old Neptune. One turn of the grand salon, to the admira- tion of all who witnessed the exquisite grace with which both danced, and Neptune drew his companion through an arched doorway out upon a balcony, which had been arranged to serve as a conservatory, for it was filled with fragrant flowers and rare exotics, while a num- ber of little rustic arbors, with silk-cushioned seats here and there, were hidden amid the foliage—the very retreat for lovers. “The tide sets hitherward, oh, Sea; and we cannot stem the current,” and Neptune led his companion into a rustic arbor at the further end of the balcony. “*Oh, Merle!” With this cry the maiden sunk upon an otto- man. ‘You know me, then, Mildred?” said the man, sadly. " Yes, your voice told me who you were; but, Merle, you are lost—you are lost!” **T do not understand you, Miss Monteith.” ‘* Wilber Sebastian is here; he returned some days ago.” ‘I know it. I took you from his arm—I came here to see you, Mildred.” It did not occur to her to ask how he had dis- covered her; she weit trembled at the risk he had run, and repea < pt = Merle, Merle, why did you come here?” ‘I discover that my presence is unwelcome; I will lead you back to Captain Sebastian,” he said, bitterly. . “No, no; now you are angry, and without cause. Though I longed to see you, Merle, I wished not that you should come here. Day after day I have waited to hear from you, that I rz oe come to you, wherever you were. ‘*] have come to a Mildred.” ** But it is death for you to remain here. You are outlawed as a pirate, a deserter, and a mu- tineer, by your own government, and, condemn- ed to be shot without trial, wherever found, on land or sea,” The man started. ‘** And this is true, Mildred?” ‘Yes; Ais story was believed, and he has been given another vessel—a sloop-of-war.” ‘“By Heaven! his triumph ll be short- lived. Mildred, do you believe me the guilty being I am said to be?” “Merle, you know I do not,” said the maiden, reproachfully. “ And Captain Grenville?” ‘Is at a loss what to believe. He beard Ca tain Sebastian’s statements before the investi- ting committee, and the sworn testimony of his officers and men, who were with him, and he was exonerated, and you condemned.” “So let it be, for the present. Mildred, I have that proof which will cause Wilber Sebas- tian to be di ced, after which, having been driven from the navy, he will fall to my re- vene ‘“‘T came here to meet my own faithful crew, or to communicate with them, and have them brought before a naval committee as soon as I could get trial; then the whole truth will come out regarding this terrible affair.” “Merle, I have never believed you guilty, and to prove it I will tell you what carried us to Havana,” and Mildred told of the letters re- ceived from poor Jack Buntline and her entrea- ties to follow the schooner, which caused Cap- tain Grenville to pursue in the yacht, all of which Merle already knew, but which he listen- ed to eagerly, from her lips. by a a ee a a a ee eae eee ee **T held no doubt of you, Mildred, or of Cap- tain Grenville; but it pains me to feel that he believes me guilty.” ** Merle, he knows not what to think; he has heard everything against you, and nothing in your favor; he has always liked Sebastian, and also Lieutenant Alden, and the secret influence of Estelle is terribly against you. ‘* He grieves for you, as though you were his own son, but in appearance everything points to your guilt.” * Mildred, I will not now tell you all that I have suffered, or that Pan upon that floating hell, the schooner of Wilber Sebastian; but within the month all shall be made clear—” ‘* Not sooner, Merle?” ** It will be im ible sooner, and perhaps it may take longer, for Ihave much to do, and have to immediately return to Vera Cruz, from whence I have just come, and asthe yacht is my own property, I will take it. I saw it at anchor in the stream as I came up the river.” “Yes, Merton Ainslie is in charge of it, Cap- tain Grenville having sent the crew home to the plantation.” ** It is just as well; Ainslie can go with me, and I can secure a crew here.” “* But, why return to Vera Cruz, Merle?” ‘Duty compels me. I came here to receive letters of importance I expected, but mainly to see you, Mildred, and hear from your own lips you did not believe me guilty.” “No, Merle, I could never doubt you.” **'Thank you, my own Mildred! Your words will make me happy in spite of my own sorrow; but I have a revelation to make you, Mildred, that may make me almost criminal in your sight; but not now; not now,” and Merle shud- dered as he remembered how his back had been scarred with the cruel lash. Would not this indignity, this felon’s punish- ment, degrade him forever in her sight?’ Such was his mental query, and such had been the thought burning in his brain since the first blow had cut deep into his bare flesh. “TI will write a note to Captain Grenville, tell- ing him I have taken the yacht, and mail it to- morrow, and as soon as I can { will return to plead my cause before the world that has made me so infamous without a hearing. : “‘ And within a month, Merle?’ ‘*Sooner, perhaps, Mildred; perhaps it may take a longer time, for I shall remain a very short while in Vera Cruz, and then return here to work up my defense, though I shall have to do so in dis ve It did not occur to Merle that his meeting with the Mexican, Major Vistal Guarena, whose ee he had accepted, had any danger for ‘But, Mildred,” he continued, after a short pause, “if you believe him guilty, why do you a Leet in public with bim?’ and there was a shade of jealousy in Merle’s voice. ‘** Because I cannot help it; this costume I had made to wear to this ball, and, you remember, you had promised to run over and accompany me. ‘* Upon returning from Havana,Captain Gren- ville and his wife became my guests, and Es- telle asked her brother to the mansion, and biding my time, for I wished no outbreak unti I beard from you, I have treated him and his sister with friendly regard, though greatly against my will, and of course I could not re- fuse him as my escort to-night, for Estelle and Wilber were bent upon coming, and I yielded, and forced smiles to my lips while my heart was full of tears. ‘* Ah, Merle! you must return soon and brand the lie upon the brow of Wilber Sebastian, or m r heart must break. ‘il am but a girl, and roe a mere youth, yet I feel that we are not children, and suffer deep- ly; so hasten, Merle, to take from your lips and mine this a of bitterness.” ‘“*T swear it, Mildred; if within two months I do not prove myself innocent of the char es against me, then you can believe me the ty wretch men call me. Now, farewell.” He merely pressed her hand in his own, and led her away from the arbor. Entering the salon they circled once round in the waltz, their hearts full of hopeful ey; dread and pain commingled, and then he left her upon the arm of Wilber Sebastian, and without a word turned away, and disappeared from the earnest eyes of dred, that fol'owed his re- retreating form. . XXXVI. THE YACHT MAKES A VOYAGE, WHEN Merle left the Salon Sainte Louis he passed out into the street, still crowded with many mask- ers, and calling to a cabriolet that was ing, or- cored the driver to go with all speed to the Cabaret ad’ Orleans, Upon his arrival he quickly paid his score, ed up things, and carpet-bag er vention tb the waiting vehicle. iving the address he desired to stop at, Merle threw himself back on the cushions and was lost in deep thought, until the drijyer drew rein upon the quay. ; Handing him a piece of money, Merle looked around the deserted wharf for a boat, and finding a small skiff, sprung in, and seizing the oars was soon flying over the murky waters, Eomichboo <SiGO