The New York Dime Library No. 1053 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

ee ee ae ee -—— - 2 on her without reproof; but, low-born Frou h I be, I know that love knows no rank, and this day will I cast off the yoke of a peas- ant, a slave, and raise my head and my voice among men; yes, I will yet teach the haughty nobles that a serf can win a name as proud as their own, for now am I the architect of my own destiny, and [ shall make for myself a glo- | rious title, or fall beneath the ruins of my am- bition— Ha! yonder comes before my eyes the means I will grasp: yonder beautiful vessel of war dashing so grandly toward the bay! ** Are all men on her deck noble? No! but yet many are famous, and their names will go down in history—ay, and so shall mine: I swear it by the throbbing heart within my breast!” CHAPTER VIII. THE KING'S CRUISER. Back under the rocky cliff, upon which stood Castle Cor, sheltered by the towering rocks in the rear, and by a low growth of rugged trees upon either side, but open toward the sea, stood an humble cot, built of stout poles, and with the crevices filled in with clay. Across the front was a shelter or roof, form- ing what through courtesy we will call a piazza, though the flooring was the solid earth: but here was the favorite resort, in fair weather, of the two occupants of the cabin, for, when seated upon the rustic benches resting against the wall, 3 they commanded a fine view of the ocean, the coast to the left, and of Castle Cor, ing eaeey up above their heads almost, to the t ften, when seated there on balmy evenings, listening to the wash of the surf, the two hum- ble dwellers in that lowly cabin would hear the f merry laughter of gay company up at the cas- tle, floating down to them, or perhaps the | strains of music, with, ever and anon, a clear, ‘ melodious voice in song, which could not but set | to throbbing the heart of one of the listeners. And that one was Kenton Cavanaugh, for in 3 that little cottage he dwelt, with Dermot the ae fisherman whom he call father, and such he had ever been tohim. — | Seated in front of the cot, as Kenton ap- as proached, that afternoon after his scene on the c =e lawn, was the old fisherman mending his ne ; He was aman of dignified mien and noble . | reggie spite of his coarse pants, jacket and stout ts, and a close observer would have J said that he had not always led the humble life he then followed, especially when a glance into atk - fort, and articles of refinement incompatible with the home of a low- and ignorant ‘3 man, for there were books in severa) foreign | s, a rare painting here and there hanging ut upon the wall, and a few rare specimens of the = sculptor’s art, and other indications that the old mo fisherman was at heart a lover of the refined , and beautiful, be his lot in life ever so humble. ‘* Well, Kenton, what luck to-day in your ‘ hunt?” asked old Dermot Cavanaugh, as the 4 : By ts approached, and he looked up with a ndly smile of welcome. “*G luck in the sport, father, better luck Sas Hip in having served the sweet te, and bad ‘ luck in having offended the noble Lord ‘Manly of be Meredith Castle,” said Kenton, with bitterness in his tone when he referred to the young noble- man. Tr eee y old Dermot glanced at him, and : “Nay, boy, you have allowed that hot temper ; of yours to run away with your judgment, I > fear; come, tel] me about what happened.” ae In a few words the young man told all that he _ had passed, and the old erman shook his slowly. | ; ‘* Ah, Kenton, you have built up for yourself ee trouble in the fiture, for the Meredith blood , never Dig ty nor forgets an injury.” | “Nor does Kenton Cavanaugh, father; he pate. struck me and 1 threw him to the earth and would have proces my foot on his neck, had not 3 ae = se te he sweet Lady Kate recalled me to peo. ee | ° : L : ae ‘Boy! boy! you are treasuring up sorrow in . that quarter, too, for I have not been blind to “a Seva h ambition; do not ba a fool, Kenton, or we are but as serfs, and the nobility are masters, and we must do as they will.” “I, for one, will not, father; nor do I believe you are of such craven heart, for the words are . n, do you for owhom you spea asked the old man as ; age the youth’s manner changed, and he aaa _ “Forgive me, father; but I was wrought up oan by t fo thought that we were looked upon as a _ were slaves, when we are men such as they are, ee ee Ss erent in uae accident of birth.” ae tr smile came upon Dermot Cavan- 4 ane pens and his | twibe moved as though thought seemed to check a while he said calmly: boat for a sail over th he had brought bome spite the interior of the cot showed a neatness, com- | welcome indeed,” answered a rough, unkind voice, and a moment after the man went over the side, his game-bag in one vessel interested he gazed admiringly u the delicate tracery o sails, and the fearless-looking crew, who seemed so able and willing to man and fight the large black guns. a sailor’s eye, an cruise in her,” saic the hailed him. “TT would berth on this vessel,” impulsively answered the youth, and with a smile the subaltern replied: pathway from the | ae ee .. A\ad ) ru0on bad now risen, and ‘at a glance oe nearer view of an armed vessel that has round- ed Castle Cor headland and run into the bay to anchor,” ‘‘An armed vessel, did you say, boy?’ and the old man spoke quickly and with an excite- ment of manner he in vain tried to conceal. ‘* Yes, father; but why should it move you so to hear it?” “Ah, my boy, you little know, you little know; but go in thy skiff, take a supply of fish with you, and the game that remains in th bag, and board the vessel; then return and tell me all that thou hast four’ out regarding her and her business in these quiet waters.” ‘* It has been said that a piratical vessel has been seen in these waters of late, father.” ‘* True, true; she doubtless is on the hunt for pirates; but go, Kenton, and I will await thy coming with prance : ‘But why should you be anxious regarding me, father?’ asked the young man, surprised b the nervous manner exhibited by the old fisher- man. ‘They may seize thee, boy, and earry thee to Ba lands as a sailor.” ¥ ‘*T would care but little, for it would be the etenping-stone from the forecastle to the quarter- deck, which I am determined one day to tread.” “You dream, Kenton, you dream, and dreams have sad awakenings; but quick, seek the vessel, and tell me of her on your return,” Glad to have an excuse to board the armed craft, Kenton Cavanaugh took up the game or their own use, and with a basket of fresh fish went down to the beach, where lay, keel up, several ts. Selecting the largest he ran it into the sea, ra ey a small mast, hoisted a leg-of-mutton sail, and before the light breeze glided along the coast toward the headland on which stood Castle Cor. As he rounded the rocky paw he glanced up, and beheld a small group looking down upon the strange vessel, which had anchored close in under the shelter of Castle Death, and his aor ave a t throb as he recognized the orm of Lady Kate. 3 ‘‘He is not there, for I see the earl, the countess, Lady Grace of Greyhurst, and her to whom my high hopes will fly, guard them as I believe I am a fool, to dare raise ateof CastleCor.” e said no more, but headed for the vessel of war, and was within twenty boat-lengths, when a voice hailed: “ Boat ahoy! do you intend to run down the nes cruiser?” e nton put his helm down, and as the skiff swept round. “T have fresh fish and game I wished to offer for sale.” ou are ut not young “Come alongside, my beauty, for d, his basket of fish in the other. tly he found a ready market oe all ze ood ~price; but the. beautifu n the tapering masts, the rigging, the snowy gore Rn pretty wig Pinner as Oo u wo ea “Boatewats who had ‘My lad, you give my good right arm to get a ‘* That would unfit you for sea service; but I think the captain would take you in the fore- castle, and man than you seem cruiser over the cat-head, the peer ; ‘* And you think I could get a berth?” eagerly asked Kenton, seeing the path to fame suddenly opening before him. a youngster, with less grit 0 hare has b ed a royal and afterward paced **T'll guarantee it, lad.” “Then I will return home, and if I can sail with you, (ll be back before eight bells,” and going over the side into his skiff the youth was homeward with a flowing sheet. soon fying But twilight bad crept over land and sea, and the group on the battlements of Castle Cor were invisible to Kenton, if they still were there; but bright lights streamed out over the water; and one shone more brilliantly than the others, and from the wing in which Kenton Cavanaugh knew were the rooms of Lady Kat and her cousin Lady Grace, who was on a visi to her’, and the Vs ang wife of Sir Running in the wake of the light streaming over the waters, Kenton Cavanaugh took it as a good omen, and, feeling that he could make better time wale than sailing after he round- ed the Cor headland, he ran close in under the castle and landed, | ‘ wiftly along the beach he strode until sud- y he came to a halt, for down the steep | ts above, came two = ee + s. ige™ -* : r) we oy . bee , = oe ee a - a, - Wig te : - hoes 41S + oe =» - ‘eee A es > ° “Wy . s¢ , ~ a ad me aT - od * te ~~ % Captain Kyd, the King of the Black Flas met Se -_- eee ee ee him, and doffing his cap, he said with marked respect: ‘Your servant, Lady Kate and Lady Grace,” They had, at sight of him, turned as if to fly but seeing who it was had advanced and met him, and Lady Kate said quickly: = Kenton avaraugh, it is you whom we se¢ He seemed surprised, yet pleased,.and an- swered bitterly: ‘* How can one so bumble as I serve you, a high born cee “Cavanaugh, you are too sensitive for one in your walk in life, and I fear you will imbitter your whole future; but you have served me, and nobly too, and I have come to ask you to grant me a favor?’ ‘‘ A favor, Lady Kate? J grant you a favor?” ** Yes, will you do so, Cavanaugh?” ‘* If it were to the giving up my life for you,” he said passionately, and Kate fairly started at his intensity, while Lady Grace fixed her fine eyes <p bis dark, handsome face with the look of one who had penetrated a mask and read the secret revealed beneath, ‘No, Cavanaugh, I ask no great sacrifice of you; but knowing that you would accept no gold from me—” ‘Lady Kate,” he said, reproachfully. : “There is your pride again, Kenton; but I repeat, knowing that you would accept no gold from me, I asked my father togive you a letter to the commander of the cruiser anchored in the bay, and he has done so: here it is, and on her decks there is a future before you far above that of fisherman and hunter, if so Ey will it.” The eyes of the youth flashed , and his voice trembled as he answered: ‘‘Lady Kate, Iam now on my way to beg m old father’s permission to ship in yonder vessel, and from my heart I thank you and your noble father for all you have done for me; you have made a new being of me, and if 1do not win a name and honor, then indced am I unworthy the friendship Bi co kindly gave me to-day. ‘* Farewell, y Kate; farewell Lady Grace, for I sail on the king’s cruiser, and if I'am low- born, my name shall be linked with the names of nobles.” 3 : He took the letter, and ulsively Kate Bel- mont grasped his hand, and said, in trembling ‘Farewell, Cavanaugh, and prosperity and honor be thine.”’ * She turned away quickly, and with a wave of the hand to the youth, Lady Grace followed singing half aloud, so that her words reached her cousin’s ears, and aptly eueasing the words to suit herself and tease Lady Kate: “So the laird ho married the lady, The lady of high degree: And the fisher laddie she loved so well Sailed away ©’er the sea. ‘And oh! where would my heart be?’ Was ever her constant cry, ‘For now that I’ve dared to marry the Jaird, My laddie will surely die.’ ”’ ‘‘Grace! Grace, what nonsense is that you are singing?’ cried Lady Kate suddenly, well know- ing every word she had sung. “Oh, it’s only a little Scotch ballad, half mine, half the author’s, and about a laird and lady of high d and a fisher lad of humble origin,” answered the gay girl. | | ‘Tut! tut! you wicked cousin to tease me be- cause I wish to do a favor to a youth who saved a death.” 5 ‘““An exceedingly handsome youth withal, nobler in appearance than any titled personage of our acquaintance, as proud as Lucifer, and with, oh! such glorious eyes.” ‘¢] will hear no more, cousin mine; come, let us stroll out on the Jawn to the scene of to day’s adventure, for my father, the earl, has ordered all the deer driven from the es- cape this afternoon;” and, link her arm in her cousin’s, she led the way along the path, past the castle, to the spot where she had so nearly met her death a few hours before. since my CHAPTER IX. A FATAL MISTAKE. Upon leaving the Lady Kate and her cousin Grane, Kontaee Cavanaugh walked slowly on toward his home, his heart deeply moved, hig bree ina whirl. : hopes now = pas with his ambitio and he felt that he at last taken the wa Ea ascend the ladder of fame, -In his lonely cabin sat old Dermot the fishers man, awaiting the return of the youth he loved so well, and meditating upon some subject that was evidently of a sad nature, for his face — was full of gloom. Kenton entere | ‘Yes, father, and the amount the me brought more than repaid the Ny , ‘co we) a , ‘ ~ *, — have returnédy” he said, as = trouble; — t tell me, have we much in our box father?” “A hundred rix-dollars, or so, Kenton; but . re ‘ 0 eG ee cn * ths