Beadle's Dime Library No. 109 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

10 Captain ing will yet come between him and me, for I owe him debts that must be paid; now I will hasteo on, and see if my poor old father es- _aped from these devils’ hands— Ha!” he exclamation was caused by seeing before | vim Kate Belmont and Lady Grace, and there | vas surprise, mingled with anxiety, upon the | :ace of each, when they saw who it was that stood before them. ‘ ‘Cavanaugh! is it you indeed?” * Yes, Lady Kate, it is your humble servant, -enton Cavanaugh,” and he doffed his gold- raided naval cap. ‘*T feared evil had befallen you, when you ailed in the same vessel, on which, we after- ward discovered, Lord Manly went as an officer; thank God you returned in safety.” ‘Tt nearly happened otherwise, Lady Kate,” and the young man pointed to the dead bodies of his intended assassins. ““So we saw; but your coolness and Conrage saved you; it was I that called to you, when the inen were creeping upon you.” “Then you have returned the debt you owe me, for that cry startled the men, and saved my life; but, lady, as I am anxious indeed, re- garding my old father, having seen our cot on fire as we went seaward, will you pardon me if f ask you if you have seen him of late?” Kate Belmont’s eyes filled with tears, and her voice trembled, as she answered: ** Cavanaugh, your father is dead.” “Dead! my poor old father dead?’ and the proud head was bowed in grief. ‘“* Yes,” spoke y Grace, ‘“‘and by the same hands, I now feel convinced, that attempted your life a moment ago. Cavanaugh, these men at our feet had a master over them, to cause them to take the life of your father and attempt your own,” . “True, lady; with you I believe such to be the case; but | knew not that I had enemies; at least more than one.” ‘** And beware of that one,” said Lady Grace earnestly, while Kate Belmont put forth her band, feelingly remarking: “You have my deepest sympathy in your great sorrow.” | ‘*And mine, Cavanaugh! but how is it we | tind you back so soon, and wearing the uniform of a Naval Lieutenant?” asked Grace. His eyes flashed proudly, and momentarily forgetting his grief, he answered: ‘Tt is a rank 1 won, Lady Grace, for services 1 rendered the night I left ere; I hold the com- nission of a Second Lieutenant, given me by ‘oa Lord of the Admiralty five days ago.” ' Both maidens did not attempt to hide the sur- wrise and pleasure this information gave them and, recognizing in a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy, a very different person from Kenton Cavanaugh the fisherman, they congratulated him warmly upon his success, and calling her groom, Lady Kate bade him surrender bis horse to Lieutenant Cavanaugh, and remain at the ruin with the two dead bodies, until she sent Sagan “ier Semis Cor. ‘ a te eit 6 Trish groom e a wry face, for thoug ne liked a Sy he did not relish being alone ‘vith the dead; but he silently obeyed, and ander the escort of the young officer, the maidens returned homeward, Kenton Cava- naugh giving a description of his short cruise, the storm, the battle, and his trip to London, and yet speaking most modestly of the services he had rendered the vessel, and Lord Manly, and paying nothing about who the Pirate Chief nad been discovered to be. Arriving at Castle Cor the earl was made ac- quainted with all that had happened, and al- ways liking the young fisherman, he warml welcomed him to the hospitalities of bis roof, for the lieutenant bore to him official dispatches “rom London, and Captain Defoe’s printed description of the cruise. It was a severe blow to the Earl of Belmont \when he learned from Kenton Cavanaugh, that suurtel of the Red Hand was his own brother of Castle Crag; but when he saw the ring, and heard all, he said, sadly: “There can be no doubt of it; but Cavanaugh, as Captain Defoe says, at your request he made not the shameful tidings known, keep it still iocked within your bosom for my sake; and ais ring, wear, as a gift from me, for I wish it 06; r Hurtel, my brother, what a fate has veen thine.” A few moments the earl seemed deeply moved oy grief; but then he said loamaniess ‘* Lieutenant Cavanaugh, you have begun 1obly! you have a bright future before you, { ‘d can, with your sword, carve out a name at will cause men to forget that you are not noble birth; in this castle you are my honored ,uest, for I owe it to you that my daughter is co day alive,” and calling a servant, the ear bade him show the officer to the rooms assigned ‘iim, and which were those given always to the wost honored guest. __ As Kenton left the library, the earl follow- od, to go to his own chamber and mourn over what he had heard; but rages had he depart- co. when from an alcove, bidden with heavy tains a woman glided forth, and with white “oo, and trembling form sunk down the door and raised ker eyes and outstretched band.. — See ET RRR a a a I a a a Kyd, the ee a the splendid portrait hung on the wall before ner. It was the dark face, with the sad eyes and | stern mouth of Hurtel of Castle Crag, and as he had been more than twenty years before when in won her love, a love she had never lost for im. Down into her beautiful, grief-moved face he seemed to look, and with a bitter cry she said _ in piteous tones: * Ah, Hurtel! Hurtel! through your eyes now on me, look at me from the spirit land, and let them shine in pity on me. ‘‘Rorgive me, Hurtel! and yet I ask more than you can, you should, forgive, being man and being mortal, for 1 it was who wrecked your life; I it was that made you an exile in that old castle, and sent you away to a life of crime. “Oh, my love! oh, Hurtel! if you could look into my heart now, you would pity and for- give; ay, you would see that though I have n a true wife to him, my heart has ever been true to you, and bitterly have [ been punished for my crime in giving you up. ‘* And thou art dead, my noble, my splendid Hurtel! dead, and my every hope gone to look you once more in the face before | died; dead, and by the hand of that noble youth, whom now I cannot but hate, because he took your life. ‘* But oh! what a fate has been thine—a pi- rate / and my false act sent you to your fearful death.” She sunk over until her head rested in her hands, and like a worshiper at a shrine, there she remained until the shadows of night crept into the room, and warned her that ao must drive the grief in her face back to her bosom and smile on for the sake of her husband and children, though her aching heart should break. CHAPTER XIV. THE WITCH OF CASTLE DEATH, Tae morning following the arrival of Kenton Cavanaugh, as the guest of the Earl of Belmont Lady Kate asked the young officer if she and Lady Grace might show him to the spot where they had had Dermot, the fisherman, buried. ‘*I walked there last night, and also to the old cabin, Lady Kate; but gladly would I go again, and with such sympathetic company as yourself and Lady Grace, to whom I owe much for the kindness shown my poor father’s re- mains.” That was then where the filial youth went, when she had seen him go forth from the castle late at night alone, and he was raised still higher in her estimation, was Lady Kate’s thoughts, as she called a servant to order the riding horses brought to the door, and went to robe herself in her habit and to call her cousin to join them. alf an hour after the three dashed away, and took the road leading to the grave of Der- mot Cavanaugh, and who had been buried be- neath a large oak that grew upon the cliff half- way between Castle Cor and Death Castle, as Sir Hurtel’s ruin was now universally known. Through the servants of Castle Cor, the news regarding Kenton Cavanaugh and bis good for- tune had spread, and many an humble peasant, lodding along the highway, or standing in the oor of this lowly cot, gave the young officer a cheer as he dashed by, while one, more bold than the rest, shouted after him: ‘Good luck forever to yer honor; and may you be afther marryin’ ther swate Lady Kate of Castle Cor.” Kate Belmont’s face turned crimson, and Grace glanced slyly at her, and then at Kenton; but he was, to all appearances, unconscious 0 the remark, though it sent the rich blood throbbing into his heart with hope, a hope as ambitious as Lucifer’s, and which grew and grew with each moment of his existence. Beneath the aged oak they found the grave of Dermot Cavanaugh; and, while the young officer bent in reverence above the lonely mound, the maidens sat in silence, penne over the bay, the shore road far beneath them, the two rocky headlands, crowned with Castle Cor, bright and grand, and Castle Death, gloomy and desolate, while beyond stretched the dark blue ocean in all its grandeur. Again mounting his horse, Kenton Cavan- augh joined his f. companions, and then the Rey y Grace suggested a ride to Castle ‘Oh Grace! do you mean it?” asked Kate. ‘Indeed I do; we have such a gallant I do not fear tc go there.” ‘‘Why in all my life I never entered the cas- tle, and I do uot believe any one ever has,” re- plied Kate. ‘Yes. Ihave several times been there; and you know Zebel the Witch lives there,” remark- ed Kenton. Thad forgotten that fearful crea- LLL DLL LLL LLL LL LL ett tt ta ttt “ Ah es: ; ture, W o they sa does dwell in the old ruin; pity her, for sad indeed must have been her lot 1 alte her live rae from her human I ind.” tyingly ] te, “Shais the old Witch and Portuneteller I a eee a - - — a King of the Black Flag. ee thing, though I dread her as the Evil One |: nn er as ee | _ ——_ - ——- have heard of, that appeared here some years ago?’ asked Grace. “Yes, Lady Grace, she came from no one knows where, and roams about at will, making | her home in Death Castle, and ple attribute to her wonderful deeds of witchcraft: she cer- tainly is a strange woman, and, with Lady Kate, I pity her.” * But Py won’t let us see her, and I am de- termined to get a look at the old Sathaness, if I have to go alone.” ‘You shall not do that, Grace, for I too, have a curiosity to see Zebel the Witch, and also the old castle, and if the lieutenant does not object, we will go.” ‘**lam wholly at your service,” answered the young officer, and they dashed away in the di- rection of the ruined castle. Reaching the shore road they wound alon until they drew near the ruins of what ha once been the outer wall that encircled the lawn on the land approach; but passing pe i they soon drew rein at the bortal of the guard tower, The iron door hung on one binge, and around the ruin was a silence that was felt, and even Grace of Greyhurst felt a momentary regret at een wanted to come. ‘‘{ will hitch our horses in the court and we will ascend to the top of the sea tower,” said Kenton Cavanaugh, and they rode silently on after him. The court was overgrown with rank weeds, and trees had sprung up between the paving stones, while the hoof-strokes on the rocks ca weird echoes to be heard, sending a chill to the hearts of the two maidens. Aiding the ladies to alight, Kenton Cavanaugh hitched the three horses, and led the way iuto es grand corridor that lod to the castle cham- rs Silently Kate and Grace followed, and all three seemed to feel an awe, as though in the presence of death. Reaching the end of the corridor they came to a terrace, that ran along one wing of the castle, and here they halted. Suddenly, the maidens stepped back with a startled cry. And no wonder they felt alarmed, for sud- denly appearing before them was a woman of strange aspect, Yes, a woman upon whom no eye could look and not feel a shudder in the heart, forthere was that in her face that told its own tale of woe, of wretchedness and despair. Slightly above the medium hight, she a form that denoted strength and en- urance not looked for except in the male sex, and yet she leant for support upon a long staff, one-half black, the other white, and curiously carved with symbolical devices, A bright, scarlet cloak hung from her shoul- ders, an and short enough to display small, brown feet, stockingless and shod in sandals. Around her waist was a chain of gold and silver links, and to one end hung a large red heart, and to the other a key of jet. A turban of various colors was upon her head, and adown her back, and reaching below the scarlet cloak, were masses of hair as white as snow. And yet her face was the strangest of all, so oars. was it marked with passion, defiance, evil, and an expression of utter mercilessness to friend or foe, Her teeth were faultless, in spite of her ago, which it was hard to tell, and her eyes were as black as coal, and seemed to penetrate to one’s ve — . ree ith such a creature appearing suddenly in their path, it was no secre that Kate and Grace shrunk back with a startled cry, but Kenton Cavanaugh said quiétly: ‘Have no fear, it is only Zebel.” ‘Ay, it is only Zebel; but why did you not ive me my full name, boy, and call me the itch,” she said in a cold, hard voice and with a scornful smile. “Why say that which needs must grate harshly in thy ear, good woman,” answered the young man. ‘‘Good woman! Great God! boy, that name grates more harshly in my ears than curses would, for it is long, long years ago since I have heard it, and—once I deserved i. Her words impressed all three, and yet before Kenton could reply, she changed her manner, and shouted out: : ‘*What do you _here in Castle Death, the do~ main of Zebel the Witch?’ ‘‘Curiosity to see the old ruin brought us here, and we thought, if we saw you, that you might be in a fortune-telling mood, and read for these noble ladies their destinies. ‘“You came not here from curiosity, Kenton 1 al stg as men call you, for I have seen ou here before often, when you knew not that saw you; and, as for reading the stars, or the hands of these fair ladies, to tell them of their future, they had best never know what Fate holds in store for them.” In spite of their nerve, both Kate and Grace trembled, and seeing it, Kenton said quickly: “Ww ypewe She pollen Saray four wisit, and we will roam through tho ruin and then leave you to your scjituce ones meze.” a dress of deep black was beneath, ° GoOmic (Elo) JOOKS