Beadle's Dime Library No. 162 — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

“1. ae. fe . ' @nd death as well.” In strange contrast to bis wild humor of a few hours before, he said in a low, soft tone: ‘Mother, Carl will get you some canvas, and will you kindly place my wife and child in their sea shroud?’ “Yes, my son,” and the loving, unfortunate woman arose and descended to the cabin, ac- companied by Carl Carter. To and fro, to and fro, paced the grief-mad- dened man, until at last the mother came on deck and said softly: “Tt is done, my son; the child rests on its mother’s breast.” “Thank you mother,” was the low reply. “Would you have a last look at them?” ‘‘No, I have bidden them farewell forever, mother; let Carl and Maddocks bring them on deck.’’ It was done, and the white, canvas-shrouded forms were laid at the feet of the husband and. father. ‘Those irons that I wore, place at Eva's feet, for they are fitting to drag her down to the ocean depths,” he said bitterly, yet calmly: The heavy chains and manacles were then ade fast to the feet of the shrouded form, and Carl, taking his cap off, said quietly: “ All ready for burial, Captain Duke.” The man stepped forward, and bending over raised without a seeming effort the dead in his arms, and bore them to tbe vessel’s side, Without a word he threw the canvas-shroud- ed forms into the calm waters, and leaning over watched the white sail that enveloped his dead, until lost to sight in the dark depths be- low. Then turning he said with a calmness that surprised all, for they had expected an out- break: ‘Mr. Carter, when the wind springs up head for Baltimore, please.” “ Ay, ay, sir,” was the ready reply aloud. But in a muttered tone the young sailor said: ‘‘What strange fatality causes him to go back there, the scene where he has known so much of woe?’ But, with the rising breeze the yacht’s head was turned back to Baltimore, and in the early dawn she swept once more past the Ar- - row and Dolphin to her secluded anchorage above. Hardly had the anchor been let fall when Duke Gregory came out of the cabin, again in his disguise of a Jew peddler, and saying that he would return by night, went on shore. CHAPTER XXXL THE MISCHIEN GOES ON A CRUISE, Trvu« to his promise, by sunset a shore-boat came off to the yacht, bringing in it the sup- posed Jew peddler, Once in the cabin of the yacht, and Duke _ Gregory summoned Carl Carter and Mad- docks. ‘Mr, Maddocks, I believe you are well ac- quainted in this port?’ he said, after waving the sailor to a seat with something of his old courtesy of manner. “ Yes, sir, I know it well.” “Then I will give you a duty to perform, ‘‘T have taken a fancy to go cruising in a larger vessel, and I have my eye upon it; but it went into the dock to-day for a thorough overhauling, and it will take some weeks be- fore she is again ready for sea, “Tn the mean time I wish you to go ashore, get you a good boarding-place, and ship me a crew, ‘‘T will furnish you with ample means, and Lam so particular in my desire for a crew, I want no man who is afraid to die if the neces- sity demands it.” ‘* Ay, ay, sir; but what wages?” ‘““Ah, yes; well, tell them that they shall - each one share the same pay the captain re- ceives,” ‘“‘T do not exactly understand, Captain ” “Simply, if I make a few hundreds in a day, each man on board will do the same; if I make nothing, their share is the same.” “I think I understand, sir; the booty is te be divided equally?” “Yes, and hard knocks, hardships, wounds 4c Yes, sir.”” “‘T will want one hundred men,” ‘A large number, sir.” | And within a fow weeks?” The Mad Mariner. “Yes, get them board at different places, and pay it for them yourself; but remember, I want the strictest secrecy.” ‘‘T will be cautious, sir.” ‘‘ Be careful not to ship a traitor.” **T shall know my men, sir.” “Well, do your work well, and you shall be next to Carter in rank on my vessel.” “Thank you, sir. Will-you need a third officer?” ‘‘No, for I shall take the night watches and let Carter and yourself divide them by day; I shall need work, Maddocks, to keep me calm.” “7a, Ft. . “Now here is your money, and you will find it ample for the purpose.” “Indeed it is, sir,” said Maddocks, glancing with surprise at the generous amount, ‘* But can you spare this much, when you have a vessel to buy?’ ‘‘The price I pay for the craft, Maddocks, will not be in gold,” was the significant reply; but the man understood it fully, and smiled grimly. ‘* And you go on a cruise, you say, sir?” “Yes, to the northward; I leave at once, but will return in time. “ Now have Carter put you ashore, and suc- cess attend you.” Maddocks went to his bunk and prepared for his trip, and soon after stood on terra firma. Watching the yacht he saw her spread her white sails and fly down the harbor, passing close to the Dolphin, as if in very bravado, and then he muttered: ‘‘The man is mad, that is certain; but there is method in his madness, andI shall cling to his fortunes, come what may.” CHAPTER XXXIV. WEAK AND WICKED. Back to the coast of old Massachusetts, I carry my reader, and to the green hills, pleas- ant valleys, and spreading fields around the grand mansion of the Gregorys. It is night, and a moon, near its full, rides in the heavens, with only a skurrying cloud now and then shutting off its radiant light. Upon the piazza of the hall paces a woman to and fro. She is dressed in deep black, and a train rustles along after her as she walks. Her face is beautiful, but proud, her eyes large and full of fire, and yet cold in their re- gard. Now and then she pauses by some column, and with her hands clasped in front of her, and hanging down listlessly, gazes upon the moonlit landscape for awhile, as if drinking in its beauties, and then out upon the ocean, which throws its surf with monotonous war upon the rocky shores. As she stands there in the moonlight, her eyes fall upon a sail rounding a distant point of land, and heading toward the inlet used as a fishing harborage, and haven for the boats of the mansion, She watches the craft until it runs in, luffs up and drops anchor, and then drawing her sable mantle around her exquisite form, turns and enters the house, As the hall lamp falls upon her the beautiful face of Grace Townsend is revealed—she that was Grace Gregory. Entering the parlors she seats herself by the harp and runs her fingers over the strings for a few minutes, to then break forth in song. But breaking off suddenly, she rises im- patiently, and going into the spacious library, takes a book and begins to read. But it does not interest her, and it is thrown aside for a piece of embroidery she has been engaged in at odd times. This, too, she tosses aside, and rising, says petulantly: ‘‘T am strangely out of sorts to-night: and I should not be, for I have all that I could wish at my command, ‘‘T am not exactly well, I fear, so I will re- tire, and see if I cannot forget myself in She touched a bell and aservant appeared: “‘ Burton, close the house, for Iam going to bed, and send Sophie to me.” ’ Sophie, the maid, soon appeared, and Grace ascended to her elegant sleeping room, which was in the sea wing of the mansion, for since that night which had so nearly proven fatal to her, she had never slept in her old room. But instead of retiring, seized with another humor, sbe dismissed her maid, telling her she would undress herself, and sat down to write: some letters, “This old several of my old school friends to visit me. ‘* Tt has been nearly four months since Judge. Townsend’s death, and I am not going to mope my life away in widow’s weeds, just to please this world. ‘* No, no, I will rule men, and women too; I have the money, and gold is king, so what need care I for the gossips, ‘“T will be happy; I will let the dead past bury its dead, and live wholly for the present. ‘*T know my power and I will use it. ‘‘Ah, me! I would feel better satisfied if I knew what had become of that man. ‘* He escaped, and, in spite of the reward he- has not been taken. ‘“‘T verily believe the Government winked at. his escape, if it did not aid and abet it; for his past career had been so brilliant they cared not to have to hang an officer of their service. ‘‘T wonder where he is, and if he will return to piracy. “The mysterious disappearance of his wife and child, which I read in a paper sent me from Baltimore yesterday, seems to point to his having spirited them away; butit is strange that they left their rooms undisturbed. ‘‘ But I need have no fear, for he’ll never cross my path again, and I'll have my friends visit me and make this old mansion ring with merriment, ‘‘They say I am cold; I will show them that I am heartless, and bright faces will drive a way the blues, and phantoms can troop about only in the darkness,” She drew her paper toward her and wrote several letters to some of her old school friends to come and visit her, ending each letter pretty much in this strain: ‘‘-You know how I have suffered in the past, from an act of my father’s when he was a wild young man, and the ignominy heaped upon his son, my poor, unfortunate half-brother? ‘You also know that my husband died a cruel death, and that I am left to mourn. ‘‘ But now that months have passed away, I feel, and my physicians say, that I must have a change. ‘‘The cares of my vast estate prevent me from leaving home, so I beg you to come to me for a few weeks, yes, months if you will. ‘‘There will be, I hope, several of our old chums at Madam Marie’s, and with archery, horses, to ride and drive, boating, and sketch- ing the beautiful scenery by day, and music and chats in the evenings, not to forget an occasional beau, we can pass the time con- tentedly,if not merrily. ‘‘T will not take no for an answer, 80 come to me, ma chere.” Such was the style of half a dozen letters she wrote, sealed and addressed to their respective destinations. Glancing up at the clock in her room, she said Eas ‘‘ What! twelve o’clock? I have indeed man- aged to kill several hours,” She started to rise, but suddenly sunk back in ber chair. She was powerless to move, and no cry burst from her lips, while her eyes stared wildly be- fore her. And no wonder; for, in her room was an- other personage than herself. A man stood within ten feet of her, and, with folded arms was calmly gazing upon her. CHAPTER XXXYV, NEMESIS, “WrLL, madam, the cares of widowhood rest lightly upon your fair shoulders.” The words came in calm, sneering tones, and the speaker was a tall, heavily-bearded man, his beard giving him the look of a Span- iard, for they were not worn by Americans in that.day. He had a slouch hat upon his head, a mili- tary cloak around his shoulders, and was dressed in black. ‘‘ Who are you, sir, that dares intrude upon my privacy?’ she asked, with an effort regain- ing her presence of mind. ‘‘An unwelcome visitor, as you will admit, Madam Townsend, ere I take my departure,” was the bold reply. ‘‘Leave this room and house, sir, at once, or I will call my servants,” and she urore to — her feet, yet dare not trust her limbs to walk across the chamber. He smiled at her words, and said: | 900 Gomic is too lonely, and I'll have- Ee _