Beadle's Dime Library No. 18 — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

a] i 6 ] | \ =a <= See Oe eS a eS oS ee ee SS — a a eC CI LL A CL LO EE A Ne ee eee Ba But he did not; and ordered wine and bran- dy from a servant who answered the bell he had rung. * You would like to know why I came in here ?” said Colcefrinas, after he had tossed off a bumper of brandy—ignoring the wine in its more potent presence, “T would.” “I had to, to repair damager. The Yan- kees, though they do not know ‘é, are block ading my main port—where, jus’ now, all of my force is assembled. I ranst refit some- where ; and here was my best shance. I shall pass a8 a Spanish privateer, which has been in action with a Mexican rian-of-war ; and, with your aid, the matter «0 be carried out very easily.” * And you expect ms to aid you in this de eeption ?” “TI do not only expe'* it, but I demand it ; and you dare not refuw: me !” “T dare!—if it coals my life, I dare!’ said De Regla, taunted into desperation. “The future Governor-General of Crba— erhaps Prime-Mir‘ster of Spain — sorgets imself !” said the pirate, sarew ically; ‘and perhaps he also iorgets ceraia bonds for overnment monvys squardezed, which are eld as a safe-guerd by on» who never trusted him beyond the length of a chain-cable !” The marquis groaned: he knew he was in the power of thet bold, bad man, and he did not indeed dare to thwart his will. “Tf [ consent, you will hasten your depart- ure, will you no. ?” he asked, at last. “Of course J will. if you are reasonable. I have no desiro to tarry long in port—I have too much work ahead. But I shall depend or. you to anr » ar the demands of my officers ; for [ must » a Jown by the overland route and see my men, If you have a message to your daughter, I will bear it.” “T would rather you would bring her here!” said the marquis, sadly. “Here she will be safe—and you know not how dear to me she is. I did not know, until her absence told me !” “She shall come here only after she is my bride!” replied the pirate. ‘“ When these Yankees have been driven off, and she is mine, ‘you shall see her decked and jeweled as a queen!” CHAPTER XXXII. “T have never counted hours—minutes— before! Days I may have noted: heeded months; but I have never felt that every sec- ond was an age! O Heaven! how must time drag to those who are bound for weary years within a dungeon’s walls! He or she were more than a coward who would endure it, and ossess the means of death within their reach. have been here for but a day or two—a few hours, and yet am miserable. Why does he not come, that I may know my fate at once.” The sound of footsteps interrupted this wild soliloquy ; and Mariana, who uttered it, fturn- ed toward the door of her glittering prison— well knowing, by the hasty, heavy tread, who was approaching. A moment more, and he entered, armed as he had been when he last stood in the presence of Garcia de Regla, but now covered with the dusty stains of hasty travel. “ Well, lady, I have brought you a message from your father,” eid Colcefrinas, not recog- nizing the change of persons as he entered the lighted room. “I hope you will be thankful for it, and not attempt to carry your head quite so high as you did when last I met ou!” . “T have dreamed that my father slept in a bloody grave!” said Mariano, in the tone which he had heard from Mariano’s lips a thousand times—a tone not quite so rich, but a thousand times more deep and thrilling than that of ordinary women. The pirate sprung forward and caught her by the arm, looked at her fiercely for a mo- ment, and then eried : ‘How dare you, sir, to masquerade with me! I have allowed ym too much liberty ‘hitherto! It shall be lessened materially. Where is the pe ? “Jam the only lady here,’ was the reply, given in so low and sweet a tone, with down- cast eyes and a@ blush so natural, that Colce- frinas felt for an instant inclined to believe that a woman indeed stood before him; but this he could not, for Mariano had from ehild- hood served him, and he had never doubted he was a boy. “A woman, witb all of a woman’s heart ex- The New York Library. eept her fears!” continued Mariano. And she drew Ler proud form up, and looked sv much like what her mother had been when first she attracted his passion, that he released her arm and drew back. “You aét well. But have done with this mummery ; I am not in a humor to be trifled with now, sir!” said the pirate. ‘ Where ie the lady Maraquita, whom I left here ?” “That is more than I ean tell: she is not here. When I came she went away.” “ Villain! have you aided her to eseape ?” eried the chi f, trembling with anger. “T exchanged garments with her, and she is free.” “ Curse you—you shall die for this !” shout- Colcefrinas, as he drew a pistol from his elt. “ Fire !” cried the excited girl, as she bold- ly tore open the silken robes, and revealed ¢ spotless bosom, which all too well proclaimed her sex. “Fire! and pierce a heart which for years, in silence an! sorrow, has throbbed only for you—dark, dark and sinful though it has been! Why do you not fire ?” The hand of Colcefrinas fell powerless to his side. “What does this mean?” he asked, trem- bling. “Is it a miracle? You are not the Mariano who for years have been near me— the Mariano whom [I found but a mere child wit its mother?” “Tam that child! For reasons of her own. which she may explain, but I cannot, my mother has ever made me conceal my sex un- til now; and now, that it is revealed, I am Mariano no longer, but Martana—and still your slave !” And tearfully, timidly, she knelt, and took his hand and kissed it. “So your mother is at the bottom of all this!” he said, thoughtfully. And then he turned upon his heel and left the room ; while she still remained kneeling. She rose a moment after, and rushed to the door to follow him: it was barred, and she yet remained a prisoner. With a low cry of anguish, she turned back; and, castin herself down upon the carpet-covered ground, sobbed and wept as if her heart would break. She was indeed a woman now. ll CHAPTER XXXTIL. The queenly manner, as well as the rare beauty of Monona, pie her much power among the lawless followers of Colcefrinas ; and regarding her as his wife, and one devoted to him and his interests, in his absence they were in the habit of obeying her commands, and in times of threatened peril of seeking her advice, When he had sailed in the captured schooner on his last trip, he had told her, ag well as his followers, that if he was successful, he would be back in five days, and then would lead them against the rest of their blockading foes. But the five days, and even more time had elapsed, and he had not returned, though the spies had seen the Alligator come back to ner anchorage with the marks of a severe con- flict; visible in her hull and among her spars. The excitement of the entire band of pirates was now intense ; for so far as such lawless men eould feel, they felt attached to their leader. He was, indeed, their ruling spirit. He had led them ever on to victory with a lion’s cour- age; and when danger had environed, had drawn them from its meshes with a cunning rain and a skillful hand. They felt that if he was lost, they, too, must follow—for in him alone had they full confidence. Others there were as brave, but none so fitted for command. Upon Monona they now called ; for the uni- versal wish of all was, to sally out and attack the American vessels in the night, carry them by surprise, and then to look for him. But too glad to have a chance to win their esteem, and to gain power amongst them (for she knew not how soon she might need it), Monona—who had, as we have seen already, sent Maraquita out of her way in a boat, manned by men whom she had contrived long before to win completely into her own service—at once ac- ceded to their wishes. “ Arm nage my brave free rovers, and you shall be led to vietory by the wife of our chief. If Iam not as strong of arm as e,” she cried, “ his heart is not more fearless than I; and none of you will shrink to follow where a woman leads!” This announcement was received with many a thundering cheer from the men; and hasten- ing to arm themselves and prepare their boats, they swore to follow her to death, if it were there she led them. They had gathered together, ready for em- barkation. And when Monona, dressed more likea Grecian warrior than a woman, and arm- ed with sword, dagger, and pistols, made her appearance in their front, they received her with boisterous cries of gladness. But suddenly there was a hush; and as Col. cefrinas himself appeared, and with a stern face confronted them, they were silent from surprise. For they had expected him from seaward, and he had come from the direction of the mountains. “What means this wild hurrahing ?” he asked, sternly, “ Who commands here?” “ Colcefrinas does now—but J should have done so, when fearing that he was slain, we were about to go and avenge him, and drive the Yankees from our coast, or slay them where they lurk! Who has a better right than your wife?” was the proud reply of Mo- nona. “* Woman, your place is in the house! Go there—I have some business to settle there with you directly.” Monona’s dark eyes flashed, for he spoke in a tune of scornful anger ; and for a moment a bitter reply trembled upon her lips. But her better judgment prevailed. She knew chat » storm must come, and she preferred to brave him alone rather than before the men. So, with an air as of one deeply pained, which she well knew would excite sympathy for her, she turned away and re-entered her residence. “Men! retire to your quarters! When f need your services, you will be ¢alled!” These were all the words Colecefrinas uttered ; and the men were so used to obedience, that they obeyed instantly. But there were many who were not well pleased with so curt a dis- missal—thinking at least that they should have heard of the result of his recent cruise, and the fate of those who had gone with him, But he was not in a humor to seek to please any one, much less to care whether +e did or not. He did not even appear to notice their looks of discontent, though little was there ever to be seen which escaped his observation. CHAPTER XXXIV. “ Well, bre fil said you had business fo settle with me here—I am ready for the settle ment,’’ said Monona, when Colecefrinas entered her room. She had neither laid aside her weapons, nor the haughty look which so, well became them. “ Where is Maraquita de Regla ?” he asked, fiercely. “Do you ask of that of one whom you wid- owed to make her your own—one whom you have sworn was the mistress of your heart and the partner of your fortunes, were they bright or dark ?” “Where is Marquita de Regla?” he thun- dered. “ What is she or should be to you ?” “For the third and last time, I ask you, Where is Maraguita de Regla?” “What will you do if I do not answer?” “Out the tongue off that refuses to reply to my bidding!” . “That were a dangerous experiment to try just now, Eduardo! ‘You see that am arm as well as yourself. And my mood ix none too amiable, while I feel that T am wronged by him who should be the last’on earth to add to wrongs which I should never have either for- given or forgotten—wrongs which may yet be avenged, for while life lasts it is not too late.” Colcefrinas withdrew his hand from the dag- ger’s hilt where he had placed it. For hers was upon a pistol, and he saw that in her fiery glance which told him but too plainly, a mo- tion on his part would induce her to use the weapon. ' “Monona,” said he, more gently after a aan * you are acting unwomanlike and fool- if ” “ Unwomanlike, perhaps—but not with fol- ly,”’she replied. “ Unwomanlike, because I do not bow my head in tears and submit to the deepest wrong which a woman can endure-—te be supplanted by another. Unwowmanlike, be- cause I dare to look with bitterness on the past, and to determine to right myself when my only protector rises towrong me. Or do you mean that J was unwomanly when I armed to lead your men against your foes, and avenge yout loss—if lost you were, a8 they feared and almost “—rR i « Hoped, | < onona—hoped | was lost?” Gomichoo “S (E(0)