Beadle's Dime Library, No. 198 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

——— Oe ———— not by my hand that his father fell, yet I am perfectly willing to assume the responsibility W ynodbam, and turning to his faithful negroes, he said a few words in a low tone. Then they moved further forward, and ' } The Skeleton Schooner. 13 ~~ bareheaded and in gown, leading, the body | craft Jack-o’-lantern once, when you went in following at slow pace, borne by six pall- the Lance to Mobile?” ., i .cf my son’s actions,” quietly said Captain _ bearers, and then the mourners and the friends, | with a long line of the plantation negroes | bringing up the rear, “There is another yacht far astern of the crouching down, awaited in breathless silence ‘first one, Mabel. and suspense the result. It was a weird, silent, thrilling scene, with the two yachts, upon which stood the duelists, lying only a few feet apart, the men, pistols in hand, facing each other, the tall form of Frank Forrester amidships upon the bulwarks of the Jack-o’-lantern, and the crews of the two vessels crouching forward, while the Quickstep and the Lance, with their negro sailors, Jay further off upon the moonlit waters, awaiting the dread end that must come to one or the other of the two who confronted each other with deadly intent. Captain Wyndham was calm and _ stern, Mark Mortimer seemingly indifferent, while Mr. Forrester was smiling aud almost cheerful, him. ‘‘Gentlemen, are you ready?” he sung out in the clearest of tones, Neither spoke, but both duelists bowed as- sent. ‘‘ Fire!” shouted Forrester in trumpet tones, The pistols flasbed together, and one man fell forward into the sea, while the other coolly turned upon h’s heel and walked for- ward, It was Captain Wyndham that fell into the sea, and a wail of woe went up from his slaves at the sight, while Frank Forrester, throwing aside his coat and cap, sprung over- board after him. Almost instantly, he arose to the surface, the limp form in his strong arms, and called out; ‘Here, boys, draw your master on board.” Both Dot and Philip sprung to obey, and the former asked, in a whisper: “Is he dead, sah?” “Yes,” was the calm s‘cply. CHAPTER XXIV. THE BURIAL. ONE would have thought that Major Mark Mortimer had been a very popular man while living to judge from the vast concourse of people who assembled to see his body taken to its last resting-place. But then the circumstances attending his death, bis baving been killed by a mere boy in years, and the fact that the same hand had severely wounded the huge negro, Duke, who had sought to avenge his master, called to- gether a large number, impelled by curiosity, rather than grief for the dead or sympathy for the living. The absence of the heir, Mark Mortimer, was severely commented upon, for he had been sent for, and should have been there, the public thought, and not leave bis young and lovely ‘sister to the care of strangers in such an hour. He was known to be wild — ay, fast—but his love for his father no one had doubted, and his bigb temper and known pluck they felt would cause him to push the affair with Captain Wyndham and his son, for they little dreamed what had then taken place upon the moonlit waters. The time of burial rolled around at last, and a large cortege set out on foot for the family burying-ground of The Everglades—a pretty knoll, covered with cedars and wi!lows, and overlooking the Sound, whose waters rippling upon the shore Sung a requiem for the dead who rested upon the hillside. Leaning heavily upon the arm of Mr. Merton Massey, while her lover—for such Morgan Massey was, whatever she might think of him —followed behind, was Mabel Mortimer. Her face was heavily vailed, and none could | | —— - |e a see its marble whiteness and how she suffered: | but all felt deeply for her, as it was well known that she had idolized her stern, hand- some father. As the pall-bearers turned into the road- way bordering the beach, and which led to the burying-groun, a trim-looking yacht was visi- ble standing :apidly in toward the shore, “Tt is young Mortimer returning,” went the whisper through the procession, and hearing it, Mabel raised her vail and glanced seaward. “No,” she said, in a low tone. “ Mark went in his own yacht, Lightning, and that is not his vessel.” So the procession moved on, the clergyman, ———————— le —( Cl ‘‘Perhaps that is the Lightning,” said Mr. Massey. “Yes, sah.” ““She boardei you, did she not?’ ‘Yes, sah; mistis was on board goin’ over to the city to do some shoppin’, and the Jack- o’-lantern sighted us, and altho’ we run all | we could, she overhauled us; but ber cap’n was Again the vail was raised, and after a long | _look from the tear-dimmed eyes, the maiden answered, while her face slightly flushed: “No, no; that is the Lakelands yacht.” And on the procession moved, until reaching the brick-walled graveyard it filed slowly in beneath the willows. Then came the halt and the lowering of the body into the grave, and the silence most in- | tense was broken by the deep tones of the clergyman reading the service for the dead. But in the mean time the first discovered very polite when he seen a lady on board, so let us go on our way, though folks do say he hain’t nothing else than a pirate.” ‘* Well, you would know the craft again if you saw it?” ‘* Fact, Mars’ Percy, fact, for I hain’t a play sailor.” ‘‘Then look and see what you think of that 'eraft over near The Everglades shore?” yacht had altered her course, and from head- | ing in toward the harbor of The Everglades, as though such scenes had a real charm for | | ground. pointed in the direction of the burying- The foliage of the trees hid her from those at the grave as she rounded to and lowered a boat, into which sprung two oarsmen and a young man who took the tiller. — Swiftly the boat pulled ashore; the young | man sprung out as she grounded tpon the beach and walked with rapid step uv to the scene of burial. As he moved through the crowd a bum of voices showed that he was recognized, and just as the last words of the burial service were spoken he stood by the side of Mabel Mortimer, who threw herself into his arms with a low cry. ‘*Be calm, my sister, for our father is avenged,” he said, in low yet distinct tones, that reached many ears. Those who were throwing in the dirt upon the coffin paused in their work; the clergyman who had just consigned the dust of Major Mortimer to its Maker started in amazement; Mr. Merton Massey gazed in almost horror upon the speaker, while Mabel, holding up ber head, asked in a whisper: ‘* Brother, what do you mean?’ ‘‘] mean that our father is avenged, for I killed Captain Percy Wyndham last night in a duel,” was the stern reply, and it sent a thrill of horror through all who heard it, for the son of the dead man had slain the one who was guiltless of his father’s death. ‘Mark Mortimer, do you mean this?’ asked his sister, with a sternness one would not have believed of her. He turned with a reckless smile upon his face, and puinting to the yacht heading toward the Lakelands haven, said: **Do you see yonder craft?” ce Yes.” “It carries the dead body of Captain Percy Wyndham to his home.” “God have mercy on those who love him. “Oh, brother! what have you done?” and Mabel Mortimer would have fallen bad not her brother caught her in his strong arms, and without a word to any one borne her rapidly back toward the mansion. CHAPTER XXV, THE FLAG AT HALF-MAST. A STRANGE fascination held Percy Wynd- bam to the broad piazza of Lakelands, upon the afternoon when the body of Major Mark Mortimer was being borne to its grave. The curving shores enabled him to see the funeral cortege when it filed out of the forest into the beach highway, and he watched its slow progress until the column disappeared in the shadow of the grove that encircled the burying-ground. He held in his hand the strong sea-glass of his father, which gave him a good view of the fair and lovely girl who mourned her father’s loss, and involuntarily from his lips came the words: “God pity her.” Then his quick eye discovered the yacht making in-shore, and he saw her change her course and head for a point on the beach near the little graveyard. “That craft is the image of the Jack-o’-lan- tern, our cutter chased several times,” be said, quickly, and calling to Uncle Toby, who was dozing in a chair at the other end of the piazza, he said, as the old negro approached: ‘*Uncle Toby, didn’t you see the smuggling ' The old negro wiped bis spectacles, adjusted them carefully, and took a glance as directed by his young master. Instantly he started, and said excitedly: ‘‘Mars’ Perey, that is the Jack-o’-lantern, sab, I can swear.” ‘*So I believed, Uncle Toby; but what is she doing here?” “Don’t know, sah, ’thout she means mis- chief; but hain’t that another sai), Mars’ Percy, headin’ in this way?” ‘“‘Ah yes, I had not observed her; it is my father’s yacht, thank God,” excitedly said Percy Wyndham, while Uncle Toby fervently | ejaculated: “ Amen!” SSS ee Atter watching the Lakelands yacht for a few moments, Perey Wyndham turned his © glass again upon the spot which held a fascina- tion for him, and saw the landing of Mark Mortimer from the little boat. He had seen him in New Orleans, and met him hunting several times, so recogniz-d him even at that distance, and watched hi.o eagerly as he saw him go up to the burying-ground, A few moments after he saw him reappear with the form of bis sister in bis arms, and behind bim followed the crowd, evidently greatly excited. ‘*Something bas occurred there, Toby, to cause intense excitement,”’ the young man said anxiously, and he watched the crowd until it disappeared where the path led into the forest, and then saw the Jack o’-lantern stand down toward the karbor of The Everglades. ‘“Come, Toby, we will go down and meet my father, for the yacht will soon be in,” he said. Rising, he walked down toward the little haven, where the Lakelands boats were wont to anchor, and where a rustic pier put forth from the shore out into deep water. Reaching the little pavilion at the end of the pier, Percy and Uncle Toby balted, and then the youth gave a violent start, and became deadly pale while he cried: “Oh, Toby! see there!” ** What is it, Mars’ Percy?” “Look at that flag!” “Yes, sah, what is the matter with it, sah?” “Tt is at half-mast from the peak, Toby.” ““So it is, Mars’ Percy; but I guess it is a mistake.” ‘My father is not the man to make such mistakes, Toby; but I think I understand it now.” “Yes, sah?” ** He sees the funeral procession yonder, and has half-masted his flag out of respect, as bia arrival just at this time has forced him to be in sight of the mourners.” ‘* Yes, sab, that is it I reckons.” But on came the yacht toward the pier, her flag at half-mast telling a far different story from what Percy and Uncle Toby believed and hoped. CHAPTER XXVIL. THE RETURN. “Topsy, I do not see my father upon the yacht,’ suddenly cried Percy Wyndham, mak- ing a spy-glass of his two bands, and turning them upon the little craft, as it drew nearer to the pier. “No, sah, nor does I; but my eyes is growin’ a leetle dim o’ late, Mars’ Percy.” “T recognize Dot, and Philip, but cannot see who it is at the tiller, though it is not my father. ‘“T hope that half-mast flag does not mean more sorrow and trouble for us, Uncle Toby.” ‘*T bopes not, sah, from my soul I do, Mars’ Percy, for we have been sadly "flicted of late, sah.” IOO cS (E (E(©) com