Beadle's Dime Library, No. 198 — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

— — -_— _—_ you shall cowardly murder him I will send this bullet through your beart.” : His own pistol was leveled at him, and the hand tbat ‘held it, girl’s though it was, was ficm as adamant. Mark Mortimer was dumb with amazement and fury; but he knew that his sister would keep her word, for ber manner, ber looks ~ proved it, and he dared not attempt to carry out his fell intention. She was at bay, daring ber brother, and he was cowed and forced to yield, and he tried to do so by extricating himself by falsehood from the position most unenviable in which he found that be was placed, **Mabel, I had no idea of carrying out my threat, and am sorry that my sister thought me so base, ‘*I wished to frighten you, and see what effect this man’s saving your life had made upon you, ‘I regret to believa that it has offset his crime of taking our father’s life—” ‘‘ Your crime offset that, brother,” she said, attacking him with his own act and words as arrows, He quivered with passion, but went on: “Tt was my intention to take him to his boat, which I see has lodged against the shore, and row him to his home. ‘¢Now I will do so, but I very much believe he will die, as he seems to have a wound upon his body, which accounts for his long uscon- sciousness,” **T will accompany you there,” **No; that I certainly will not permit you to do.” ‘*Then I will not permit you to go alone,” ‘*Ha! you doubt me?” ‘‘ Permit me to offer my services.” It was Fraok Forrester who spoke, and he came forward and joined them from out the | shadow of the willows, In his so suddenly and unexpectedly joining them Mabel Mortimer saw only help in time of need, while Mark Mortimer felt that he had overheard and seen all that had passed. ‘“*Ob, Mr. Forrester, please aid us in our | need, for this young gentleman was sorely wounded in saving my life, and though it is our foe, Mr. Percy Wyndham, be yet must not be neglected now.” “I agree with you, Miss Mortimer, and as I see a boat yonder, will row bim to bis home as the quickest way to aid him. ‘** But let me see if he is seriously hurt, for I am something of a surgeon.” Mabel turned away and walked to where the boat bad caught against a branch that over- huog the water, and drew it to the nearest point to where Percy Wyndham lay. ‘* Well, Mr. Forrester, what is the result?” she asked, as she saw that gentleman rise from the side of the wounded youth. —— ' ©The wound in the arm, and this one on the | head are not serious, though they bave bled freely; but I think it is loss of blood and pure exhaustion that keep bim insensible.”’ ‘ **Then there is no wound on his body?” ** None.” ““Mark, you hear what Mr, Forrester says. ** But come, I need your assistance to take me home, and Mr, Forrester, I know you will do all you can for poor Mr. Wyndham,” and taking the arm of her brother she led him away. “Well, ‘poor Mr. Wyndham’ is good, of a man whv killed her father, and feud though there be between the names of Wyndham and Mortimer this afternoon’s work will bury the past between two of them, or I am no reader of human nature. “By J ove it would have been better had the boy been killed, even had Mark had to carry out his purpose— Ah! I am glad to see you have The Skeleton Schooner. 1'7 ly, and springing into bis boat and seizing an | saved her, and a number of the well-meaning oar, Percy Wyndham sculled rapidly back to the spot which he had left, as the quicker way of reaching home. Frank Forrester watched his departure, un- til the twilight shadows shut bim out from his | view and then turned and walked toward The | Everglades, muttering: ‘‘ There is some strange mystery in this kid- napping scheme of Mabel Mortimer, which I must investigate. ‘* Yes, there must be no sccrets I cannot fathom.” ae CHAPTER XXXII, HOPELESS. way of Lakelands, was positively startled out of his usual dignity into terror and amaze- ment, when he beheld his master suddenly enter the mansion, wet, bleeding, haggard, and very shaky upon his feet. ‘**°’Fore the Lord, master, what is the mat- ter?’ be cried ina voice that trembled. “Help me to my room, Uncle Toby, and send Caleb after Doctor Raleigh with all haste,” was the answer. The old negro did as directed, leaving his master as soon as he sunk into a chair in his own room, and sending Nance to him, while he went to the “ quarter” to dispatch Caleb after the doctor. When he returned he found old Aunt Nance laying out clean clothes for her master, and a planters had dropped over to Lakelands to ex- press their congratulations, and hope that his bold and noble act would bury the hatchet be- tween the two families, and forever end the vendetta. | But Percy saw no one, and only received the messages left, though Uncle Toby, who, negro like, embellished them in a style that he thought would best please his master. As there had been no witnesses of the affair, Mark Mortimer came in for some credit, as ‘twas said he need not have made known the gallantry of bis enemy had he not cared to do | so, and ‘twas also said that the master of The Everglades had carried Percy to his home. UncLE Topsy, who was seated in tbe hall- | Upon the whole affair however Mark Morti- mer was rather reticent, telling the story as _ shortly as possible, and seeming not to wish to _ dwell upon if, and neglecting to speak of how Percy Wyndham got home by his own exer- tions unaided. But Mabel told the story to all who asked about it, and hid only the part her brother had played to his detriment in her eyes, The boat of the kidnappers had been picked up, from where it bad drifted, and it was found half full of water, with two dead men in it, one with a bullet in his brain, the other with a broken head, where the clubbed oar had _ fallen. fixing the bed for him, and hastily he aided the | youth into it, for he was very weak and great- ly needed rest, In an hour’s time the doctor arrived, and then the wounds were skillfully dressed, and the patient given a soothing draught to aid him to sleep. ‘* First, doctor, let me ask you to see my poor mother, who, as you may have heard at the trial the other day, has taken a strange fancy that she killed Major Mark Mortimer,” said Percy. “So I heard, and that since your father’s death she has utterly lost her mind,” answered the physician. ‘That is what I wish you to determine, if you please, ‘‘ Lead her to believe that Iam away from home, if she asks for me, and then discover if ber mind is in reality crazed.” The doctor was led to the rooms of Mrs. Wyndham, and remained there for a long while ere he returned to Percy. * Well?” quickly said the youth as he en- tered. ‘Mr. Wyndham, the shock has certainly un- seated your mother’s reason, for she asserts that she, not you, killed the major, and threat- ens to herself avenge the death of your father by killing young Mortimer in a duel.” ‘‘ Ah me! this is very, very sad; but, doctor, I bope you will undertake the care of my poor mother, but allow nothing of her ravings to become idle gossip.” ‘You can trust me, Mr. Wyndham. ‘*But may I ask how you received your two wounds, which were meant to be fatal?” But the third kidnapper, the leader bad not been found, nor had his body, although search had been mace for it in the hope that he might be recognized, or bave something about him that might lead to adiscovery of why they had tried to kidnap the young mistress of The — Everglades. The other two were rough-looking seamen, evidently by their dress, but no one seemed to recognize them, and they bad nothing about them by which they could be recognized, while their boat was a simple fishing skiff. Some of the negroes had seen a suspicious looking lugger anchor opposite to the forest above The Everglades, and send a boat ashore, as though for spars; but a search revealed no fresh cutting of timber, only a place where a boat had touched, and then shoved off again, and the tracks in the sand fitted the shoes of | the two kidnappers who had been killed by Percy Wyndbam, so it was set down, that, owing to its being known that Major Morti- mer had been a very rich man, and his daughter was his ido], that the maiden was to be kidnay ped and held for a large ransom. As soon as the excitement bad died out a lit- tle, for the death of the two planters, the wounding of the mulatto, Duke, and attempted kidnapping of Mabel, had kept the neighbor- hood at a fever heat, the young and lovely mistress of The Everglades called ber quadroon maid to her one afternoon, and said: “Fidele, can I trust you?’ The Creole was one of those dark-skinned daughters of the South who have become noted for their beauty the world over, and whose veins held enough of white blood to destroy the coarse features of the negro. She was French, arid spoke English with a | slight accent. “Dr. Raleigh, upon that subject my Jips are | sealed, unless it comes from the other side. ‘If they speak, then there will be no secret about it; but if they remain silent, I shall do likewise.” Tbe physician made no reply further upon the subject, but bade Percy to keep quiet, and in a few days he would come round all right. ‘*One more question, doctor?” “Yes?” ** Will my mother recover her reason?” “You wish a frank reply?” cé I do.”’ ‘‘Then my opinion is that her case is utterly recovered consciousness,” and Mr. Forrester | hopeless, and you must keep the closest watch turned to Percy, who just then arose to his | upon her.” feet, though witb an effort. “bank you, yes, I have recovered snffi- ciently to go home alone, so I will not trouble you,” was the laconic reply, and in a tone that was meant to convey the information that he had not been unconscious so long as was sup- ‘““As you please, sir, but permit me to bandage your wounds, and prevent the flow of blood.” “Thank you,” and Percy held forth his mandkerchief, and the yachtsman quickly bound up the wounds, and again offered his services. But they were firmly refused, though polite- | “Thank you,” and Percy closed his eyes, as ‘Ob, Missy Mabel/e, don’t my dear missy know she can trust Fidele?” she said ina slight- ly injured tone. “Yes, Fidele, you are faithful, as your name _ indicates; but this time I wish to trust you with a great secret.” “Yes, missy.” “You know the gratitude I feel for the young gentleman who saved my life?” “Yes, missy, Fidele know.” “Well, only from the neighbors haye we learned that he bas recovered, and it is my wish to show bim that Iam rot thankless for his kindness.” . ‘Yes, missy, but master be awful mad bout i 9 “If he knew it, yes; but I do not intend the physician left the room; but from his lips | that he shall.” came again and again one word; ** Hopeless!” CHAPTER XXXII ONLY GRATITUDE. It was some weeks before Percy Wyndham really felt himself once more, for the wounds had caused him to lose considerable blood, and his fierce struggle beneath the water, and then diving after Mabel in his exhausted condition, had utterly prostrated him. The day after the rescue of Mabel at his bands, it became noised abroad that hv had “Yes, missy, it better so.”’ ** And therefore, Fidele, [ ask your aid,” “T do all I can for my missy.” “Do you see this note” and Mabel held up a scented note. ‘Yes, missy, is it a love letter, for it smell awful sweet?” innocently said the quadroon. The face of Mabel Mortimer flushed crimson, and then turned deadly pale, at her words, and the quick eyes of the girl observing it, said hastily: “Ob missy, I didn’t mean to make you feel bad. JOO <€om “S (E (E(0)