Beadle's Dime Library, No. 198 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

3 The Skeleton Schooner. —— | you as you stand there, without one atom of pity for you.” She arose to her feet as she spoke, and he fairly cowered before her blazing eyes. CHAPTER IIL A GREAT WRONG DONE. ‘Ror God's sake be calm, Nina!” pleaded Major Mortimer, as he met the fierce gaze of the woman fixed upon him with batred and menace. ‘Be calm? Yes, I have been outwardly calm, but inwardly a slumbering voleano, since coming to live here I learned your secret, Mark Mortimer.” “Then, for Heayen’s sake, let it remain my secret,” he said. ‘Not until you have heard what I have to say, sir.” ‘Then speak, and let me go.” “Oh! you were willing enough to come, when you believed that I possessed the same doll-baby nature as of yore; but now, when you find me a tigress, you wish to fly from me, ‘Did you hear? I said my husband had gone to New Orleans to seek you.” ‘‘He knew where to find me, had he de- sired to see me,” sullenly said the planter. “ And he sought you at your home.” “ He did not.” ‘“‘He sent Toby there with a letter, asking you to meet him here.” ‘*T received no such letter.” “True, for I bade Toby return, and say you had gone to New Orleans, to remain some days, and there he went to find you.” ‘““What could have been your motive for this?” | “That you and Percy Wyndham should not meet.” 4 ‘‘You certainly speak in riddles, Mrs, Wyndham,” said the planter with a sneer. ‘Oh! I shall be explicit enough, sir, as you will find to your cost. “The last time you met Percy Wyndham here, was just twenty-five years ago. ‘He was a passed midshipman then, in the navy, and you were a cadet in the army. “ Am I right?” cc Yes.”’ “He was engaged to a lovely girl, Belle Linton, and returned home on leave, expect- ing to make her his wife. “ But, to his sorrow, ay, and to his horror, he found that you had arrived some months before on leave, and, taking advantage of his cruising in foreign seas, had undermined her regard for him by false stories—” ‘‘ Woman, I will listen to no more of this,” he said angrily. “Oh yes, you will bear all I have to say, for Uncle Toby bas my orders to shoot you dead in your tracks, should you attempt to leave, until I give you permission, and you know that he is noted as a good shot.” The major wheeled suddenly upon the negro, and an oath escaped his lips as he saw him standing only a few paces away, a shot-gun in his hands, and a face that was sorrowful, but resolute. Mark Mortimer knew Uncle Toby well, and was well aware that he would obey his mistress, be the result what it might, so he assumed an air of indifference, again folded his arms upon his broad chest, and remained silent, a sneer- ing smile upon his face. Mrs. Wyndham laughed lightly, but it was a bitter laugh, and then continued: “Rumor had it, and how these rumors originated, you know best, that Percy Wynd- ham had lost ‘his home and slaves by gambling with a foreign noble, and the father of Belle Linton, a grasping miser, urged her to become your wife, which she did. “And your wife Percy Wyndham found the one he expected to make his bride. ‘‘-Yes, the wife of the one he had loved and trusted as a brother, and it turned his heart to gall, and he forced you to meet him on the fleld of honor. ‘‘This was the spot chosen, and you were taken alcng yonder weed-grown path to your home, in what was supposed to be a dying con- dition, while he returned to his vessel, believing he had killed you. “ But you struggled hard with death, Mark ‘ Mortimer, and after long months of suffering again got on your feet, and following your physician’s advice, went on a voyage along the Gulf sbores of my native land. ‘‘Have you forgotten one night, when the Schooner on which you were a passenger heard -- ees ee ee ee cries and the report of fire-arms off on the water? ‘No, I feel that you have not forgotten it, and that, as there was a dead calm, you took the schooner’s boat, and bravely went to the aid of those who so sadly needed it. ‘*'You found a small sailing vessel becalmed upon the waters, and those on board in the cruel power of Lagoon pirates, who bad come alongside in their pirogue and captured her. “You nobly and fearlessly attacked the pi- rate and retook the vessel, saving my parents and myself, who had been taken prisoner. ‘*That was our first meeting, Mark Morti- mer, and it wakened in me the deepest love for you, which increased to idolatry as the time went by. “*My father soon after died, and it was his wish that I should become your wife. **Gladly I consented, and we were married, as I believed, at the side of his death-bed, and for a few short months I was a happy girl- wife. ‘But alas! one day you set sail for a run down the coast, a violent storm came up, and the next day they told me your little vessel had been driven ashore, and tied to it was one of the three peons you had as a crew. “That you were drowned noone doubted, and my sorrow nearly drove me mad, and fol- lowing close upon this came my mother’s deata. ‘‘ An uncle became my guardian, and as he had no children, be urged that I should take his name and forget the past. ‘*T was his heiress, he was going to Spain on a mission for his Government, and I acqui- esced in his urgent entreaty and accompanied him. , **In Cadiz I meta young man under circum- stances which made him my friend at once. ‘My uncle was set upon one night by assas- sins, who knew he had with him a large sum of money, and they certainly would have taken his life and his gold, for they were four against one, had not succor arrived. | It was a young officer of the American navy, and he sprung to my uncle’s aid with a vigor that laid one of the assassins dead at his feet, while another he severely wounded, and with my uncle’s aid managed to secure the other two. ‘*Of course he became our friend after that, and a few months after, urged by my uncle, and admiring him for his many noble qualities, I became, as I then believed, his wife. “‘T committed a double sin, and one which fell heavily upon my own head, for I did not tell him of my past life and former marriage, for my uncle had made me swear not to do so. *‘T soon came to love my husband, and we roamed about the world together, for he did not seem to care to return to his native land, and begged to be kept in foreign seas on duty. “One night while crossing to Egypt in the vessel of war on which my husband was a junior officer, my only child, a boy, was born, and then I was almost a happy woman, ‘‘But soon after, the death of my uncle caused me to return to Mexico, whither my husband was unable to accompany me, though he followed me there a year after. ‘‘ Although I saw him every year to two, if was only for a few weeks at a time, and in all the years I passed in my Mexican home he failed to discover the secret I hid from him so foolishly. “At last, as Mexico was in a turmoil, hs urged that I come to his home in America to live, and willingly I consented, for I wished my son to know more of the land that was to be his own. ‘“We came, and as you know for a long time have lived quietly at Lakelands, my hus- band having resigned from the navy the day our boy entered it as a midshipman. ‘‘Yesterday my son returned home, and also there came another person, a Mexican attorney-at-law, and, in connection with my two inheritances, that from my parents, and the one left me by my uncle, my secret had to be told to my husband. “T told him all, and how, until I came to Lakelands a few months ago, and knew that you lived, that I believed you dead. ‘From hi lips I learned that you had stolen from him his affianced in the long ago, and that you were married when you pre- tended to wed me in Mexico. “*Mark Mortimer, my husband forgave me my sin, but J have never forgiven you the wrong you did me.” LL ee eee —_——- -—- — — CHAPTER IV. , A WOMAN'S REVENGE. Wate Mrs. Wyndham was talking, Major Mark Mortimer had not moved, though the sneer on his face departed, as he saw how she unfolded the past to his shame, and his face became white and stern. Once or twice he glanced hastily over at the mulattress, aud at Uncle Toby, who still held his gun, to see the effect upon them. But they either knew all before, or were wholly indifferent to the story which was s0 momentous to Nina Wyndham and himself, Then he would look into the burning eyes of the woman he had wronged; but only for an instant, as he dared not meet her withering gaze. Throughout what she said, she spoke with perfect calmness, though ber form quivered slightly at times, and showed how deep was her emotion, and how great her effort at self- control, When she ceased speaking, he said in an assumed tone of indifference: ‘‘T have listened attentively to your story, Nina, and think you have, at this late day, made a great mistake to make your shame known.” ‘I think not, for I have a purpose in what I do,” was the cool reply. ‘* Will you tell me what it is?” cé Yes.” ‘‘T am all attention,” be sneered. “ Your wife is dead?” “She is, and bas been for many years.” “Captain Percy Wyndham though lives." “ True. ” “And you?” ‘* And I have no idea of dying either.” ‘* Had I not bad Toby tell Captain Wynd- ham you had gone to New Orleans, you would have been a dead man now,” ‘* Ah! then he intends to call me out?’ ‘* He did so intend.” ‘‘ But will do so upon his return, for by killing me, he makes his marriage legal.” “Yes, your death will accomplish purpose,” ‘- And you wish it, of course?’ : “Am I so lost to shame that I would not protect the honor of my child when it lies in my power?’ ** But does it not occur to you that J might not be the one to fall?’ | ‘* How do you mean?” “Tf Captain Wyndham meets me in the duello, I might, you know, Nina, kill him, and that would leave the affair as complicated as before.” : ‘“‘Had I intended that Captain. Wyndham should meet you in a duel, Major Mark Morti- mer, 1 would not bave sent him off on a false errand to New Orleans.” *“ Ah! you wish to make your boy kill the man who has kept from him the right of his name? “‘T have heard he was a superb swordsman and dead shot, though strangely effeminate?’ sneered Mark Mortimer. Nina Wyndham smiled, but answered: . *T know he would gladly kill one who brought shame upon his mother; but, thank God! I have kept the bitter, sorrowful secret of the past from him.” , ‘You certainly speak in riddles, for, thou wanting me to die, youstill keep your husband (for permit me thus to call him for form’s sake) and your son from killing me, ‘ or being killed by me.” ‘‘ Ah! now you touch the right chord, Mark Mortimer, when you say or being killed by ou.’” : ‘You think then such an occurrence might come to pass?’ and the man’s face was bitter and sneering. y ‘‘T bave heard that two hours of every day of your life you spend in rifle, pistol and sword practice, and it is said of yuu that with a blade you have no equal, and you never miss send- ing a bullet straight to the spot at which you aim it.” “You have been pretty well informed, madam. ‘‘T have thus insured my life against acci- dents,” was the cool reply. ‘‘Then you know why I will not see those I love fall by your hand; but there is one you shall meet to settle the wrong you have done.” ‘“Name him, and I assure you I will place myself wholly at the disposal of any one you, may select to fight your battles for you.”’ “Do you swear to this?” " Me e. 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