Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 210 — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

-~ eut too, and I saw him go on board yonder craft. ‘‘When I returned to town, he soon after was on my track in the city, and determined to settle the matter, [ came off in the Lantern, and I recognize him now with my giass on that lugger.” ‘* What yer goin’ ter do, sah?” *‘[ will try and entrap him, if he is after me.” “‘ Whar de trap, master?” asked the practical Caleb, ** Wait and see, ** But now head in for the Lakelands harbor, and as soon as we land mount a horse, if the lugg°r continues on up the coast, and ride beyond Cliff Point and see if she stands on for Mobile. “Tf she puts back, as though to come to Lakelands after dark, ride back with all speed and inform me,” “Yes, master,” cried the faithful Caleb, and an hour after he was dashing along through tho forest, to get to a point miles above, where he could watch the movements of the strange lug- ger, which had continued on past the Lake- lands harbor, when the Juck-o’-lantern put her belm down and ran in to an anchorage, CHAPTER XLI. A SON’S PLEADING. Wen the Jack o’-lantern luffed up and dropped anchor in the Lakelands harbor, Mrs, Wyndham sat at the library window reading, and the splash of the mud-book in the water, and rattling of the blocks, as the sails came down with a run, caused her to start to her feet with a glad cry, for it aroused her from her book, to see her son just coming asbore in a boat. Hastily she left the mansion and advanced to meet him, and the greeting was most affection- ate, for her boy was all that she had in the wide world to love, and his mother had ever been Percy’s idol, and also his ideal of woman- hood. ‘‘Welcome home, my son,” said the fond | mother, with a quiver in her voice, as he drew —-+ her hand in his arm, and led her back toward the house. “Tbank you, mother, and Iam glad to get home once more,” was the answer. ‘‘ But what news bring you, Percy?” “¢ Much, mother,” “That strange and beautiful girl, what of her?” ** Bessie Gito?” ‘“‘Of course, for of whom else could I speak.” ‘* Shoe is at sea, mother,” “ At sea?” ‘‘'Yes, for she has sailed as the commander of a vessel.” “Percy Wyndham, what do you mean?” asked the surprised lady. ‘¢-You know that she was as good a sailor as any man on the coast?” So it has been said.” ‘Well, mother, Bessie has gone on a cruise in an armed vessel, and she is known as Captain Bess?” ** Captain Bess?” ‘Yes, mother, and I regret to have heard another name applied to her.”’ ‘Oh, Percy, what can you mean?” “‘T mean, mother, that some misunderstand her bold act, and call her Buccaneer Bess.” “‘ How dare they call her that, Percy?” ‘‘ Because, mother, she has stepped outside the pale of womanhood, unsexed herself, as it were, and having gone cruising in an armed vessel, under no flag, it causes her to be looked upon as a pirate, or at least little better, and to which title some of her adventures give coloring.” , ‘‘But what has she done, my son?” ‘‘T will tell you,” and in a few words Percy told thestory of Bessie’s remarkable career, until her boarding the brig, as told. to him by the Governor-Commandant, who had it from the lips of the captain of the Lioness. Mrs. Wyndham.was astounded by the news, but asked: 9 ‘‘But what can be her motive for this reck- less act?’ “ Revenge, I learn.” “ Against whom?” “Forrester, the Freebooter, it is said, for the rumor goes round that she has been cruelly wronged by bim, and that she intends to bunt him to the death.” “‘ Why this is nonsense, Percy ” Buccaneer Bess, the Lioness of the Sea. ‘Yes, if she had gone on the track of Mark Mortimer I could understand it.” ** Where is he?’ ‘‘In New Orleans,” ** And she was there and did not see him?” **So it seems, mother, ‘But be was reported dangerously ill.” “ Ah! his conscience has unnerved him,” ‘No, mother, he is not ill, but only pretend- ing to be.” ' ‘““Why, Percy, you astonish me more and more.” “‘T have been greatly astonished myself, mother, and look for new developments, ‘‘ But I will explain his motives, as near as T can guess them.” “Well, Percy?” ** Well, mother, he bas entered upon a plot to destroy a noble woman, and by her death to raise himself to wealth.” * But who is this woman, Percy?’ “One who, although bearing a name that you and I hate, is yet as pure as snow, and the angel that she is called by those that know her well.” ‘‘Percy Wyndham, of whom are you speak- ing?” said his mother, severely. ‘*T am speaking of one, mother, upon whom I will not follow Bible precept, and visit the sins of ber father.” ** Name her!” ‘‘T am speaking, mother, of one who by her father’s death was left a fortune, and which fortune seems to be a curse to her, for the will so reads, that should she die, her brother will be her heir.” “T am listening, Percy Wyndham,” said Mrs. Wyndbam, sternly. *‘ Having received the amount of his inherit- ance in cash, to pay bis gambling debts, that brother was left a pauper, dependent upon his sister’s bounty. “To get money, ho endeavored to sell his sister to one who bid high for her, but who failed to get her. “ At the same time this brother sought to have her kidnapped by hirelings, and borne far away, but I happened near and prevented that crime. ‘Failing in this, he Jaid a deeper plot to have her killed, and once more I saved her life. ‘“‘ Again foiled, he gave not up his diabolical intention, but laid a deeper plot to have her die. ‘¢ That plot was to feign sickness, send after his sister to come to him, he knowing well that she would doso, and then have a hired assassin kill her ere she reached him. ’ ‘‘This is surmise mother, built upon part facts, and ferreted out as wellasI could. The assassin, one night of storm hurled her into the sea—” “Good God!” cried Mrs. Wyndham. ‘Did he do this?” she added in a low tone, full of deepest feeling. ‘“‘ He did, mother: but, thank Heaven he was foiled, for she is a good swimmer, held up bravely, and soon drifted upon a small wreck, upon which she managed to draw herself and was saved.” “Saved?” “ Yes, mother, for with the dawn I sighted the little wreck—” * You, Percy?” ‘Yes, mother.” “A third time saving her ?” ‘Yes, mother, for, upon running down and boarding the wreck, I found that poor, perse- cuted girl in the cock-pit, seated up to her knees in water, and clinging to her little ark of refuge nearer dead than alive.” “And this girl was Mabel Mortimer, Percy?” *¢ Yes, mother.” ‘*T guessed it.” ‘‘T meant you should know all.” “Where is she now, Percy?” **Upon the yacht!” “‘ The Jack-o’-lantern?” ae Yes.” “‘ And you have brought her here ?” ‘‘T have kept her hidden, for it is best for the present, that her brother may believe her dead, and then she can discover his villainy in its worst form. ‘(She bas told me all, mother, and bitterly has she mourned over the deadly past that has raised a vendetta between her name and our name.” ‘Percy, you remember my oath?” sternly said the mother. er re ee ee ee 23 “T do, mother. “And I remember, too, that though Mabel Mortimer owes much to me, that I owe to her my life, and the lives of those poor slaves who were with me in the launch the day she saved us. “You say you love me, mother, and that you would rather I should lie at the bottom of the sea, than be saved by her hand. ** But loving me, I do not believe you, and if it had not been for her, you, to-day, would be alone in the world, with no son to love yo and to clear your pathway adown life’s hill- side, ‘Years are coming to you, mother, and a few more and the silver threads will mingle witb your black hair, and you will need me then, ‘*‘Remember, she is not guilty of the crimes of her father and her brother. ‘‘Remember that the death-debt was can- celed when I saved her life, and again when she saved mine. ** Not one word of love have I breathed te her; only gratitude has she shown to me, “But I bave begged her to come here, to your home, to my home, and seek a haven for the present. “She wishes the world to believe her dead, for she wishes to know just what her brother is, “Not that she desires to bring him to jus- tice, but that she may cast him out of her heart forever. “Be yourself, dear mother, and bury tho past with her. ‘Take her by the hand, and bid her wel- come even across the thresbold of a Wynd- ham, and if she prove unworthy your confi- dence, cast her off as a serpent that you Lad warmed to life, to receive its poisonous sting. “Come, mother, decide, for there is an im- portant work abead of me to-night, which I will explain, for I need your advice, **Speak, mother!” He waited in breathless silence, eagerly watching the workings of her face, which was white and hard, At last she said in a voice hardly audible: “Percy, my son, my noble boy, I retract my oath, and I will bid that poor, persecuted girl welcome, even across the threshold of Lakelands. “Come, I will go with you to bring her here.” ‘“‘Not now, mother, for her presence here must be a secret, s0 await the coming of dark- it and God bless you for your noble sacri- ce!” He bent over and kissed her, and burying her face in her hands she burst into tears, the. first she had shed, even in all her woe, CHAPTER XLII. THE MIDNIGHT ATTACK. WHEN the first shadows of night settled upon sea and land, Mrs. Wyndham, who, haying made up her mind, as to her course, seemed most anxious to meet Mabel Mortimer, set off with her son to the pier. In obedience to the orders of Percy, but two of the crew had remained on board, But he sprung into a boat and leaving his mother in the pavilion on the end of the wharf, at once rowed out to the yacht. Entering the cabin he was met by the tear- ful face of Mabel Mortimer. ‘““My mother awaits to welcome you, Miss Mortimer, and I too give you hearty welcome to Lakelands,” he said, in a low, kindly tone, She made no reply, but grasped his hand, and be led her from the cabin. ‘Dot, keep % bright lookout, for I will be back soon, 1 expect,” he said to one of the negroes on board, and assisting Mabel into the boat alongside he seized the oars and rowed ashore. | Upon the dock, at the water stairs, stood Mrs. Wyndham, and springing ashore Percy took Mabel’s band and said: “Mother, permit me to present Miss Morti- mer of The Everglades, and to whose courage I owe my life.” Mabel Mortimer trembled like an aspen, and seeing it, Mrs. Wyndham took her hand, drew her toward her, and said softly: | “Welcome to Lakelands, Miss Mortimer, and may your coming dispel the shadow thas hangs over our home,” Then Mabel Mortimer raised her face, and her beautiful eyes looked straight into those cf (E() <SuiG (o) TMICEl yoyo)