Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 48 — page 32: what you’re looking at

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

32 Beadle’s Dime Library. Caselton,' who; ‘with tis friends; still lingered arotind’ Tahoe, was satisfied that Hubert Leland and his men were at — P mystert ous work, whatever that might be. | Frank would have been tempted to visit the island had he possessed a canoe. It seemed like an age since he’ had seen’ Zoe, cre veer emenes ae ens ee reality. i ‘He had ‘not seen Idaho Tom since 'the morning‘ he ‘had saved his life—the morning 6f the compact. ‘The hills were swarniffiz with foes, and so they were compelled to keep under cover miost of the time. ‘Whenever they did venture forth, it was with ex- treme caution. Meanwhile, Idaho ’Tom had not lost sight of the bay, nor the object of his affection; and while he labored under the same disadvantage as his i?¥al)in ‘the want of a canoe’ to visit the island, he had recourse to the same means used a few days previotis in communicating with Zoe.’ Having procured a broad-brimmed panama hat at the cabin of the MadTrapper, he’ proceeded ‘to convert it into alittle transport for the conveyance’ of messages to the island. Around and over the crown ‘he ertwined green parasites and leaves’ until the whole top of the hat was concealed from view. “To this he attached a little sail—the same’ that'Zoe had sent attached to his love-barge a few days previous. Carrying his delicate craft’ to a point on the nay where 6 the wind would carry it straight toward the island, he placed it upon the water, freighted with a message of love, and turtied it loose at the mercy of the waves. ve eid Gayly the little transport sped away upon its mission, ‘while with a joyous heart, Tom hastened around the bay to the lee! ward of the island, there to await a reply from the maiden. ' Under the green-draped boughs of a low, scrubby pine he “a3 down to wait and watch. He waited for long hours. Under any other circumstance his patience “would have been exhausted: but if the looked-for, longed-for message ‘only came at all, he would feel amply repaid for all time spent in waiting. 3 “To his joy he finally saw the little sail scud out from thé isl- and, and bear gayly down toward him: With edger eyes he watotied its approdch—With burning inpatience he waited its ar- rival. " At length it touched upon the beach at his féet. “In ariong its greon drapery he saw that some bright flowers had been en- ¢wined: by a hasty hand.” This alone would have been strong evidence to Tom, of Zoe’s love; but it was not all. He ‘found a little slip of paper nestled in among the flowers. He took it out and with wildly throbbing heart, read these words: . * “ Remembered friend:—All is well at the island. Accept my thanks for your kind regards, ‘I'shall never cease 6 to Bray tor you and your friend, Mr. Caselton. Zon.” “| Remembered friend,” mused thélove-sick' youths *¢T wonter if'she rémembers me with no other thoughts than those of ‘meré friéndship? ' She surely does, but then the promptness of her ré- ply; the présence of those flowers—both are significant of overt thing that gives me encouragement.” °° 0 ' He'placed the note caréfully away in ap inner Hottest Ot! Ris shirt; then ‘he lifted his’ novel little transport from the water and concealed ‘it, never dreaming that a pair of restless eyen were watching him—noting every movement he madé, ’’ * With a joyous heart he turned and ‘moved back aréund the bay, and would have continued on up the valley toward ‘the cabin ‘of the Mad Trapper, had his keen eye not caught sight'of a canoe beached on the northern shore. The: temptation that this held out to him was too strong to be overcome, and he re solved to visit 'the'island at once. So, launching ‘the craft, he sprung into it, seated himself, and taking up the paddle pushed out into the bay and approached the island slowly and carefully. With a light of joy beaming wee er? lovely: rage snags met him at the edge bf the isle. Having sacbenees words significant of bess on meeting, Tom said: “Ty beg’ you will place my intrusion, Zoe. I found “this canoe upon the beach and without a moment’s hesitation or ‘a second thought as to how it camé lepers I nla iit 7” and started for this island.” “You are very welcome, Mr. Taylor,” the maideti‘ er “though I recognize the Canoe as theone in which father went ashore nearly an hour ago.” ‘Indeed! Then’ must hurry back. | Hé will be disappointed if the cance is not there ‘when’ he returns torwhere he left it. Baty eoy'E sessidicnotnngiat the. Semmpintions Sox, his dard whan the means were afforded.” .) .)) wo soos hae bael ont i441 am. sure E know of. nothing. here, #0 very attractive,” rey aponded Zoe, half defining the es eat conte ‘* uriless i¢ is thé secret with which ‘this island must’ seem en- dowed to strangers: " But, ee is Mr. Caselton in the vicinity yot?” “(He may be in the Seatgheriied of the lake, though I have not seen him since the morning we left here together.” ‘‘T am sure’ he is not as appreciative of kindness as I have en- deavored to be'to you, Tom,” she said with a pleasant smile. “T saved his life, ‘and he Has taken it as a matter of fact, and never showed himself since he left. You saved my life and I have endeavored to show a just ‘appréciation of the’ noble deed, But, indeed, Tom, that little letter transport of yours’ is a de- ‘cided originality, and’oh! it is such a relief from the monoto- nous vigils of the long days, to see it come sailing across the water!’ Father knows’ nothing of our’ ‘correspondence yet, and whether he"would disapprove of it as béing improper, I am sure ‘Teatinot’say. | I'would do nothing against my father’s will, and if at any time’ I fail to answer, you will know ’ that his ers tions are the cause. _He certainly knows; however; that boys and girls couldn’t live without play,” and the’ smile that had been hovering “ her lips, broke into a ‘soft ri of waren laughter. of Phen you negiind the cithengé of those notes as child’s play, do you, Zoe?” Tom asked, his young heart rary: - ae ‘pense. hae 04 decided i nedolay,® sepia the ‘the snaidion; - whore pure; womanly instinct shrunk from: the thought of offending the youth by word or deed. |‘‘Lenjoy it very much; call it what ‘you may and Ido hope that I:may continue:to’ hear from ‘you. ‘, feel much safer and happier; when I know’ there are those around ‘us who are not our| natural énemies; ‘as I wounhaat the Indians and outlaws.”’ el iy Bi ©7068,” Baid Tom, etinmnleidents rte ‘vetio6, “16 could a bh et tent to. watch “youandyour friends from’ ee sored save I could only be'assured of one thing.” ‘‘That must be very precious,” she replied, gazing away fétoss the water as though ats ST anes not the object of the youth’s avowed self-devotion. {91% ° ‘Tt is precious, Zoe,” he replied, in a tone soft-and low as the summer wind; “it would be worth more to me than all’ the gold on the Pacific shores, And that prize is your 'love.”. ied » "The maiden could not’ conceal her’ embarrassment, |” Her face flushed crimson; and hereyes sought the ground.')''She could not receive this confession of | love with aan for r a she aoe what was coming. = . Tom noticed: her contest! ‘and econ it as’ pelea him, ' His heart took courage, but) while waiting for an ‘answer, his eyes fell upon her little brown harids that' werd toying Bia fusediy with a cluster of leaves, and he started as though an adder had stung him. Upon one of her fingers flashéd a diamond ring which he re- cognized at a glance. It was the same ring that he had lost at poker in the “ Ophir Exchange,” ” at Virginia City—the same ring that had been won by the'two stratigers that he afterward saw dead in the eabin"of the Mad Trapper. © '* » The young outlaw grew.almost ‘sick at heart, for'it seemed as though Zoe held the, jewel so it would flash the''terrible truth into his mind—the truth) of his,being a gambler, a vagabond end outlaw, in the western acceptation of these, terms, foe) oe The silence that,followed, both his,and. Zoe’s silent confusion was broken by the, latter. f ' .viteq ‘‘ Tom,” she said, ‘‘ /hhope\you will, od incur father’s displea- gure by causing him to-remain in waiting fon.his canoe upon the shore. . I would be pleased to see you again, for I.cannot answer you now regarding the matter of: which yonu»speak. , Moreover; I, want, you to have, more time to think over;what you have,con~ fessed, and. perhaps,.you will then think, altogether differents Rest assured that my feelings toward you are all they could, Pete sibly..be,,and I,dare say will) remain: the same.” | » She, spoke, with) the calm, thoughtfulness of .a,.woman, not mar eins age. At, the same time: it seemed to Tom that she was keeping that tell-tale mae glaring into his oye to ie him of the past. - f id ber “CT shall ive in hopes until have w direc newer from you,” he replied. : ‘So, good-evening,' Zoe.” 8 (t 1 Ua grr ee | He stepped into the canoe, and seating himself, sale chiitie for: the shore. | A few vigorous strokes: of the paddle: brought. him to the beach. Leaving the canoe where ‘he had found it, he turned|.away ‘into the! woods with both» pleasant and bitter thoughts surging through his‘minds: (iiy yo sey nh sem “ One’s'‘sins, fre always ‘visited upon his: head,” -he:mused, ‘ne difference whether he has).reformed:and is doing better or not, Mow, that confounded ring is the very same one that I lost—lost "om " -_ } a —— >