New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1852-10-13

surd. The only thing to be done was to secure
| the captured launch, and get ON myself towards
Kingston, as fast possible, across the country,
leaving the men to follow, more at leisure, with
| the boats, coastwise. After several hours de-
| lay, succeeded in procuring horse, though q
sorry one, and was thus enabled to reach the
Vale Of Bath at about noon the succeeding day
/ had strong suspicion as to where the wounded
fog would run to earth, and was not, it proved,
mistaken Ny father, after atteu.ively listen
| ing to my story, informed me that he had hap
pened to be at Vale Lodge early in the morn
| ing, when cry. taken up bJ score of voices,
| suddenly rang through the house, to the effect
| that Captain Charles Hubert was at the gate,
mortally wounded-dying. The panic which
mache swooned her husband, usually SO i'm
! perturbable, was greatly agitated; and as to
| Virginie, her wild demeanor and passionate
clamations of sorrow, love, terror, and remorse
were vehement
"This is strange news l remarked. Did
| he appear much hurt -
"Past all surgery, should say, Judging
| from his death-like aspect. That which espe-
cially astounds me-" added my father, in
peevish tone, sin this strange business, is, that
| understood from the Tollemaches themselves
| that every vestige of q causeless jealousy had
| been removed from Captain Penshurst's mind Che
is quite recovered, l should tell you, though
still weak, and not permitted to leave his room,)
and that the preparations for his union with his
precious Msdemoiselle Virginie have been re-
sumed. You must see him, Tom, without delay.
| So frank and honorable man ought not to be
so scaEdalously trihed with-deceiyed-bam
| boozled.h
l assented, and was speedily on the road to
| Kingston. Captain Penshurst expressed much
pleasure at seeing me, and, although still pale
and weak from loss of blood, appeared in jocund
spirits. minutely related all that had occur.
red up to the time Of landing at Yallah Point,
and the narrative manifestly increased his good
humoT 81 am glad the fellow has escaped, p he
said. 81 have chiefly my own rash folly to
blame for what occurred. And may mention
to you,' he added, '' that the affair of the por-
| traits, and other matters you wot Of, are, Mr..
Tollemache has solemnly assured me, capable Of
| the most satisfactory solution. 1t was merely
| by accident Mademoiselle Tollemache met Capt.
Hubert--and-but the particulars Of the ex
planation, Virgirse insists, | shall first hear
from her own lips The lovers eye lightened,
and his pale countenance flushed pleasurably as
he thus spoke, as if he already felt Virginie' 9
sweet breath upon his cheek tiissipating with its
silvery tones the foolish suspicious he had enter
tanned.
1t was cruel, though necessary, to destroy
this Illusion Ct 1t is, also, | suppose, then,''
began, "by pure accident that Capt. Hubert is
at this very moment sheltered at Vale Lodge
, that
"How what is that" exclaimed Captain
Pensburst, starting hercely to his seat. "What
do you say'"
repeated the account my father had given
! me- oerbotfm. As l spoke, a stern, almost
| frightful, expression gathered upon Captain
Penshurst's conference.-the same had seen
him wear on the evening of the quarrel with
!, Hubert.
.sCan this be?" he muttered, with clenched
ip1possib1a. hut I will af
least, be satisfied, and at once. Do you, young
, SIR" he added, have a vehicle capable of con-
tanning two persons brought to the door lmme-
diately' l was about to demonstrate, but a
e peremptory, commanding officer sort of gesture
cut ME short, and l hastened off to perform his
e bidding. In less than quarter of an hour we
were being driven, at rapid pace, toward V ale
Lodge He had dressed himself in full uni
| form-had, l knew, pistols in his side coat
? pockets, and was taciturn as mute during the
: entire ride.
: We reached Vale Lodge just at the close o.
Y day. Scipio, a house slave, rcconroitered u:
e from window, and Immediately disappeared
e leaving US at the wrong side Of the gateway
Il Capt. Penshurst again rang tho bell violently
of After q while the negro returned, accompanie
t. by Mr.. Tolemache, and the entrance to tn
1T house was unharred. There was strangel
ID stern look about Mr. Tolemache's face. $ Ihi
le visit is an ll-tmed one, Capt. Penshurst," h
e said. At future day, any explanation yo
e require shall -
IS g Nay nay, sir,'' broke in Captain Penshurst
l. with explosive wrath, 81 will be fooled NJ
: longer Hubert, the slave-stealer, and intended
!, assassin, is at this moment concealed here
n 'sThat is true, replied Mr.. Tolemache, sad
}, ly. "Charles Hubert is here. and dying"
q "Dying! Twill make sure of that Lead on
t sir, if you please
Y ''Be it as you will--yet stay; the excitement
NAV he iniuriOuS You are ill, | Se6-falut-
e ing
r ssIt is nothing. Show me where he is. trH
: be satisfied" Mr.. Tollemache moved away with,
e out further remark, and we followed
t He is in that room,'' said Mr.. Tollemache,
- pointing to door our right hand.
e And who with him" gasped Captain Pens
# hurst, who was scarcely able to stand from weak
It ness and agitation
Virgne and-'
r cha thought so," shouted Captain Pens
: hurst, throwing, as he spoke, the door impetu
e ously open, and we both stood upon the Tires
. hold of the death chamber-stood rooted there
8 So sad sight is seldom seen as there disclosed
o itself Charles Hubert pale as his shirt-death
s stricken-was reclining on couch, his head
i sustained upon the bosom of the weeping Vir'
a ginie, whose broken words breathed only love
e and SORROW and despair Madame Tollemache
" sat close by, holding one of the patients hand
Is in hers, and apparently bowed down-over
e Wnelmeu-Wltn gflef. NeltHef OF Gnein appear
j. ed to be aware Of our psesence. s' kind-gen
], erous-ever faithful-Virginie,'' murmured th
# dying man, as he gazed, with loving eyes, in he
face, I" have not deserved to die thus calmly
:, happily. And you, too, he added, family pres
e sing Madame Tollemache's hand, ''in this su
vt preme hour forgive me"
,, A lamentable burst of grief replied to hin
d and moment afterwards his fainting vision fe
:. upon Captain Penshurst faint, exultan
10 smile played about his lips, and he feebly beck
g oned him 10 approach, Captain Penshurst com
sr piled, and, whether from physical weakness, o
g. from awe of the dread presence whose shado'
Mt fell darker with every passing moment over tn
r. sufferers countenance, sank on his knees besld
err the couch. Give me your hand, my friend
ID murmured Hubert deeply do repent of til
s, evil | have wrought you. But this dear hand
At in which place yours. will, know, repay all
or You will be kind he added, with increNsn
Il, difficulty, ''y you will be good and kind. becaus
n you-you deeply love my-MY SISTER,
t, "Sster!'' almost shrieked Captain Penshurst
r springing to his ieet as if impelled by galvani
ID shock sister p
1t "Ay," interposed Mr.. Tollemache, gravely
d 'sVirginie and Charles Hubert are brother an
1t sister. But hush This is no time for expla
W nation.''
IL Not another word was spoken, whilst we l1eI
re solemn watch over the passing of an immorti
ie soul. The day, as l have said, was fading, an
e. in the tropics there is but brief twilight; da