Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1868-12-31
Of Capitola that no one from behind would
have Susnected her identity

caIe IOr anybody, anu-there! L declare
nobody could tell you from me-" exclaime
Capitola in delight, as she completed th
disguise and the instructions of Clara.
Then Capitola dressed herself in Clara
deep mourning robes. And now the tw
girls sat down to compose themselves for
few minutes, while Capitola gave new an
particular directions for Clara's course an
conduct, so as to insure, as far as huma
foresight could do 1t, the safe termination O
her perlous adventure. BY the time the
had ended their talk the hall clock struck 9
'There, 1t Is full time you should be of
Be calm, be cool, be firm, and God bles
you, Clara. Dear girl, il were a younj
man, would deliver you by the strength O
my own arm, without subjecting you to In
convenience or danger" said Cap. ,gallantly
as She led Clara to the chamber door, ant
carefully gathered her thick vail in clos
folds over her face, SO as entirely to concea
| II.
Oh, may the Lord in Heaven bless ant
preserve and reward you, my brave, my
noble, my heroic Capitola" !" said Clara, fer
vently. with the tears rushing to her eyes.
''Bosh, said Cap. "If you go doing th,
sentimental you won't look like me BIT, ,ant
that will spoil all. There, keep your val
close, for its windy, you know; throw back
your head and swing yourself with swag.
| ger as IT you didn't care fig for anybody
and-there you are," said Gap, pushing
Clara out and shutting the door behind her.
| Clara paused an instant to offer up one
short tervent prayer for her success and
| Capitolas safety, and then following her in.
struciions, went on.
| Nearly all girls are clever imitators, and
Clara readily adopted Capitolas light,
| springy, swaying walk, and met old Dorcas
knight, Colonel LIE Noirs housekeeper, in
the hall, without exciting the slightest sis-
picion Of her identity.
'fHumph," said the woman; so you are
going. advise you not to come back
again"
Clara threw up her head with swagger,
and went on.
"Yery well, you may scorn my words,
but il you know your own good, you'll fol-
low my advice" said Dorcas Knight,
harshly.
Clara threw up her head and passed out.
Before the door, Wool, Capitolas black
servant, was waiting with the horses. Keep
ing her face closely muffled, Clara went 10
Capitolas pony. Wool came and helped
her into the saddle, saying:
'' Yer does right, Miss Cap, to keep your
lace kivered; its awful windy, an't it
though? | kin scarcely keep The hat from
blowing often my head.'
With an impatient jerk after the manner
of Cupltola, Clara signitied that she did MT
wish to converse. Wool dropped obedi-
emily behind, M united his horse, and fol
lowed at respectful distance, uu' Clara
turned her horses head and took the bridle-
path towa.-,.-.''.:r Top. This mnve fill d
poor Wool with dismay. Rhling toward
her, he exclaimed:
Deed, Miss Cap, yer mus sru,e me
for speakin' now. Whar de mischief is yer
a'goin' TOP"
For all answer, Clara, felgning the tenn
per of Capitola, suddenly wheeled her horse,
elevated her riding whip. and galopcd upon
Wool in threatening manner.
Wool lodged and backed his horse with
oil possible neutrality-suspicious. in CON
sternaton:
"Darl dar, Miss Gap, I went 1ao for tn
axyou any more questions-no-not If yer
rides straight to Old Nick or Black Donald"
Whereupon receiving this apol ogy in good
part, Clara again turned her horses head
and rode on her way.
Wool followed, bemoaning the destiny
that kept him between the two fierce fires Of
his old masters despotism and his young
mistress caprice and muttcring:
81 know old marse and dis young gal am
gnu w w thp bCdtu vi lilc. hllDW IL IcS
as well as muffin at ALL l clare TO man, if
it aint nuff to make anybody go heave
themselves right into grist mill and be
ground up at once"
Wool spoke no more until they got to Tip
Top, when Clara. still closely vailed, rode
up to the stage Office Just as the coach half
filled with passengers, was about 10 start
Springing from her horse, she went up to
Wool and said:
Here, man, take this horse back to Hur-
rcane Hall. Tell Major Warfield that Miss
Black remains at the Hidden House in i'm
minent danger. Ask him to ride there and
bring her home. Tell Miss Black when
you see her, that l reached Tip Top safe
and in time to take the coach Tell her
will never cease to be grateful And now,
here is half eagle for your trouble. Good
bye, and God bless you" And she put the
piece in his hand and took her place in the
coach, which Immediately started
Meanwhile how Jared il with Capitola in
the Hidden House2
6 am in for it now |" said Cap, as she
closed the door behind Clara 81 am in for
it now This is a jolly imprudent adven-
ture What will Wool do when he discov-
ers that he has lost sight of me? What
will uncle say when he finds out what I've
done? Wh-ew! Uncle will explode!
wonder ii the walls at Hurricane Hall will
be strong enough to stand ii l.? Wool will
go mad doubt if he will ever do bit
more good in this world?
" But above all, wonder what the lie
Noirs, father and son, WILL say when they
fiDd that the heiress has flown, and beg
gar, as uncle tlaiters me by calling me, will
be here in her place Wh-ew-ew-ew
There will be n tornado! Cap child, they'll
murder you that's just what they'll do
They'll Kill and cat you, Cap. without any
ed room to live with the ghost, Cap, and
that would be worse
g Hush here comes Dorcas Knight
Now must make believe I'm Clara, and do
the sentimental up brown !" concluded Cap
itola, as she seated herself near the door
where she could be heard, and began to sob
softly.
Dorcas raped
Cap. sobbed in response.
" Are you coming to luncheon, Miss Day."
inquired the woman.
"Ee-hee Ec--hee! Ee-hec! do
not want to eat,' sobbed Cap 4, in low and
smothered voice. Any one would have
thought she was drowned in tears.
"Very well-iust as you like" said the
woman, harshly, as she went away.
NSh, L NSSiuic. iuuSuCu Oup., L
that quite as well as actress could! But
now what am l to do2 How long can
keep this up? Heigh-ho! let the world
slide! I'll not reveal myself until I'm driv-
en- to it, for when do! Cap, chlld, you'll
get chawed right up!"
A little later In the day Dorcas Knight
came again, and raped at the door.
"Eh-hee! Ee-hee! Ee-heer sobbed
Cap. 9
"Miss Day, your cousin, Craven lie
Noir wishes to speak with you alone"
"Ee-hee! Ee-hee! Ee-hee! cannot
see him, sobbed Cap, in low and suffo-
eating voice.
The woman went away, and Cap. suffered
no other interruption until o'clock, when
Dorcas Knight once more raped, saying:
Miss Day, your uncle is at the front
door with the carriage, and he wishes to
know If you are ready to obey him.
"Ee-hee! Ee-hee! Ee-hee!-te--te
tell him yes !" sobbed Cap, as if her heart
would break.
The woman went off with this answer
and Capitola hastily enveloped her form in
Claras large black shawl, put ON Claras
black bonnet, and tied Eer thick mourning
vail closely over her face.