The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1869-09-15
CHAPTER III,
MORE VILLAINY,

| SdI IItSiIIi I1uCy, fCillp UdIISN1It9 Iuil
Ally was drowned, went ashore to in
form Col. Nichols of the fact. He
found the Colonel just coming from
Mrs. Lester's cottage, where he had
gone an hour before, and stunned Amy
by informing her that Ally Bell, her
lover and hero, was being carried off
to sea in the Quickstep, and that she
would never see him again.
The Colonel heard Hiley's story
about Allys disappearance with breath
less interest, as they walked along the
beach after which the two villains
congratulated themselves upon the
boys being thus completely taken out
OF their path. l
While discussing the matter, they
heard the sound of oars, and soon saw
boat approaching the shore opposite
a cottage belonging to an old retired
sailor named Nicholas Collins, which
was situated at the foot of Mrs. Les
ter's garden. In the boat was a man
and along with him was female, sob
bing convulsively. Colonel Nichols,
with surprise and alarm, recognized
the voice of the weeper as that Of Amy
Lester. She and her companion left
the boat and entered the cottage, from
the windows of which a light soon
shone. Colonels Nichols and Captain
Hiley crept beneath window, to spy
and listen. They soon learned that
Collins had rowed Amy to the brig in
search of Ally, and that she had there
heard of his attempt to escape and his
L o.o,,x-o,S,,o,,E Jaa4l l., I
Amy was vehement in her denunci-
ations Of Col. Nichols, and declared
that if Ally was really dead, she would
raise the whole country againstJhis un-
Gle who had compassed his death.
In attempting to rise to go home,
Amy found she was too weak to walk,
and sent Collins for her mother to
come to her. As soon as the old sail
or left the cottage, Colonel Nichols
proposed to Hiley that he should car
ry Amy off instead of Ally, and leave
her on plantation of his on the coast
down by Cape Henry, SO as to silence
| her dangerous tongue, and also to give
him hold on her mother. The Cap
tain agreed to this, and they entered
the cottage, coming upon Amy so sud-
denly that, in her weak state, she was
so completely overcome that she faint
ed away.
$50 much the better p said Nichols,
STOPPING and gathering her in his arms.
"Now lead the way to your boat, Hi
ley. On our way, you must overset
Collins boat, to make him think she
did it herself in a wild mood"
He hurried out of the cottage bear
ing his frail burden. Hiley followed
hastily, and the two made their way
to the spot where Collins boat lay
1t was but the work of a moment for
HiEey to push of the little craft and
overset it. 5i
"There, they'll think TIE girl got
wild with grief and was drowned in
an attempt TO search for Ally, again!"
said the Colonel =exultantly, tossing
| Amy's white apron upon the beach.
''That apron will fix the matter bey-
ond doubt The wind is rising, Hi
ley. You had better take advantage
The two hurried to the waiting boat
Hiley laid the unconscious Amy in the
| bottom, and then seized the oars and
rowed rapidly towards the brig.
Nichols, full of exultation, looked
after the boat until it was lost to view.
"My first plan was successful" he
muttered. ''Ally is dead 1 am a rich
man And my second play promises
a like successl When Margaret Les
ter's heart is nearly broken at AmY's
loss, | will offer to restore her child on
condition that she will marry me!
The day # my full triumph is near"
He looked with gloating eyes sea-
ward, exulting i'll his evil success, I'M
til at last, nearly an hour later, the
sails of the Quie&s!ep filed, and the
brig moved swiftly toward the sea.
taking with her Margaret Testers on
Iy comfort-tho distant fathers star
of hope!