The tribune. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1875-01-27


The nephew, our clergyman, Mr..
Dearborn, should have Inherited, but
/ did not.
| Lord Drummond walked from the
| church. A dozen PAGES in advance was
| Caprice. Snatches of song escaped her
lips. A gang of convicts were coming
from the shore. They wore straw hats,
and coarse blouses marked with the
; number and name of their hulks. As
they filed past, a slight, pale man looked
at Caprice. Not q sound escaped his
lips, not gesture betrayed his surprise;
trife paler, Number 40 moved on.
Caprice stood as if petritied. Lord Ar
| thur overlook her. Color had fed, her
eyes We're wildly dilated, her hands rig
idly clinched over her heart.
Are you illt" touching her arm
gently.
"No," gazing straight before her.
Perhaps the convicts frightened
yon. Can I be of service ~
No. 1t is nothing"
He went on. Dignity demanded no
further interference curiosity made
him look back. She was following rap
idly; she had disappeared. Where Z
A flight of steps was cut in the high
| wall, leading to path above, and in this
path the girl lay on her face, like one
dead. He bore her swiftly toward the
house-an old mansion.
How pretty and helpless she was !.
Lord Arthur chafed the cold hands. A
faint quiver of the eyeiids and sensitive
lips, and Caprice clung to him blindly,
murmuring, " 1 am afraid. Hide me %
The old nurse was ut hand, and to her
Lord Arthur surrendered his charge.
A letter awaited Lord Arthur, and the
admiral's lady was disposed to be arch
about it Mt luncheon. 1t was from the
Hon. Maud Fitzroy, of Glenham Park,
stating that her papa had no objection
to their wedding occurring in March.
Number 40 left his Christmas dinner
untasted. AS he had just arrived, per-
haps the routine of labor CALLED him.
The next day after this Alfred Dear
born and Caprice were sailing in the
harbor. A boat shot out from the shore,
and in it sat Lord Arthur Drummond.
The two met. Caprice looked steadily
at the horizon; Lord Arthur smiled and
bit his lip beneath his beard. Yesterday
q soft cheek had been pressed against
his face, and two suppliant arms clung to
him, with the cry, Glide me. 1 am
afraid" To-day the sunset wrought
miracles. She did not know him. Not
that he cared. He went to his cabin
and wrote letter to his fancee in Eng
land
AS for Caprice, she flew up stairs when
she reached home, and watched the gig
pull alongside of the Psyche. Then she
laid her head on the window-ledge and
burst into despairing tears.
The governors Christmas ball raised
excitement to fever heat i'll this miniature
world, and when it was over Caprice
stood ut her window. The clock struck
two. With Caprice all was dark and
| still; over yonder there was confusion,
, noise, and blind haste. A man stole
| along the wall and grasped her wrist
".Quick Help me 1 have escaped
by firing the building"
- knew you would come" She
! shrank and shivered
"Trust me for that How on earth
did you get here 2'
thought it was out of the world"
where you could hide from me-eh ?
A pleasant suggestion i! Do me Justice
once, Margaret"
"Come in," she said, despondingly.
She brought him food and wine. A
heap of Silas Dearborn's garments was
produced for him to select disguise.
No. 40 was touched. He watched her
critically, admiringly.
;" Why were you transportedl" she
faltered
"Got hard up, and forged the old
mans name"
You can't escape" she added pres
emily. Her face was deadly pale, her
hands icy cold, her composure forced.
Il will try. Am to work from sun
rise to sunset in gangi Life is baga-
telle. If ! fail You have a boat.
Time presses. Get bread and water, a
chronometer and telescope, if you can. 1"
She placed her hands on his shoulders
suddenly. I" How could you do it 2"
Number 40 was q handsome man when
the prison look died out of his face.
Because I loved you, suppose. +"
Then he took her in his arms and kissed
/ her. She did not repulse him. The
Swan rode at anchor below. In the
darkness he unfrrrled the sail and stood
out to sea. Caprice crouched in the
window, hiding her face When she
raised her head it was day, and no sail
was visible on the broad ocean.
A little later Alfred Dearborn came
over the hill
"The convict who stole your boat has
been captured and brought back by O
schooner" he SAID.
The moon shone down on land and
sea. The parish church was white in
the Silyery radiance like unrest marble