The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1888-01-14

tlons under the sun--brave men as ever 90
over the side Of a-of the enemy" returned
old Miggles, with something like animation.
"The enemya The British, suppose you
mean," said-for my ideas of privateering
In early days were rather vague.
"Si-yes, the British-and Others" said
Miggles, with shrug Of his shoulders,
that could not then interpret.
But the song-what Of that" sug-
gested.
"If you will have the yarn must spin 1t
on my own winch, my lad" was the rather
sharp response, and I was silent.
Captain Despard cruised over the Carib.
bean one long eight month";" he went on.
wrinkling his parchment-like forehead,
"but without sighting the sail for which he
watched. So finally he sail for the coast of
South America"
"It was off Natal Captain Despard make
the great prize of the cruise" said old Mig
giles, in whose eyes was singular yellow
ish CLEAN, perhaps reflection of the fire
glow, which was changing from orange
to gold, "the greatest prize that one single
vessel ever has known to capture. A
Spanish ship
''But we were not at war with Spain,"
foolishly interrupted.
"Diavalo! 'ciN you be quietl" angrily ex-
claimed Old Miggles. subsided.
ut was the Spanish ship Hidalgo," he
went on, (which for three years had made
trade from Guiana to the Rio-de-la Beata.
And such lading was not ever taken from
a ships hold. 1t was not the spices and
gems, the barks for medicines, the skins.
the barrels Of honey, the cocoa and rub
ber," said Old Miggles, swapping his
fingers contemptuously. "These were we'll
in their way, but what think you of three
hundred cases Of silver; of chests of plates,
OF diamonds from the Brazils and Of gold in
value Of your money more than one hun
dred thousands of dollarsl"
| II l had spoken my thoughts it would
have been to the effect that Old Miggles
was lying. But / was polite enough to
shake my head, as in amazement too deep
for words.
the window by the fierce wind which
sobbed and shrieked in the chimney like
the wall Of o lost SOUL to use highly orig
inal simle. AS the fire suddenly died
down the yellowsh light faded from Old
Miggles' eyes, I threw on another bit of
| the teakwood.
~ suppose you made prisoners of the
ships crew." said, presently; but Old
Miggles evidently did not hear me- Shading
his eyes from the upstarting blaze with q
tremulous hand, he sat motionless for
moment. Was it the play of the dancing
flames, or were his time-worn features con-
vulsed by some inward emotion.
| There was IA passenger" he at length
said! and Ialmost started, his voice was 80
strangely changed; ga young girl-an
| orphan-who was returning from the con-
| vent at Lima where she had been edu-
Gated, to her home with an uncle in BARGE.
| Iona"
"Pretty" hazarded, after the manner
Of flippant youth. Though, after all, how
could Old Miggles know excepting by hear.
saya
"Prettyw echoed Old Migsles with a
groan, which attributed to his rheumaticsa
''ay de mi, lad; she was more beautiful
than any star in the lost brooch of the
Blessed Virgin'-here he crossed himself
devoutly. 'Ehtiende?''
| Yes, understood his meaning. It is the
sailors beautiful fancy that when in the
day dawn the Virgin Mary assembled to
Heaven, she lost from her bosom starry
brooch given her by the Lord Christ
himself, and that now the jewel shines in
the sky as the Southern Cross. But as
had never dreamed that such q poetic
simile could emanate from the source it did
| only stared and nodded.
'Carita-this she was called-fainted and
knew not Of any thing after the ship was
/
herself in the cabin OF the Catalina" said
Old Miggles again, land saw for the first
time the young Captain Despard face to
face"
"Was he good looking" was my very
natural query.
Old Miggles smiled in very peculiar
way, and smoothed down his bristling
white beard. when in those days knew
Miguel Despard." he replied slowly "he
had the handsome face Of his Spanish
father, with the ease and grace Of his
mother, who was of French creole birth.
Gently he soothed tho fears of the terrified
girl and her quadroon nurse, setting aside
his own stateroom for their use, and COM
manding every respect to be shown them"
| Sand then suppose she-Carita-fel in
love with the dashing privateersman," I
said lightly.
Again Old Miggles' face worked con-
vulsively and his lean, claw-like fingers
twisted themselves together.
"You are in pain-the rheumatics are
worse tonight, Mr.. Miggles," observed,
sympathizingly.
sit was Despard who would worship the
deck-plank pressed by her small feet" said
Old Miggles without replying, ''but Carita
would not listen. He plead in vain. She
only implored to return to her home. And
1 ~ l6ob Oobp pbI0 kdtS 0IiUo6 W Iuo QuAurOOQ
nurse to plead his cause-to show Carita
that her good name would be imperilled
unless shielded by the sacred rite of mar
-iage-for Despard, whatever his sins or
crimes, wns honorable in the love he bore
the beautiful Spanish girl"
"Ay bmsno," continued Old Miggles draw
| ing long breath, "whether wearied by her
nurses opportunities or 1t ma y be little
softened by the impassi oned pleading Of
Despard, In the end she yielded, but not
with her heart-it was the yielding Of
| despair. There WAS as the CdtdLina's quarter
master one Manuel Lagos who in youth
had taken the holy orders-he united the
two in marriage ON the YES ssel's deck In
presence OF the crew-Captain Despard
swearing that in Havana the ceremony
sh ould be repeated In due form of church
rites"
"And did she grow to love hint" eager.
ly asked.
Old Miggles shook his head.
"Hhe might but for the treachery Of the
sccursed Manuel Lagos" he replied be-
tween his clenched teeth, who himself was
infatuated with Carita's beautiful face.
He-the vile traitor-told her In secret that
Captain Migu el Despard had Q wife and
child In Havana, and more, swore on the
holy Cross that Despard was no honest pri-
vstser but the bo ldest OF freebooters who
then few the black flag"
"But II was not true" breathlessly ex'
claimed.