Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-12-29

We'll, it will be variety; but if he says
shiver my timbersp and pass the grog p
and all those nautical terms, he'll shock
your polite friends"
That night lacked two of Christmas Eve.
That night at o'clock Sidney Danforth
drove up to the mansion in a carriage from
the railroad depot, and with him were
Captain Tarble and his daughter.
Blanche" he murmured, as he met his
sister in the dining later, did you
ever see such bewitching creature as
Ethel Tarble? l have met my fate p
Look out, brother Miss Vernon's jeal-
Gus eyes are upon YOU"
Sidney Danforth started. A worried ex-
preston crossed his face. With a frown he
recalled a certain impulsive declaration he
had made to Grace Vernon two days pre-
vious. Then light-heartedly he tried to
dispel the impression.
A pleasant party they all made, seated at
the dinner table. The bluff old mariner
charmed them with his quaint sayings.
Shy, beautiful Ethel seemed to attract
Sidney like loGestone. Miss Vernon saw,
and her heart ragged fiercely.
Did you ever know Mrs. Vernon, Cap
tain Tarble?" spoke Mrs Danforth later
that evening in the drawing-room. "She
and Mrs. Tarble and myself were once
schoolgirl friends"
oh, yes; | knew the family. Met them
in India"
"Why, how charming Miss Vernon
here is the daughter. OF course, as it has
been many years ago, you did not recog
nize her ?"
What !" calculated the Captain. Miss
Vernon-this lady-the daughter?"
OF our Mr.. and Mrs. Vernon in India;
yes" And voluble Mrs. Danforth in an
undertone, related how she had come to
her, never noticing the growing agitation
| in her listener.
You will excuse me" he almost gasped
minute later. " You see, madam, I'm
not used to such close rooms, and the air
amt very cold, and I'd like Whit of it
on the veranda, if you've no objection"
Not in the least" replied Mrs. Dan
forth, anxious to humor even the whims of
her guest.
But no whim was it-no frantic craving
for air, even. Captain Tarble had been
startled, and his way of getting over it was
to be alone and think.
he drew down the window and sat on
the edge of the veranda, and filled his
| short pipe, and smoked and thought
Miss Vernon-that girl-Indiar' he
muttered- 81 can't make it out can't
derstand-it-at-all w
Christmas Eve, and laughter and music
and happiness reigned in the spacious
| drawing-rooms of the Danforth mansion.
There were two Of the guests, however,
missing from their accustomed places, but
those two were in the house. In fact,
Captain Tarble had Just entered the
library, a strangely stern look on his
bronzed face, and with him, her dark eyes
flashing the deepest rage and dread, the
siren-like Grace Vernon.
GU order me to come here as if you
had right !" she began.
"I have Steady, now, my lady," spoke
the Captain. "You sit down right there.
have few words to say to you, and they
shall be brief. Eve been watching you
since | came here. l suspected something
wrong when Mrs. Danforth told me that
you were Vernon's daughter"
Her old friends child your tone is in
solent, sir p
"You are not her old friends child; you
are an imposter" responded the Captain,
forcibly. The Vernons had one childb-
"And | am that orphan walf"
"And that child was a boy. NV lady.
l hate to make a row at Christmas but
you are deceiving these good people Who
you really are don't know, but you're a
bold one, for | was in India when Charles
Vernon died. Some way you got hold of
the family papers, | suppose, and drifted
here, and decided to represent yourself to
be the daughter of the Vernons. Dare
you deny it? Try it. I'can prove what
| say"
No, the false Grace Vernon did not at
tempt to deny it. Her face white as death,
she sat staring at Captain Tarble with
wicked, steely eyes, as if she could kill
him then and there
"And you have unmasked mew she
gritted forth finally.
No; as l say, | want to make no row,
only won't see this family imposed upon.
| know your game. You got that free
hearted boy, Sidney, interested in you.
You got him to pity you-a week ago, in
moment of rashness, he almost asked
you to marry him. You entrapped him."
"Oh, this is unbearable F." choked out
Grace.
Its true. You expect to hold him in
his silly promise, yet you know he regrets
it. Now, then, my lady, have PROPOSE
ton to make to you. Leave this house"
The dark face glowed defantly.
And give him up?"
You'll have to-"
And if do ?"
Il shall not say a word of your true
character until you are gone. First, how
ever, you will write note to Sidney Dan
forth for me to deliver, releasing him from
the Encouragement you tricked him
into"
The rage of tigress seemed to fill the
sirens heart, but she controlled it well.
l will do it," she said finally, l will
leave here tomorrow"
"And the note?"
= will write at once"
Good; you are not so unreasonable.
after all. Now, then, my girl, [ don't
want to be hard with you. When you
leave here come to me and l will give you
money to start you in some respectable
| business; but never trouble the Danforths
again"
Bafiied-foiled p raved the dark beauty
in her own room that night. "Oh it is
terrible to lose the man love, the fortune
l Gravel could kill that meddling Cap
tain. All! but l shall not leave here boot
less. l have provided for contingencies.
leave tomorrow. but l shall leave as a
rich woman %
III.
ooh Captain, don't be SO foolish p
As favor, Mrs Danforth. Pm queer
old salt, you know, and 1 never sleep
Christmas evening, SO let me have my
own way. Besides, there's small fortune
aboard that Christmas Tree, and I'd like to
guard it,
Captain Tarble had his own way, and
| every body LAUGHED at his whims and fears.