Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1888-01-18

"A privateer, suppose" remarked, as
a gentle hint for Old Miggles, who had sud-
denly lapsed into silence, to go on.
"M certainment-a privateer with the let
ters Of marque and ALL" returned Old Mig
giles with singular smile, ''and such
another to walk the wave you shall not
now days see One hundred and ten ton,
built for SLAYER, with bows like a wedge
the clean run Of yacht only beam enough
to work the guns easy, and spars. Madre
de dos! but to see the Catalina with all sail
packed on her, was the sight OF life"
"How many men did she carry" asked.
"Eighty all told, from each of the ma
tions under the sun-brave men as ever 90
over the side Of a-of the enemy" returned
old Miggles, with something like animation
1.-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
that could not then interpret.
"But tho song-what of that7'' sug-
gested.
IF you will have the yarn must spin it
on my own winch, my lad" was the rather
sharp response, and 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"
ut 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 a 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," I
foolishly interrupted.
'Diavalol 'oin you be qu6ets" angrny ex-
claimed Old Miggles. l subsidized.
sit 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. It was not the spices and
gems, the barks for medicines, the skins,
| the barrels OF honey, the cocoa and rub
| her," said Old Miggles, swapping his
| fingers contemptuously. 'These were well
| 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 d0llarsa"
If / had spoken my thoughts it would
| have been to the effect that Old Miggles
| was lying. But I was polite enough to
shake my head, as in amazement too deep
| for words.
The rain came driven in gusts against
| the window by the fierce wind which
| sobbed and shrieked in the chimney like
| the wall of lost soul, to use highly orig
inal smile AS the fire suddenly died
| down the yellowish light faded from Old
Miggles' eyes. I threw on another bit of
| the teakwood.
II 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 a
| tremulous hand, he sat motionless for q
moment. Was it the play of the dancing
flames, or were his time-worn features con-
| vulsed by some inward emotion?
There was a-apassenger," he at length
| said: and almost started, his voice was SO
| 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"
"Pretty9" I hazarded, after the manner
Of flippant youth. Though, after all, how
could Old Miggles know excepting by hear
saya
! "Pretty" echoed Old Miggles with a
groan, which attributed to his rheumatics!
''ay dc mi, lad; she was more beautiful
than any star in the lost brooch Of the
Blessed Virgin''-here he crossed himself
devoutly. ':Enticndes''
Yes, understood his meaning. It is the
sailors beautiful fancy that when in the
day dawn the Virgin Mary assembled tC
Heaven, she lost from her bosom starry
brooch given her by the Lord Christ
himself, and that now the jewel shines in
tho sky as the Southern Cross. But as
had never dreamed that such 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
boarded by Despard's men till she came to
| 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 lookingl" was my very
| natural query.
| Old Miggles smiled In very peculiar
white beard. when in those days knew
Miguel Despard," he replied slowly, che
| 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 the 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.n
"And then I suppose she-Carita-fel) in
love with the dashing privateersman,"
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 Carte
would not listen. He plead in vain. She
only implored to return to her home And
at last Despard gave brides to the quadroor
nurse to plead his cause-to show Carita
that her good name would be imperilled
unless shielded by the sacred rite Of mar
t. -.