Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-13
bent shriveled ghost of the once proud Squire

bent. shriveled ghost of the once proud Squire
Adams OF Barncombe Hall.
"Ha, MIR. Briggs. glad to see you. glad to see
you, said the old gentleman. with a forced
smile. Any news in Dartmouth, sir?'
| None that 1 know Of" replied Nautilus
Briggs. I've come to hear your daughters
ultimatum"
''Well-there she is-ask her. ask her. can
do nothing" said Mr.. Adams. Doris, Mr..
| Briggs has come to ask you, once and for all
If you will marry him, and save me from utter
| rum and Disgrace
Il can't answer. father, indeed 1 can't
just vet" said Doris
| But why not. Dors?" said Briggs 'Surely
you can say yes no.
IF say no." said the girl lyon refuse to
| help my father against his creditors he will be
Imprisoned, and imprisonment will kill him.
! If say yes. am acting n lie for / am viz
tually acknowledging that will love. honor
and obey you as girl ought to acknowledge
! to the man who is to be her husband"
My darling. remember that you owe your
| lie to Dir. Briggs. said her father.
| Il know it, know it. father: and have
| thanked him over and over again for it. al
| though 1t has not brought he much happiness -
| replied Doris. ''But-but-there, / do not
love MT Briggs as he deserves to be loved by
the girl he will make his wife,
"Small wonder" thought the old man in his
heart as he looked at the common, over-dressed.
! pufy-faced millionaire before him and then at
! the graceful, refined girl. "Egad! Twenty
:.
had footing in Barncombe Hall"
There was silence. Briggs stood at tine
window biting his nails: Doris sat looking alb
stractedly at the small fire in the small CRATE:
| Squire Adams was gazing abstractedly out OF
the window over tie old Priory orchards Sud
denly the sounds of cheering and the tramp of
many feet were heard.
Nautilus Briggs ran to the door, followed by
Doris. In reply to his inquiry as to the cause
OF the excitement, man said:
'NhoI. tley'se be French prisoners for the
| lookup. The Old Noll is come to life and
Capt. Briggs with him." and ran on to join the
| crowd.
More privateer work" said the squire, when
they told him. Il hate the word privateer.
PrlEateers ruined me, as they've ruined many
another man and by George, they ought to be
swept away by law"
Well, Miss Doris-my answer" said Briggs
presently.
Give me until this time tomorrow. Mr..
Briggs" she said
Nautilus considered Delay was what he
most wanted to avoid. and yet-an idea seemed
! to Hash across his mind-he granted the girls
request. and went out
| Father" said Doris, when the door had
closed behind her sutton, I'm going to Dart
mouth tonight. Don't be alarmed 1 can take
care OF myself. and it's for our good"
| How can that be?" asked the old gentle
man. You can't raise ten thousand pounds
| to settle with my creditors"
Wait; have put off Mr.. Briggs. Do you
know what has happencd?'
Only that lot of poor devils have arrived
| here to die Of cold and starvation in the lock-
up
And that they are the prisoners of Capt
Briggs"
We'll, what of that? Briggs isn't an I'M
| common name"
| NO. i know it is not. Don't saw any more
| will be back early
a couple of s-later-that is to saw about
oclock-Doris went out into she cold. dark
frosty night. Her road to the riverside, where
she would take water to Dartmouth. led her
past the line of ancient buildings once forming
part of Totnes PriOry, but now used as gram
mar school. town-hall and public lookup
! single sentry was pacing up and down with
fire-lock on shoulder, and uttered a pitilesss
joke to her as the cries and imprecation5 of the
poor fellows inside, without light. without
warmth and without ventilation, burst forth.
She hurried on: keeping well under the wall
to avoid observation. Suddenly, on the oppo-
site side, she saw the figure of a cloaked man
| stealing swiftly and stealthily in the direction
whence she was coming
She shrank into the angle of projecting
| buttress, and he passed on. Presently she heard
! stlfled cry, the rattle of some metallic object
| ON the cobble-stones, and the fall of a heavy
| body.
Peering forth, she could just make out bv the
dim light of a suspended oil-lamp the figure
OF the sentry lying on the stones and the
cloaked man bending over him. Then. terror
| stricken. she fed.
By seven o'clock she was landed on Dart
! mouth quay; but strange and wierd a scene
was here presented to her that she hesitated to
| proceed. The whole of the broad area was
! covered with men and women. who were dane
ing and singing by the light of half a dozen
bonhres The center of attraction was a ships
boat, hauled up high and dry. into which
wild group OF men, attired in the picturesque
nautical dress OF the day. were dipping bowls
and glasses and mugs, which were passed about
and emptied amidst cheers and songs and
laughter
OF course she saw what it was The priya
| teersmen were spending their hard-won prize
money in the orthodox fashion, for such SCENES
! were the usual sequels of successful cruises:
and sea-dog, with an advance note for, per-
| haps, $500 in his pocket, could hardly be ex-
pected to be happy and content so long as it re-
manned unspent
| Whether her curiosity had pushed her too
far or whether she had been carried along by
the crowd, Doris found to her terror that she
| was almost up to the front rank of the
carousers. and before she could retrace her
steps big fellow, with red cotton cap On his
| head, long pig-tail, and petticoat-like
brooches, had seized her by the arm. and sing
| ing out, Heres a Dartmouth lass. Drink
luck to the Old Noll. and confusion to Johnny
| Crapaud. would have forced mug of rum
| to her lips, but that a stronger and steadier
arm pushed him aside, and the voice of its
| owner said
"Avast there, Jom Coombe! Avast, nv
hearty,'
At which the giant gave clumsy salute. put
| the mug to his own lips, and kept it there until
| it was empty.
You mustn't mind EN- miss" said her lb-
| orator, they've been knocking about at sea for
| six weeks, and they think they deserve bit of
fun. Where are you going? Where shall |
convoy your"
| Doris looked up with some surprise. but
! there was something in the tone and the
manner Of the speaker which treasured her.
| and she replied:
Il want to see Capt. Briggs of the priva-
teer''
Her protector laughed and gave whistle ex-
pressve of surprise; then he said
May ask what you want to see him for?"
"Well, partly on private business -"
Private business. That's queer"
Eyes, and partly to tell him that as came
through Totnes just now I saw the sentry over
the French prisoners knocked down"
Hey! Hey! What's that? Excuse me: that
means rescue. Tell me where NAV cali on
you tomorrow morning and thank you for this
information
Doris hesitated for moment. then she said.
THAT isn't necessary, but if you would tell
me where am likely to find Capt. Briggs of
the Old Noll privateer, shall be sufficiently re-
warded'
Il am Capt Briggs" said her companion.
doffing his hat.
You are! Well Oh, I'm so Hurried. AT
what time could you meet me at Totnes to-
morrow"
.At any time you like. Say at midday.
Where?"
Opposite the Seven Stars inn.n