The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-08-15
Babett. toddline Along, nearly GU. Of

Babette toddlinR along, nearly out Of
BREATH"
"'What is it, old lady?' You know,
amigos. that that same Babette never smoke
% word in her life. but she nude sigus to
let me know that was wanted y. the crn2.
aud that there was no time 10 be lost I
quickened my pace, and, preceded by Ba.
bette, once more darken.d my own thres-
bold. The curtains aud hangings wero nil
closely drawn in the saloon here, and it was
dark as tomb; but there WIS light burn
ing yonder in the passage leading to the
chamber, and made way to the door,"
Il shall never forget what saw, though
I should like to; as it comes to me some
times in the night, or when am left much
alone by myself"
The pirate passed his hands over his
eyes, as il he saw something's he spoke;
and then. letting his voice drop to an Ill
most sepulchral pitch, he went on hurried.
ly-"
Il stood ct the door, caballeros aud look
ed in. On the bed, which was drawn to the
middle Of the chamber, to get the air
through the narrow loop hooled windows,
with the gauze curtains falling square
on all sides. lay Lucia. Her attenuated,
wasted frsme scarcely presented an uneven
surface beneath the snowy sheet which COW
cred her body. Her superb hair was spread
in great black masses OH the pillow, and
and her pale, marble face reposed there
like an ivory picture in IN ebony setting.
Her eyes were wide open, large and ln-
minous, aud her thin delicate hands were
clasped around n silver and pearl relic,
which rested on her hollow breast. A sim
gle taper ina silver lamp threw lurid
Pickering ray about the room. aud beside it
was Babette on her knees and quivering
with terror, while from one Of the loop
holed windows broad white band Of moon
light streained distinctly across the pillow
and face of tho dying girl"
Captain Brands face assumed a deathly
rallor, and with his icy blue eyes fixed on
vacancy, and his voice sunk to q hoarse
whisper, he went on
AS appeared in the portals of the door,
Lucia slowly raised her forefngerand beck
oned me to approach. could no more
have resisted the summons than il q Chain.
cable to q frigate's anchor had caught me
in its iron coils and was dragging me TO the
bottom of the sea. moved to the foot of
the bed.
Plato! came from her slightly parted
lips, in her old low and distinct tones.
Pinto! behold your cruel work! Destroyer
of mother and child, behold your work., I
was dumb. and my pulse stopped beating.
AYE Maria Purissima! were the last words
that came in aweet, pure whisper from
her lips. She clasped the crucifix tighter,
and the spirit departed. I tore aside the
gauze net to lay my hand on her heart,
when, on my soul! her right hand slowly
relaxed its death grasp on the relic, and,
rising to vertical line, with the forefinger
pointing upward, 1t quivered in the light
of the waning moon like--as it was-.l
supernatural warning! Yes, that finger ="
Mammal mammal came in a weak,
plaintive voice from the piazza; while the
villain, with hands before him, as if to shut
out frightfui vision, and eyeballs starting
from their sockets, was hoarsely whispering
to his horror stricken audience the last
warning Of the dead Lucia.
As the low, moaning cry, in the stiffness
which reigned around the saloon, struck
his ear. he sprang with bound to his fest,
and quick as thought. with pistol in each
hand, he shouted, "Who's there?"
1T is the little sick boy, Senior! Do him
no harm at your peril!' and the doctor
stood before the pirates leveled weapons.
"Pshaw!" said Captain Brand, quieting
down, and returning the pistols to his pock-
ct, show nervous am! Excuse me, cabal-
leros, was thinking Of something else."