The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-08-15
CAPTAIN BRAND
THE PIRATE SCHOONER.
PART Z.
CHAPTER x.
DOOM CT DoNA LUCIA.

and stop. and an end to joy as we'll as grief.
We should, however, take the world as it
comes, and as it goes. do, and 80 do
you, Misunderstanding cigar, spear
fashion, ut Don Ignacio TO attract his at
tention-'and, therefore. We should never
look too far a. head, and live only for the
present"
"Indulging then in this train of principle,
as set down my lovely burden here, and
the cloak fell from her shoulders 1 was
prepared for anything which might happen.
! wore slightly different costume at the
time to that she had been accustomed to
see me in, as always do when think there
might re o chance'of surprise or trap laid
for us in entering the inlet. So instead of
fine linen and silk, had on red flannel
shirt, dark trousers, with cutlass slung to
my side, and pair of pistols in my belt.
don't think appear handsome in that rig,
but the fellows at my back somehow think
it is becoming to me. especially when We
are engaged IN hand-to-h hand fight! What
say you, compadre?"
The Don said nothing, and merely wav.
ed his forefnger, rs il dres, was not nut
ter to which he devoted much attention.
He thought, however, that sleeves should
be cut loose when the pockets were not too
small for knives and pistols; but he uttered
| no word.
"Bueno! There stood"-pointing to
the middle Of the room as he spoke
| "drenched with rain. and there stood my
tall md lovely wife!'
The saloon was brilliantly lighted; q
profusion Of plants and flowers were clus-
tered here, there, and everywhere, on cab
inets and tables, in striking contrast to the
display exhibited yonder in that armory,
where pixies, muskets and knives were
cleaning through the open door.
Quick as the lightning which was pierre
ing deep Into the Utmost crevices of the
rocks and the crag without, Lucia's dark
ewes flashed around the apartment, from
floor to ceiling, from flower to blade, resting
IN instant on the frame Of miniatures there,
hers was not among the collection then:
it is the one in the middle. doctor"
There were no knives on the table, or
else, from the deadly look the doctor gave,
he might have, perhaps, sprinkled the mar.
rator's heart's-blood on tho floor.
Until at last her gaze Of terror rested on
me! No one, fancy, can tell the power of
Spanish girl, who has never seen one.
when the whole passion Of her soul-either
AAGs0"SokAACb
blaze Of jet from her cleaning eyes!'
Advancing step towards me, with her
white hands clasped together, she said, in
hurried voice, and low as was the sound,
heard it distinctly during the crashing
thunder which shook the rocks Of the crag
to their foundations"
"'Senor, where am 1? My father! Who
-wko, in the name Of Heaven, art thou?"
Again giving look Of the utmost hor-
ror around the room, she pressed her hands
to her eyes, and said, in the same low, dis
tinct tone"
"'speak. Senior. For the love Of Hea-
ven! speak
II felt that the girl had saved me, by her
| own instructive perception, world of pain
full explanations, and I replied"
Lucia, divine that all further conceal
ments are useless; you are in the haunt of
che most noted pirate Of the seas. and that
Inan stands before you
"Caballeros!" continued Captain Brand,
had my pretty prize swooned away, or
fallen down in fit. or gone into Mysteries
and torn her hair out by the roots, 1 should
not have been greatly surprised; but she
did none of those things. On the contrary,
she became rs calm as marble-frightfull
SO, in fact-and pushing back the bands Of
her magnificent tresses from her pale fore
head, she raised her round, white arm aloft,
with her slender foreinger quivering like
the tongue of viper in mid-air, and then
poured forth torrent Of such awful i'm
pressive words. that quailed before her"
eyes, Senores, nm no coward. take me
when you will; but on this occasion must
honestly admit that stood powerless be-
fore the gaze and gesture of that slight,
delicatelv formed woman"
e-wretch-lnonster! Murderer
-betrayer!'
81 need not pain you, Senores, by re.
citing the cruel words that came kissing
and surging through her closed teeth, nor
yet further describe the terrible concern
trated gaze OF hate and fury which strsam-
ed from those cleaning eyes. Suffice it to
say, that though often afterward was
treated in the same manner, yet, on the &C.
casion alluded to, cut short the interview
by summoning Babette to see her mistress
to her chamber; and then. glad to escape, I
went out of the house and attended to tho
duties which required my presence"
The padre, with his fiat lips half open.
eagerly drinking ir-with his Santa Cruz
punch-the words of his patron; the doc
tor. calm, unmoved now, and thoughtful:
the one-eyed old rascal still putting his
cigarritso and allowing no rest to his uneasy,
suspicious optic; all sat listening. with each
an interest peculiarly his own, to the fate
OF Dona Lncia. The narntor leisurely
arose and held his hourly comfab with the
man OF the slgnal-station, md then return
ing to his place, proceeded with his dis
course:
shall pass rapidly over, my friends,
many little incidents OF rather unpleasant
nature which occurred here in this my rocky
retreat, for some months after the inter-
view which have described. Tried every
argument and persuasion was master Of
to bring my proud bride to reason; but to
oil my entreaties she turned a cold and chill
ing stare OF obdurate hate Day by day the
intensity OF her detestation grow stronger
and stronger. and seemed to have become q
part OF her nature. Yes! the gentle, yield
ing girl had won on board the schooner
had now become as stern and unbending us
n rock, and my controlling power over her
mind and love were gone. left her en-
tirely to herself for some weeks, until one
day thought her passion might have sub
sided. and once more, attired in rich and
splendid suit, came in here, aa she sat
like marble statue ut table. She never
looked up at my entrance, but her eyes
shone like stars rs she sat mechanically go
ing through the forms Of the dinner laid be-
fore her"
Lucia! said gaily. No answer by
word or look. Lucia! querida mia! re-
peated. and sinking on one knee .eside her,
attempted to take her hand"