The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1890-08-01
Why, there was scene which have

lue pa0re DluOOcrcu outright, ana his
round. tipsy eyes nearly popped out of his
head.
"Ay; monsieur, even from mine! But Ia
60 back little. When had got all snug
on board the schooner went below, and
moved softly on tip-toe along the passage
to the door af my beautiful cabin.
"fou remember, amigo" said the mar.
rator, turning toward Don Ignacio. chow
that cabin was fitted, and how much it cost
to do it. think you paid the bill for me-
MOI"
Oh, yes! Captain Brand was quite right.
Don Ignacio remembered it we'll, and the
bill was thousand gold ounces--sixteen
thousand hard silver dollars; and by no
means dear at that. for the Don never al.
lowed any body to cheat him.
Cheats himself, though-sometimes
Don't charge moro than the usual commits
sion."
The one-eyed usurer looked wicked at
this remark, but he SAID nothing, being oc-
cupied at the moment rolling up paper
cigar with one hand, and wetting the brown
forefnger Of the other.
We'll, caballeros, peeped through the
lattice-work of the cabin door, and there
reclined my pretty prize 4 recall her as if
it were yesterday-on one of the large blue
satin damask lounges of the after trnnsoms.
Her head rested on one Of her round, ivory
arms, half hidden in the luxurious pillows;
her shawl, too, was thrown back; and with
n somewhat disordered dress, and q mass
OF glossy hair clustering in ringlets about
her neck and white shoulders, thought
then, as do now, that she was paragon of
loneliness saw her, as she thus reclined
by the light of large shaded crystal lamp,
which hung hysilver cluins from the CABIN
beams, and shed tinted effulgence
over the whole apartment. When l first
approached the door, the girl was looking
out Of those large, liquid lamps, SO super
bly, framed in her own fringe Of dark lashes,
in evident curiosity around the elegant
cabin. Her looks wandered from the FUR.
key carpet on the floor to the beautiful silk
hangings, that exquisite set of inlaid pearl
ebony furniture, the display of nicknGcks,
and Dresden porcelain panels of tho sides,
and, in fact, nothing seemed to escape her;
and the good taste Of the fittings evidently
met her appreciation. At times, too, she
would turn her gaze out of the narrow little
window Of the stern, and peer anxiously
over the vessels wake, which, by this time,
was skimming along like wild duck. snd
leaving countless bubbles behind her At
the first sound made, however, in open
ing the door, she started up and stepped
forward to meet me"
oh, Senior Capitano, mi madre! my
mother! What de.ains her? We seem to
be going very fast through the water!
Il gently took the glrl's outstretched
hands and led her back 10 the cushioned
Then told her, as kindly as l
could. that l did all in my powers TO save
her good mother, but that the crew had
mutiniet-they had taken possession of the
ship-great confusion existed;
and us feared, you know, that my own
boat would be swnmped by remaining long
or alongside, was compelled to leave her
to her fate"
But my mother, senior! exclaimed the
girl with anguish, she was saved.
No, senorih., l said, she went down
with the ship; bat the last words she utter
ed-that is. TO me--were to invoke bless.
ing on my head, and to consign ill she nos.
sessed to my care The poor thing swoon-
cd away rs l uttered these words, and it
WIS long time before she came to again.
When she did. however, regain conscious
ness, tears came to her relief, and did NIL
l could to soothe her distress, by telling
her that, if the wind came fair, she would
in the course Of few days be restored to
her father"
But the wind didn't come fair, eh?"
broke in Don Ignacio, "and she did not
see"
No, amigo, the wind held steady from
the opposite quarter, and l thought it bet
ter not to bent up with fished foremost,
and all that-and-a-she did not see her
father"
Captain Brand here wetted his thin lips
with few sips of wine, said, "Babette,
bring coffee!" and resumed his story.
when the girl became little more
calm induced her to retire 10 my ssate-
room, where Ileft her TO sob herself to sleep.
Don't spill that coffee, Babcttc, and put the
liqueurs on the table. There, that will do,
old lady,"
We'll. senores, the next morning my
pretty prize was too ill to leave her room;
but MS handed her cup of chocolate
through the door curtains she thanked ME
with much gratitude for what had done.
md knew that her dear father, the Judge,
would bless me-"
so he will" snarled the one-eyed old
rascal, IF he ever catches you, when he
draws the black cap over his head"
Possibly he NAV; though. perhaps, it
will be some considerable time before he
has that pleasure"
"For three days 1 never even saw my
pretty passenger, though heard her low,
sweet voice occasionally when I laid out
for her to eat in the adjoining
cabin. She sang. too, some little sad songs
with a voice which vibrated upon my ear
like the notes of an Eolian harp signing
in the night wind. Dio! how l regretted
then, and afterward. that did not have u
cabinet piano!"
Presented to you" suggested the doc
tor.
"Yes, presented to me. so that she might
have touched the keys with those ivory and
rose tipped fingers.
$50 the time passed, the schooner flying
on under the whole sails, the wind about
two points free, aud the weather as fine rs
silk. II was the the fourth evening, think,
after parting with the Oporto trader that
induced my fair passenger to come on deck,
and take little breath of sea air. You will
observe, caballeros, that l did not make
this suggestion in the day time, because
the Centipede' crew. you know, were rath-
or numerous. and some of them not so
handsome, in point of personal looks, rs
ladies Mt all times care TO behold. Besides,
there We're certain things about the deck
racks OF cutlasses, lockers of musketry
along the rail. and long brass twelve
FOUNDER, which is not altogether hidden by
the boat, you know, and might have given
rise 10 little curiosity, or maybe suspic-
ion, even in the mind of girl, as to our
character, pursuits, and 30 forth, which
should have been puzzled to answer
Therefore choose the clear starlight night
to pay my homage, and accordingly 1 went
below about four bells of the first watch to
escort the little lady to the deck. She was
dressed, and waiting for mo in the cabin;
and if was SO struck with her beauty when
l frs. saw her, my heart thumped now
against my ribs like volley Of musket-
balls against an oak plank. She wore q
black silk robe, such as Spanish women
wear Mt early mass, and around the back
part of her head, where the hair was gath
cred in glossy knot, and secured by n
gold bodkin, fell the heavy folds of black
lace mantilla the lower end fastened sash
fashion around her little waist. She step
ped, too, like u queen on pair of slim,
long. delicate feet, with arched ball and in
step. us if she were in command of the
schooner.
by my right arm!' exclaimed Captain
Brand, shaking that member aloft in a
glorious fit of enthusiasm, II am quite sure
she had conquered me. and that was more
than half the battle! Well, l led her to the
quarterback, where some cushions and
flags had been placed for her near the
weather taffrail, and where she sat down.
Well. senorcs, the graceful girl beside me
never spoke scarcely for half an hour. I
OWNED, however, what her thoughts might
have been dwelling on the painful scenes