The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-02-19
A MARRIAGE AT SEA.
w. CLARK RUSSELL,
AUTHOR or 1.-THE WRECK OF THE GRosvE-
NOR" John uoLpswoRTH. MATE"
"MARooNEp," ETC, ETC.
CHAPTER I.-Continied.

| This side OF the house lay so black
against the fine, clear, starry dusk OF the
| sky that IL was impossible TO see the out
| lines Of the windows in il. / could
manage, however, To trace family the
! line of the balcony. My heart beat fast
as / thought that even now my darl-
ing might be standing at the window
| peering through it, waiting for the signal
! flash. Caudel was thinking OF her too:
The young lady, begging OF your
| pardon, sir. must be a gal or uncommon
| spirit, Mr.. Barclay"
! "She loves me, Caudel, and love is
the most animating OF spirits, my
! friend"
II dornt doubt it. sir. What room'll
! it be that she's to come out OFF"
THE dining-room,-a big deserted
apartment where the girls take their
meals
"'Tan't her bedroom. then|
ono. She is to steal dressed from her
bedroom TO the sdlLe-d-mdnger-"
The Sally what, sir?"
mo matter, no matter" i answered.
Its uncommon queer" he persisted,
"to feel ones self in country where
ones language amt spoke. Tho weary
soil don't seem natural. As to the
language ITSELF burst me il l can under
| stand how a man masters 1t.
The convent clock struck one.
Now, said /, stand by"
held up the lamp, and so turned the
darkened part as to produce two flashes.
A moment after, a tiny flame showed and
vanished above the balcony.
my brave darlingw / exclaimed.
Have you the ladder in your hand?"
"Ay, sir"
Mind these COMPOUNDED hooks don't
clink."
We stepped across the sward and stood
under the balcony.
Grace, my darling is that you T.
called, in a low voice.
Yes, Herbert. oh, please be quick.
/ am fancying l hear footsteps. My
heart is scarcely beating for fright"
could just discern the outline of her
figure as she leaned over the balcony and
see the white of her face vague as
fancy.
My darling, lower the line to pull the
ladder up with. Very softly, my pet !;
there are iron hooks which make
noise"
In few moments she called. II have
| lowered the line"
felt about with my hand and grasped
the end of it,-a piece of twine, but
strong enough TO support the ladder.
The deep blood-hound-like baying of the
| dog recommended, and at the same time
| heard the sound of footsteps in the
lane.
Hist Not a stir,-not a whisper"
breathed out.
1t was the staggering step OF a drunken
| man. He broke mauttiufy into song
when Immediately abreast OF u.s. ceased
his noise suddenly, and halted. This
was a little passage of agony, l can
assure you. The dog continued TO utter
its sullen, deep-throated bark In single
strokes like the beat of a bell. Presently
there was a sound as OF the scrambling
and scrunching of feet, followed by the
noise of lurching tread; the man fell TO
drunkenly singing to himself again, and
so passed up the lane.
Caudel fastened the end of the twine to
the ladder, and then grunted out, All
ready for hosting"
Grace, my sweet" whispered, "do
Distinctly, dearest; but l am 80
frightened T.
Pull up this ladder softly, and hook
the irons on TO the rim of the balcony"
Blast the dawgw growled Caudel.
1T is hooked, Herbert"
"All right. Caudcl swing off upon the
end OF it.-test 1t, and then aloft with
you, for mercys sake!'
The three metal rings held the ropes
bravely stretched out. The seaman
sprang, and the ladder held as though it
had been the shrouds of man-of-war.
Now Caudel, you are seaman, you
must do the rest said 1.
He had removed his boots, and mount
ing with cat like agility, gained the
balcony then, taking my sweetheart in
his arms, he lifted her over the rail and
lowered her down with his powerful
arms until her little feet were half way
down the ladder. She uttered one or
two faint ordinations, but was happily
too frightened to cry out.
Now, Mr.. Barclay" hoarsely wnisp-
cred Caudel, "you kitch hold Of her, sir"
/ grasped the ladder with one hand and
passed my hand around her waist; my
statue made the feat all easy one, thus
holding her TO me sprang back then for
an instant strained her to my heart with
whisper OF JOY, gratitude and encour-
agement
You are as brave as you are true and
sweet Grace"
"Oh, Herbertr she painted. II can
think ofnothing. l am very wicked, and
feel horribly frightened"
Mr.. Barclay" softly called Caudel
from the balcony, what to be done
with this here ladder"
LET it be, let it be-" / answered.
Bear a hand. Caudel, and come
down"
He was along side of us in s trice, pull
ing on his boots. / held my darling's
hand, and the three OF us made for the
hole in the hedge with all possible speed
There seemed little doubt from the
persistency OF the creatures deep de-
livery that It scented mischief going for
ward despite its kennel standing some
considerable distance away on the other
side OF the house. / glanced back as
Caudel was squeezing through the hole,
but the building showed as an impena-
trable shadow against the winking bril-
lance of the sky lowering over and past
it. rich with radiance in places Of metoric
dust no light cleaned the, night hush,
deep as death, was upon the chateau.
In "A few moments my captain and /
had carefully handed Grace through tho
hole and got her safe in the lane, and of
we started. keeping well in the deep
gloom cast by the convent wall, walking
swiftly. yet noiselessly, and scarcely