Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-04-20
CHAPTER XVI.

Scated IN squire IiiilS library; one of
them was the owner of Orion, the other
was Herbert Lathror.
"Well, Herbert" said the squire. ''if
the information brings you Joy, wish
that it may long continue-Clara has at
length consented to become your wife"
Squire, I'm the happiest man alive"
"She will probably inform you that
she does not love you, and consents to
the union because her father and elder
brother desire it, but in time trust
you will win her heart. You see,
shifting ones affections from an uncle
to a nephew is not n matter to he effect.
ed in SO short n time; then, too, remem-
Der that Angus Bruce saved the girls
life, and, but for the fact that he
proved the murderer of your uncle,
and turned pirate, I doubt not we
should have trouble in that quarter.
You know, when a man risks his life
to save woman he is apt to remain
hero in her sight"
II believe, squire, that Clara and
Fannie have decided that their mar
rage shall take place on the 10th of
October, her birthday. / know the
time is very short since her fathers
death, but l also know that he would
not desire the wedding deferred, and
under the circumstances l think best
that it should take place as early as
possible. You see, this is no ordinary
case-an orphan, and one that one day
will come into possession of her inher-
itance. Who but a husband could con-
fide her interests to? l trust, squire,
that Clara will be willing that our mar
riage take place at the same time"
"Yes, think so. Have Fannie urge
her, you also, and with Clarence and
to help the cause she can but ac-
qliesce. But you have seen to-day's
paper, Herbert?"
mo, squire; anything new?"
II should say there was, Black Beard
again."
What! Where now?"
First, up at Beaufort, where he
plundered a bank of $4,000 and run
off 20 niggers, which he sold the next
day further up the coast. Two nights
later, the Chesapeake bank, of Balti-
more, yielded up its contents, and
though the United States sloop Mervine
got hot on the pirates trail, she proved
the faster, and got away in the dark
ness; but take the paper home with
you and read it,"
II will, squire, and now as it's get
ting late. good-night;" and Herbert
called Fannie, who had been spending
the evening with Clara. A servant was
ordered to summon their coachman,
and they took their departure for Ken
dali.
When they had gone, the squire en-.
tered the parlor.
Clara" said he, II gave Herbert
sour final decision tonight, and he was
overioyed. l congratulate you, my
| daughter, on being about to become
the wife of a man who, if he has his
failings, love for you, my handsome
daughter, is not one of them"
Father, 1 have no love for Herbert,
| and l wed him only to crafty you and
Clarence, as we'll as from the further
fact that by wedding him 1 will never
be separated from those do love-"
Clara, Herbert improves with ac-
quaintance. This country life is
changing him quite for the better. You
could not judge of him while he was
confined to the perpleXing duties of
the bank. / predict that he will make
a model husband, and that you will
never regret that you listened to your
father
Il may be happily disappointed,
father, but I no longer take much in
terest in whom marry, or whether or
not marry. The career of Angus
Bruce has taught me to doubt all men.
adhered to the opinion that it was not
he that was Black Beard as long as
possible, but as I can doubt no longer,
can ascribe his acts to but one cause"
| "And that, my daughter?"
"Was his love for me.
"When he found himself in the pres
cnce of the man 1 was to wed, and
probably requested him to release my
hand, Mr.. Lloyd refusing caused hot
words, and the tragedy occurred. l
could not believe this but for his flight
Had he remained and proclaimed his
| innocence, / would have believed him
against the world. Then having to
flee, for murder, what wonder that he
became pirate. And now, with many
thousand dollars on his head, what
wonder that he remains one. Oh, Ar
gus! August"
Daughter, why shed idle tears for
one unworthy of you?"
But for Angus, father, had not been
here to shed them. Think you l can
ever forget him?"
well. daughter, you could never
have wed him, had he not turned MUIR
derer and pirate"
Father, / am very miserable when
reflect that indirectly / am the cause
OF the unfortunate death of Mr.. Lloyd
and OF Angus being murderer and a
pirate, his mother and sister. desert
ed by him. must go and see them.
Tom, will you bear NE company?"
Certainly, sister, at any time"
We'll, daughter, Clarence and Fan
ME will wed October 10. What say YOU
to the same time, and we will have n
double wedding after nll.'
Fannie was pleading with me,
father, and l have consented. The
time matters little, be it when it may.
The sooner the better, perhaps, for
then l at least cnn lie the cause of no
more bloodshed."
AS they rode home Fannie told Her.
bert that Clara had consented that
there should be two marriages on her
birthday instead of enc.
Fannie, you're a jewell" said Her.
bert.
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