Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1900-01-20

tinel broke the stiffness that prevailed
throughout the decks of the Sparrow
Hawk. Sutherland was yet awake; he
seldom retired before one or two bells In
the middle watch. and now he was not In
a state Of mind to obtain rcpOsc, how
much. soever he might covet IT, After
traversing his apartment until he had
fatigucd himself with the exercise. he
threw himself upon the sofa. and was
about to open the pages Of favoritc
author, when his attention was suddenly
| arrested by the quartermastcr's hoarse
summons of Boat ahoy" The response,
whatever It might have been. was uttered
too family to reach his ears; but the rat
tie Of oars. In a moment or two after
ward, convinced him that the boat had
been permitted to come alongside. While
he vet awaited the official report of the
officer on deck, the door was opened, and
he was informed by the quartermaster
that two persons had come off from the
| shore, and that one of them desired to
| speak with him.
"Show him In" returned Sutherland.
The quartcrmastcr withdrew. and the
stranger entered the apartment. but
paused. motionless. within pace of the
threshold. The light burned but dirnly
In the cabin lamp. and the features Of
the newcomer were besides so cffectually
screened by the broad brim of a Spanish
bat that Sutherland obtained but an i'm
perfect view of his countcnance; but he
was both youthful and beautiful.
The commander Of the Sparrow Hawk
was still upon his feet, but the stranger
had not yet put aside his sombrerO; and,
though he had been twice requested to
Il..1.
reply. but stood with downcast eyes and
clasped hands. In an attitude that might
be one of bashfulness or supp.ication.
The singularity of the strangers con-
duct ut first created no other sensation
In the breast Of Sutherland than that Of
surprise: but his continued silence, and
apparent neglect Of everything like cOur-
tcsy, at length brought the angry spot to
the commanders cheek.
III you have business with me-" said
he. and his voice sufficiently indicated his
| displeas,,rc. although he wished 1t other.
make IL known.
The newcomer said not word. but
the vexation of Sutherland was changed
to astonishment: for a sob that was
heart broken burst from the bosom of the
addressed, and for the first time Suther.
land observed that the youth had been
weeping.
NAY. fear nothing" said Sutherland,
| In a voice that was mild as 1t was re-
spectful: "whocver you may bc. you are
safe while here; and IL 1t Is your wish to
remain unknown, l shall make no at
tempt to penetrate your disguise"
| But scarcely had he finished when the
sombrcro fell from the visitors head and
disclosed the beautiful features OF Car
lotta. The maidcn's cheek burned with
the glow of shame: and, screening her
face with her small. white hands, she
wept on, her bosom heaving with an.
guish. and the tears gushing through her
alabaster fingers, like diamond dew
drops along the spotlcss stem of the
snowy jasmine.
| "Dona Carlotta," exclaimed Suther-
land. "has anything happened to your
fathcr?"
There was n silence OF a moment be-
fore the maiden replied.
"ScnOr, no."
"Your mother" exclaimed he, still
installing the cause Of her grief.
us well, senOr."
"What thcn---" but he stopped short,
for the truth came upon him like bless.
ing from Paradise. and he felt ashamed
OF himself for not having discovered II
at first. "Then, sweet Carl0tta," re.
sumed he. dry up those tears! for I am
sure you have no cause for this unhappi.
ness. Nay, nay. why give yourself 80
much pain. Carl0tta, when there exists
not the shadow Of reason for It? Come.
now, seat yourself here. and smile away
those tears, whose source, my dear Car
lOtta, would ibe about as difficult to dis
S cove as the prime fountains Of the
But the maiden, though she suffered
herself to be conducted to the sofa, made
not an effort to suppress her sorrow.
"CarlOtta,. dearest Carlotta! Why do
you indulge In this unwarrantable afiiic.
tiOny"
''Senor, I have too much cause for it!'
responded she. II have deceived my faith
err and mother--I have performed that
which every maiden should blush to think
Of. and have forfeited my. own self.re-
spcct forever. And you, Senior Captain,
how will you esteem the woman who for
gets the delicacy Of her sex, deties the
opinions of those that have grown up
with her, and throws aside the garb OF
modcsty, In wild obedience to n passion
which she is In honor and In duty bound
to snppress?"
"Carlotta," said Sutherland, and his
voice was the voice of one who Is about
to utter grave and impressive truth
II was full Of tenderness--it was mel0.
dious with affectlon-and there was In
It a feature OF deep-toned sincerity that
caused the maiden to forget her grief that
she might gather every word that fell
from his lips--''if for one moment you
suppose that my esteem for you Is less
ened In the least, you must egreglOusly
deceive yourself. But why should des.
ignate my feelings toward you by the
cold appellation of esteem. when that SEN
timent scarcely existed In my breast be.
fore 1t gave way to far more endcar.
ing passion? Yes, CarlOtta, / loved you!
dearly, dcvOtedly, madly loved you! but
was told You were the promised of an.
other-I was told your affection had been
long bestowed upon him--that your par.
ents approved the union. that your rela.
tives desired It; and under these circum.
stances was bound to conceal passion
that ! thought utterly hopeless. Nor
Carlotta. did I then presume to suppose
that being SO surprisingly beautiful
as yourself ever gave other than q
thought of friendship to me. dared moi
aspire to the bliss of being loved by such
one; but now, CarlOtta, may hope
that ! was then In error; speak, dearest
may not?"
"Senor, You were"
'Sweet Carlotta! those words have
made me happy beyond all the hopes
over yet INDUCED. Yes! were the wild
l \ Al n.