The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1904-07-29
CHAPTER XXXII.
A CHAPTER OF HAPPENINGS.

80 - fair happiness which
now hung over the Delaplaine home
near Spanish Town.
The old home life began again. al
though It was vNry quiet life. Dick
o-y went into Mr.. Delaplaine's count
ing-house, but 1t was hard for the
young man to doff the naval uniform
which had been bestowed upon him by
] lackbeard, for he knew he looked
very well in 1t, and everybody else
thought so and told him SO; but il;
could not be helped, and with all con-
venient speed he discarded his cooked
hat and all the rest of 1t. and clothed
mself in the sirlple garb of mer-
iants clerk. although it might be
said, that In all the West Indies. at
that day. there was no clerk SO good
looking as was Dickory. Dame Char
ter was so thankful that her boy had
come safely through all his troubles
so proud of him. and so eminently well
satisfied with his present position. that
she asked nothing of her particular
guardian angel but that Stede Bonnet
might stay away. If. after firing of
piracy that man came back as his
relatives wished him to do. the good
dame was sure he would make mischief
of some sort. and as like as not in the
direction of her D!ckory.
About this time there came letter
from Barbados, which was of great in
terest No everybody in the household.
1t was from Master Martin Newcombe,
and OF course was written to Kate, but
she read many portions of 1t 10 the
others. The first part of the epistle
was not read aloud, but 1t was very
pleasant for Kate to read II to herself.
This man was close lover and an ar
dent one. Whatever had happened to
her fortunes, nothing had interfered
with his affection; whatever he had
said he still bravely stood by, and to
whatever she had objected In the way
Of obstacles he had paid no attention
whatever.
In the parts of the letter read to her
uncle and the others, Master New
combe told how. not having heard
from them for SO long, he had been
beginning to be greatly troubled, but
the arrival of the Black Swan. which,
after touching at Kingston, had con-
tinded her course to Barbados, had
given him new life and hope; and 1t
was his intention. as soon as he could
arrange his affairs TO come to Jamaica,
and there say by word Of mouth and
Il tn. hi fnar
which a letter was totally inadequate.
The thought of seeing Kate again
made him trembe as he walked
through his fields This was read in
advertently, and Dickory frowned.
Dame Charter frowned too. She had
never supposed that Master Newcombe
would come to Spanish Town; she had
always looked upon him as a very
worthy young farmer; SO worthy that
he would not neglect his interest by
travelling about to other islands than
his own. She did not know exactly |
how her son felt about all this, nor did |
she like to ask him. but Dickory saved |
her the trouble.
"1f that Newcombe comes here" he |
said. - am going to fight him."
What" cried his mother You |
would not do that. That would be |
terrible; IL would ruin everything.
Ruin what?" he asked.
His mother answered automatically,
at would ruin all your fine opportun-
tiles in this family"
Dickory smiled with a certain sar-
castle hardness. Il don't mean" said
he, that / am going to hack at him
with sword, because neither he nor
| properly know how to use swords,
and after the wonderful practice that
| have seen | would not want to prove
myself a bungler even IL the other man
we're a worse one No, indeed, | mean
to fight with him by all fair means 10
gain the hand of my dear Kate. love
her, and | am far more worthy of her
than he is He is not a well-disposed
man, being rough and inconsiderate in
his speech" Dickory had never for
given the interview by the river bank
when he had gone to see Madam Bon
net. "And as to his being a stout low
err. he is none of it, Had he been that,
be would long ago have crossed the
little sea between Barbados and here"
do you mean. you foolish boy" ex-
claimed Dame Charter. ito say that
you presume to love our Mistress
Kate?" And her eyes glowed upon him
with all the warmth OF a mothers
pride. for this was the wish of her
heart. and never absent from it.
"Ay. mother" said Dickory, Il shall
tight for her; | shall show her that ]
Am worthier than he is and that ! love
her better. | shall even strive for her
4 that mad pirate comes back and
.ries TO oyerset everything"
oh, do Al before that" cried Dame
-harter, anxiety in every wrinkle. DO
[ before that
Mr. Delaplaine was a little troubled
,y the promised visit from barbados.
IIe had heard of Master Newcombe as
,eing a most estimable young man, but
he fault about him in his OPINION. was
hat he resided not in Jamaica. For
. long time the good merchant had
ived his own life. with no one to love
i'm. and he nov had with him his sis
l. - i