Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-12-19

him. The delicate beauty Of her face
and figure was enhanced by the band
Of gold which rested upon her glossy
black hair like a coronet and the
richness of the gown she wore, which
was of purple silk with a broad girdle
Of gold.
Coarse and uncouth as he was,
Rutherford had an eye for beauty. His
manner, ordinarily bold and assured,
was hesitating and confused, before
the gaze of her eyes. He felt mex
pressibly relieved when the ceremony
/ of introduction was over.
Briefly Captain Blondin explained
to Marie what he wished her to do.
She assented and the count went
rapidly on. Finally it was finished
and the last Of the boxes renailed and
slowed way in a small compartment
under the cabin floor.
How much money is there?" asked
Marie curiously as the trap was put
into place and the lock sprung.
lone hundred thousand dollars"
replied Captain Blondin.
"One hundred thousand dollars.
And it's all for the Confederacy?"
1T is all for the Confederacy," with
a glance at Rutherford.
I'm glad" she said softly. "The
Confederacy needs all that it can get
to carry on the war. But 1 shall
be happier when we have conquered
the North and the strife 4. over.
Good night, brother, good night, Mr..
Rutherford"
She left the cabin. Both men stood
| in silence for some little time after her
departure. Then Captain Blondin turn
ed to Rutherford.
"She thinks that the money is for
the Confederacy. She is truer pa
| triot than her brother"
Women often get those mistaken
IDEAS" growled Rutherford. "And they
stick to 'em, too, against all rhyme
and reason"
And yet, Mr.. Rutherford, almost
repent of my bargain. To blacken an
unsullied name; to give up the laurels
which have so fairly and hardly won,
to exchange the confidence and friend
ship Of my old associates for their dis
gust and scorn-these are not
things to be lightly set aside. No, no.
name is worth more to me than the
reward of my projected treachery.
Take back your gold, sir, and release
me from my pledge"
The earnestness with which he
spoke alarmed Rutherford and caused
| him to fear for the ultimate success of
his project. His training, however,
| stood him in good stead and his coun-
tenance showed no trace Of the disap-
pointment that he inwardly felt as he
replied:
"Ill not insist, if you're so opposed
to it, captain. But, once you come to
think things over you may see them
in different light. Suppose that you
take me and the money along with you
| anyway? If you decide not to carry
out your part of the bargain, why we
| have your promise to return both to
| Liverpool I'm satisfied to trust both
myself and the money in your hands.
For some minutes Captain Blondin
was silent
| Il will do as you suggest" he said at
last There is plenty Of time to reach
final deciison, and, as you say, | may
change my mind"
| After Captain Blondin had left the
cabin Rutherford drank a glass of
wine, lit another cigar and stretched
himself comfortably in his chair.
"That was a narrow squeak" he
muttered to himself. LAS near to a
backdown, without being one, as ever
saw"
When Rutherford came upon deck
the next morning he found the mate,
Dalton, in charge. 1t was an ideal
morning at sea, the breeze was fresh
and the waves danced brightly in the
clear sunlight. The smoke of several
steamers could be seen and the upper
sails of several ships, but at such
low top hamper was probably invisible
to them.
| Dalton touched his cap respectfully
| in answer to Rutherford's salutation.
The latter alluded to the Banshee's
speed.
She's a fast boat, sir" replied the
mate Fast, but ticklish. We have to
watch her She's so narrow-nine
times her beam in length-that If she
travelled light a good slap on the
broadside from big roller might make
her turn turtle"
A few minutes later Captain B!ondin
Joined them. Rutherford turned to him
after he had relieved Dalton Of the
command of the ship.
We'll, captain" he inquired how
do you feel upon the subject after a
nights sleep?"
Hardly like discussing it," replied
the captain, smiling. Il will let you
/ hIlOW lily "iiSh VIC iN'> NeNN'
ed the point where it would be neces-
sary to change the Banshee's course,
in case 1 should decide to go on with
the matter"
The only thing left for Rutherford to
do was to acquiesce. This he did with
a very good grace. After that inter-
view he devoted most Of his time to
Marie Blondin. They spent hours to-
gether either walking up and down
the deck or talking together in the
great cabin.
He found her a most agreeable COM
panion. AS they grew better acquaint-
ed he gradually and unconsciously
dropped the mask of self-restraint
which he had imposed upon himself
at the beginning of their acquaintance
and at times both his manner and
speech were coarse and vulgar But
she did not appear to notice the change
in him. She was good listener and
she encouraged him to talk of himself
/ l4, hoe 10 hn