CHAPTER XXXI.

"THERE SHALL BE LIGHT AT THE EVENTIDE."--_Holy Bible._

They shall be blessed exceedingly, their store

Grow daily, weekly more and more,

And peace so multiply around,

Their very hearth seems holy ground.

--Mary Howitt.

The marriage of Capitola and of Herbert and that of Clara and of

Traverse was fixed to take place upon the first of August, which was

the twenty-first birthday of the doctor's daughter, and also the

twenty-fifth anniversary of the wedding of Ira Warfield and Marah

Rocke.

German husbands and wives have a beautiful custom of keeping the

twenty-fifth anniversary of their marriage by a festival, which they

call the "Silver Wedding." And thus Major Warfield and Marah resolved

to keep this first of August, and further to honor the occasion by

uniting the hands of their young people.

There was but one cloud upon the happiness of Capitola; this was the

approaching execution of Black Donald.

No one else seemed to care about the matter, until a circumstance

occurred which painfully aroused their interest.

This was the fact that the Governor, through the solicitation of

certain ministers of the gospel who represented the condemned as

utterly unprepared to meet his fate, had respited him until the first

of August, at which time he wished the prisoner to be made to

understand that his sentence would certainly, without further delay, be

carried into effect.

This carried a sort of consternation into the heart of every member of

the Hurricane Hall household!

The idea of Black Donald being hanged in their immediate neighborhood

upon their wedding day was appalling!

Yet there was no help for it, unless their wedding was postponed to

another occasion than that upon which Old Hurricane had set his heart.

No one knew what to do.

Cap fretted herself almost sick. She had cudgeled her brains to no

purpose. She had not been able to think of any plan by which she could

deliver Black Donald. Meantime the last days of July were rapidly

passing away.

Black Donald in the condemned cell maintained his firmness, resolutely

asserting his innocence of any capital crime, and persistently refusing

to give up his band. As a last motive of confession, the paper written

by Gabriel Le Noir upon his death-bed was shown him. He laughed a loud,

crackling laugh, and said that was all true, but that he, for his part,

never had intended to harm a hair of Capitola's head; that he had taken

a fancy to the girl when he had first seen her, and had only wanted to

carry her off and force her into a marriage with himself; that he had

pretended to consent to her death only for the purpose of saving her

life.

When Cap heard this she burst into tears and said she believed it was

true.

The night before the wedding of Capitola and Herbert, and Clara and

Traverse, and of the execution of Black Donald, came.

At Hurricane Hall the two prospective bridegrooms were busy with Old

Hurricane over some papers that had to be prepared in the library.

The two intended brides were engaged, under the direction of Mrs.

Warfield, in her dressing-room, consulting over certain proprieties of

the approaching festival. But Capitola could give only a half attention

to the discussion. Her thoughts were with the poor condemned man who

was to die the next day.

And suddenly she flew out of the room, summoned her groom, mounted her

horse, and rode away.

In his condemned cell Black Donald was bitterly realizing how

unprepared he was to die, and how utterly impossible it was for him to

prepare in the short hours left him. He tried to pray, but could form

no other petition than that he might be allowed, if possible, a little

longer to fit himself to meet his Creator. From his cell he could hear

the striking of the great clock in the prison hall. And as every hour

struck it seemed "a nail driven in his coffin."

At eight o'clock that night the warden sat in his little office,

consulting the sheriff about some details of the approaching execution.

While they were still in discussion, a turnkey opened the door, saying:

"A lady to see the warden."

And Capitola stood before them!

"Miss Black!" exclaimed both sheriff and warden, rising in surprise,

gazing upon our heroine, and addressing her by the name under which

they had first known her.

"Yes, gentlemen, it is I. The truth is, I cannot rest to-night without

saying a few words of comfort to the poor man who is to die to-morrow.

So I came hither, attended by my groom, to know if I may see him for a

few minutes."

"Miss Black, here is the sheriff. It is just as he pleases. My orders

were so strict that had you come to me alone I should have been obliged

to refuse you."

"Mr. Keepe, you will not refuse me," said Capitola, turning to the

sheriff.

"Miss Black, my rule is to admit no one but the officers of the prison

and the ministers of the gospel, to see the condemned! This we have

been obliged to observe as a measure of safety. This convict, as you

are aware, is a man of consummate cunning, so that it is really

wonderful he has not found means to make his escape, closely as he has

been watched and strongly as he has been guarded."

"Ah, but Mr. Keepe, his cunning was no match for mine, you know!" said

Capitola, smiling.

"Ha-ha-ha! so it was not! You took him very cleverly! Very cleverly,

indeed! In fact, if it had not been for you, I doubt if ever we should

have captured Black Donald at all. The authorities are entirely

indebted to you for the capture of this notorious outlaw. And really

that being the case, I do think it would be straining a point to refuse

you admittance to see him. So, Miss Black, you have my authority for

visiting the condemned man in his cell and giving him all the comfort

you can. I would attend you thither myself, but I have got to go to see

the captain of a militia company to be on the scene of action

to-morrow," said the sheriff, who soon after took leave of the warden

and departed.

The warden then called a turnkey and ordered him to attend Miss Black

to the condemned cell.

The young turnkey took up a lamp and a great key and walked before,

leading the way down-stairs to a cell in the interior of the basement,

occupied by Black Donald.

He unlocked the door, admitted Capitola, and then walked off to the

extremity of the lobby, as he was accustomed to do when he let in the

preachers.

Capitola thanked heaven for this chance, for had he not done so she

would have to invent some excuse for getting rid of him.

She entered the cell. It was very dimly lighted from the great lamp

that hung in the lobby, nearly opposite the cell door.

By its light she saw Black Donald, not only doubly ironed but confined

by a chain and staple to the wall. He was very pale and haggard from

long imprisonment and great anxiety.

Cap's heart bled for the poor banned and blighted outlaw, who had not a

friend in the world to speak a kind word to him in his trouble.

He also recognized her, and rising and coming to meet her as far as the

length of the chain would permit, he held out his hand and said:

"I am very glad you have come, little one; it is very kind of you to

come and see a poor fellow in his extremity! You are the first female

that has been in this cell since my imprisonment. Think of that, child!

I wanted to see you, too, I wanted to say to you yourself again, that I

was never guilty of murder, and that I only seemed to consent to your

death to save your life! Do you believe this? On the word of a dying

man it is truth!"

"I do believe you, Donald Bayne," said Capitola, in a broken voice.

"I hear that you have come into your estate. I am glad of it. And they

tell me that you are going to be married to-morrow! Well! God bless

you, little one!"

"Oh, Donald Bayne! Can you say God bless me, when it was I who put you

here?"

"Tut, child, we outlaws bear no malice. Spite is a civilized vice. It

was a fair contest, child, and you conquered. It's well you did. Give

me your hand in good will, since I must die to-morrow!"

Capitola gave her hand, and whilst he held it, she stooped and said:

"Donald, I have done everything in the world I could to save your

life!"

"I know you have, child. May yours be long and happy."

"Donald, may your life be longer and better than you think. I have

tried all other means of saving you in vain; there is but one means

left!"

The outlaw started violently, exclaiming:

"Is there one?"

"Donald, yes! There is! I bring you the means of deliverance and

escape. Heaven knows whether I am doing right--for I do not! I know

many people would blame me very much, but I hope that He who forgave

the thief upon the cross and the sinful woman at his feet, will not

condemn me for following His own compassionate example! For, Donald, as

I was the person whom you injured most of all others, so I consider

that I of all others have the best right to pardon you and set you

free. Oh, Donald! Use well the life I am about to give you, else I

shall be chargeable with every future sin you commit!"

"In the name of mercy, girl, do not hold out a false hope. I had nerved

myself to die!"

"But you were not prepared to meet your Maker! Oh, Donald! I hold out

no false hope! Listen, for I must speak low and quick. I could never be

happy again if on my wedding-day you should die a felon's death! Here!

here are tools with the use of which you must be acquainted, for they

were found in the woods near the Hidden House!" said Capitola,

producing from her pockets a burglar's lock-pick, saw, chisel, file,

etc.

Black Donald seized them as a famished wolf might seize his prey.

"Will they do?" inquired Capitola, in breathless anxiety.

"Yes--yes--yes! I can file off my irons, pick every lock, drive back

every bolt, and dislodge every bar between myself and freedom with

these instruments! But, child, there is one thing you have forgotten:

suppose a turnkey or a guard should stop me? You have brought me no

revolver!"

Capitola turned pale.

"Donald, I could easily have brought you a revolver; but I would not,

even to save you from to-morrow's death! No, Donald, no! I give you the

means of freeing yourself, if you can do it, as you may, without

bloodshed! But, Donald, though your life is not justly forfeited, your

liberty is, and so I cannot give you the means of taking any one's life

for the sake of saving your own!"

"You are right," said the outlaw.

"Listen further, Donald. Here are a thousand dollars! I thought never

to have taken it from the bank, for I would never have used the price

of blood! But I drew it to-day for you. Take it--it will help you to

live a better life! When you have picked your way out of this place, go

to the great elm tree at the back of the old mill, and you will find my

horse, Gyp, which I shall have tied there. He is very swift. Mount him

and ride for your life to the nearest seaport, and so escape by a

vessel to some foreign country. And oh, try to lead a good life, and

may God redeem you, Donald Bayne! There--conceal your tools and your

money quickly, for I hear the guard coming. Good-by--and again, God

redeem you, Donald Bayne!"

"God bless you, brave and tender girl! And God forsake me if I do not

heed your advice!" and the outlaw pressed the hand she gave him while

the tears rushed to his eyes.

The guard approached; Capitola turned to meet him. They left the cell

together and Black Donald was locked in for the last time!

"Oh, I hope, I pray, that he may get off! Oh, what shall I do if he

doesn't! How can I enjoy my wedding to-morrow! How can I bear the music

and the dancing and the rejoicing, when I know that a fellow creature

is in such a strait! Oh, Lord grant that Black Donald may get clear off

to-night, for he isn't fit to die!" said Cap to herself, as she hurried

out of the prison.

Her young groom was waiting for her and she mounted her horse and rode

until they got to the old haunted church at the end of the village,

when drawing rein, she said:

"Jem, I am very tired. I will wait here and you must just ride back to

the village, to Mr. Cassell's livery stable, and get a gig, and put

your horse into it, and come back here to drive me home, for I cannot

ride."

Jem, who never questioned his imperious little mistress's orders, rode

off at once to do her bidding.

Cap immediately dismounted from her pony and led him under the deep

shadows of the elm tree, where she fastened him. Then taking his face

between her hands, and looking him in the eyes, she said:

"Gyp, my son, you and I have had many a frolic together, but we've got

to part now! It almost breaks my heart, Gyp, but it is to save a fellow

creature's life, and it can't be helped! He'll treat you well, for my

sake, dear Gyp. Gyp, he'll part with his life sooner than sell you!

Good-by, dear, dear Gyp."

Gyp took all these caresses in a very nonchalant manner, only snorting

and pawing in reply.

Presently the boy came back, bringing the gig. Cap once more hugged Gyp

about the neck, pressed her cheek against his mane, and with a

whispered "Good-by, dear Gyp," sprang into the gig and ordered the boy

to drive home.

"An' leab the pony, miss?"

"Oh, yes, for the present; everybody knows Gyp--no one will steal him.

I have left him length of line enough to move around a little and eat

grass, drink from the brook, or lie down. You can come after him early

to-morrow morning."

The little groom thought this a queer arrangement, but he was not in

the habit of criticising his young mistress's actions.

Capitola got home to a late supper and to the anxious inquiries of her

friends she replied that she had been to the prison to take leave of

Black Donald, and begged that they would not pursue so painful a

subject.

And, in respect to Cap's sympathies, they changed the conversation.

* * * * *

That night the remnant of Black Donald's band were assembled in their

first old haunt, the Old Road Inn. They had met for a twofold

purpose--to bury their old matron, Mother Raven, who, since the death

of her patron and the apprehension of her captain, had returned to the

inn to die--and to bewail the fate of their leader, whose execution was

expected to come off the next day.

The men laid the poor old woman in her woodland grave, and assembled in

the kitchen to keep a death watch in sympathy with their "unfortunate"

captain. They gathered around the table, and foaming mugs of ale were

freely quaffed for "sorrow's dry," they said. But neither laugh, song

nor jest attended their draughts. They were to keep that night's vigil

in honor of their captain, and then were to disband and separate

forever.

Suddenly, in the midst of their heavy grief and utter silence a

familiar sound was heard--a ringing footstep under the back windows.

And every man leaped to his feet, with looks of wild delight and

questioning.

And the next instant the door was flung wide open, and the outlaw chief

stood among them!

Steve stopped rolling and curled himself around Black Donald's neck,

exclaiming:

"It's you--it's you--it's you!--my dear, my darling--my adored--my

sweetheart--my prince!--my lord!--my king!--my dear, dear captain!"

Steve, the lazy mulatto, rolled down upon the floor at his master's

feet, and embraced him in silence.

While Demon Dick growled forth:

"How the foul fiend did you get out?"

And the anxious faces of all the other men silently repeated the

question.

"Not by any help of yours, boys! But don't think I reproach you, lads!

Well I know that you could do nothing on earth to save me! No one on

earth could have helped me except the one who really freed

me--Capitola!"

"That girl again!" exclaimed Hal, in the extremity of wonder.

Steve stopped rolling, and curled himself around the feet of his master

and gazed up in stupid astonishment.

"It's to be hoped, then, you've got her at last, captain," said Demon

Dick.

"No--heaven bless her!--she's in better hands. Now listen, lads, for I

must talk fast! I have already lost a great deal too much time. I went

first to the cave in the Punch Bowl, and, not finding you there, came

here at a venture, where I am happy to meet you for the last time--for

to-night we disband forever!"

"'Twas our intention, captain," said Hal, in a melancholy voice.

Black Donald then threw himself into a seat at the head of the table,

poured out a mug of ale, and invited his band to pledge him. They

gathered around the table, filled their mugs, pledged him standing, and

then resumed their seats to listen to the last words of their chief.

Black Donald commenced and related the manner of his deliverance by

Capitola; and then, taking from his bosom a bag of gold, he poured it

upon the table and divided it into two equal portions, one of which he

handed to "Headlong Hal," saying:

"There, Hal, take that and divide it among your companions, and scatter

to distant parts of the country, where you may yet have a chance of

earning an honest livelihood! As for me, I shall have to quit the

country altogether, and it will take nearly half this sum to enable me

to do it. Now I have not a minute more to give you! So once more pledge

your captain and away!"

The men filled their mugs, rose to their feet, and pledged their leader

in a parting toast and then:

"Good luck to you all!" exclaimed Black Donald, waving his hat thrice

above his head with a valedictory hurrah. And the next moment he was

gone!

That night, if any watchman had been on guard near the stables of

Hurricane Hall, he might have seen a tall man mounted upon Capitola's

pony, ride up in hot haste, dismount and pick the stable lock, take Gyp

by the bridle and lead him in, and presently return leading out

Fleetfoot, Old Hurricane's racer, upon which he mounted and rode away.

The next morning, while Capitola was dressing, her groom rapped at the

door and, in great dismay, begged that he might speak to Miss Cap one

minute.

"Well, what is it, Jem?" said Capitola.

"Oh, Miss Cap, you'll kill me! I done been got up long afore day and

gone to Tip-Top arter Gyp, but somebody done been stole him away afore

I got there!"

"Thank heaven!" cried Capitola, to little Jem's unspeakable amazement.

For to Capitola the absence of her horse meant just the escape of Black

Donald!

The next minute Cap sighed and said:

"Poor Gyp! I shall never see you again!"

That was all she knew of the future!

That morning while they were all at breakfast a groom from the stables

came in with a little canvas bag in his hand, which he laid, with a

bow, before his master.

Major Warfield took it up; it was full of gold, and upon its side was

written, in red chalk:

"Three hundred dollars, to pay for Fleetfoot.--Black Donald, Reformed

Robber."

While Old Hurricane was reading this inscription, the groom said that

Fleetfoot was missing from his stall, and that Miss Cap's pony, that

was supposed to have been stolen, was found in his place, with this bag

of gold tied around his neck!

"It is Black Donald--he has escaped!" cried Old Hurricane, about to

fling himself into a rage, when his furious eyes encountered the gentle

gaze of Marah, that fell like oil on the waves of his rising passion.

"Let him go! I'll not storm on my silver wedding day," said Major

Warfield.

As for Cap, her eyes danced with delight--the only little clouds upon

her bright sky were removed. Black Donald had escaped, to commence a

better life, and Gyp was restored!

That evening a magnificent old-fashioned wedding came off at Hurricane

Hall.

The double ceremony was performed by the bishop of the diocese (then on

a visit to the neighborhood) in the great salon of Hurricane Hall, in

the presence of as large and splendid an assembly as could be gathered

together from that remote neighborhood.

The two brides, of course, were lovely in white satin, Honiton lace,

pearls and orange flowers. "Equally," of course, the bridegrooms were

handsome and elegant, proud and happy.

To this old-fashioned wedding succeeded a round of dinners and evening

parties, given by the wedding guests. And when all these old-time

customs had been observed for the satisfaction of old friends, the

bridal party went upon the new-fashioned tour, for their own delight.

They spent a year in traveling over the eastern continent, and then

returned home to settle upon their patrimonial estates.

Major Warfield and Marah lived at Hurricane Hall and as his heart is

satisfied and at rest, his temper is gradually improving. As the lion

shall be led by the little child, Old Hurricane is led by the gentlest

woman that ever loved or suffered, and she is leading him in his old

age to the Saviour's feet.

Clara and Traverse live at Willow Heights, which has been repaired,

enlarged and improved, and where Traverse has already an extensive

practice, and where both endeavor to emulate the enlightened goodness

of the sainted Doctor Day.

Cap and Herbert, with Mrs. Le Noir, live at the Hidden House, which has

been turned by wealth and taste into a dwelling of light and beauty. As

the bravest are always the gentlest, so the most high-spirited are

always the most forgiving. And thus the weak or wicked old Dorcas

Knight finds still a home under the roof of Mrs. Le Noir. Her only

retribution being the very mild one of having her relations changed in

the fact that her temporary prisoner is now her mistress and sovereign

lady.

I wish I could say "they all lived happy ever after." But the truth is

I have reason to suppose that even Clara had sometimes occasion to

administer to Doctor Rocke dignified curtain lectures, which no doubt

did him good. And I know for a positive fact that our Cap sometimes

gives her "dear, darling, sweet Herbert," the benefit of the sharp edge

of her tongue, which, of course, he deserves.

But notwithstanding all this, I am happy to say that all enjoy a fair

amount of human felicity.

THE END.

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a matter of course, is Lewis Wetzel, one of the most peculiar, and at

the same time the most admirable of all the brave men who spent their

lives battling with the savage foe, that others might dwell in

comparative security.

Details of the establishment and destruction of the Moravian "Village

of Peace" are given at some length, and with minute description. The

efforts to Christianize the Indians are described as they never have

been before, and the author has depicted the characters of the leaders

of the several Indian tribes with great care, which of itself will be

of interest to the student.

By no means least among the charms of the story are the vivid

word-pictures of the thrilling adventures, and the intense paintings of

the beauties of nature, as seen in the almost unbroken forests.

It is the spirit of the frontier which is described, and one can by it,

perhaps, the better understand why men, and women, too, willingly

braved every privation and danger that the westward progress of the

star of empire might be the more certain and rapid. A love story,

simple and tender, runs through the book.

RICHELIEU. A tale of France in the reign of King Louis XIII. By G. P.

R. James. Cloth, 12mo. with four illustrations by J. Watson Davis.

Price, $1.00.

In 1829 Mr. James published his first romance, "Richelieu," and was

recognized at once as one of the masters of the craft.

In this book he laid the story during those later days of the great

cardinal's life, when his power was beginning to wane, but while it was

yet sufficiently strong to permit now and then of volcanic outbursts

which overwhelmed foes and carried friends to the topmost wave of

prosperity. One of the most striking portions of the story is that of

Cinq Mar's conspiracy; the method of conducting criminal cases, and the

political trickery resorted to by royal favorites, affording a better

insight into the state-craft of that day than can be had even by an

exhaustive study of history. It is a powerful romance of love and

diplomacy, and in point of thrilling and absorbing interest has never

been excelled.

For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by

the publishers, A. L. BURT COMPANY, 52-58 Duane St., New York.

Good Fiction Worth Reading.

A series of romances containing several of the old favorites in the

field of historical fiction, replete with powerful romances of love and

diplomacy that excel in thrilling and absorbing interest.

* * * * *

WINDSOR CASTLE. A Historical Romance of the Reign of Henry VIII.,

Catharine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn. By Wm. Harrison Ainsworth. Cloth,

12mo. with four illustrations by George Cruikshank. Price, $1.00.

"Windsor Castle" is the story of Henry VIII., Catharine, and Anne

Boleyn. "Bluff King Hal," although a well-loved monarch, was none too

good a one in many ways. Of all his selfishness and unwarrantable acts,

none was more discreditable than his divorce from Catharine, and his

marriage to the beautiful Anne Boleyn. The King's love was as brief as

it was vehement. Jane Seymour, waiting maid on the Queen, attracted

him, and Anne Boleyn was forced to the block to make room for her

successor. This romance is one of extreme interest to all readers.

HORSESHOE ROBINSON. A tale of the Tory Ascendency in South Carolina in

1780. By John P. Kennedy. Cloth, 12mo. with four illustrations by J.

Watson Davis. Price, $1.00.

Among the old favorites in the field of what is known as historical

fiction, there are none which appeal to a larger number of Americans

than Horseshoe Robinson, and this because it is the only story which

depicts with fidelity to the facts the heroic efforts of the colonists

in South Carolina to defend their homes against the brutal oppression

of the British under such leaders as Cornwallis and Tarleton.

The reader is charmed with the story of love which forms the thread of

the tale, and then impressed with the wealth of detail concerning those

times. The picture of the manifold sufferings of the people, is never

overdrawn, but painted faithfully and honestly by one who spared

neither time nor labor in his efforts to present in this charming love

story all that price in blood and tears which the Carolinians paid as

their share in the winning of the republic.

Take it all in all, "Horseshoe Robinson" is a work which should be

found on every book-shelf, not only because it is a most entertaining

story, but because of the wealth of valuable information concerning the

colonists which it contains. That it has been brought out once more,

well illustrated, is something which will give pleasure to thousands

who have long desired an opportunity to read the story again, and to

the many who have tried vainly in these latter days to procure a copy

that they might read it for the first time.

THE PEARL OF ORR'S ISLAND. A story of the Coast of Maine. By Harriet

Beecher Stowe. Cloth, 12mo. Illustrated. Price, $1.00.

Written prior to 1862, the "Pearl of Orr's Island" is ever new; a book

filled with delicate fancies, such as seemingly array themselves anew

each time one reads them. One sees the "sea like an unbroken mirror all

around the pine-girt, lonely shores of Orr's Island," and straightway

comes "the heavy, hollow moan of the surf on the beach, like the wild

angry howl of some savage animal."

Who can read of the beginning of that sweet life, named Mara, which

came into this world under the very shadow of the Death angel's wings,

without having an intense desire to know how the premature bud

blossomed? Again and again one lingers over the descriptions of the

character of that baby boy Moses, who came through the tempest, amid

the angry billows, pillowed on his dead mother's breast.

There is no more faithful portrayal of New England life than that which

Mrs. Stowe gives in "The Pearl of Orr's Island."

For sale by all booksellers, or sent postpaid on receipt of price by

the publishers, A. L. BURT COMPANY, 52-58 Duane St., New York.

End of Project Gutenberg's Capitola's Peril, by Mrs. E.D.E.N. Southworth

Capitola's peril · 第 31 / 31 章