[Illustration: EAGLE SERIES]
NO. 329
_MY HILDEGARDE_
_BY
ST. GEORGE RATHBORNE_
[Illustration]
_STREET & SMITH
PUBLISHERS
NEW YORK_
..._The_...
Eagle Series
_of_ Popular Fiction
PRINCIPALLY COPYRIGHTS
ELEGANT COLORED COVERS
This is the pioneer line of copyright novels. Its popularity has
increased with every number, until, at the present time it stands
unrivalled as regards sales and contents.
It is composed, mainly, of popular copyrighted titles which cannot be
had in any other lines, at any price. The authors, as far as literary
ability and reputation are concerned, represent the foremost men and
women of their time. The books, without exception, are of entrancing
interest and manifestly those most desired by the American reading
public. A purchase of two or three of these books, at random, will make
you a firm believer that there is no line of novels which can compare
favorably with the Eagle Series.
327--Was She Wife or Widow? By Malcolm Bell
326--Parted by Fate By Laura Jean Libbey
=325--The Leighton Homestead (Double Number)=
=By Mary J. Holmes=
324--A Love Match By Sylvanus Cobb
323--The Little Countess By S. E. Boggs
322--Mildred By Mrs. Mary J. Holmes
=321--Neva’s Three Lovers (Double Number)= =By Mrs. Harriet Lewis=
320--Mynheer Joe By St. George Rathborne
319--Millbank By Mary J. Holmes
318--Staunch of Heart By Charles Garvice
317--Ione By Laura Jean Libbey
=316--Edith Lyle’s Secret (Double Number)= =By Mary J. Holmes=
315--The Dark Secret By May Agnes Fleming
314--A Maid’s Fatal Love By Helen Corwin Pierce
313--A Kinsman’s Sin By Effie Adelaide Rowlands
312--Woven on Fate’s Loom By Charles Garvice
=311--Wedded by Fate (Double Number)= =By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon=
310--A Late Repentance By Mary A. Denison
309--The Heiress of Castle Cliffe By May Agnes Fleming
308--Lady Ryhope’s Lover By Emma Garrison Jones
307--The Winning of Isolde By St. George Rathborne
306--Love’s Golden Rule By Geraldine Fleming
305--Led by Love By Charles Garvice
304--Staunch as a Woman By Charles Garvice.
303--The Queen of the Isle By May Agnes Fleming.
302--When Man’s Love Fades By Hazel Wood.
301--The False and the True By Effie Adelaide Rowlands.
300--The Spider and the Fly By Charles Garvice.
299--Little Miss Whirlwind By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.
298--Should She Have Left Him? By William C. Hudson.
297--That Girl from Texas By Mrs. J. H. Walworth.
296--The Heir of Vering By Charles Garvice.
295--A Terrible Secret By Geraldine Fleming.
294--A Warrior Bold By St. George Rathborne.
293--For Love of Anne Lambart By Effie Adelaide Rowlands.
292--For Her Only By Charles Garvice.
291--A Mysterious Wedding Ring By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.
290--A Change of Heart By Effie Adelaide Rowlands.
289--Married in Mask By Mansfield T. Walworth.
288--Sibyl’s Influence By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.
287--The Lady of Darracourt By Charles Garvice.
286--A Debt of Vengeance By Mrs. E. Burke Collins.
285--Born to Betray By Mrs. M. V. Victor.
284--Dr. Jack’s Widow By St. George Rathborne.
283--My Lady Pride By Charles Garvice.
282--The Forsaken Bride By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.
281--For Love Alone By Wenona Gilman.
280--Love’s Dilemma By Charles Garvice.
279--Nina’s Peril By Mrs. Alex. McVeigh Miller.
278--Laura Brayton By Julia Edwards.
277--Brownie’s Triumph By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.
276--So Nearly Lost By Charles Garvice.
275--Love’s Cruel Whim By Effie Adelaide Rowlands.
274--A Romantic Girl By Evelyn E. Green.
273--At Swords’ Points By St. George Rathborne.
272--So Fair, So False By Charles Garvice.
271--With Love’s Laurel Crowned By W. C. Stiles.
270--Had She Foreseen By Dora Delmar.
269--Brunette and Blonde By Mrs. Alex. McVeigh Miller.
268--Olivia; or, It Was for Her Sake By Charles Garvice.
267--Jeanne By Charles Garvice.
266--The Welfleet Mystery By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.
265--First Love is Best By S. K. Hocking.
264--For Gold or Soul By Lurana W. Sheldon.
263--An American Nabob By St. George Rathborne.
262--A Woman’s Faith By Henry Wallace.
261--A Siren’s Heart By Effie Adelaide Rowlands.
260--At a Girl’s Mercy By Jean Kate Ludlum.
259--By a Golden Cord By Dora Delmar.
258--An Amazing Marriage By Mrs. Sumner Hayden.
257--A Martyred Love By Charles Garvice.
256--Thy Name is Woman By F. H. Howe.
255--The Little Marplot By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.
254--Little Miss Millions By St. George Rathborne.
253--A Fashionable Marriage By Mrs. Alex Frazer.
252--A Handsome Sinner By Dora Delmar.
251--When Love is True By Mable Collins.
250--A Woman’s Soul By Charles Garvice.
249--What Love Will Do By Geraldine Fleming.
248--Jeanne, Countess Du Barry By H. L. Williams.
247--Within Love’s Portals By Frank Barrett.
246--True to Herself By Mrs. J. H. Walworth.
245--A Modern Marriage By Clara Lanza.
244--A Hoiden’s Conquest By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.
243--His Double Self By Scott Campbell.
242--A Wounded Heart By Charles Garvice.
241--Her Love and Trust By Adeline Sergeant.
240--Saved by the Sword By St. George Rathborne.
239--Don Cæsar De Bazan By Victor Hugo.
238--That Other Woman By Annie Thomas.
237--Woman or Witch? By Dora Delmar.
235--Gratia’s Trials By Lucy Randall Comfort.
234--His Mother’s Sin By Adeline Sergeant.
233--Nora By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.
232--A Debt of Honor By Mabel Collins.
230--A Woman’s Atonement, and A Mother’s Mistake
By Adah M. Howard.
229--For the Sake of the Family By May Crommelin.
228--His Brother’s Widow By Mary Grace Halpine.
227--For Love and Honor By Effie Adelaide Rowlands.
226--The Roll of Honor By Annie Thomas.
225--A Miserable Woman By Mrs. H. C. Hoffman.
224--A Sister’s Sacrifice By Geraldine Fleming.
223--Leola Dale’s Fortune By Charles Garvice.
222--The Lily of Mordaunt By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.
221--The Honorable Jane By Annie Thomas.
220--A Fatal Past By Dora Russell.
219--Lost, A Pearle By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.
218--A Life for a Love By Mrs. L. T. Meade.
217--His Noble Wife By George Manville Fenn.
216--The Lost Bride By Clara Augusta.
215--Only a Girl’s Love By Charles Garvice.
214--Olga’s Crime By Frank Barrett.
213--The Heiress of Egremont By Mrs. Harriet Lewis.
212--Doubly Wronged By Adah M. Howard.
211--As We Forgive By Lurana W. Sheldon.
210--Wild Oats By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.
209--She Loved but Left Him By Julia Edwards.
208--A Chase for a Bride By St. George Rathborne.
207--Little Golden’s Daughter By Mrs. Alex. McVeigh Miller.
206--A Daughter of Maryland By G. Waldo Browne.
205--If Love Be Love By D. Cecil Gibbs.
204--With Heart So True By Effie Adelaide Rowlands.
203--Only One Love By Charles Garvice.
202--Marjorie By Katharine S. MacQuoid.
201--Blind Elsie’s Crime By Mary Grace Halpine.
200--In God’s Country By D. Higbee.
199--Geoffrey’s Victory By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.
198--Guy Kenmore’s Wife, and The Rose and the Lily
By Mrs. Alex. McVeigh Miller.
197--A Woman Scorned By Effie Adelaide Rowlands.
196--A Sailor’s Sweetheart By the author of Dr. Jack.
195--Her Faithful Knight By Gertrude Warden.
194--A Sinless Crime By Geraldine Fleming.
193--A Vagabond’s Honor By Ernest De Lancey Pierson.
192--An Old Man’s Darling, and Jacquelina By Mrs. Alex. McVeigh Miller.
191--A Harvest of Thorns By Mrs. H. C. Hoffman.
190--A Captain of the Kaiser By St. George Rathborne.
189--Berris By Katharine S. MacQuoid.
188--Dorothy Arnold’s Escape By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.
187--The Black Ball By Ernest De Lancey Pierson.
186--Beneath a Spell By Effie Adelaide Rowlands.
185--The Adventures of Miss Volney By Ella Wheeler Wilcox.
184--Sunlight and Gloom By Geraldine Fleming.
183--Quo Vadis By Henryk Sienkiewicz.
182--A Legal Wreck By William Gillette.
181--The Baronet’s Bride By May Agnes Fleming.
180--A Lazy Man’s Work By Frances Campbell Sparhawk.
179--One Man’s Evil By Effie Adelaide Rowlands.
178--A Slave of Circumstances By Ernest De Lancey Pierson.
177--A True Aristocrat By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.
176--Jack Gordon, Knight Errant By William C. Hudson. (Barclay North).
175--For Honor’s Sake By Laura C. Ford.
174--His Guardian Angel By Charles Garvice.
173--A Bar Sinister By the author of Dr. Jack.
172--A King and a Coward By Effie Adelaide Rowlands.
171--That Dakota Girl By Stella Gilman.
170--A Little Radical By Mrs. J. H. Walworth.
169--The Trials of an Actress By Wenona Gilman.
168--Thrice Lost, Thrice Won By May Agnes Fleming.
167--The Manhattaners By Edward S. Van Zile.
166--The Masked Bridal By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.
165--The Road of the Rough By Maurice M. Minton.
164--Couldn’t Say No By the author of Helen’s Babies.
163--A Splendid Egotist By Mrs. J. H. Walworth.
162--A Man of the Name of John By Florence King.
161--Miss Fairfax of Virginia By the author of Dr. Jack.
160--His Way and Her Will By Frances Aymar Mathews.
159--A Fair Maid of Marblehead By Kate Tannatt Woods.
158--Stella, the Star By Wenona Gilman.
157--Who Wins? By May Agnes Fleming.
156--A Soldier Lover By Edward S. Brooks.
155--Nameless Dell By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.
154--Husband and Foe By Effie Adelaide Rowlands.
153--Her Son’s Wife By Hazel Wood.
152--A Mute Confessor By Will N. Harben.
151--The Heiress of Glen Gower By May Agnes Fleming.
150--Sunset Pass By General Charles King.
149--The Man She Loved By Effie Adelaide Rowlands.
148--Will She Win? By Emma Garrison Jones.
147--Under Egyptian Skies By the author of Dr. Jack.
146--Magdalen’s Vow By May Agnes Fleming.
145--Country Lanes and City Pavements By Maurice M. Minton.
144--Dorothy’s Jewels By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.
143--A Charity Girl By Effie Adelaide Rowlands.
142--Her Rescue from the Turks By the author of Dr. Jack.
141--Lady Evelyn By May Agnes Fleming.
140--That Girl of Johnson’s By Jean Kate Ludlum.
139--Little Lady Charles By Effie Adelaide Rowlands.
138--A Fatal Wooing By Laura Jean Libbey.
137--A Wedded Widow By T. W. Hanshew.
136--The Unseen Bridegroom By May Agnes Fleming.
135--Cast Up by the Tide By Dora Delmar.
134--Squire John By the author of Dr. Jack.
133--Max By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.
132--Whose Was the Crime? By Gertrude Warden.
131--Nerine’s Second Choice By Adelaide Stirling.
130--A Bitter Bondage By Bertha M. Clay.
129--In Sight of St. Paul’s By Sutton Vane.
128--The Scent of the Roses By Dora Delmar.
127--Nobody’s Daughter By Clara Augusta.
126--The Girl from Hong Kong By the author of Dr. Jack.
125--Devil’s Island By A. D. Hall.
124--Prettiest of All By Julia Edwards.
123--Northern Lights By A. D. Hall.
122--Grazia’s Mistake By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.
121--Cecile’s Marriage By Lucy Randall Comfort.
120--The White Squadron By T. C. Harbaugh.
119--An Ideal Love By Bertha M. Clay.
118--Saved from the Sea By Richard Duffy.
117--She Loved Him By Charles Garvice.
116--The Daughter of the Regiment By Mary A. Denison.
115--A Fair Revolutionist By the author of Dr. Jack.
114--Half a Truth By Dora Delmar.
113--A Crushed Lily By Mrs. Alex. McVeigh Miller.
112--The Cattle King By A. D. Hall.
111--Faithful Shirley By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.
110--Whose Wife Is She? By Annie Lisle.
109--A Heart’s Bitterness By Bertha M. Clay.
108--A Son of Mars By the author of Dr. Jack.
107--Carla; or, Married at Sight By Effie Adelaide Rowlands.
106--Lilian, My Lilian By Mrs. Alex. McVeigh Miller.
105--When London Sleeps By Chas. Darrell.
104--A Proud Dishonor By Genie Holzmeyer.
103--The Span of Life By Sutton Vane.
102--Fair But Faithless By Bertha M. Clay.
101--A Goddess of Africa By the author of Dr. Jack.
100--Alice Blake By Francis S. Smith.
99--Audrey’s Recompense By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.
98--Claire By Charles Garvice.
97--The War Reporter By Warren Edwards.
96--The Little Minister By J. M. Barrie.
95--’Twixt Love and Hate By Bertha M. Clay.
94--Darkest Russia By H. Grattan Donnelly.
93--A Queen of Treachery By T. W. Hanshew.
92--Humanity By Sutton Vane.
91--Sweet Violet By Mrs. Alex. McVeigh Miller.
90--For Fair Virginia By Russ Whytal.
89--A Gentleman from Gascony By Bicknell Dudley.
88--Virgie’s Inheritance By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.
87--Shenandoah By J. Perkins Tracy.
86--A Widowed Bride By Lucy Randall Comfort.
85--Lorrie; or, Hollow Gold By Charles Garvice.
84--Between Two Hearts By Bertha M. Clay.
83--The Locksmith of Lyons By Prof. Wm. Henry Peck.
82--Captain Impudence By Edwin Milton Royle.
81--Wedded for an Hour By Emma Garrison Jones.
80--The Fair Maid of Fez By the author of Dr. Jack.
79--Marjorie Deane By Bertha M. Clay.
78--The Yankee Champion By Sylvanus Cobb, Jr.
77--Tina By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.
76--Mavourneen From the celebrated play.
75--Under Fire By T. P. James.
74--The Cotton King By Sutton Vane.
73--The Marquis By Charles Garvice.
72--Willful Winnie By Harriet Sherburne.
71--The Spider’s Web By the author of Dr. Jack.
70--In Love’s Crucible By Bertha M. Clay.
69--His Perfect Trust By a popular author.
68--The Little Cuban Rebel By Edna Winfield.
67--Gismonda By Victorien Sardou.
66--Witch Hazel By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.
65--Won by the Sword By J. Perkins Tracy.
64--Dora Tenney By Mrs. Alex. McVeigh Miller.
63--Lawyer Bell from Boston By Robert Lee Tyler.
62--Stella Stirling By Julia Edwards.
61--La Tosca By Victorien Sardou.
60--The County Fair By Neil Burgess.
59--Gladys Greye By Bertha M. Clay.
58--Major Matterson of Kentucky By the author of Dr. Jack.
57--Rosamond By Mrs. Alex. McVeigh Miller.
56--The Dispatch Bearer By Warren Edwards.
55--Thrice Wedded By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.
54--Cleopatra By Victorien Sardou.
53--The Old Homestead By Denman Thompson.
52--Woman Against Woman By Effie Adelaide Rowlands.
51--The Price He Paid By E. Werner.
50--Her Ransom By Charles Garvice.
49--None But the Brave By Robert Lee Tyler.
48--Another Man’s Wife By Bertha M. Clay.
47--The Colonel by Brevet By the author of Dr. Jack.
46--Off with the Old Love By Mrs. M. V. Victor.
45--A Yale Man By Robert Lee Tyler.
44--That Dowdy By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.
43--Little Coquette Bonnie By Mrs. Alex. McVeigh Miller.
42--Another Woman’s Husband By Bertha M. Clay.
41--Her Heart’s Desire By Charles Garvice.
40--Monsieur Bob By the author of Dr. Jack.
39--The Colonel’s Wife By Warren Edwards.
38--The Nabob of Singapore By the author of Dr. Jack.
37--The Heart of Virginia By J. Perkins Tracy.
36--Fedora By Victorien Sardou.
35--The Great Mogul By the author of Dr. Jack.
34--Pretty Geraldine By Mrs. Alex. McVeigh Miller.
33--Mrs. Bob By the author of Dr. Jack.
32--The Blockade Runner By J. Perkins Tracy.
31--A Siren’s Love By Robert Lee Tyler.
30--Baron Sam By the author of Dr. Jack.
29--Theodora By Victorien Sardou.
28--Miss Caprice By the author of Dr. Jack.
27--Estelle’s Millionaire Lover By Julia Edwards.
26--Captain Tom By the author of Dr. Jack.
25--Little Southern Beauty By Mrs. Alex. McVeigh Miller.
24--A Wasted Love By Charles Garvice.
23--Miss Pauline of New York By the author of Dr. Jack.
22--Elaine By Charles Garvice.
21--A Heart’s Idol By Bertha M. Clay.
20--The Senator’s Bride By Mrs. Alex. McVeigh Miller.
19--Mr. Lake of Chicago By Harry DuBois Milman.
18--Dr. Jack’s Wife By the author of Dr. Jack.
17--Leslie’s Loyalty By Charles Garvice.
16--The Fatal Card By Haddon Chambers and B. C. Stephenson.
15--Dr. Jack By St. George Rathborne.
14--Violet Lisle By Bertha M. Clay.
13--The Little Widow By Julia Edwards.
12--Edrie’s Legacy By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.
11--The Gypsy’s Daughter By Bertha M. Clay.
10--Little Sunshine By Francis S. Smith.
9--The Virginia Heiress By May Agnes Fleming.
8--Beautiful But Poor By Julia Edwards.
7--Two Keys By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.
6--The Midnight Marriage By A. M. Douglas.
5--The Senator’s Favorite By Mrs. Alex. McVeigh Miller.
4--For a Woman’s Honor By Bertha M. Clay.
3--He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not By Julia Edwards.
2--Ruby’s Reward By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.
1--Queen Bess By Mrs. Georgie Sheldon.
MY HILDEGARDE
A Strange Story of Adventure in the Land of
Revolutions
BY
ST. GEORGE RATHBORNE
AUTHOR OF
“The Winning of Isolde,” “Little Miss Millions,” “Mynheer Joe,”
“Dr. Jack,” “Miss Fairfax of Virginia,” etc.
[Illustration]
NEW YORK
STREET & SMITH, PUBLISHERS
238 WILLIAM STREET
Copyright, 1902
By STREET & SMITH
My Hildegarde
MY HILDEGARDE.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER I. GAY OLD BOLIVAR.
CHAPTER II. PERHAPS A FOOL’S ERRAND.
CHAPTER III. MAN PROPOSES--FATE DISPOSES.
CHAPTER IV. WORSE THAN STRANGERS NOW.
CHAPTER V. WHERE JEALOUSY CAN LURK, LOVE IS NOT DEAD.
CHAPTER VI. A BAD BLUNDER.
CHAPTER VII. THE LOST KEY.
CHAPTER VIII. MY TURN COMES.
CHAPTER IX. SAVING THE SATCHEL.
CHAPTER X. THE SAME FOOL.
CHAPTER XI. A STERN CHASE.
CHAPTER XII. THE LAST RESORT.
CHAPTER XIII. LIVELY WHILE IT LASTED.
CHAPTER XIV. HILDEGARDE EMBARKS.
CHAPTER XV. THE EMBERS ARE STIRRED.
CHAPTER XVI. PASSING THE FORT.
CHAPTER XVII. AT TWO BELLS.
CHAPTER XVIII. THE MOCKERY OF FATE.
CHAPTER XIX. “POOR, WEAK, OLD PAPA.”
CHAPTER XX. I TRY TO BRIDGE THE CHASM.
CHAPTER XXI. IN THE GRASP OF A HURRICANE.
CHAPTER XXII. THE HOUR OF PERIL.
CHAPTER XXIII. THE WRECK OF THE YACHT.
CHAPTER XXIV. A NIGHT OF TERROR.
CHAPTER XXV. ON THE BRINK OF ETERNITY.
CHAPTER XXVI. THROUGH THE UNDERTOW.
CHAPTER XXVII. STRANDED.
CHAPTER XXVIII. THE HOSPITALITY OF THE ALCALDE.
CHAPTER XXIX. THE GUARD I LOVED.
CHAPTER XXX. TO THE RESCUE.
CHAPTER XXXI. A REVOLUTIONIST.
CHAPTER XXXII. WE INVESTIGATE THE AZOTEA.
CHAPTER XXXIII. ROBBINS LAUNCHES A THUNDERBOLT.
CHAPTER XXXIV. ONE GOOD TURN AND ANOTHER.
CHAPTER XXXV. HOW I CHARGED THE CITADEL.
CHAPTER XXXVI. THE LAST STRAW.
CHAPTER XXXVII. THE AGE OF ENCHANTMENT.
CHAPTER XXXVIII. A PRESIDENT FOR ONE NIGHT.
CHAPTER XXXIX. THE HAND OF THE WIZARD.
CHAPTER XL. WON AT LAST.
CHAPTER I.
GAY OLD BOLIVAR.
I was tremendously jaded, weary of knocking about the world in the vain
hope that a succession of strange sights, and rubbing elbows with queer
people, might cause me to forget some very unpleasant events in my
past; but which obstinately persisted in clinging to me with a zeal I
could not appreciate. So it chanced that in my earnest endeavor to run
away from the phantom that seemed to pursue me, I managed to double on
my trail and actually overtook it.
It was in Bolivar, one of those semi-tropical cities on the great
gulf to the South of our American republic. Of course, Bolivar was
not the real name, but it will answer the purpose just as well,
especially since a narration of the remarkable events that came under
my observation there might stir up a hornet’s nest in the gay little
republic, should the bare truth be set forth.
Somehow I quite fancied the place.
There was a bustle in the air rather unusual in Latin-American
capitals, as though the good people had imbibed some Yankee ambition
from their near contact with the States.
Particularly was this the case at this festal season of the year when,
in common with most Spanish-speaking people, the citizens of Bolivar
entered with heart and soul into the festival of flowers.
There must always be an attraction in a great concourse of merrymaking
people absolutely given over to enjoyment; and as I witnessed this mad
festival for the first time, I allowed myself to enter into its riotous
fun--anything to blot out the memory of the canker worm that had so
long held possession in my heart.
Flowers were everywhere--people in all manner of vehicles, gayly
decorated, pelted the pedestrians, and were themselves overwhelmed with
an avalanche of roses.
Mischievous damsels, lurking in every conceivable balcony or
second-story window took great delight in dropping handfuls of rice
upon those who passed beneath. Merry laughter sounded on all sides, and
it was hard for me to imagine that this gay city was really Bolivar,
the mysterious capital, queen of the romantic Gulf, where half the dark
conspiracies that startled the Spanish-American republics were hatched;
home of revolutionists exiled for the time being from their native
shores, and as wicked a place for its size in all probability as might
be found upon the entire terrestrial ball.
And when night came the fun waxed more furious than ever--there
is always an inspiration about the gloaming to these citizens of
semi-tropical marts--the heat of the day gives place to a delicious,
cool air that steals in mayhap over the sparkling blue waters of
a glorious bay, bringing the odor of sweet incense as of fragment
spices--sounds lose their harsh clang and become strangely mellowed;
wonderful fireflies flash their electric lanterns abroad, music steals
upon the senses from over many a garden wall, where languorous swains
thrum upon mandolin or guitar and sing sentimental serenades to
dark-eyed maidens.
All these and more greeted eye and ear in the gay capital when the day
of frolic was spent, and night drew her dark mantle about the scene.
I wondered at myself for not having long since wearied of the racket,
and taken my last look--some unusual nervous tension appeared to have
possession of me, and I could not shake it off; looking back, with the
knowledge gained by experience, I am fain to believe it must have been
a mysterious case of “coming events casting their shadow before.”
At any rate, I continued to roam aimlessly about the streets where
the crowds gathered most densely, where the colored lanterns hung
in bewildering profusion, and the fun waxed furious. I even laughed
heartily at some ridiculous exhibition on the part of young students
dressed in wonderful costumes--the whole town had given itself up to
mad enjoyment for the time being, and why should not I forget?
To-morrow would be time enough to remember.
Such an impression did the tinkling music, the merry songs, the
laughter and cries of the crowd make upon me that it would long haunt
my memory as one of the few nights when the miserable past could be
utterly forgotten.
And yet I had never been so near the phantom as during those hours.
While I looked and allowed myself to drift with the idle crowd, content
to be an atom in the swirling torrent, I suddenly set eyes on a face
that gave me the first genuine thrill of pleasure known for many a
long, weary day. My languor was gone, as one might cast aside a useless
mantle, and eagerly I began to buffet and push a passage through the
crowd in the direction of the man who clung to the equestrian statue of
the Liberator and surveyed the wonderful scene with marked interest.
More than one black scowl followed my rather rude passage; perhaps, in
my eagerness to advance I was not as polite as these good people would
like; and they had no especial love for a Yankee at any time.
All the while I kept my eyes riveted upon the man who occupied the
exalted perch, and finally, panting from my exertions, I was in a
position to pull at his coat.
He looked down curiously.
“Hello!”
There was nothing of recognition in the exclamation--it was rather in
the shape of an interrogative, such as might be expected from a man
whose attention has been so unceremoniously attracted.
“Robbins--old fellow--awful glad to see you.”
Again he said, “Hello!” but this time with just-awakened interest,
bending his head to peer down at me, and finally dropping to the
ground, where he could look into my face.
As he suddenly recognized me he gave a shout that sprang straight from
the heart, and immediately seized upon my extended hand, squeezing it
until I was almost fain to wince under the pressure.
“Morgan Kenneth, and alive! This is the land of enchantment, sure
enough. I can scarce believe my eyes. You, that I believed had found a
grave under the wild waves in that hurricane at Samoa! God bless you,
my boy! I’m delighted to see you again. If it had been my own brother I
don’t believe I’d have grieved more. And you’re really alive?”
I tried to convince him, as well as I was able, by begging him to have
a little mercy on my poor digits, so he linked arms with me, in order,
as I believed, to hold me close to him, for Mate Robbins, like all
sailors, had a grain of superstition in his composition, and secretly
feared, as he afterward confessed, that I might vanish from his
presence if he failed to keep a tight hold upon me.
We stood there and talked, utterly unmindful of the surging, noisy
crowd, wholly given over to the pursuit of pleasure.
When last I saw Milo Robbins, he was clinging to the wreck of the good
ship _Pathfinder_, going to pieces upon the Samoan shore, with the
hurricane howling like a pack of fiends from Tophet. Men of war were
wrecked in that awful tempest, and scores of valiant bluejackets found
a grave beneath the waves, or were later cast upon the shore.
I remember as though it were but yesterday how one British war vessel
managed to get up steam and crawl slowly out to sea and safety, and
how the brave Yankee bluejackets on the other doomed warships, being
dragged mercilessly to their awful fate, gave the fortunate English
vessel a roaring cheer as she went by--it was a specimen of pluck such
as might proceed from no other people.
How I escaped the threatening doom would make a story in itself, and
has no place here. I recovered my senses in the hut of a Samoan chief,
where I had lain some days, and it was two weeks ere I felt able to go
abroad.
Meanwhile Robbins had sailed away on a ship that chanced to be
short-handed, and during the years that had elapsed we had believed
each other dead.
It seemed a strange and very inappropriate place to exchange such
confidences, bringing to mind, as they did, the terrible scenes of
storm and disaster; but for the time I utterly ignored the music and
laughter, and was once again clinging to that frail bit of wreck,
the sport and plaything of the crashing waves, while around me great
warships were breaking to pieces on that cruel shore.
How my heart warmed toward this big manly fellow. Secretly I swore
in my soul he should not get away from me again, since his coming had
brought the first glimpse of sunshine I had known for many a long day.
I noticed that the sturdy mate of the ill-fated _Pathfinder_ eyed me
curiously from time to time, nor could I wonder at it.
Time had made many changes in me since last we met, and I had much to
tell him when the opportunity offered, that would almost shake his
credulity, so like Aladdin’s tale or the story of Fortunatus would it
appear.
Robbins still followed the sea, and his arrival at Bolivar on the night
of the “festa” was in the nature of an accident--a lucky one I deemed
it, since it brought me once again in contact with a valiant, honest
spirit I had always greatly admired in the past.
The romance that once infested the ocean is not yet wholly dead;
some miserable Lascars in his crew had conspired together, secretly
overwhelmed the faithful sailors, and made prisoners of them, put the
mate--the captain was killed in the _mêlée_ adrift in a jollyboat and
sailed away to perdition, for the vessel was never heard of again.
Robbins’ luck still pursued him, for he was picked up some days later
by an English tramp steamer bound for the gulf ports in search of
a cargo of bananas and cocoanuts. So he landed in Bolivar without
a picayune in his pocket beyond the few dollars loaned him by the
English captain of the tramp. I could have shouted when I heard this;
he belonged to me, this valorous son of Neptune, and I was pleased to
believe my fortune had, indeed, taken a turn for the better; the sea
that had snatched him away at Samoa now restored him to me at Bolivar.
Time surely brings its compensations; but there are some things that
can never be remedied on earth--at least, I believed so then.
I could picture his honest joy when, later on, I found time to relate
my marvelous story of the great spoils that had fallen into my hands,
which had brought me happiness for a time and then the blackest misery
known on earth--that of being deserted.
How his eyes would shine when I pointed out the trim little steam yacht
in the bay and told him that was to be his charge for all time to come.
The thought was so full of pleasure that I yearned for daylight in
order to overwhelm him with this surprise; faculties awoke to life that
had lain dormant very, very long, and I was surprised to find that I
could actually derive pleasure from anticipation.
It must have been all of two hours we stood there by the statue, with
the rollicking citizens holding high carnival around us, as though
determined to outdo all previous experiences. Our talk was wholly of
the past, for I meant to keep my good news until I could point out the
gay little craft from my window in the hotel and ask Robbins how he
would like to cruise around the universe in her as master, knocking at
the door of every celebrated seaport as we went along and drowning dull
care in the life of luxurious ease to be found only on board such a
trim vessel.
It was hard to restrain myself, but I took a singular pleasure in
thinking what a treat I had in store for the morning.
So when Robbins spoke of looking for a new berth on the following day
I begged him to leave it with me, as I thought I knew of an opening,
and though he must have been more or less mystified by my chuckles and
hints, he readily agreed to do so.
“Do they keep this up all night?” he asked, finally, as a fresh
outburst occurred and pandemonium reigned for the time being.
“I really don’t know, but it looks that way. Have you seen enough of
the nonsense? If so, let’s adjourn to my hotel, where we may find
a little quiet and get some sleep. I have more to tell you in the
morning--something you might not believe in the midst of all the riot
and romance.”
“Wait, shipmate. There’s a little native girl over yonder who’s been
gazing at us this ten minutes past. I think she wants to say something
and is afraid.”
As he spoke he smiled in his benign way; rough sailor that he was, Mate
Robbins certainly had a face that won confidence, and when he thus
allowed his bronzed features to relax, his expression was so inviting
that the child hesitated no longer, but darted forward.
Of course, I supposed she was only a beggar, better garbed than the
general run of them in Bolivar, and so confident did I feel with regard
to this thing that I put my hand instinctively into the pocket where I
was accustomed to keeping copper coins, to be used on such occasions.
There I paused, for the child, looking up in Robbins’ still smiling
face, said quickly:
“You Amer-i-cano, señor?”
Robbins nodded. He was not the man to deny his country, no matter what
trouble might be in ambush.
“You read Amer-i-cano?” asked the waif, still more impressively, her
bright, black eyes all the while fixed on his own.
“Passably well,” with a double nod.
“It is for you, then,” she said, suddenly thrusting a paper into his
hands, and uttering more words in Spanish, among which I detected
thanks to her patron saint that she had found such a thing as an
American in the hot old town of Bolivar.