Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 March 1893 — Tn Sheep's Clothing. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Tn Sheep's Clothing.

BY Capt. Ormondy Feele

CHAPTER IX—Continued. ts Lea Hedges should accept him, the eaptain had a hurriedly matured plan, which in due season would take him away from his companions and permit him to be near his idol at all times. He was fortunate fn finding Lea alone, and she, having just returned from a horse-back ride, was looking more beautiful than ever, if that were possible. Captain Fox, like all men of strong impulses and great executive ability, came directly to the point, yet he approached the subject of his love in such a way as not to shock her by the suddenness of his declaratioh. Under such circumstances, since the very first hour when English civilization required that the young lady’s affections were as essential as the consent of the parents, it had been the nearly invariable habit of the fair one to confess surprise, and to vow that the honor done was wholly unexpected. This is always the case where the young lady has made up her mind to say “no,” and she usually says it in a way to plaster the wound she is making.

No woman can look with other than sympathy on the eligible man whose offer of marriage she refuses. But Lea Hedges, while not rude in her refusal, was certainly brusque. “I must believe what you say, Captain Fox, and I presume I should feel honored by your offer. I certainly should be unworthy the esteem of any true man if I trifled with his feelings. While treating you with the courtesy due an officer in the service of our gracious lady the Queen, I have done nothing that you could construe into any encouragement of the suit which I must decline. ” “But why—why do you refuse me?" he asked, the sanguine hue of his cheeks turning to purple. “If you Cannot guess I cannot explain,” she replied, with a dignity that chilled him. “It means that you love some one else.” “Why should it? But that you may be undeceived on that point, let me assure you that you are the first man that ever spoke to me of love and marriage, ion should remember that I have inown you but a short time, and that, no matter how favorable the impression you miy have made among us so far is, a common prudence would forbid my pledging what I have not—love —to a man whom I did not know two weeks ago. ” “You are right, Miss Hedges, and I am to blame,” said the captain, his old manner coming back. “But you must excuse me in the light of these facts. A letter, just received by a post from the Governor of New York, orders me to that city. It is possible I may be sent to fight a pirate, onq Captain Kidd, who is now reported destroying our commerce in the West Indies. I sail tomorrow night or early next morning, and I wanted to take with me one memory to sustain me amid the perils and dreariness of my cruise—a tie that would draw me back here.”

“ 'V here you and your officers,” replied Lea, “will always find a hearty welcome awaiting you. ” “Thanks for your words; they do not leave me hopeless,” said the captain, his eyes taking on their old expression of reckless vivacity. He adroitly changed the topic, and after talking for nearly an hour, without once going back to the subject with which he first started, he left, promising to see her again before he took his departure. Although Lea Hedges bore herself so calmly and bravely in the presence of her sailor suitor, she did not retain her line self-possession «id excellent spirits after he left her. She went to her own room, and after dunging her riding dress she threw herself on the bed, and, burying her lace in her hands, so remained till her mother came to call her to supper. Like the dutiful daughter she was, Lea made up her mind to tell her parents of Capt. Fox’s offer that night; and she might have done it at the supper table had not Valentine Dayton and Ellen Condit been there. She did tell them that Captain Fox had received an order by courier, from the Governor of the province, commanding him to lake hi's ship to New York. And then Lieut. Dayton told her that Ralph Denham had received an order from the same authority to report in person, and that he would start tomorrow or next day. “But he does not take the ship?” asked Lea, eagerly. “No, he leaves us all here,” replied Valentine.

“But Ralph will return again?” said Lea, the expression on her beautiful face telling her anxiety in the answer. “I suppose so,” said Valentine, who was much devoted to his friend and commander, “for without Capt. Denham the Sea Hawk is a very ordinary ship, indeed.” “And with him?" queried Ellen, who was very fond of her adopted brother. “And with him she is the best ship of her tonnage afloat.” In the midst of the conversation, and much to the delight of the Doctor and Mrs. Hedges, both of whom loved Ralph Denham as dearly as they did their nephew, Valentine Dayton, the gentleman under discussion was announced and entered the room. Ralph confirmed the report of his departure, said he hoped to be back-very soon, and then asked Lea if she would take a walk with him along the shore. It was not unusual for the Captain to ask the same question, to which' she invariably gave an affirmative reply; but as he asked it now there was that in his manner which she had never noticed before. And, though Ralph Denham was so entirely different a man from Captain Fox, there was something about him at the moment that reminded her of the latter when he was about to make his startling, unexpected proposal. She put on her hat and light cloak, and, taking his arm, they went down the road and through the woods, where, as a little girl, she had often gathered nuts, while Ralph, then a sturdy boy, sent them to the earth from his giddy perches high up in the trees. She did not hesitate to tell him then that she thought him the bravest, strongest and handsomest boy in all the world. He would give a great deal to know what she thought of him now. It was with something of a feeling of desperation that he resolved to learn her feelings to-night. The courier’s letter had decided him. He forgot the barrier that sprung up in his mind, every time he thought of offering himself in the past.

Balph knew who he was —rather be did not know who he was, in regard to nam * and parentage—and though he consoled himself with the belief that neither could be bad, he realized that in .his community, there was a strong, even a bitter, prejudice against these of Illegitimate birth, and that maidens far beneath Lea Hedges in the social scale would hesitate before giving him their hands in marriage. Usually, Ralph was the soul of cheerfulness; to-night, he was gloomy, and, in her futile efforts to rally him, Lea herself became taciturn. At length they reached a promontory, that commanded a magnificent view of the bay, and of the islands to the east, now a cloud of green and gold, in the distance. Here they sat down on the trunk of a fallen tree and, turning to her, Ralph asked; “How long have you known me, Lea?" “I have known you Ralph,” she replied, “ever since 1 can remember." He became silent again, dreading to launch out on the sea, to whose shore he had led her. “Why do you ask that strange question?” She did not look at him, but toyed with the ribbon of the hat which she held in her lap. “I Wah wondering how long tWo friends—good friends as you and I are—could be acquainted without knowing exactly what the one thought of the other,” he said.

“I have never doubted about that; you have been to me a brave brother, in whom I felt all a sistoi’s pride; and I think I have been to you a sister; you have often told me I was, in these very woods. ” And now she began to knot the strings as if she had a spite against them. “I was then a youth and you a little girl. We have both changed. You are no longer a sister to me. Lea.” »“Not a sister, Ralph?” “No; the time—the time I have so often thought of, and always with a feeling of dread—has come. Oh, Lea, you must be much more than a sister to me—or—or less. ” He turned to her and reached out both his hands; and, as she did not make a response, but sat there trembling, with a face as white as a statue, he called out; “Forgive me, Lea. I could not help, it. It seemed that my heart would break if I did not tell you of my love before I left. Now I care not to return, but Ido not blame you. Were you in truth my sister, and one in my position asked for your hand, I could not encourage him ” “Oh, Ralph, Ralph!” she cried, springing to her feet, and cl nging with ner white arms to his neok. “Do not leave me so, Ralph, my more than brother!” As he folded her to his breast, and kissed her face, which the setting sun seemed to surround with an aureole of golden light, Ralph Denham became, aware of another presence. • He looked up and saw the scowling dark face and towering lorm of the Montauk chief before him. Releasing Lea, Ralph strode before the Indian, and in an angry tone demanded; “What brings you here?” “Here,” said the chief, defiantly glancing around him. “Hero I stand on the lands of the Montauk. What brings you here?” “I should give my reply if this lady were not with us,” said Ralph. “I shall receive your reply when she is not with you,” said Uncas, throwing his long rifle across his shoulder, and striding into the forest from which he had come.

CHAPTER X. ‘•THEY SAILED AWAY IN A GALLANT BARK.” “Well, with the love of such a girl as Cousin Lea assured,” said Valentine Dayton, the morning following the events narrated in the preceding chapter, “the battle is more fchan half won. I am sure Uncle Nehemiah Hedges will come round in time. ” “I do not blame Doctor Hedges for refusing me the hand of his daughter; in his position I think I might do the same,” said the captain. “I ask your pardon. Ralph, but I don’t think you would. Genealogies may be right in the old world, but in this laud men don’t win through their grandfathers,” said Valentine, with much force. “You are right, perhaps; but before I ask Lea to join me at the altar, I shall convince her father that there is nothing in my origin for which I, at least, should biush. However, I am very happy as it is It seems to me that the fog through which I have been feeling my way and taking soundings for years has lifted, and now all is plane sailing. For the first time in my life I feel that I have reached the fullest stature of a man—which can only be attained when he is confident that he possesses the love of a noble woman.” Captain Denham looked as he felt; there was an expression of peace and strength in the handsome bronzed face that was notieeablefo his friend. And Valentine Dayton was himself in a state bordering cn ecstasy; for had not Ellen Condit. with the consent of her parents, pledged him her hand, on their way back from Doctor Hedges’ the night before? The young officers, during this conversation, were on their way to the Sea Hawk, where the Captain was to make his arrangements and issue his orders before turning over the command of the ship to Lieutenant Hedges. On reaching the deck they found Lieutenant Frenauld on board, talking earnestly with the officers of the Sea Hawk. AVith the official manner which sailors and soldiers can so readily assume or lay aside, Frenauld touched his hat, and, approaching Captain Denham, said; “I am the bearer of a letter, sir, from Captain Fcx, who desi.es me to take back your answer.” Captain Denham was inclined to like Frenauld, and his dislike of Fox—he imagined—was caused by the feeling that he was or ml_>ht become a rival. All fear of this being dissipated by Lea, he felt, as is ever the case with generous natures, of going to the other extreme.

Frenauld remained back, smoking and conversing with the officers of the Sea Hawk, who were gathered under an awning on the quarter deck. Before opening the letter, Ralph Denham, followed by Valentine Dayton, went down to the cabin. After glancing over the note to make sure that he could communicate its contents to his subordinate, without any breach of etiquette, he read as follows: On Boars H. M. S. Cruiser Wanderer, I Off ?ag Harbor. June 13, 1690. j My Dear Captain Denham: I have been informed ly some of our friends ashore that you aie ordered to New York at once, without your ship. Stranzely enough, the same post brought me an order, commanding me 10 New York Bay with my ship, on or before the 19th Inst. The trip by land Is long and tedious, while I expect In this weather to make It inside of twelve hours on the "Wanderer—going up the sound and through Hurl Gate, or Hell Gate, as It is now being called. Permit me to say there Is a cabin at your vice on board the Waiderer, and If you wtl honor me with your presence on tl.e

short cruise, my officers and seU will endeavor. at least In part, to show our appreciation of the kindness we have received at your hinds and the hands of your frtend-i, since comtug Into the beautiful bay. and meeting these most hospitable people. Hoping for a favorable reply at the hands of Mr. Ftenauld, believe me with much esteem, very slncerelv. Your humble, obedient servant, William Fox, Commanding H. M. 8. Cruiser Wanderer. To Captain Kalnh Denham, H. M. 8. Protlnclul Cruiser, Sea Hawk.

“What do you think of that. Mr. Dayton?" asked the Captain, when he had finished reading the letter aloud. “I must say I think it very handsome, Captain. Of course you will not say ‘no’ to such an offer? It Is a most fortunate think to have a ship like the Wanderer to bear one to New York, instead of going through the woods and over the sands on horseback," replied Lieutenant Dayton. “Even if the offer were not tempting, I should feel inclined to accept, to show my appreciation of Fox’s kindness.” “Then you will go on the Wanderer, Captain?” “Yes; and I shall at onoe write Fox to that effect; Frenauld is waiting for my answer." Captain Denham sat down to a desk, and quloklng penning his reply, sent it up by Lieutenant Dayton. And thus it oarae about that Captain Denham sailed away in the Wanderer. Had the powers of darkness deliberately planned to aid Captain Fox and Colonel Graham in their dark schemes, matters could not have worked better into their hands. Colonel Graham was not a demonstrative man; on the contrary, he was cool, self-possessed, suspicious and cynical. But when Fox tead him Ralph Denham’s letter accepting the offer, Graham sprang from his chair, and in his momentary exultation, seized his companion’s hand, and cried with an oath: “Now, wo have him, sir! we have him!” It was reported that Col. Graham would return to New York on the Wanderer, but the people expressed no surprise when the vessel sailed away without him. The night before the morning when the ship sailed away, l 01. Graham, who still made his headquarters at the inn, was taken alarmingly ill, and Dr. Heiges, who was called in to attend to the case, bled him freely. The illness was a trick to give an excuse for remaining behind, but there was no trick about the dootor’s lancet. Bleeding was then thought to be a panacea for every 111, from a toothache to Asiatic cholera, and the doctor left hts patient so weak that he could not movo if he would. It was decidedly dangerous to “fool" with doctors in those days, when bleeding and blistering killed the weak, and tested the powers of the strongest. Squire Condit was the only person of note in the town that did not visit the sick man, but the people all thought the Squire eccentric. A few days after the Wanderer sailed away, Dinah, the old black woman, literally forced her way into Col. Graham's room. The rather startling disclosures that the old woman made, and the remarkable conduct of the invalid must form the subject of the next chapter. |TO BE •CONTINUED. |