Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 21, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 December 1899 — The Sea King. [ARTICLE]

The Sea King.

-A ROMANCE OF THE WAR OF 1812.-

By CAPTAIN MARRYAT.

■ VI-(Continued.) EHBshall have pleasure iu giving my serEHK.tO Captain Sutherland," replied the most gracefully. HBtour kindness, madam, overpowers gratitude,” said Harry. now, my dear captain, having Ijunteered as your chaperon, it devolves like the man in the show, to HKfcrin the genus and species of the anlaround us. but before I begin you ■pt do me tlie favor to tell me fairly KB candidly if that thing you dominate heart is perfectly unscathed by the Kbws of the little boy with the wings." ■karry Sutherland sighed; for his life HHgOuld not have suppressed that sigh, awhile he was even pensive. BKkdmirably done!" exclaimed the lady; EKgnore feeling groan could not have erafrom au expiring pair of bellows — sir. did you practice with those in■uments?—and the countenance, too—so ■HblQcholy— so softly sad —do you ever the ‘Sorrows of Wetter’?” BEjfes, lady, and sometimes feel them." doubt of it —even now I can fancy Ho, hi my imagination, seated upon a by monlight, whistling ‘Love's Dream,’ and looking most ineffaBMtforlorn. Don’t you think Miss Hama charming girl?” BBpTery,” responded Sutherland, with a Hpry heart. U*She is my particular friend, my most ■hecial favorite." |BfAnd the gentleman who is now dancher is ” |Vjg John Montgomery —the idol of our Hi£ and the envy of his own —one of the Kt promising young men in WashingK|gy ourself excluded, my gallant capHELnd is he attentive to Miss Haniil■LT’ asked Sutherland, somewhat earn■Devoted to her,” said she, and tapping who stood in their way fa|Biarty upon the shoulder, she introduce hero to Mr. St. Clair. MjThis is the individual,” added the lady, ■mo calls himself my husband.” when you are present, my dear Hh your absence I am always unmarK,” replied Mr. St. Clair, good-humor-K-, “Captain Sutherland, accept my ■here thanks for taking this lady off ME hands: I was just fearing that she be unable to find a beau, in which |Knt she would have most probably dea little flirtation which I have in ■mff your hands!” exclaimed the bejjuK; “did ever woman listen to such jmpubut I’ll be revenged, I’ll make Cap■||Sutherland shoot you, and marry me ■fe-ward; so, sir, make your will at shall, my love, and to my mortal en■y I will bequeath you, a legacy, ha, ha, Kj” * n d bowing to Sutherland, the hus■nd passed on, thinking he made a fav■mle impression by saying what he an excellent thing. |KLet me congratulate Mrs. St. Clair up- ■ the possession of so handsome and so

Enable a lord ” ■Do, my dear captain,” interrupted the ■gy, “do, for really he is the most conKjerate person in existence; he is so de■Eed and so studiously attentive to my ■mfort, that he intrudes his presence ■out once a week, at least once a week. ■h then he entertains so nice a regard Kmy feelings, so kind of him, to en■avor by every possible means to make ■e forget that I have pledged myself to ■re, honor and obey him.” ■jphere was something so sarcastic in ■nf reply, uttered as it was in a tone of bitterness, and in a vein totally with her former manner, that ■gherland could not for a moment but ■Here that truth dictated what pride ■re struggling to conceal. Could any Kb on earth, asked he of himself, be into so lovely a woman? It seem- ■ impossible; and yet it must be the Kne, in the present instance. She was Kldently unhappy. There succeeded then ■silence unusually prolonged; Mrs. St. ■tatir seemed to struggle hard with an she wished to suppress, a tear Knrted in her beautiful blue eyes, and her ■lmtenance lost in sadness the animaKn that had before distinguished it. One ■ those secret griefs that had long lain ■Bmant in her breast had escaped all ■Bstery. and for a moment she was Kpept away in its current, like the leaf ■I the resistless tide of the mountain tor- ■ Jr'- CHAPTER VII. ■Ehere was a gay assemblage at Mrs. ■L Clair’s. The parlors were crowded to ■pt, for her circle of acquaintance was ■gtensive, and she was one who feared to infringe those rules of exclusion ■» rigidly adhered to by many whose ■tiros to aristocratic distinctions were ■Soless powerful. Her personal beauty, accomplishments tfnd immense Kfealth entitled her to nx>re than ordinary ■pjideration in the ranks of society, and as she did both wit and loveliMps, none could dispute her right to seHp. about her whomsoever she pleased. mob, by all that is immaculate’’' |Ks«iined Fitzbooby, gazing with an as■nishment he intended for observation; ■KMinton?" R foie second eleg-ant looked about for a ■Kment, but made no reply; he wasted EjLtew words upon Fitz, whose society for two reasons—Fitzbooby SEEtlch, and Fitzbooby thought Minton KwifaMt elegant fellow that he had ever “Now if there is any one situation that me more than another, it is beIMgeoerced into an assemblage of this may be dancing in Ejiamfe set with his own tailor or shoeHow d’ye do, Stanhope? Been KKi'*>l4 not very; who is that sylphin E&we dancing vis-a-vis with Saw--Oh thut'ft Miss Hamilton.”

mine very much—Lady Mary Howard, lovely woman, eight of the most illustrious young noblemen of Great Britain died broken-hearted on her account —so extremely beautiful that her father insisted on hot using a close carriage in order to prevent everybody from falling in love with her.” ' ‘‘How I should have liked to see her! is she still unmarried?” “No; Duchess of Tremaine now—gave her away myself; splendid affair that wedding; nutmegs expended on the occasion came to exactly one thousand pounds sterling.” “How much I regret that our acquaintance had never commenced earlier!” These words were addressed to. Captain Sutherland. The speaker was a young widow of exceeding beauty, and one whose diplomacies in the Court of Love had attached to her person more admirers than sighed at the feet of any other woman in Washington. Mistress of a large fortune, still beautiful, and still young, she w T as the idol of the other sex. But, though she smiled on all, encouraged their advances and returned their protestations, she withheld her hand, and still maintained her influence. She had not met with Captain Sutherland before this evening, and had resolved, even before seeing him, to add him to her train. She had more than one motive for this resolve; she was jealous of the attention lavished upon Anna Hamilton; they were rivals, and Mrs. Trevor was too covetous of homage to share it with one even so beautiful as her younger and fairer companion. Sutherland bowed low on receiving her flattering speech. “Think you, Captain Sutherland, that true happiness has ever yet existed in the breast of a single representative of the human family?” “Why, to be candid, Mrs. Trevor, I do not think it has. Real happiness is a nonentity; for the most contented have still sttme Jiope ungratified, some fear unallayedf but I believe that there are a few who are more satisfied with existence than the many, and who bear the ills of lite with more cheerfulness, and its evils with greater resignation.” “True, I grant you,” returned the lady; “but yet I think I can point out one in this assembly who is, or rather who should be, truly happy.” “Mrs. Trevor speaks of herself.” “Oh, no, sir; accuse me of anything but egotism—l allude to Miss Hamilton.” “Miss Hamilton!” resumed Sutherland, somewhat seriously; “she, indeed, deserves all the blessings of life. If beauty, virtue and innocence prove any security against misfortune, bhe is, and will be always contented; qualities like these could rear a paradise in a desert.” “You speak feelingly, Captain Sutherland, and yet with becoming gallantry.” “It is a subject, madame, that should not be treated with levity, and as to the gallantry of my speech, I have only to add that I should be extremely sorry if the virtues of my countrywomen were

only told by the tinsel tongue of flattery.” “Thank you—thank you a thousand times!” ejaculated Mrs. Trevor, in that soft, thrilling half whisper that she never assumed without effect, and bestowing at the same time a glance upon Sutherland that intoxicated almost to love. “Oh, my friend, I owe you much for that kind, that generous sentiment!” And Sutherland took her small white hand, and there was a slight pressure, and their eyes again met, and Anna Hamilton was for a moment forgotten. Then followed a conversation pursued in low and measured tones; the gentleman's manner was apparently suasive and sincere, he seemed to unheed every one in the interest he betrayed in his companion, while she at times averted her head, then again turned her large eyes beaming with tenderness upon him, then spoke for a moment with unwonted animation, then hesitated, blushed, sighed, smiled, and resumed again. The siren had triumphed; and when at last they .parted, it was resolved that Sutherland should see her early on the following day. There was a spectator who felt as much interest in that scene as those more immediately engaged in it. A fair young creature, exhausted with the exertion of dancing, had undesignedly seated herself within a few feet, and upon the sofa opposite to that occupied by Mrs. Trevor. She raised her eyes, she gazed a moment in something like wonder; then her countenance became as pale as the lily; she faltered a few words to the 'gentleman who attended her, and left the saloon for the remainder of the evening. When Sutherland quitted Mrs. Trevor, his eyes roamed in search of Anna, but she was not to be seen. He passed into another and another apartment, but she was nowhere visible; and a feeling of loneliness came over him that not even the bright eyes of the beautiful widow could have dispelled. “The dove has flown, Captain Sutherland,” said Mrs. St. Clair, who guessed, from his abstracted manner, the sensations of his mind. “Nor will she return with the branch of olive.” “And why not?” asked he, with a smile. “Ask your heart, traitor, if it has not beat for another within the last hour.” “Nay, but Mrs. St. Clair, the needle sometimes strays from the star it worships. and yet is not distrusted.” “True, sir; but in love we make no allowance for variation.” “Then I must infer that Anna is no stranger to my—what shall I name it?” “Faithlessness, or something wors^e — folly, if you like it better.” “Well, then, call it folly.” “Captain Sutherland, love may be Jblind, but jealousy is Argus-eyed.” “But I may be yet forgiven; one error cannot surely exclude me from all favor.” “She may excuse your inconstancy; but how can I ever pardon your bad taste? Oh, sir, to desert, even for one moment, such a one for another one! Fie upon you! I thought you an adept!” The lady passed on, and Sutherland I sighed, as a comparison between Mrs. <

Trevor and Anna HamOta* was thus forced upon his mind. The re.der can well imagine in whose favor it resulted. At an early hour he sought his lodgings; for the events of the evening, trifling and unimportant as they seemed to be, were of a nature too dispiriting to permit him to enjoy the gayety that reigned around. On the following day he called, .but found Miss Hamilton not at home. “Strange!” muttered he, and, in a spirit of pique he turned his horse’s head toward the dwelling place of Mrs. Trevor. Seated on the sofa, in the voluptuous light that streamed through the damask curtains from the half-closed windows, sat the lady of the mansion. Never before looked she so enchanting; she had studied to captivate, and her smile, her posture, her array, her voice, were so many irresistible subservients to her wishes. “Oh! I am so happy,” said she, taking the hand of her visitor —“so happy that you have not disappointed me! I was indeed afraid that you would have forgotten to come.” “Then would I have foolishly denied myself a world of pleasure. But, truly, the society of Mrs. Trevor must be too eagerly courted for her to doubt for an instant that any who might enjoy it would let the golden opportunity slip unseized.” “Nay, but you know, Captain Sutherland, that the strongest fears surround our brightest hopes. But sit you down; I have much to say to you, and old Time, when I feel gratified, filches from me half my true allotment of moments.” And then the lady assumed that confidential and affectionate manner that, in a pretty woman, never fails to enslave. Her voice grew low, soft, and thrilling; her smile sweet and dazzling; her eyqs sparkled with love; and her sigh seemed but the breathing of happiness. That visit was protracted far beyond the time sanctioned by custom; and when Sutherland took his leave, his ideas were all bewildered, his sense intoxicated, and his mind infatuated, by the blandishments of that too lovely Circe. One thought, one unbidden thought of another, crossed him as he left the threshold, and a pang of reproach he had never known before darted through his bosom.

CHAPTER VIII. Miss Hamilton was alone in her chamber when the servant informed her that Montgomery was in waiting below. The intimation was received with a blush; but subduing at the instant everything like excitement, she descended to receive him. “After what has transpired between us,” said he, when the compliments of meeting had been interchanged, “this visit cannot, on my part, be but unwelcome. I should have spared it you, a-nd would have done so, but that I am the most abject slave of a passion that I yet believe utterly hopeless.” "Nay, Mr. Montgomery, you do me infinite injustice in supposing that your visits are disagreeable. I shall always be very happy to see you; and when I tell you so, it is not in the language of hollow’ courtesy—to my society you will be ever most welcome.” “Thank you, Miss Hamilton, thank you a thousand times! I expected this from your goodness—but oh! I cannot, dare not remain with you a day longer. In justice to yourself, I must say, Miss Hamilton, that there has been nothing in our intercourse that could have led me to presume that I was for a 'moment beloved by you; this is the conclusion I have obtained after cool and dispassionate reflection. _ We have known each other long and well; we have grown up in years together, and we have been friends, and are, and will be always; and I mistook that friendship for another feeling, but the delusion exists no longer; it is over now, and the truth is painful upon me. Calm your grief, lady, for I would rather die than dim your eye with a tear. But I have been cruel —too cruel! I will cease. I will go no further! Farewell! live and be happy!” And with a heart breaking with anguish, he arose, opened the door, took one last look, and left the apartment. Ntver before had Anna Hamilton reproached herself as being the cause of woe to another; and though innocent as an angel in the present case, she could not bring her conscience to her acquittal, but sat pale and miserable, weeping the while, as if every tear sprung from the conviction of some deep sin upon her soul. While she was laboring under this state of feeling, Sutherland had called, but she could not see him, nor did she excuse herself under the plea .of indisposition. She had never deceived anyone by even that petty artifice, and she thought that her lover knew her well enough to make her excuse in his bosom; but he had seen Montgomery quit the house, and being ignorant of what had transpired attributed her retiracy to another than its true cause. It was enough; he was jealous, and resolved at once to forget her in the society of Mrs. Trevor. Thither he hastened; she was alone, always alone to him; with a smile she met him—it was a sweet smile; and yet there was a melancholy in it that he had not seen there before. Alas! for the frailty of a woman’s heart. She that had always been the dicta tress of passion had become at last its slave. Yes, she, the proud, the lovely, the courted Mrs. Trevor, adored the man whose affections sne had at first thought to tamper with; and he, warmed by the enchanted by the devotednessVo;>enly displayed, was led step by step from the pure shrine of his love’s first offering. The hours fled, and he still tarried; theirs was a dream of joy, and the full moon was high in the heavens when he at last tore himself from her presence. His brow was hot, his pulse was quick and hard, and he strode the avenues of the city, unconscious of the path he was taking. Still on he sped, his own fervid thoughts rendering him insensible to everything else. Passion, in its wild sweep, had left him reflection; and when he recurred to Anna Hamilton, his heart sank, as if hope had deserted him forever. “Stop, Captain Sutherland,” exclaimed a human voice, and on looking up he confronted Montgomery. “Stop, sir,” said he; and his tone was solemn, low and passionate. Without a reply, Sutherland stood still, and there was a silence of some time, during which it wes evident Montgomery was preparing his enoughts for the words that were to follow. “Tears ago,” said he, “when I was yet a boy, chance gave me an opportunity of gratifying the darling passion of my soul; and I had almost attained the pinnacle of success when another passed me and snatched the golden prize from before my very vision. A Jong time elapsed, and we did not meet again; our careers in the '■■l ...,

world were widely dissimilar, and w» might have lived our lifetimes out without being again brought together; but my unlucky star prevailed; he returned, and returned to ingratiate himself in the| affections of the only woman I have ever loved. You are that man, Captain Sutherland!” (To be continued.)