Captain Kyd (Vol 1 of 2)
ove of women
ely and a f
irs upon that
st, life hath
ockeries of t
nge is as the
ck, and crushin
rs-what they in
Ju
tened till his horse's feet ceased longer to give back a sound, when, overcome by the depth and strength of her feelings, she leaned her head upon the lattice and wept like a very child; at length she recolle
ry chamber, and there, hidden from every eye, indulge her feelings. At length the long, long day came to an end, and with it departed the youthful company on horse-back to their several homes. A gay and gallant appearance the cavalcade presented as it rode away from the castle-a youthful cavalier prancing by the bridle of each maiden, and a band of armed retainer
still was she that she seemed to sleep. But the soft influence of this gentle blessing was a stranger to her aching eyelids. Her soul was sad and dark! her sensitive spirit had been wounded! the wing of her heart was broken. Her thoughts rushed wild and tumultuous through her brain, and her young bo
, and filling her little room with an atmosphere like floating dust of silver. A glow of pleasure warmed her heart, and an exclamation of delight unconsciously escaped from her lips-it was so calmly bright, so richly beautiful! Like a blessing sent from heaven, the sweet moonlight
; and throwing back from her face the cloud of raven ringlets that had fal
t voice of Grace Fitzgerald, in a low
arcely knew what, in excuse, and turning
e!" exclaimed Gra
this lovely moon! Come stand by the lattice with me," she s
ents of diamonds; in the deep repose of the dark woods; in the majesty of the ocean, which sent its heavy, sighing sound to their ears with every passing breeze; in the glory of the glittering firmament,
onscious face, as with thoughtful eyes, her head resting in her hand, she gazed on vacan
in, and speaking in a tone of tender and affectionate sympathy; "dear Kate, I pity you!" She ge
ing to her increasing emotions, threw herself into her arms and wept there. How grateful to her full heart to find another into which it could freely empty itself! How happy, very happy was she, that that heart was, of all others, her
d all so unlooked for! Yet I know you will think me very silly; and I fear your natural spirit will
ed for you a dozen times to-day, when I saw how very unhappy you look
r those little lips so rich with merry speeches," pursue
when you must either laugh or cry, and one as easy for you to do as the other; so, trembling lest, in
h a glow of grateful energy in her manner. "I have not half known
now what a nice, good cousin I turn out
il to-morrow without you. You will stay with me,
tlessness, "perhaps, find you Lady Lester! Forgive me, cousin Kate," she instantly added, as she saw the expression of her face change; "I am a careless creature, to wound at one moment where I have healed at
well divined; shrinking with maidenly shame that the strength of her love and the weakness of her resolution should be di
n feelings by denying them. You will forgive Lester i
no-th
fore to-morrow's sun be an ho
hope; her love struggling with the respect due to her maidenly dig
what you say. Robert Lester shall kneel at your feet to-morrow morning,
ing my-" she half
ble of concession on your part mentioned; let me manage it my own
r mouth reprovingly, yet pleased and smiling wi
us feeling; and that, with all her thoughtless levity, she was susceptible both of the sincerest attachment and of the warmest friendship. Her words conveyed the germe of hope to the breast of her cousin. Her confident
owe it all to you," she said, kissing her.
ht to be angry with her, and is so foolish as to be so, how much the more readily then will he be brought to her feet! There is a spice of argument for you. Now, as Lord Robert has no cause in the world to be offended with you, it follows that he has every cause in the world to indu
ed to be gracious, sage cousin
" and she seemed to muse very profoundly for a few seconds. "
louring, and looking out of the lattice as if some int
y, and with a look of the
anything from you, mischief! Ho
their bosoms a boughten trinket, and s
Kate, attempting to
th it under t
in Gr
e," she sai
not wish you had a lover, th
the imperturbable re
heiress of a coronet could not be without admirers; but oh, if I knew o
cket, cousin," said
be done with
his gift of love to her who sends it, shall with love be
me send such a message to Lester, chil
to say-what you feel-what you wish, abo
she replied, with the
reluctantly; 'twill soon be back, with a prize worth a thousa
" cried Kate, with
cket. "Here is pencil and paper. Can you write by this moonlight? Lovers, methinks
ean, Grace?" exclaime
, in your nicest hand, my g
. What will h
k you love hi
him to think," she said,
hands. "Well, this love is an odd thing! What
cious of
o'd, and, not u
pants and glows with devotion. Oh, if this be love, I'll none of it. Here is the pencil, and th
aid, taking the pencil and placing her finger
uarter of an hour ago, that I should have had to coax you to sen
at least, to make characters with her pencil, when Grace, impat
Lester Robert, Robert Lester
n, hastily run her pencil through i
gotten wha
mory," said Grace, with a vexatious air. "No
s gift of love to her who send
t wri
r for
as a charm. Never so few monosyllables as I h
rer?" Kate now inqui
ure and swift," she said, fol
enclosing an azure field, on which, in exquisite enamel, were inlaid the crests of Les
NTE
f your raven ringlet
ill not,
ning her fingers through her auburn tresses; and, selecting one that was like a silk
d the dark cloud of her abundant hair, and intwining her finger in a jetty t
scarcely will you part with a strand to bind a note. There!" she added, clipping a beautiful ringlet that Kate had selected from the r
a few seconds tied, with great gravity, the mysterious knot she had mentioned, and gave the billet to her cousin for the
imply 'Lester, Castle Mo
t on the other. Love certainly does make his votaries skilful tacticians! Truly, now, is not this a proper love-billet-written in a lattice by the light of
Kate, with a little doubt in the tones of her voice.
sure you," said the good-humoured
he menials, f
n approaching her cousin's ear, she pronounced,
ar
er of a message to Lester!" she exc
!" replied Grac
contact! No, no! Have you for
N
ou propose so
aid, with a na?ve and pertinacious
very grave, but at length found it in vain to withhold her sympathy, and laughed with
ry little in love! I half guessed it! Doubtless ther
not half in earnest, "but if I were in love with him, is he not noble in person? handsome, gallant, and brave? Why may he not be worth
r's lad? Where is your pride of birth and rank, Grace Fitzgerald! Really, I should not wonder if, with your levelling
at I will give my hand where my heart goes, you may rest assured, c
prentice yet! I shall assuredly allow you to go to the good old earl, your fa
to this. I am not yet in love, so be not alarmed. I will sally forth a
face in its hood. At this crisis Kate's troubled countenance indicated a wavering purpo
orn me; let him go for ever first!" she
would be playing Niobe. Have your fe
; b
lay, how his may change, nor
en," she said, after
my success," she said, placing
ut you will not ventu
short trip down the path, and old Meredith's hut is wi
ainly go wit
or the
, I dare say. Ah, you arch girl! I verily believe you have an eye to your own interests, which ac
, in the slightly scornful ton
said Kate, apologetically, kissing
pposite window as I cross the lawn. Courage, dear cousin! Yo
closing the door upon her ere
to Castle More; pictured Lester's reception of the token; fancied his surprise, his rapture, perhaps his scornful indifference! No! she would not believe he could feel this, for she judged his truth by her own! Then, in her imagination, she heard his loud and hasty demand for his horse! she could see him on his swift course towards Castle Cor. He approaches! she can almost hear his horse's hoofs in the court! the next moment he is kneeling at her feet for forgiveness! Wonderful power of th
ant and bitter words of the offended maiden. With a fleet foot he reached the beach, hastened along the shore to his cot, and, crossing its lonely threshold, cast himself upon a block by the hearth, and buried his face between his hands. His heart heaved strongly, and he seemed to labour under deep and great emotion. It was clearly apparent that he was undergoing a severe menta
? Do I not think, feel, act, speak, like those whom men call noble? May I not, in spite of nature, yet become the builder of my own name-the carver of my own fortunes? By the light of the bright sun, I will no longer be the slave of others!
and a determined air that well harmonized with his words. At length he stopped short in his ex
the gentle and lovely: on those worthy of his heart's deep devotion, and to whom he can distribute the rich treasure of his love. He must degrade his pure and sacred passion by linking his fate with one of his own class, who may never appreciate him; or let his wealth of love exhaust itself on his own life, and consume it with its fire! Nevertheless," he added, with a sparkling eye, "the fisher's boy dares to love, and love high! Love knows no rank. I have placed my affections on a noble object, my gaze on a lofty eyry-and never will I clip the wing that once has taken so high and bold a flight. I love her! highborn as she is, I have dared to send my thoughts up to her! Yet, alas!" he continued, moodily folding his arms on his breast, and speaking slowly and bitterly, "alas! what shall this avail? Will she requite the daring love of a peasant? Will she not scorn-will she not laugh at me? Will she listen to the deep outpourings of my passion? No, no, no! She must mate with her mates, and s
lost in his feelings, so wrapped in the noble vision of the future his ambitious and ardent mind had pictured, that the old fisherman, who had slowly followed him from the cliff, entered without attracting his notice. Th
the short, s
you, my boy?" asked the o
esuming his wonted kindness of manner, and takin
class in speaking of those above them; "it was but a little outbreak of spirit; and you know it is not for t
ir slave, which is far worse! Never! 'Tis the language o
find it different when you get to be as old as I am. I h
ed it?" demanded the
to act what they will to? We poor fishermen have only
order! Before I do it, may my hand wither at the shoulder, my tongue palsy in my mouth! I should in
f thou shouldst take his li
e should t
ways on the side of the great, would say thy life was forfeited
n a tone of mingled shame and sorrow, "thou hast, fortunately, a spirit fitted to thy station-I pity thee! For myself, I will be no man's serf, no lord's m
taken possession of thee?" cried the
morrow I go from you!"
estitute in my
words. He buried his face in his hands and groaned aloud; then, with a sudde
insult, rather than thou, my more th
d the old man, pleadingly, as if d
and mother. If I be not a faithful son to thee, and protect not thy old age, may I fail to attain the rank and honour
ng meal from the vast storehouse that has ever fed us, and which never holds its life even from the undeserving. Go, my son: on the rocking wave, and in the silence of the lone deep, your heart will become calm, and peace w
n name. Would to God I were! perhaps I then might bear my humble lot mo
g in his breast, launched his little bark, hoisted the
e of his silent face was eloquent with the feelings that occupied his bosom. His mind was struggling between filial affection and ambition-between love for the highborn maiden and duty to his grandsire. The sufferings of the latter, who looked to his labours for his daily bread, were, if he should desert him, present and positive. The hopes connected with the former were altogether future and uncertain. Should he inflict a present evil for a future good? Would his filial attachment compare with his love? Which should he sacrifice? He fe
-starboard, or you
d lain all day at anchor in the bay, within reach of his hand, while his boat was gli
voice. "But you have a quick ear and ready hand to clear our counter as you did. What say you to serving his majesty, my lad? It's better than catching herring;
ll, and surveyed with delight the graceful spars, following them with his eye to their tapering tops, from which gay flags streamed in the breeze: he admired, apparently with all a seaman's gratification, the tracery and interlacing of the neatly-set rigging, and the snowy sails, some of which we
y for me! my destiny must b
his bosom; he thought of Kate Bellamont, and his eyes sparkled, an
aid the man, observing his hesitation; "
up in his boat, and extending hi
nter your name on
go wit
come al
randfather six months without labour, for which he was nearly unfitted on account of his age. If, he thought, at the end of six months, therefore, he should not be
p to windward to run under the vessel's bows. Instantly he shifted his helm, let
ng sheet!" said one of
-by," cried another; "he'll be alo
ass," added a third. "A wise lad
who had first hailed him; "but I am afraid we shall see no more of him than w
ove the battlements of the castle, and flung its scarf of silver far out upon the scarcely dimpled bay. From time to time he held his open palm to windward, in vain trying to catch a passing current. He threw back the dark curls that clustered about his forehead, and laid it bare to receive the faintest breath that might promise the return of the wind. But the air was motionless! His boat rose and fell on the glassy undulations, but moved not towards the shore, save by the slow landward heave of the sea. Springing upon the thwarts, he brailed up his sail and bound it to the mast, and then, bending to the slender oars, sent his light skiff over the water with a speed that mocked the idle winds. He soon got within the dark shadow flung by the cliff along the water far beyond the land, and run his boat on the beach beside his cot. The old fisherman welcomed him with a ki
its honours! This is my world-these slimy rocks-this lonely bay; yonder hut my palace, and to fish for daily sustenance my pastime. This is my life-this my universe! What have I to do with aught beyond
cloak, standing immediately behind him. The grace of her attitude, and the easy decision of her whole manner, assured him that she was not lowborn. His heart would have whispered the name that was enshrined in it, but the figure was not tall enough for her
can aid you, that you have come t
replied, on his youthful face, on each lineament of which his bold character was written, while his ardent spirit spoke eloquently in every look. As he bent forward to catch her answer, with his bonne
ing voice of Grace Fitzgerald, intuitively shrinking within the shadow of the cliff as she add
ed, with surprise, as he
dy and spirit," said she
e served by one so humble?" he asked, in a ton
y, scarcely knowing in what way to interpret his word
g of you a favour; to ask you to execute a mission of deli
caste that separated them, sensibly affected him. It was the first time he had been so addressed by those above
eelings. She had, too, her own notions of what constitutes true nobility; and it is plain, from her conversation with Kate, that she was less governed by the social canons which regulate such things, and was infinitely more of a democrat than her haughty and beautiful cousin. That her heart had anything to do in the matter, though Mark was so han
eplied, with grateful em
Lord Robert?" she
forgi
e him-for-for-the sa
, I would not refuse her," he exclai
ad but little weight in this quarter in comparison with her cousin's. She then took
er forgiveness to Lord Robert. You will see t
of feminine pique in
m?" he inquired, in a voi
es
lied he, wit
of gentle reproof, placing h
, with an outbreak of terrible and ungovernable emotion, "you know not what it is to be-to be-" Here his feelings
reyed upon him. She sympathized with him with her whole heart; and with her sympathy there entered into her breast another emotion, which in woman's heart is so nearly allied to love, namely, gentle pity! When she saw that the first strong ti
spirit and determined will there is a wide road open to distinction; and in it men, humble as yourself, have won honourable re
she disdained to disguise, language can inadequately express. Its effect on him was electrical. He sprang forward, knelt at her feet, seized her hand, and, in the fulness of his heart, pres
ave him, so that you give him no opportunity of renewing his feud. In the morning, on th
for you at Castle More; but pardon m
all make it," she sa
t will be still mo
, as his words seemed to imply, she had found more favour in the young fisherman's eyes than her cousin. But, all at once, t
poke, "that you dislike my cousin Kate so much th
s, I recall every letter of them," he s
speak for you
k me very ungrateful
the father of Kate Bellamont. Re
seemed to take his words, and, in attemptin
and you, Mark," she said, with a laugh tha
o, lady," he added, in a grateful tone of voice, yet sadly, "I
ould need my-I would say, the assistance of
t he laid his hand upon his bosom with an el
in you, it becomes you to rise from this humble station, and win for yourself a name and station among men. Do not forget that the proudest names in England sprang from the lowest rank. My own maternal ancestor was a favourite groom of William the Conquer
ry of your words will shine like a star of hope to guide me through the future. God help me! Lady Grace, you shall never blush with shame for h
ed, significantly, and in a tone of raillery, not able, even
mble is ever in her thoughts," he re
l, and woo fame alone as your bride. There are some-there is one, Mark, who would rather see you honoured and ennobled by your own hand than-than-but no matter, I
t safely; if you would do my cousin Kate a favour, bear it q
aking, and were now at the foot of the pat
apid pace along the beach in the direction of Castle More. She followed him for a few moments with her eyes, and then, sighing unconsciously (for it is in vain longer to disguise the interest she felt in
had separated from Grace Fitzgerald. Then striking into a path that led inland, he followed it with undiminished sp
ner of Grace Fitzgerald, and asking himself a hundred times if she could mean anything; and when it could not be concealed from his penetrating mind that she did mean something, or affected to do so-the wish rose to his lips that Kate Bellamont had been in her place. Yet the very next moment, so contradictory is love, he congratulated himself
ng from the direction of Castle More; the moment afterward, he saw, by the light of the moon, two horsemen emerge from the wood, and rapidly approach the ruin. He instinctively drew to one side of the path to escape observ