Hatchie, the Guardian Slave; or, The Heiress of Bellevue

aves beneath the

seemed to watch

areless guide, a

RN

as I was, I

KSP

y the bell banged and the steam hissed; the captain told a hundred lies, but the boat did not budge an inch from her berth. Still there were certain signs that the hour of departu

r two friends on board, however, had been so often disappointed that they did not allow a single bright anticipation to enliven their hearts, till they actuall

splendid equipage dashing at a furious pace across the levee, the driver of wh

moments' delay in getting up the baggage of the new comers, and the welcome "cast off the fasts and haul in the plank" was again heard. The rapid jingling of the engineer's bell succeeded, and, to the joy of some three hundred souls on board

meanin' of this?" exclaimed our

I am much afraid we shall yet have

will go into the swamp back of the city, afore I

t let us first see what th

ediately besieged by a dozen angry passengers, who had resolved to lynch h

th commendable patience till they had vented their indignation, and then informed them that he onl

itary stores. The "freight" which the Chalmetta was to take consisted of several long boxes, which lay near the landing. These boxes contai

iumphantly mounted the battlements at Vera Cruz, and raised the stars and stripes over the city of Mexico. There, before him, forever silent, were the dead heroes of Chepultepec and Perote. Those with whom he had endured toils and hardships of no common nature,-with wh

nation were better sacrificed than that the blood of innocent men should flow in its support. He was a thorough disciple of the peace movement. With such views as these, his sympathies naturally reverted to the dwelling of the departed hero; to the home rendered desolate by the untimely death of a father; to the circle which gathered in tears arou

turbed by several long, loud vociferations, in a strong Hibernian accent. They proceeded from a man, dressed in the tattered remnants of the blue

hould on, will yous, and

ith the others?"

does it belong to? Arn't it the body of Captain Farrel

n Brawler to the deck hands,

rudely, in a manner which seem

o' that?" said he. "Have yous no rispict for the mim'ry of a haro, that yous tra

ried Captain Draw

guard, as ye are!" shouted Pat. "W

d the captain, to do him justice, ma

he hold, to which access was had by means of a hatch near the stern. Pat's peculiar ch

resume her long-occupied position at the levee; the very thought of such a calamity was painful in the extreme. But this fear was not realized; the Ch

d Henry, seating himself by the side

the farmer, heartily. "We are fast

ur morals yet," said Hen

Nathan, a little touched at this reflection upon his firmnes

of the box. He looks poorly enough, as far as this world's g

seen hard times," added U

I warrant me, he has a stout will, and an honest heart. I say

the colors of Uncle Sam," replied the Iri

the deck, and making a low bow, as he doffed his slouche

Henry, "as you have n

save your honor is college-larnt b

uth, our moralist of the North was sorry to see his companion hand the

d with a grateful heart

honor, kindl

hat regiment you ser

ylvanians,-Captain

fficer! Many were the tears shed when the vomito carried him off,"

He was every inch a s

rought on board co

good a man as iver breathed the breath

erved all he will ever get of praise. Here, Pat, is a

foot. "You are as near like poor Captain Farrell as one pay is like anothe

nded to the main deck; "one in whom gratitude

rned Uncle Nathan, who had but litt

ss displayed. On the Chalmetta half an hour before tea-time the most knowing of the passengers had stationed themselves in a line around the table, ready to charge upon the plates, like a file of soldiers, the m

was dressed in deep mourning, and her countenance was saddened by the gloom of affliction. Her eyes were reddened by weeping, in which she had indulged freel

ction which had befallen her in the death of her father. Their eyes met, and exchanged warmer greetings than their words could have done. A sad smile-the smile of pleasure-reste

her in the weeds of mourning,-not in words alone, but his sorrow for

ate;-not a superannuated priest, but a young man whose blood was warm, and whose soul was full of energy. True, he reasoned, the young officer was powerless as a diplomatist. Ho as yet knew nothing of the will, or of Emily's degraded position. Henry knew the feelings and

rsation beside the ordinary courtesies

had ever been, the present seemed a crisis in his life. He had accomplished the climax of villany, and as he had racked his powers of invention for the means of attaining his purpose, he now taxed them for the means of concealing it. The insecurity of his position was so tedious, that he sought, as the tempest-tost mariner seeks the quiet haven, to fortify it, so that he might be at rest from the tormen

further conversation between her and Henry. But the black chambermaid, with an official dignity which is oftentimes necessa

e. Love, which he had in vain attempted to stifle, pressed more vigorously at his heart. In her recognition of him he had read that the sentiment in her heart was not abated by his absence. Her melancholy aspect had awakened a new in

leman, she had ascended to the hurricane deck. Her companions, more gay and happy than she, soon left her to the gloom and comparative silence which usually reigns on the upper deck. There w

stances of her father's death,

xclaimed Henry,

son to disbelieve it, except that my fat

n for disbelieving it. And you ar

ttempted. But I ought to be thankful for all that com

not talk so! You freeze

what I really am, since the will-true or false-condemns me to the odium of having be

t could not alter the beauty of the features or the character. I should be proud of such a

egard me as yo

uly, as an angel o

nry Carroll of a month since. You are

would have gladly said

e saw her before him trodden down by misfortune, in the power of subtlety and villany, and as a chil

d and distant to your sister," said Emily, her hea

you were a child of afflu

to hear the word Henry was stammering to enun

sister. But I fear it was not

destroying the appearance of surpri

dared not think how long, you know not what violence I did to the warmest feeling of my heart. You know not what misery the struggle between that feeling and duty has caused me. I have striven to conquer it; but Heaven has no

e held was all the answer he re

hat I am," mu

l not let the innocent be wronged, nor the guilty remain unpunished.

id you think that gold

tude in me to win your love, and thus destroy a

avaricious disposition

ome views, in regard to his daughter,

hstanding," said Emily, with a smile, and a dee

o, then; but now, Heaven bless you for the words!

rescuing Emily fro

e of the lovers, "to your state-room! Captain Carroll, as the guardian of

ry, proudly, "which I sh

he penalty of your obstinacy

be intimidate

, fearful for the safety of him whom t

st I will obey," and C

d him from his revery. There was no mistaking the sound of that voice! Without an instant's hesitation, he called to the pilot to stop the boat, and, with a few bounds, was by the side of Jaspar, who was calling lustily for help. Henry, careless of his own safety, slid down to the gallery abaft the ladies' cabin, and then sprang to the single pole upon which was suspended the small boat. Before he co

said the disappointed Jaspar, afte

esence menaced, had prompted him to an act which was not attended with his usual prudence, and the failure was likely to place him in a more unc

o is he?" shoute

d a voice fr

rned pale, for the vo

again, concluding that he m

h from the crowd, and H

e supposed his rifle-ball had sent to furnish food for the fishes. But he

," stammered he, ho

could clearly understand the nature of the ca

nowhere to be found. Jaspar, as usual, invented a story to account for the strangeness of the inci