1860's THE TEXAN CRUISER A TALE OF THE MEXICAN WAR

EXCERPT from "THE TEXAN CRUISER - or - CALYPSO THE WANDERER." A TALE OF THE MEXICAN WAR. From The Novelette dated 1863.


The pirate’s eyes flashed fire. Naturally reckless and impetuous, this provocation startled the last lingering passion into action; the loss of Irene bad irritated him enough to make him angry; and now, believing as he did that the man before him had used some effort to get the girl away, he-could contain himself no longer. And he was not very far out of the way in most of his suspicions. St. Mare had hoped that Tudel might never get the maiden’s hand, and he had shown his feelings so plainly, that a man with less wit than the pirate possessed might have read them. A few moments Tudel gazed his companion steadily in the face. He was very pale, and his lip quivered with passion.

“Antonio St. Mare,” he said, in a low, hoarse whisper, ‘now mark me—since I have been in the city this last time, you have shown plainly that you hoped I should not gain possession of Irene’s hand; you were sorry that the Yankees did not keep and hang me; you cannot deny this.:

“I shall not deny it,” interposed St. Mare. “And,” resumed Tudel, seeming not to have noticed the remark, “last night you went in to see her, and this morning you arose and ate your breakfast, and went out without further inquiring for her as you had always done before. And you had a good reason for so doing. You knew she was gone, and you meant not that pursuit should be instituted too soon. Now, senor— where is she?”

St. Mare’s only reply was an oath of defiance. “That’s your game, eh’?” uttered Tndel, advancing a step. “Miserable traitor, try that and see—” The concluding part of the sentence was swallowed up in a fierce gasp of rage. St. Mare raised his arm, but he could not defend his face from the blow. The pirate’s clenched fist came down upon his temple, and felled him to the floor.

“There, St. Mare, that’s but a beginning of what you’ll get if you don’t bring Irene back’ And with these words Jilok Tudel strode from the apartment. It was some moments after the pirate had gone, before St. Mare arose to his feet - and then his first impulse was to rush after the man who had struck him; but he checked himself, and paced up and down the apartment. His head felt dizzy, and a dull pain followed a fell return of consciousness. He had just concluded to go to his chamber and lie down for a while, when one of his servants announced that a man wished to see him, at the same time handing him a card.

“Show him in”