Capitola's Peril A Sequel to 'The Hidden Hand'   By: Emma Dorothy Eliza Nevitte Southworth (1819-1899)

CAPITOLA'S PERIL

A Sequel to "The Hidden Hand"

By

MRS. E.D.E.N. SOUTHWORTH

Author of

"Ishmael," "Self Raised," "Cruel as the Grave," "Tried for Her Life," Etc.

"And such a night "she" took the road in As ne'er poor sinner was abroad in.

That night a child might understand The de'il had business on his hand."

Burns.

A. L. BURT COMPANY, Publishers NEW YORK

CONTENTS

Chapter I. THE ORPHAN'S TRIAL. II. OLD HURRICANE STORMS. III. CAP'S VISIT TO THE HIDDEN HOUSE. IV. THE HIDDEN HOLLOW. V. THE HIDDEN HOUSE. VI. THE INMATE OF THE HIDDEN HOUSE. VII. CAP'S RETURN. VIII. ANOTHER MYSTERY AT THE HIDDEN HOUSE. IX. CAP FREES THE CAPTIVE. X. CAP IN CAPTIVITY. XI. AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR AT MARAH'S COTTAGE. XII. CAP "RESTS ON HER LAURELS" AND "SPOILS FOR A FIGHT." XIII. BLACK DONALD. XIV. GLORY. XV. CAP CAPTIVATES A CRAVEN. XVI. CAP'S RAGE. XVII. CAPITOLA CAPS THE CLIMAX. XVIII. BLACK DONALD'S LAST ATTEMPT. XIX. THE AWFUL PERIL OF CAPITOLA. XX. THE NEXT MORNING. XXI. A FATAL HATRED. XXII. THE COURT MARTIAL. XXIII. THE VERDICT. XXIV. THE END OF THE WAR. XXV. THE FORTUNATE BATH. XXVI. THE MYSTERIOUS MANIAC. XXVII. THE MANIAC'S STORY. XXVIII. END OF THE LADY'S STORY. XXIX. PROSPECTS BRIGHTEN. XXX. CAPITOLA A CAPITALIST. XXXI. "THERE SHALL BE LIGHT AT THE EVENTIDE."

CAPITOLA'S PERIL.

A Sequel to THE HIDDEN HAND.

CHAPTER I.

THE ORPHAN'S TRIAL.

"We met ere yet the world had come To wither up the springs of youth, Amid the holy joys of home, And in the first warm blush of youth. We parted as they never part, Whose tears are doomed to be forgot; Oh, by what agony of heart Forget me not! forget me not!"

Anonymous.

At nine o'clock the next morning Traverse went to the library to keep his tryst with Colonel Le Noir.

Seated in the doctor's leathern chair, with his head thrown back, his nose erect and his white and jeweled hand caressing his mustached chin, the colonel awaited the young man's communication.

With a slight bow Traverse took a chair and drew it up to the table, seated himself and, after a little hesitation, commenced, and in a modest and self respectful manner announced that he was charged with the last verbal instructions from the doctor to the executor of his will.

Colonel Le Noir left off caressing his chin for an instant, and, with a wave of his dainty hand, silently intimated that the young man should proceed.

Traverse then began and delivered the dying directions of the late doctor, to the effect that his daughter Clara Day should not be removed from the paternal mansion, but that she should be suffered to remain there, retaining as a matronly companion her old friend Mrs. Marah Rocke.

"Umm! umm! very ingenious, upon my word!" commented the colonel, still caressing his chin.

"I have now delivered my whole message, sir, and have only to add that I hope, for Miss Day's sake, there will be no difficulty thrown in the way of the execution of her father's last wishes, which are also, sir, very decidedly her own," said Traverse.

"Umm! doubtless they are and also yours and your worthy mother's."

"Sir, Miss Day's will in this matter is certainly mine. Apart from the consideration of her pleasure, my wishes need not be consulted. As soon as I have seen Miss Day made comfortable I leave for the far West," said Traverse, with much dignity.

"Umm! and leave mama here to guard the golden prize until your return, eh?" sneered the colonel.