The Human Vampire; Or, The Elixir of Life — page 2: what you’re looking at

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2 THE LOG CABIN LIBRARY Vol... No, 81. The Human Vampire; THE ELIXIR OF LIFE. iy Ke, Be ee Author of “Tru Mysrmry or 4 Mapstonn,” Bro. CHAPTER I. A STRANGH BURIAL The last solemn words of the funeral rites had been spoken. The friends of the departed had passed aroand the coffin to take a silent farewell of Clifford Derwent, and then, one by one, had departed from tho grand mansion which had been his home. When all was over, the house emptied of its snd-fuced guests, the widow came softly into the solemn presence of the dead, Ho lay in his icy slumber, surrounded by costly flowers, whose heavy perfume filled the spacious apartment. A singularly handsome man, in the prime of life, even death had touched him with kindly fingers, and nothing of the waxen pallor and frozen ghastliness usually seen on the face of the dead disfigured the calm repose of the clearly cut features of Clifford Derwent. ** How life-like!” This had been the comment of every mourner who attended the funeral service. By his own wish the ceremony had been performed over his open coffin on the day of his death. His directions had been remarkably strange, yet clear and explicit: “ Place me in a coffin covered with pale-violet velvet and lined with white quilted satin. I do not wish any ica put near my romninos, but request that no delay be made from the moment of my death till my body is placed in the receiving vault. My eoftin may be closed but not screwed down until ten days have expired. I do not wish my beloved wife to gaze upon my features after my decease, as I wish her to always retain a re- membrance of my face during my life-time, and not a painful memory of the dead. My faithful valet, Gregory Hamlin, shall carry ont all my instructions and take full charge of my remains from the moment of death.” All Clifford Derwent’s last wishes had been obeyed, with the sole exception of that relating to his wife. “ T must press one kiss on those dear lips,” she sobbed; ‘‘ and they all tell me he looks like a beautiful statue.” So she waited in another room till the services were over, then stole softly in and took her place by the velvet-covered coffin, Had the dead man designed that his ‘death should become him better than his life,’ he could not have been more successful than he was. In lile he had been a golden blonde, and the violet frame-work which surrounded him set off the pale purity of his complexion, the golden gleam of the curls above the ivory brow, the glossy sweep of the full mustache, to perfection. Never in his life had Olifford Derwent looked so thoroughly the idéal of manly beanty as he did now lying in his amethyst- tinted casket, surrounded by the costly orchid bloom. “Oh!” sobbed the young and lovely widow, ‘‘my darling, how can I live my long drenry life without you?” A stealthy step on the rich carpet disturbed her, She glanced up, raising her faca from her hands as she knelt beside the coffin and saw Gregory Hamlin standing beside her, “Madam,” he said, respecttully, yet with a certain tone of ex- postulation, ‘‘you know this is contrary to my dear master’s wishes.” “T cannot help it, Gregory,” she sobbed; ‘‘and, indeed, why should I not see him? What painful recollections can I form from that face?” She pointed to the dead man, and started to her feet as she did so. ‘Gregory!’ she cried, ‘‘I saw his lips quiver. bolieve he lives!” ‘Madam, madam, control yourself, I beg!” said the valet, in a tone of something like annoyance, ‘Ah, thonk goodness, this will soon be over; that is the hearse.” He left the room hastily, and returned accompanied by a gontleman who bore a strong likeness to the npitated lady. ‘‘Gome, Lonise,” he said, with tender firmness, ‘you muat not interfere with Gregory while he carries out your husband’s wishes, Oome, degrest sistex!” Sobbing convulsively, she pressed a last long kiss on the marble bow of the dead, and then passively allowed her brother to lead her from the room. Five minutes later the hearse was driven rapidly away. No funeral procession followed it, one carriage, containing the valet Heavens! I nlone, being in attendance. This was also in aceordanee with the wishes of the dead, Clifford Derwent bad arrived in New York five years before the dato of his doath. An Bnglishman of good family, he had easily obtuined an entrance to the best society in the city, Hea was a man of varied ottainments, great personal beauty, and powerful magnetic influence. He appoured wealthy, and very soon after his. introduction to the highest circles, his engage- ment to a wealthy heiress and leading belle was announced. His marriage speedily followed, though rumor said the Jady’s family had sought to delay the ceremony on aceount of the youthfulness of the bride. A life of pleasure and luxury had been brought to a close by Derwent’s sudden death. Just before this sad event whispers. had gone the rounds of the clubs that Derwant liad dissipated the greater portion of his wife’s fortune. He was known to bea man who betted freely on the race-course, a rumor said he also spent large sums in more questionable ways. He maintained seyoral handsome establishments besides the legitimate mansion on Fifth avenue, o cottage at the sen-side, onda bijou home at Tuxedo Park. Ho was a distinguished londer of the coachir club, his drag being the handsomest, his horses the finest see at every parade of the club, Money flowed like water from his hands, and no one knew for certain what the amount of his own personal fortune had been. : Miss Louiso Van Stretten hod inherited five million dollars from her father, and her husband had full control of this amount, Very soon after his marringe he had quarreled with her only brother, Sidney Van Stretten, and that gentleman had refused to interfere with his sister's husband in any way from that day till his death. When a member of his club remon- strated Sidney shrugged his shoulders, “T shall not commit the unpardonable folly of interfering be- tweon a man and his wife," he said. ‘You think Derwent will spend my sister's money. SodoT. Hoe insulted me on purpose that he might be free to do so, but I cannot prevent him. He must go his road, and I shall go mine. He has a legal right to do as he pleases. Louise was of uge when she married him. IT knew yery little aboutthe man, but it was useless to say so, she loved him —she still loves him, and they must go their own road,” oie Sidney Van Stretton was somewhat of a student and recluse. His pathway in life certninly did not tend in the same direction as that of Clifford Derwent. So the brothers-in-law did not meet, No one else had a right to stretch outa hand to check Derwent, and his wife seamed happy and content. Now the butterfly existence had come to a close. Derwent was dead, after a very brief illness, and onee more Sidney enlled upon his sister. She welcomed him, and clung to him in her grief and desolation. A very few days revealed the state of affairs in the Derwent establishment. / Mrs, Derwent’s fortune was utterly exhausted, and her hus- band had died a pauper. More than that, he was head over ears in debt when his fatal illness brought his brief life of pleasure to an abrupt close, CHAPTER II. MYSTERIOUS DOINGS AT ‘PEE VAULT. An hour after midnight on the night of the funeral of Olifford Derwent, a cab drove rapidly through the streets of New York, and at length drew up atthe gates of Trinity Cemotory. ‘The night was overcast and murky, and the wind moaned as it moved over the face of tha North River toward the dark and lonely resting-place of the dead. In the vanlt of the Van Strettens lay the coffin of Olifford Derwent. It was surrounded by those of his wife's family, but had been placed nearer to the entrance of the vault than any of the other caskets, As the cab drew up at the gate the driver alighted. He was wrapped from head to foot in a cloak, which did not conceal the fact that he carried o large sack, which seemed exceedingly weighty. Doe. Gregory Hamlin, for he was the midnight visitor at tho came- tery, opened u small gate af the side of the largér entrance with a key he drew from his pocket, and entered the cemetery. He was absent half an hour, during which time the cab waited be- | side the gate. The horse seemed a quiet animal, and accus- tomed to stand, but kis patience was beginning to give out, and he had once or twice tugged at the line attached to the weight which rested on the sidewalk, when the gate once more opened and two men appeared. One walked feebly and leaned somewhat heavily on the arm of the other. Ecomicbooks.co