The Human Vampire; Or, The Elixir of Life — page 20: what you’re looking at

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AU) THE LOG CABIN LIBRARY Voll, No. 31. as All this time I have never been informed what ails my wife.’ The doctor hesitated. “TJ greatly fear,” he said, slowly, ‘‘ that unless some important change takes place, Mrs. Decker’s mind will become affected.” “Great Heayen!”’ © She is in a fearfully nervous state. She fancies she sees her children in all sorts of horrible and impossible situations; and the strangest thing of ell is that she associates your uncle with their disappearance.” Myr. Decker's face turned a ghastlier hue than before. “Surely not,” ha muttered, and sank at the doctor's feet in a dead faint. ‘« Here’s a nice business!"’ cried Doctor Salter, and he called to a footman who at that moment passed through the hall, and the master of the honse was earried away*to his bed. Gregory was soon in attendance. He had grown old in his master’s service. He looked on and obeyed the doctor’s instruc- tions without a murmut, but he was much relieved when the doctor was called away to attend to Mrs. Decker. He closed the door and unlocked a small medicine chest with a key he wore on his watch-chain. He next proceeded to ud- aa a hypodermic injection in the patient’s lez, below the nee, After waiting half an hour, he again used his syringe—this time in the arm. Gregory sat near the bed on which his insensible master Iny. In appearance, he was a model valet. His hair, slightly tinged with gray, was worn short; his face was clean shaven, pale, and iu.expression inserutable. He was carefully dressed in glossy black, and his linen was faultless. A slender gold chain ran across his waistcoat, and he carried a valuable stop-watch, He sat in perfect silence for halfan hour longer; then he once more administered the injection—this time over the chest, near the heart. The man had grown anxious. He felt the cold, clammy fore- head of the unconscious man, rubbed and chafed. his lifeless hands. He next poured out a large glass of brandy in a peculiarly shaped cup which he had taken from his medicine chest, This he poured down Mr, Decker's throat. In a few moments the heart began to beat, the lungs resumed action, and the man slowly opened his eyes. “You?” he said, with satisfaction. ‘* Yes, sir; drink this.” A powerful cordial, of a beautiful opaline color and exquisite perfume, had been placed in the cup. He eagerly swallowed it. Now his heart began to beat more rapidly. stronger. _ Gregory knew, from experience, the drugs which would give strength to bis master, In about an hour Mr. Decker was so far restored as to be able to dispense with his valet’s attendance. He had all a father’s anxiety for his beloved twins, and he porsnaded Gregory to try his skillas a detective and endeavor to find them. His confidence in his faithful valet was un- bounded, for he had saved Hamlin from a disgracefal death, To avert suspicion, it was decided to permit the regular de- tootives to continue ‘their qnest, without the knowledge that Gregory Hamlin had also gone on the trail of the lost children. CHAPTER XVIL A WOMAN'S HINT HASTENS AN ENGAGEMENT. Taillian had been for over two years filling a position as ma- tron of a private hospital for nervous patients in the suburbs of Boston. Some of her friends had allowed her to drop out of sight, but Mrs. Fred Vandercliff was as generous as she was gay and thoughtless; she liked to talk of her friends, but would not do any one an injury intentionally. She insisted on keeping up her acquaintance with Lillian, and finding her looking somewhat worn and overworked, fairly forced her to roturn with her to Newport. She had been in Boston for a few days. «There is plenty of room,” she said, ‘‘in my cottage for just a nice party of old friends! Louise Derwent is to be there with that extraordinary child of hers. I don’t think I can stand her without an antidote.” In response to this invitation Lillian came, and events follow- ed. which brought her to Mrs. Decker’s bedside. Sidney Van Stretten wasa guest of Mrs. Vandercliff. That shrewd little woman had read his secret as quickly as she did Doctor Salter's, who soon began to think that one of the best women in the world, for a wife, was Lonise Derwent. Sidney loved Lillian with a love which had been the growth of a life- “tame, His pulse grew Long ago, wheu she had been his sister’s schoolmate, he had learned to love her; he had seen her often in those days, but kept his lips silent, for he thought she was too young to be a wife. Then she returned to her home in the South, and the next thing he heard was the story of her betrothal to the old soldier, her father’s friend. Next came her marriage to Algernon Vivian, and after that he saw her no more. Now she was free, her money gone, and to other eyes her beanty faded. Mrs, Vandereliff said nothing to Sidney or Louise of her knowledgo of Sidney’s secret. Louise Derwent would hate the idea of Sidney’s maringe,”’ she said, shrewdly. ‘*She would be afraid it might interfere with the prospects of that wonderful baby. Never mind, Sid is an old dear, and Lillian is the best woman who eyer lived. and has geen a lot of trouble. So, if I can help them I will do it.” And she kept her word. Ina conversation with Sidney she said to him: ‘*T know you love Lillian; and, better still, I know she loves you,” His eyes flashed with joy and pride. “T gladly acknowledge fhe first,” he said; ‘‘ but, Nettie, do you believe that she loves me?” OL dow “Tf you are right Iam the happiest man in Newport, loved her so Jong, so hopelessly.” “Cheer up; your love is hopeless no longer. I know she loves you. I have seen that beautiful dark face flush when she heard your step, and her eves grow bigger and brighter when your voice caught herear. She loves you; but Lilly 1s a shy bird. You must woo her gently, Sid, for she herself does not yet know her heart is won.” Sidney Van Stretten felt happier than he had for years. He was a man who was too modest to estimate himself properly. He had always been shy and diffident. Perhaps if he had been bolder, more self-asserting Lillian Tatnall would have been his wife years ago. ‘‘T shall go over and see her,” he said to Nettie Vandercliff. *‘Do you wish to send her any message?” Yes, Tell Lilly I want to see her very particularly this evening.” Sidney strolled to Bleak Point across the beach. It was a lovely afternoon, and the sea murmured softly and gently as it kissed the suud. It seemed in accord with the feeling of shy happiness which filled the heart of the lover. Lillian had a few moments to herself, for her charge was sleeping. She came down fo the library, where Sidney awaited her, looking tired and ul ; «‘ Why, Lillian,” exclaimed Sidney. yalid yourself.” She glanced ata mirror which filled the space between two windows, and said, ‘“‘Iam a pretty good imitation of an invalid, am I not?” ‘“Take care you do not become a real inya)id.” Something new, unusual in his tone and in the deep tender- ness which shone in his face, made Lillian look up, and then and there she read the story he longed to tell. A deep rich flush suffused her face. *‘Tiillian,” said Sidney, ‘‘I am afraid to ask the question which will bring about such resultsto me. ,Happiness and joy, or desolation and misery. You know I love you, but you do not know that I have loved you ever since the first time I saw you so Many years ago.” She cast the long black lashes down on her cheeks, her lips trembled but no sonnd came from them. ‘Nettie warned me to be careful; she said you were u ‘shy bird,’ Lilly, can I hope to win you; tell me, darling?” The beautifnl white hand toyed nervously with the ribbons and lace on her dress, then was timidly, gently extended and eagerly grasped in the warm clasp of her lover's hand. ‘¢ Mine!” murmured Sidney, as he drew the dark queenly head on his breast. Sidney Van Stretten’s wooing progressed rapidly, and he was one of the happiest men alive until he learned that Mr. Decker bore a strong resemblance io his sister’s husband, and also to the late husband of his beloved Lillian. Furthermore, it was also remarkable that Gregory Hamlin had acted as servant to all three! Disturbed by the most perplexing thoughts, Sidney said: “«T must see this Mr. Decker to-morrow.” When he tried to carry out his resolution, he found that it was too late. Mr. Decker had started for New York in: snswer to a telegram from Gregory Hamlin, T have “You look like an in- comicbooks.com