The Human Vampire; Or, The Elixir of Life — page 22: what you’re looking at

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Lo Lo THE LOG CABIN LIBRARY. Vol li No. ai. — CHAPTER XIX, DOTY MAKES A REYELATION TO DELIA. Delia O’Brien, who had been dismissed from her position of housekeeper to Mr., or rather, Doctor Morrison, had a friend who was the proprietor of an intelligence office. Delia kept her eyes on the cottage, for she conld not get over her aversion to the woman who had deposed her, nor the master who had dismissed her so unceremoniously. Madge was not one who made friends; her dark, sullen face prejudiced people againsb her, and her manner was far from conciliatory. As she grew older, 'she brooded over her troubles more than even in her youth, and Jabez Lohn realized the truth, namely, that the woman was nearly if not quite insane. Of course Delia O’Brien knew nothing of all this. She only saw in the new housekeeper a proud, sulky English woman, who had secnred an easy place, which Delia wanted to retain, and she vowed vengeance, and meant to have if. She had taken up her quarters at the house of Mr. Callan, the landlord. He it was who had recommended her to the doctor. “Tl stay wid you, Mrs. Collan,” she said, ‘‘till I get a place. Shure we are all ould neighbors from the Oounty Kildare, an’ I’m handy to have around,” Mrs. Collin was a good-hearted countrywoman of Delia, and had no objection to the girl staying at her house until she pro- eured another situation. Delia, took much satisfaction out of passing and repassing the cottage. If uny one was at the door, or in the front room, she made audible comments on the state of the windows, front Stoop, ete. f Soon after the day on which the quarrel between Madge and Doty took place, Delia was going by, as usual, She did not see any of the inmates, so she said nothing, merely contenting her- self by tossing her head, and glancing at the cottage with lofty contempt. At a little distance she came on Doty, who stood beside the railing of » vacant lot, looking melancholy im the extreme. Delia had been good friends with the student until the day she was discharged, when she had included him with the other members of the family in sweeping condemnation. As she saw him she scented the battle from afar, and came sailing along with her guns shotted. Doty disarmed her, however, before she had time to utter a word by adyancing toward her in the most friendly manner, and suying: “Oh, Delia, I was waiting in hopes of seeing you.” ‘“What do you want wid me?’ asked Delia, only half ap- peased. ‘Delia, you were smart enough to sea that there was some- thing wrong about that woman who brought those children to old Morrison’s.” ‘(Tt's true for ye, I was.” “You were right. They got rid of you, and they have been trying hard to get rid of me.” “They have, eh?” ‘< Yes: the woman is cruel to the children, and of conrse I eouldn’t stand seeing them il-used; znd when I interfered they both flew at me and ordered me ont of the honse. I told them pretty much the same thing you did. Isnid, ‘Yon had an ob- ject in getting rid of Delia, and now you are trying to get me out of the house.’” **So ye towld them that?” “T did. Iam not smart, and I dare say I should not have thought of it if I hadn’t heard you say it,” “ Waith, I well believe it,” said Delia, composedly-. “So I want you to keep your eyeon the place, for I believe they have designs on the children.” “* But what are you going to do?” ‘‘Tisten, Delia. I intended to stick it out, and stay in spite of them, but they have commenced to drug me,” Delia’s Jaw dropped, and her healthy Irish face lost its ruddy hue. *‘Ts it pizaning ye they are?” *«Yes; I feel stupid and sleepy all the time, scarcely know what I am abont; and one of the children is ill also. I ean’t stand it, so I shall clear ont; in fact 1am not going back. Now, Delia, I have faith in you to see that nothing happens to those poor little children. You know the landlord; get him to look into the case.” “Shure I don’t know abont him; he is a great man for mind- ing his own business.” “ Woll, I am going to the society for protecting children, and that is all I can do. I’d stay, but it is no use if they drug me. I know those twius are not that woman's children; they came from some sea-side place, and their nurse’s name was Gordon. I have found out that much.” “Well, I'll do me best. You go to the society; they are the best people for this business.” "Yes. Iveheard of them. Now, I must say good-by, Delia. Be sure you don't lose sight of these poor, defenseless chil- dren.” Tears stood in Doty’s large eyes as he shook Delia's hand and hurried away. “ Poor fellow!” cried the good-hearted girl. ‘I always loiked him. She turned back and strolled past the cottage again. When she came in sight of it she saw old Lohn upon the stvop, He was gazing anxiously up and down the street. He had already missed Doty. **Good-evening, Delia,” he said, affably. “Shure is it to me ye are addressing yer insultin’ remarks, ye ould blackguard ?” “ Tnsulting remarks! I merely bade you ‘ good-evening. “ An’ a erent liberty I call it to bade anny dacent girl ‘ good- evening.’ ‘* Surely that is a new code of manners,’ smile. : “Ah, I know manners as well as ye do, housekeeper?” ‘*Mrs. Warren is well.” ‘““Mrs. Warren? ~So that’s her Jadyship’s title? Well, it’s meself was thinkin’ she wor an Injun squaw from the Woild West show.” ‘She is an Englishwoman,” ‘‘Tndade! Well, I wish ye joy of her. How are the two purty children she kidnapped?” «Now, Delia, you are really going too far. children.” ‘So am I her own choild, at the same toime an’ be the self- same tokin.” “Nonsense, Delia, you have no reason to be angry with Mrs. o” ? said Jabez, with a How is yer iligent They are her own Warren. I took her fora housekeeper, because she is an old acquaintance of mine. She was badly treated by her hus- band.” <‘ An’ where is he now?” ‘“ He isin England.” ‘An’ what is she doing out here without him?” ** Don’t I tell you he ill-treats her.” ' ‘Tam glad to hear it. If theré was ever a woman that de- served ill-treatment, it’s herself.” “Why, you must be mad! What his she ever done to you that yon should be so bitter aguinst her?” Delia had been merely talking because she wished to linger around the cottage till she saw the children. Now, her patience gave out, und she said good-evening, and walked off without ceremony. ‘Where is that stupid fool of 2 Doty?” old Lohn asked him- self, anxiously, He had ample time to repeat the questions, for Doty never re- turned, Delia O’Brien lost no time in telling Collan all the suspicions entertained by the student and herself. As she expected, the man made light of them. “Ye must be as crazy as Doty himself. Delia,” he said good- nuturedly, and thought no more of the matter. Delia’s attention was also drawn away for the time by receiy- ing a message from her friend, who kept the intelligence offica, requesting her to call at once. As her friend lived on the west side, she made up her mind to take her satchel with her‘and remain a few duys. “‘Now,’’ she said to Mrs. Collan, “if there is murder done at the cottage, ye needn’t say I didn’t warn ye,” ‘« For shame on ye, to scare a body so,” cried the woman, looking alarmed. With this warning Delia took her departure. She found her friend Mrs. Styles very much disturbed by an order for a complete staff of servants for a house on Bellevue, , place, which had been closed for the season. “The family intended to be away sll summer,” said Mrs, Styles, ‘‘and their servants were all engaged to come to them again in the fall. Now, they are off in every direction; some are at the lakes, some gone East for s vacation, and here, all in a hurry, they sre wanted.” “Then the place would only be temporary?” “Tdo not know. Mrs. Decker keeps a great deal of holp, T guess ifa girl suited she would be kept on even alter the old help came back.” “Ts she a nice lady?" “You ean bet she is. Her father is Hammond, the big rail- comicbooks.com