The Human Vampire; Or, The Elixir of Life — page 7: what you’re looking at

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Vol. 1. No. 31. THE LOG CABIN LIBRARY. eet: like Olifford. ‘Truth is stranger than fiction.’ L should lke to see this man, though I dare say I should feel it very much,” She did not have un opportunity, for Algernon Vivian and his brido left the city the next week. OHAPTER VI. *“YOU MUST LEAVE ME TO MY FATH po Two years of married life rolled over the head of Lilhan Arm- stead, or, rather, Lillian Vivian, thongh many of her friends found it hard to grow accustomod to the latter nome, She was once more in her native State, Georgia, and living in the city of Savannah. Grace Hunter was spending the winter with her old friend, whom she had not met since Lillian’s hasty marriage ot Long Branch, Grace observed, on the evening of hor arrival, that her friend was greatly changed, Tho beautiful brunette fuce no longer wore a smile of contentment, or the happy, joyous expression which had formerly seemed habitual. “T fear she is not in good health,” said Grace to herself, as she lay down upon her pillow. ‘‘I shall not ssy anything,* but to-morrow I shall observe her closely.” The next day the two ladies breakfasted together. “Ts Mr. Vivian absent?’ asked Guace, for she had seen noth- ing of him the night before. i “No,” replied Lillian, her delicate dark brows meeting in a frown. ‘He is not an early riser. JI want you to see some- thing of the city before visitors commence to cull and take up our time, so 1 am going to drive you out to Bonaventura, our beautiful cametory. It is an absolute wondor—the long ave- nues of live onks, such immense old trees, and the Spanish moss which drapes them, so mournful looking; it is just such a place as I should choose to lie in when I am dend,” “Why, Lilly, how seriously you talk! Where are your gay spirits, which always kept all your friends so happy?” Grace had not intended to allude to her friend’s changed looks, but the words slipped from her before she thonght. “Wed with my youth, I suppose,” said Lillian, with a smile and a sigh, “Your youth is not fled. Why, it is but two years since you wore the gayest and happiest belle at the Branch, Have you been there since?” “No. Now, Grace, run and put on your hat, for I rose early on purpose that we might enjoy a long day together. I sup- pose by to-morrow a host of callers will arrive and wbsorb all your time,” Grace obeyed. She saw that Lillian, for some reason, did not wish to talk of the past. “T fear she is not happy,” she said, sadly, for the Southerp girl wus very dear to the little * Quakeress.” Lillian was waiting for her in the hall when she descended the stairs. She was drawing on her long driving gloves. “Are you still such a daring driver?” asked Grace. “Yes, I believe so; but these ponies are quiet.” A little impish-looking black boy sprang up at the back of | the phacton. He was their only attendant, Out in the strong sunshine Grace saw her friend’s face more plainly, and she was simply shocked by the change which had taken place, Dark violet circles surrounded the eyes, the cheeks had lost {heir perfest oval and vich bloom, and the full lips had acquired a hard, set expression. Grace felt her heart sink, even as it had dona the day she first set eyes on Algernon Vivian. She no longer asked herself, ‘‘Is she happy?” Full well she Imew that Lillinan’s face was not the face of a happy or contented wife, . That day Mr. Vivinn appeared at dinner. He seemed all at- tention to the ladies, but Grace observed that his wife scarcely apoke to him, and immediately after dinner he excused himself by pleading a prior engagement and left the house. As the two friends sit chatting over old times, the door-bell rang,*and a moment later Lillian introduced Grace to her brother, Mr. Robert Tatnall, “Where is Vivian, Lilly?” asked Mz, Tatnall. Grace ob- served that his face wore a grave, indeed, a stern look. “T cannot tell,” replied Mrs. Vivian, carelessly. “Well, I shall have to interfere before long Hem! Yes, Miss Hunter, as I was about to say, I have many friends in your city.” Powe felt wounded. She knew Lillian had bestowed a warn- ing glance on her brother, and checked what might have be- come a confidential conversation, “She does not wish me to learn the truo state of the case," I car A proud she said, * but bow can I keep my eyes and ears shut? seo and feel that her husband neglects aud slights her, beuuty lilke Lillian!” he evening pussed quietly, but not happily. Graco realized that the subject of the master of the house must be avoided. Over the party was a feeling of restraint, which wis so oppres- sive that every one felt relieved when ten o'clock struck and Mr. 'Fatnall bade his sister nnd her friend good-night. Lillian made no remark on the subject of her brother’s injn- dicious comments on her husband's conduct, She evidently wished Grace to either remain in the dark, or else ignore the matter, Grace was hurt. Lillian had been a very close ind dear friend for years; they had corresponded during the absence of the Vivians, and soon after they were settled in their South- ern home Grace had been invited to visit them. Now she felt that she was treated like o stranger, ‘Poor Lillinn!” she suid, sadly, ‘She is wretched, and too proud to let her friends know it. Well, I shall make my visit a very short one, for ib cannot make her any happier to have any one here as a witness of her misery,” ‘The first day was a fair sumple of all the others. Vivion neg- lected his wife openly. He spent all his time away from his house, sometimes not entering the doors for days at a time. He was known to be a gambler, and from many sources Grace heard whispers that shocked and grieved her. Why did this proud woman stand such treatment? Surely she could not retain any love for a man who so grossly insulted her. This was a mystery to poor Grace, who deeply re- gtetted that she had ever come to Savannah. One night she sat alone m the parlor. She had not felt well enough to attend a reception which had been given in her honor by the oldest friend of Lilinn’s family in the State. She had, however, insisted on Lillian going, About ten o'clock, just ag Grace was about to go to her own room, the bell rang, and a moment later George Tatnall entered, He was a fine looking man of some forty years. ‘‘T suppose you will think my call a very uneeremonious one, Miss Hunter,” he said, ‘‘but [ was at the reception, and seeing my sister come in nlone I hastened here in order that I might have a few moments’ conversation with you privately, You ara n very denr friend of Lillian, and have, I believe, great influence over her.” ‘‘T love her dearly,” said Grace, in a low tone. Mr. Tatnall’s communication. ‘Tam certain of it, Well, Miss Hunter I am in hopes that you may be able to do something to help my poor sister.” **T am not only willing, but most anxious to do so.” “You aro, T know. We, her two brothers, have tried our ut- most to induce her to leave the villain whom she was so fooliah as to marry, before he has spent every cent of her fortune and broken her heurt.’’ “Tam afraid that I dare not interfere. fided her trouble to me.” ‘ Confided her trouble! Why, it is known to every one in Savannah. He makes no attempt to hide the facts. He is openly unfaithful to her. He has disgraced us until we are ashamed to- show our faces. JI would shoot him like a dog if she did not continue to live with him,” ‘* He is not worth shooting!” cried Grace, hurriedly, for the black eyes of the Georgian flashed fire, ‘Well, the question is, are we to sband by and see our sister insulted and beggared by & man who sprang up like o mush- room.” ‘‘Do you not know his family? with bim?” “T do not speak to him, neither does my brother. enter his house when he is in it, As for his family, no one of us kuowsa soul belonging to him. Lillian los never met one momber of his family, though she was abroad nearly two years. She acknowledges that.” ““Whatis it you wish me to do Mr. Tatnall?” “T wish you to speak seriously to that unhappy girl. ‘Tell her, that in justice to herself, she should leave this man, whose conduct is an open insult to her dignity as a woman. Loayve him before he dissipates every penny of her fortune," Grace felt embarrassod and miserable, She Joved Lillian, aud she knew that Lillian loved her, but the Southern girl had so much dignity tlLatit was an extremely delicate matter to obtrude advice on snch a subject, particularly as Lillian had not shown any inclination to bestow her confidence on her friend. ‘‘T am afraid that such advice offered unsought might only make Lillian angry,” she faltered, blushing deeply, and tremb- ling with agitation. “Tf you fail me, Miss Hunter, I shall make up my mind that my poor sister must husten her fate.” ‘*Oh, believe me, Tam so willing to do anything, She dreaded Lillian has not con- Could you not remonstrate We never Do you comicbooks.com