Captain Joe; or, The Days of the Mint — page 3: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

b-fore ker silent and bareheaded, she turned ghastly pale; her white lips quivering with emotion, and she stood glaring at him, with her hands clenching the back of a chair m horvor-stricken wonder. * Madam,” said Hasper, “calm yourself. You expected me, surely, after my letter ?” “Yes, yes,’ replied Mra, Marlow, in a gasping voice; but not so sudden, and— arid—not so unchanged. So like him years nga!” am she sank into a chair. ‘‘Mrs. Marlow,” he said, taking a seat, ‘calm yourself. Lrepeat, I do not come as an enemy, bub as @ friend. I eame, how- ever, to do more than you think—to make your son’s fortune in spite of all, so that some day he can hold up his head among all and say, ‘lam my father’s son!’” * And what a father if what they believed were true,’ said Mrs. Marlow. ‘ How can you make his fortune, Gideon, you who have nothing P” A cruel smile overspread the lips of the man as he answered, turning to Dick— “Dick, listen to me, and you will know your own story. It is time now that you shonld.”’ Mrs. Marlow sprang forward and threw herself on her knees at the feet of the higowayman. “Oh! no, no, Gideon,” she cried, “do not tell him—do net tell him! cr the rale of old times let all be forgotten in the grave.” “Madam,” said Hasper, “Iam resolved that be shall know all, and I may as weil tell him now as ab another time. “* Dick, I will begin by saying that your mother and [ were once lovers, “Your father and I were twin brothers, and both loved the same woman. “Bat, oh! how different were our chances. “Our mother, had loved, ‘not wisely, put too well,’ and it was only when it was found that every hour she expected to be a mother that the marriage of our father to her was permitted. “JT was born before the clergymanarrived, my brother after the service had been hurried over, so that I, the elder brother, was illegitimate, and he, the younger, was heir to name, title, and fortune. “We were exactly alike in form and features; but to cover the disgrace I was at once hurried away, placed in the hands of a foster-mother, and refused even & mother’s blessing. “So it went on, through a long, long story, which it is unnecessary to tell now, for the cares, and sorrows, and joys (if they were any) are all buried in the graves of the past. “‘ But the time came when we loved. ‘“ We had the same eyes, the same hearts, he same blood, and we loved the same woman— your mother. ; “T was poor—a gamekeeper’s sapposed son. He was rich, the young heir to a fortune, and she married him, although she loved ime. “From that hour I vowed revenge. “T left home, went on the high-road, aud urposely spread abroad the report that Ford Eustace was a robber.” He then told briefly the scene described in the prologue. “T was there watching, and, although I had planned it all—planned his ruin—I could not see him fall by the sword of young Clinton without seeking to avenge aim. “T left the house, and waited on the heath the coming of the slayer of my brother. ' keep him, if possible, frorn being as he was,’ “My wonderful likeness to him appalled him, and unnerved his arm, and in a few moments he had received his death-blow. * And now, after all these years, I am come back to avenge myself and him too. ** Since that terrible night on the heath T have suffered fearful wrongs at the hands of others, and I am here to punish my enemies; but the son of my brother shall live to regain his fortune, and walk again where he walked.” As Gideon Hasper uttered’ these words Mrs. Marlow had kept her eyes fixed upon his face, and she saw there what Dick could not see, “Oh! Gideon,” she said, “I fear you, I fear I know not what. Leave my boy, come, I entreat. Do not talk of him and vengeance in the same breath. I have scenes of horror enough floating before my brain now—memories of the terrible and irredeemable past; but let me have nothing more to dread in the future.” ‘Well, then, madam,” said Gideon, calmly and sternly, *‘ we will let him decide. Dick, listen to my words, and then choose between her and me.” Mrs. Marlow clasped her hands, and glanced with feverish anxiety at him. But Dick now was earerly awaiting the words of the highwayman—his own uncle— and throwing himself down on a stool between him and his mother, he listened with upturned face. * CHAPTER XY. e@ A TERRIBLE CATASTROPHE, “THe will surely choose to remain with me,” said. Mrs. Marlow, eagerly, as she glanced into the face of the daring highwayman; bub yet, though the words were bold enough, her voice and manner belied them, Gideon Hasper lauched. “Well, well!” he said, “he may prefer remaining with you, and if he does, why let it be so; but I faney be will not. Of what use is his name to him nowP When Lord Eustace, your husband, was proved to be the head of a gang of daring robbers, his estates, such as they were, sere then forfeited to the Crown. He is poor, un- educated, a curpenter’s apprentice; and you, how can you help him?” ‘No, truly; but I can help him to be honesti—to be true to himself, to forget the past which yon have summoned up, and 4 ? replied Mrs. Marlow. “Yes, yes,’ said Gideon Hasper, im- patiently ; ‘‘ but you reason like a weak, silly woman. Years ago you and I were lovers; we thought the world was all made for us—ah! do notdeny it. You loved me then; and I have lived to have my revenge. I do not require a further one; bntI like the lad. [ know how to give him fortune and bappiness, and I offer him wealth and distinctiou, while you offer poverty and wretcheduess. He has begun his career well—do not stop him.” Mrs. Marlow stood aghast, clenching her hands excitrdly, “Oh, Dick, deny this,” she cried. “ Do not let this man tell me to. my face that you are a thief. Tell me, dear child, that as yet —” ““Nay, mother,” replied Disk, whose proud and rebellious nature was already surging up and beating back the love for mother and Home, ‘‘do not ask me to say what is untrue. I have been on the bhigh- way, else had 1 not been the happy triend of the beaufeons lady we meb to-day. Yes, IT have taken Mr. Gideon Hasoer as my THE HALFPENNY STANDARD. 51 teacher, and shall, I trust, be well rewarded for so doiug.” The wretched woman rushed across and elung to, Hasper’s knees. “Ah, Gideon!” she cried, “ be merciful. This wretched boy does not understand you. I know well that thisis but part and parcel of your revenge, Oh, forgive and forget, Gideon! Leave him to me, if nothing else, and let the wretched past be forgotten.” “And yet you proclaimed his name pub- licly in St. Bartholemew’s Fields to-day,” said Hasper,. “to one who knew you ‘well. Time flies. I have had enongh of this folly. For old times’ sake I give you this purse of gold, but remember [ live but for vengeance. My purpose will be best achieved by the co-operation of your son, and if he chooses to remain with me his fortune is made; if not, why what can he expect but ruin and disaster? It is of no use denying the fact that he has lost the confidence of Simon Sawdust, and, before many ‘hours are over, will stand convicted before him of belonging to our band. Be advised, then, in time, and do not strive to resist fate.” Mrs. Marlow was now sobbing violently. Her heart, in fact, was bursting with @ strange emotion, and feeling the utter use- lessness of endeavouring to turn Gideon Hasper from his purpose, she turned to Dick, still kneeling. * Dick—Dick—my son!” she cried, rais- ing ber streaming cyes to his face, *‘ do not go with this man. Ile is your enemy, be- lieve it. Once I loved him; but I knew not then his dark and fiery spirit. He will lead you on to utter ruin; he will crush’ you; he will be your curse and bane through hfe. Oh! Dick, quit your master, return to my liome, and be poor, but go not with him—not with him.” Dick’s face was very pale; but Gideon Hazsper conld see in his restless eyes and the quiver of his lips the signs of indecision “Time flies,” he said; “ Marlow, you must decide quickly, Remain here in beg- gary und misery you will not, because the Bow Street runners will provide you with other lodgings; but I must know at once. If you deside to remain here in misery and dread, come und remove the dress and em- blems of our band, and resume the badge and livery of serfdom. We want no faint hearts or half minds with ua.” Dick Marlow’s colour came and went, and Gideon saw he was triumphant. He clapped him in a genial manner on the shoulder. “Come, come,” he cried, “ no more folly, no more chickeu-heartedness. Think of the pretty lady of the heath, who only awaits your coming to give herself and fortune to you. Think of the gold you can call your own, the nights of jollity, the scenes of joy. Come, Dick, say good-bye to your mother. She is excited now, but will welcome you gladly again. €ome, the time grows short.” * Dick’s mind was now made up. He saw before him, on one side, only poverty, wretchedness, humiliation. On the other, freedom, reckless enjoy- ment, the glorious: life of a freebooter, with the smiles of fair girls and the envy of men. He stooped down and raised ‘his mother to her chair, “Mother,” he said, “I am sure you are wrong. This man is my friend, I believe itis so. I trast him, and, at any rate, to- night I must be with him.” “No, no, my son!” cried Mrs. Marlow gliding down trom her chair, and clasping his knees; “no, no! If you go this nivit it will be too late—too late to retract. This Comicoooks.com