Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 170 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

a Stl ttt tame | a mt eee tt —— » - a a ee ee =e ee eC i ee ee =~ clergyman. “And whet «cause have you for | interrupting this solemneeremony ?” “He is a villain,and an enemy of mine!” ejaculated the bridegroom. ‘ He has come here to disturb us,.and should be ejected from the 100m. At this hint two or three of the young men present stepped forward, as if for the purpose of carrying out the.suggestion. But the youth- ful mtruder stood erect and unmoved, fixing upon them an eye which acted as a check upon their belligerent intentions. There was a self- possession and dignity in his attitude and ex- prance which brought them involuntarily to a t. ‘‘T come not asa foe of the bridegroom, but as a friend of the’bride,” he responded. ‘‘I am not willing that she-should be sacrificed.” “Sacrificed?” cried Clara Moreland, with a look of eager inquiry toward the speaker. ‘* Again, what means this interruption?’ de- manded the gravecclergyman. “ No light cause will justify this intrusion.” ‘lt means—” began the’young man. “It means that you are a liar, and a base- born heund!” hissed the bridegroom, again springing forward. ‘‘Help me, gentlemen. t us fling the dog from the room, and teach him that he cannot play his shabby tricks upon such as ms.” His friends stepped forward in ready support. But Wildfire moved not, and hardly changed a muscle of his faee. His lips only became more firmly set, and there was a dangerous glitter in his steel-blue eye. “Hold!” cried the clergyman, earnesily. ‘* No violence, I ‘beseech you. Let the gentle- man zi? But there was a quicker and more effeetive interruption. For Clara Moreland had darted forward with the ‘flight of a bird, and :placed herself between the antagonists. Her eyes were flashing and her cheeks burning, as she faced the four men who were advancing on one. ‘‘ Back!” she exclaimed, with an imperious wave of the hand. ‘It is dastardly for four men to attack one. Mr. Wildfire must and shall speak. If he has reasons why this mar- iage should not be proceeded with, who would Ber to hinder him from giving them?’ “Thanks, Miss Moreland,” said Will, with a smile of gratitude. ‘‘ And as for you, gentle- men, you will do well to resume your places. I have come throngh too much in order to reach here to-night te be so easily silenced. I have ridden through ‘fifteen miles of this howling storm, and have escaped an ambush of cut- threats of whose pu Mr. Wetherly may give us some information.” “Tf” cried the groom, fiercely, though with a “Yes. You pans reasons to try to keep me from arriving here to-night. If it will be any satisfaction to you, 1 can inform you that our of villains have killed one man, but ortunately the wreng one. I am here safe to rescue this poor girl from your hands.” ‘« Liar and villain!’ shouted the groom, furi- ously. ‘““You shall answer dearly for this.” “When and where you please,” was the cool reply. ‘And with what weapons you prefer. But just now—” ‘Oh! what is this dreadful charge?” exclaim- ed the bride, in a tone thrilling with distress, while her pallid face and outstretched hands were full of pitiable anxiety and dread. “Oh! do cease this terrible quarrel! It is too shock- ing. I cannot bear it.” ‘Let the gentleman ,”’ demanded the clergyman, in solemn tones. ‘‘Again and for the last time I ask, what charge does he bring?” ‘‘Simply, that the lady is deceived,” Will uietly ogee ‘The gentleman here is not Robert Wetherly; but an impostor who has as- sumed his name.” The confusion became tenfold hightened at this startling announcement. Cries of alarm and astonishment from the ladies were followed by the fainting of the bride. A hasty stir filled the whole room with excitement. “Base liar!” vociferated the bridegroom, clenching his fists, though the look of fury on his face was immediately replaced by an ex- ression of triumph. ‘‘ You have come far to ar us a pitiable lie. I defy you to prove your assertion. At this moment the door of the room quietly opened, and another person entered, unseen and unheard by those present in their overruling ex- citement. ‘Has Miss Darling recovered yet?” asked Will anxiously. = “Yes,” replied’ one of the ladies. ‘‘ She did got qiits Icse her senses.” : a 2 ee . « A Trump Card. ee ae ee“ oe eee ee eee “I would say then that Robert Wetherly, the wealthy proprietor of Brookdale, has been for ten years past in Europe, where he still resides, aad that this person, sent here as his agent, has assumed his name, through the aid of a distant resemblance, and Las claimed to possess the property of wluch he simply has charge.” ‘That is easily said,” returned the clergy- man. ‘ But such a charge needs proof.” ‘“‘T only learned the facts a few days ago,” | rejoined Will. “I hawe here a telegram, re- ceived this evening trom Geneva, from Robert - W etherly himself, which will substantiate all J have said.” . He stepped forward, and presented the oper dispatch to the cle: an. ‘It scarcely needs all this explanation,” te- marked the groom, in a tone of triumph. am not aware of baving made any claim of being the owner of Brookdale. Yet my name is Robert Wetherly, and I am the cousin of the great sig (57 that you have raised. I ap- peal to Miss Darling if I have made any other claims.” ** No, no,” came the reply, in scarcely audible tones. ‘* Then this terriblecharge falls to the ground,” he triumphantly responded, stepping aah and again taking the bride’s hand. ‘‘ You wi please proceed with the ceremony.” Will Wildfire stood for a moment abashed. He then hurriedly spoke. ‘This is a highly improbable story. Let him prove his assertion.” ‘*I can readily do that,” and the bridegroom fixed his eye mockingly upon his accuser. ‘I have letters bere from Robert Wetherly of Geneva, addressed to myself, Robert Wetherly at Brookdale, which may be pleasant reading for any doubting Thomas. Will you examine them, sir?’ He drew a handful of letters from his ae and ed them to the clergyman, who hastily is eye over the contents of one or two of them. ‘It seems to be as the gentleman declanes,” he announced, ‘‘I have no doubt that he hasa just right to the name he bears, ‘Shall we proceed with the ceremony?” * Yes, pes from the impatient groom. ** Let the lady speak. Shail we proceed?” ‘* Yes,” came in faint response from the pallid lips of the trembling bride. Will Wildfire stood biting his lips in baffled anger. He had played his card and lost. He looked significantly at Clara, but she shook her head doubtingly.as she resumed her place be- side the bride. ‘*If there is any one who knows just cause why this man should not take this woman to. wife, let him now speak or forever hold his peace,” came again in the deep, solemn tones of the clergyman. Another short pause. All listened in breath- less suspense. It was half expected that Will Wildfire would speak again. And a response indeed came, but it was not in the deep-chested tones of the former speaker. In a husky but firm voice came the reply: : “T forbid this marriage; and for just cause.” ‘ith indignation not unmixed with terror all eyes looked around, There stood a man of much the same figure as the groom, but with bent shoulders, painfully scarred face, and dressed in the most careless and unattractive fashion. With a start of astonishment Will recognized him as his fellow traveler of the Golden Lion, whom he fancied he had left dead in the snow at the scene of the ambush. He could not sup- press a hasty ejaculation of surprise. ‘I am alive you see,” responded the stranger, with an odd smile, ‘‘ though you did not stop to find out.” ‘It was not safe to stop,” Will coolly re- joined. ‘And I had more important business in view,” ‘Please state your reasons for this interru tion,” queried the impatient clergyman. ‘“ It is shameful to distress this poor lady so, without better cause.” “My reasons are,” quietly replied the stran- ger, ‘that the gentleman has heen deceived. is lady is not the heiress of the Linden es- tate.” ** Not the heiress?’ cried Clara Moreland, an- grily. ‘‘ Who is the then, pray?’ An Sep reesion of utter surprise passed over the pallid face of the bride. The plot was in- deed thickening. ~ As for Robert Wetherly he started, and look- ed with eager attention toward the speaker. ‘What do you mean?” he demanded. **T can substantiate all I have said ” wes the | | sister of the heiress of “7. ’ & sass eee ee | oe — ee —-—-—™ ee eee qaiceé reply. ‘“‘I am so for this poor aay, uand oe not have interfered only to prevent her being married under a false impression.” “Who is she?’ asked Clara. ‘‘ 1t seems that tthis is to be a night of revelations.” -*“Jt will be. The revelations are not all «axled yet,” spoke the stranger, with a peculiar ©x ion. ‘‘ This lady is really the younger den. 1 will not —_ ble you.all now with the strange story of h the mistake in the heirship of these sisters canr to be made, but I have the proofs here for tite perusal of this reverend gentleman.” All remained in anxious nse while hr stepped forward and presented a folded paper to the astonished clergyman, who quickly oper- ed and cast his eyes over its contents, : Meanwhile the pale and shrinking bride hat been led to a chair, and was surrounded by*®. close bevy of her sympathetic friends. As i Robert Wetherly he stood apart, a sullen, nae rose look upon his face, his foot impatientiy tapping the floor. ct dhe he aged face of the clergyman manifested’e variety of emotions as he continued to read. perplexity, surprise, and sympathy succeeding each other upon his countenance. “Itis a arin, story,” he remarked, on fim ishing the per of the long document. ‘* Bits I fear itis true. The statement here seems pre cise, and wellattested. Shall I read the - ‘‘ Please give us its contents,” demanded Clam Moreland, mea ary “It seems, then, that Miss Darling has ap older sister, unknown to herself. A wit, “was taken to be brought up by a relative of the» family residing in land. This sister inm been long reported dead, from some purposed the family possessing her. But the news ef @m heirship of the Linden estate has brought fori: an attestation of her continued existence. Am the estate was left by will to the eldest i ter of John Darling, without name men it follows that it is the property of this new claimant, on full proof of ber claim to the naz ot Mary Darling. “T have lost my Property, but I have gains a sister,” murmure a with an expression: of mingled emotions. ‘“ ve often heard af this sister, and mourned her as dead.” “But I do not peroeive that there is ser false pretense here,” remarked the clergymen “These persons have just claims to the nam they bear. They have both lost the prepargy which it was supposed they . Ise no reason why the marriage should not gx ceed, if they desire it. Luey Darling, will stil] take this man for your wedded hus He paused a minute for a reply, but now came from the pale lips of the half-fainting ».- man. ‘Robert Wetherly, will you still take Mir woman for your wedded wife?” He again paused, while the eyes of the trite fixed themselves morosely on the. ace of the girl to whom he had given his p ed love. “No,” he at length replied. ‘It seems-we have both been deceived. I will not suffer ter to become the victim of any involuntary deegr- tion in regard to my property. I free her fumm as troth plight to me.” , e turned and walked toward the: door, 2 lowed by looks of disgust and indignation atti. baseness. Ere he reached the door, howewm, his pas ¢° was barred by Will Wildfire. | ~ You ave yet to answer to me,” said the kt- ter, sternly. weapon,” “ And prsS pi I refuse to fight with yos* came thecool reply. “Then I will brand you asa coward,.a ‘ia and a villain,” Will sternly rejoined. ‘‘ Neither of which Iam, and all of whic& I throw back in your teeth. Make ita week fixe to-day, at eight in the morning, on the Beam cliffe meadows, and pistols,” came the Jotw cm swer. Will bowed and stepped back at the clos» «f this low-toned colloquy, none of which bad teem heard by the women present. Wetherly continued his movement towwgd the door, but ere he reached it he was agim halted by a touch upon the arm. ke tuned? haughtily to perceive the plainly-dressed stow ger who was guietly regarding him. PS sir, what do you want?” he haugifiirr “A word in your ear, only,” and the stranga whispered for a moment. r d With aviolent start, and a sucdenty . face, Wetherly turned and hastily left the leaving all behind surprised at. his ino change of conntenance, ‘‘Name your time, place ant ¢ ; ~~ -comicboo