Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 48 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

——— —— Dick a -_ Darling. —- —--——— - oe ee | — ee ee — -— Se ee as Dick laughed. THE NEW YORK es ag toy tterer | hee We sore each piber, at is the main {point. for the rest, I must | ° _ e et out of this place quickly, or you can not fol- | Firesiae Library. ow me, unless Padre Junipero will marry us.” | a oe — ———$ —— — me ee ee = breed” had driven them from the cities, where people would not associate on terms of Siow with the half-Indian daughters of a French hun- ter. Stung by these taunts, the girls had fled to the Echipeta lodges, to find themselves queens of all around. nay — or — What wonder that they found the contrast a pleasant one, and countervailing all the loss of luxuries, in the vigorous health and rude happiness of the desert. White Thunder’s sudden revelation, and the stern, menacing look of his face, awakened both of these wild, giddy, thoughtless, but by no means bad girls, to a sense of their position, and their eyes fell in shame before the face of the man that they suddenly recognized to be their master. Levrette and Chevrette fell on their knees and embraced those of the stern young chief, who looked down on them like a bronze statue of Justice. “Oh,“my lord and husband,” cried the for- mer, excitedly, ‘‘ had you but told us you knew of the great world, we should have adored you entirely. Fear not. All the white men in the pe ast are nothing to my brave chief and usband.” CHAPTER XXII. STRANGE WOOING. THERE was no mistaking the earnestness of Levrette. The magnificent girl, gifted with a assionate nature, was obviously sincere in her ove and devotion. As White Thunder looked down on her, his countenance softened, and Levrette, whose eyes were fixed on his; saw the look, and instantly sprung up and hung on the chief’s neck, whis- ring: ‘* Indeed, I love thee, my hero chief.” Chevrette seemed then, for the first time, to feel that something was wrong, as she gazed on her sister in the arms of the chief, and noticed that neither of them seemed to think of her. Then flashed on her mind the memory of that law of Christianity, which she had heard asa child, and had almost forgotten among the poly- gamous Indians. White Thunder hac 6 his choice, and it was not she. Nominally his wife Levrette was his real love, and she saw it an trembled with jealousy. Then suddenly a thought came to her mind— the thought of Dick Darling. If Levrette loved White Thunder, she could love Dick, and at that thought she suddenly turned and fled noiselessly away toward the args leaving White Thunder and Levrette to talk in low loving tones, while the chief told her his secret vow, never to claim the rights of an Indian husband till he should find which of the girls really loved him; for White Thunder, in his silent, self-contained way, had imbibed a num- ber of civilized notions, and among others, the strange idea of love, in a sense entirely un-In- dian. Chevrette ‘fled away down the corridor, silent as a ghost, and guided by her old Montreal ex- perience, made her way to the Infirmary. Softly cpeniag the low door, she heard the sound of voices in earnest conversation, and held the object of her search, Dick Darling, look- ing — pale and thin, but, if yee hand- somer than ever. His face had been shaved at last, his long, curling hair was in gocd order, and flowed down over a long, black coat, one of Padre Junipefo’s cassocks, in fact, which sat awkwardly on his frame, but the only garment procurable, the nuns having burnt u is blood- stained uniform when they cut it off him, as he lay, to all appearance, dying. But what caused Chevrette the greatest sur- prise was, that the young man had a female companion. . A young girl, in the white flannel robes of a novice, buf with her rich hair failing over her shoulders in profusion, the disfiguring hood being removed, was lying in Dick’s arms, and the young man was murmuring soft, endearing Spanish words to her. — “ Mi querida Pachita! A’ Never shall you replace that hideousthood again, while Ricardo is here to protect Bb Let who will come. Padre Junipero shall m us, and we will be happy. Your brother will relent when he finds that we are safe married, and I shall rise high yet, in our Golden State. Do you not believe it?” < ‘* Mi Ricardo, I believe you can do any thing,” said the soft voice of La Chiquita, fondly, as she raised her lips to meet his. “ My riches—I never prized them till now—but they will en- able you to follow a career worthy of your blood and education, querido; and I shall be proud of you when you sit in Congress and make great speeches.’ jel de mi alma | i _ shriek of fury and jealousy. | wax doll better than a sister of warriors, see | 2—Fleeing From Love. ‘‘ That he never shall,” cried Chevrette, sud- denly rushing forward, with a sort of strangled your doll spoiled.” As she spoke she sober 2 Hey out a pistol, aimed at Francesca’s head, and was about to fire, when Dick suddenly rushed between, and inte his own body, while Francesca dropped sense- less on the floor. ‘*Fire here, if you must, Chevrette,” cried the youth, sternly. ‘I never said I loved you. You and your sister plagued me to death, but I never gave you more than civility. Fire away ee you must, but at me, not at this innocent Chevrette had stood glaring at him, her bosom panting and heaving with fury, her frame half- _ crouched, like a tiger ready to spring. A mo- ment later, she rushed round to kill the girl, and pulled the trigger just as he caught her arm. The bullet. rebounded against the wall, and a moment later he was struggling with the frenzied woman for the pistol, which she tried to use on poor Pachita. In the excitement, neither noticed loud shouts outside the convent, but a moment later White Thunder and Levrette dashed into the room. The chief made but one stride to Chevrette’s side, as she was breaking away from*the ex- hausted Darling. He laid his iron grasp on her wrist, and yee ba her to one side of the room, with his other hand on her throat, shaking her as a chief treats his squaw. “Ts White Thunder a coyote, that the Fawn throws dirt on his robe?’ he thundered, in his guttural Blackfoot dialect. ‘‘ Let the squaw re- member that she is the promised wife of a chief, and leave other men alone. I have spoken.” He had indeed, and the impetuous, undisci- ory girl found she had met her fate. Per- aps it suited her wild nature better than an- other, for Indians never take kindly to Christian ractices. Any way, she bowed herself at the eet of White Thunder, and humbly kissed his hand. She had accepted her fate. The angry chief turned to Darling, but before he could speak, there was a clatter of steps on the stone corridor, and loud voices. Dick Dar- ling started round in delight, crying, as he heard one voice that he knew: “Thank God! Safe at last!” ‘Whar is he? Whar’s the old ring-tailed galoot?” bellowed the voice of Jack Hardin. ‘I know’d the squaws didn’t lie when they said he war hidden hyar, and ef I don’t hev him aout in short order, nun or no nun, darn me fura skunk. Hyar he is, by gosh!” And the station-master rushed into the room, followed by a crowd of rough miners, yelling: ‘IT know’d Id find him among the gals, the luxuriant cuss! Why, Dick Darling, you orna- ry, old, long-legged galoot, how are ye?” ‘That night Padre Junipero married Dick Darling to Francesca de Ribera, and Jack Hardin stood by, with Colonel Sam Jones, for witnesses. The confessor received a fee enough to settle the consciences of fifty ministers, Dick left the Pony Route and went to Santa Barbara, quite satisfied that for his wounds he had ob- tained for a wife the most beautiful heiress in California. ' White Thunder and his beautiful wives disap- mars Some day we may see more of them. t day was the last time any of them ever saw Dick DARLING. THE END. The Sunnyside Library. 1 LALLA Rooxn, By Thomas Moore........... 10c. 2 Don Juan. By Lord Byron... .......... ee 96 OUOs 8 Parapise Lost. By John Milton ......... cee« 0G, 4 Tue Lapy or THe Lake. Sir Walter Scott... 10c. 5 Lucite. By Owen Meredith... .............. 10¢ 6 UnpDINE, OR THE WATER-Sprrir. From the German of Friederich De La Motte Fouque... 10c For sale by all newsdealers, or sent, postage paid, on receipt of twelve cents for single numbers, double numbers twenty-four cents. ADAMS, VICTOR & CO., Publishers, 98 William street, N. Y. ‘* You that love a. 1—Was She His Wife? By Mrs. Mary Reed Crowell........3.......10 cents. By Harriet Ir- Vii. Secmnnesr<s.2 Seem LV Conta, 3—Did He Love Her? By Bartley T. Cainfivell.. of avinees so tS 4s 10 cents. 4—A Strange Woman. By lett Win- 3: es a are ar 10 cents. | 5—Nadia, the Russian Spy. By Capt. Fred>Whittaker. . 0.25%. ss.8 10 cents. 6—Two Girls’ Lives. By Mrs. Mary Reed Crowell cages «vx... + 2s evden ve 10 cents. 7-8—Lady Audley’s Secret. Ly Miss M. E. Braddon. ‘lwo Numbers in one. 20c. 9—The War of Hearts. By Corinno COs MmARe sy oes lr nes fou 55% 10 cents. 10—Leighton Grange. [By Miss M. E. Braddon, . < cae. Wet. caves 10 cents. 11-—The False Widow. [By Mrs. Jennie Davis Burton ,......... 10 cents. 12-13—Lost For Love. By Miss M. Eb. Braddon. (Double number).... 20c. 14-15—Toilers of the Sea. By Victor Itugo. Two numbersin one. 20 cents, 16—The Octoroon. By Miss M. E. Brad- @ ORE. 6 IRD. STH BS ale SSR 10 cents. 1'7-18—Uncele Silas. By J. 5. Le Fanu. Two numbers in one........20 cents, 19-20—Dead-Sea Fruit. By Miss M. E. Braddon. Two numbers in one. 20c. 21-22—Little Kate Kirby. By F. W. Robinson. Two numbers in one. 20c. 238—Sowing the Wind. By Mrs. Mary Reed Crowell. .............- 10 cents, 24-25-—Birds of Prey. [By Miss M. E. BY6GGGG tic vnttek eu wks edness 20 cents, 26—That Boy of Norcott’s. By Charles Lever. i+... . «0 it: eee 10 cents. 2'7-28—Charlotte’s Inheritance. By Miss M. E. Braddon......... 20 cents- 29--A Girl’s Heart. By Rett Winwood 10c. 30-31—Red as a Roseis She. By Rhoda ° Broughton. Double number... . .20 ets, 32—The Lily of St. Erne. By Mrs. TOW ie 5s we Oe SEGA 10 cents, 33—Strangely Wed. By Mra. Jennie Davis Burtee..wdh os). Seer 10 cents. 34—The Gipsy Bride. By M. E. 0. i Se eee ee ee 10 cents. 35—Annie Temple. lv Rev. J. H. In- PUGMMER: . 5 vic cgett . \ ae vende 10 cents 36—Without Mercy. By Bartley T. Campbell 5... 25-3. .«cd 0 tinge or 10 cents. 37—Black Eyes and Blue. By Corinne Cushman. .......cceseeeeerceves 10c. 38—Brave Barbara. By Corinne Cush. MANS . Seow ee ove <\ hs ae 10c. 39—A oo, ra Woman. By Mar- garet Biount. .. 26... cece eee ees 10c. Conde: 2eis.::. 41—Lost: A Wife. By Henrietta E. De By Corinne co A ee Oc. 42—Winning Ways. By Margaret | | | a 10 cents. 43—A Woman’s Heart. By Mrs. M. V. fo en ween a Re 10 cents. For sale by all newsdealers, or sent, postage paid, on receipt of twelve cents for single numbers; dou- ble numbers twenty-four cents, by BEADLE AND ADAMS, 98 Wiiiiam Street, New York. GOmichboo ‘Ss (E(e)