Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 52 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

8 _ . —_— — and she began inquiring with great interest about his friends and relations be had left at home. Spikes was not a little flattered by what he deemed this decided preference, upon the part of the lady, of him over the military offi- cer that had been endeavoring so hard to enter- tain her. He gave her credit for penetration enough to detect real merit, when she encoun- tered it. While thus occupied, Adrienne felt some one aul ey drawing a portfolio from her lap. Hast- ily robs her head, she saw Lieutenant Put- nam’s hand upon it, while his face and tongue asked the question: ‘* May I examine the sketches?” She nodded in the affirmative, and actuall winked to him. It was a habit she had wit her schoolmates, when contemplating some mis- chief, and she did it unconsciously to the young officer at her side, a thing she never would have ees of doing, had she taken the time to think. However, it did the lieutenant an immense deal of good, and entirely dissipated the slight twinges of jealousy that he began to feel. So he busied himself in examining the sketches, all of which were interesting, and some ing from their delicate beauty and skillful execu- tion. The fair artist had probably given her per mission for this examination, without reflecting upon what was in there. e young offcer, as he turned over the different sheets, came upon a number of suspiciously shaped notes, and cards; but as a matter of course, these were not glanced at ee ay ane him to see the super- scription. He felt that he had no business to know any thing regarding these, and he found all the enjoyment he could desire in admiring the sketches. He did not listen to and cared no- thing for the conversation at his side. Jabez Spikes was the picture of blissful con- tent. His long ‘‘stove-pipe” was shoved back from his forehead, his yellowish coat buttoned to his chin, one of his legs thrown carelessly over the other, with his fingers resting upon his knee, the — turned outward, and the other arm reached around inst the railing, so as partly to encircle the form of Adrienne McHavens, who, leaning slightly forward, conversed with him in her most animated manner. “Tm traveling i for my health,” re- marked Jabez, in the lofty manner of a million- aire referring to his stock operations. ‘I in- tended to make this tower some years ago, but it was long—a tremendously long time before I could arrange my business, so as to permit my absence,” * { suppose you are overwhelmed with busi- ness. uti r! I should think I was; I am almost drowned with it. You see, I own a line of steamboats running between Hartford and Bs gt pose the line?” interrupted ow many com the line?” interru his listener. J “ ‘*Seventeen—all magnificent first-class steam- ers. They have all crossed the ocean and are ae tik * Then I had a couple of cotton- mills in Rhode Island that had to be looked after, besides my farm at home, and the bank of which I am resident, and also—” “That will do—it really bewilders me to hear of so much business. y did you not bring your wife along?” ‘“ Wife!” fairly shouted Jabez; ‘did you think Iam ma ?” “ Certainly ; are you not?’ you are of age, “Oh! yes; bat I could find no girl at hum that suited me. I think Ill have to hunt upa wife on the broad peraries.” As Spikes uttered this, he smiled and looked sideways in a very lo and expressive man- ner at Adrienne, who, while understanding the meaning of this, did not permit him to see that she —s was: ae ; J “*T su pose, en, you have taken a fancy ; rs of th the wee te 6 forest ’?’ ‘What do you mean by that? These Indian squaws?”’ ** Certainly.” “Thunderation!—excuse me 1—gingeration, I mean; I am more part “ icular in my tastes. ** But did you leave no one behind, who sighs for your co ?—who will be heart-broken if vet Well, a” wlied b smiling hugel . es,” rep — and stroking his chin, ‘‘ but then, you Comet ee n goes age oe ) ou have n circumspec our behavior ee them.” . “4 “That is what I always endeavor—yes, en- deavor—to the utmost to be; but then, if a lady will fall in love with me, how am I to blame?— Beadle’s Half-Dime Library. that’s what I'd like to know, and how am I to prevent it, also?” ‘* You can hardly be expected to answer for your attractions.” “ t, in many cases,” continued Jabez, ‘that it is partly or mostly my wealth that at- tracts these young ladies.” ‘“‘Undoubtedly; you should have concealed our riches from me; then, you see, 1 would ve nothing but simply yourself to admire.” ‘** Well,” said Spikes, with another of his side- long glances and smiles, ‘‘ I told you, because I knew you had such noble qualities of mind that riches could have no effect upon you.” And thus they oicrareedt abez growing more pointed in his compliments; Adrienne par- rying them with the skill natural to a handsome and well-trained lady. The Yankee was certain- ly smitten, and he edged up so close to her that e was compelled to edge closer to Lieutenant Putnam, who did not seem in the least displeased at this state of affairs. The afternoon wore rapidly away, and Jabez Spikes became more ardent in his expressions until there was really reason to fear that he in- tended to pro Adrienne parried his ap- roaches, until, to avert the catastrophe, she ed to the lieutenant and drew him into the conversation. This checkmated the loving Yankee, as the interposition of a third party is pretty certain to do at any time. By this time it was growing dark, and care- fully replacing the sketches in her portfolio, the officer returned it to the fair young artist, thank- ing her for the pleasure she had thus been the means of giving him. Shortly after, a bell was heard ringing below, which Adrienne explained was the signal for re gg The three descended from the upper deck, Jabez finding when he turned to escort moe gies that the lieutenant had antici- pa , The little steamer, upon which our friends were journeying, had been constructed p ly for the business upon which it was now en- . While quite small, it resembled, in many respects, the ordinary river-steamers of the North. It was quite narrow, with a stern- wheel, as we have scarf stated, an upper deck, surmounted by the pilot-house, where the captain or one of his men was continually stand. ing at the wheel. This deck was inclosed by a ing, which served as a support to the seats that ran around it. Below was a small saloon, in which a table was found spread by our friends, as they descended from above. The cook was a negro, who had served in that ca city em a issippi steamer, and well under- The captain joined them at the table, and they spent a half-hour very pleasantly. Lieu- tenant Putnam counted, with no little delight, ) Ber spending several hours upon deck, or in e small saloon, in converse with Adrienne. So did Spikes, none the less confidently. Great, therefore, was the disappointment of each, when she excused herself, and withdrew to her own apartment, announcing that she would meet them at the breakfast-table in the morning. ‘‘Ginger! I didn’t expect. that,” exclaimed Jabez, as she vanished from view. ‘‘No; it is quite a disappointment to both,” remarked Lieutenant Putnam. , ” replied the Yankee, in his lofty man- ner, as he recalled the interest Adrienne had manifested in him, “I am quite pleased with her, and from what you saw yourself, you will admit—yes, unkesitatingly admit—that it is mutual.” “ It looks very much that way,” returned the lieutenant; ‘‘ oye es nee all designs upon Mary Ann Stiggens ‘““Mary Ann Stiggens to thunder!” was the exclamation of Jabez; ‘she ain’t a circumstance to Ady.” ‘* Whom do you mean by Ady ?” ‘* Why she; you don’t suppose I call her Miss McHavens, like you? No; we are toointimate for that.” ** What does she call you ?” ‘* Jabe, of course.” “You are progressing quite rapidly in your acquaintance. abez Spikes looked loftier than ever, as he stroked his yellow goatee, and made reply: ‘*T suppose, lieutenant, you have of such a thing as electric affinity—I advise you to read up on that; then you will understand the case—yes, understand it thoroughly.” Jabez was evidently ws de y imbued with the idea that Adrienne McHavens was h lessly in love with him; and now he concl that, if he could only capture the white buffalo, and take this beautiful } eye lady home with him as his wife, then indeed would his triumph over Mary Ann Stiggens and the bar-tender, and all those who had ridiculed him, be perfect. That was now his scheme, ‘‘revised and cor- rected up to date.” | Lieutenant Putnam chatted with his friend some minutes longer, and then went to the upper deck and to the pilot-house, where Ca tain Bennett was standing at the wheel. The sky was clear, with a gibbous moon, so that both sides of the river could be dimly discovered. As the captain had been far above this point on several occasions before, and recognized the way, he kept running the entire night. When he needed sleep, he took it in the day- time, when it was safe to intrust the helm to an assistant. As there was little for the other hands to do except to attend to the engine, they Ke -_ to meee each ound at me: e young officer step upon the upper deck, the pr mg So fresh and cool against hi face, and, somehow or other, there came with it a feeling of oppression—something like a pre- sentiment that some evil was impending. He had intended to hold converse with the captain, for a while, at least; but the o gt feeling was so strong, that he turned his back upon him, and paced back and forth, where he could be alone with his own meditations. There seemed to be an incubus weighing him down, for which he could not account. Indeed there was —. reason to feel in exuberan spirits. He had made the acquaintance of the most charming yo lady he had ever met, and hope told the flattering tale that she was not leased with him. And he had her promise that these sunshiny hours should be repeated in the morning, and he should enjoy the bliss of her sweet presence again. ‘Then why do I feel this way?’ he asked — with a great sigh, as he paced back and orth. He had become accustomed to the wild grand- eur of the solitude through which they were a so that he could stand sentinel hrough the entire night without going into a poetic frenzy. But there was a different feeling that had now come over him. He was sad, and appre- hensive that some great calamity was close at hand. What its particular character was, he could not say, but the parting words of Waufy still linge in his ears, and he wondered whether they were not the cause. ‘* At any rate, I am sorry she is on board,” muttered the lieutenant; ‘‘ her society is Para- dise for me, but it was a sad mistake in her coming.” The young officer paced the deck a few min- utes longer, when the head of Jabez Spikes slow- ly rose into view. - **Don’t be so down in the mouth, leftenant,” he called out, as soon as he saw him; “I am — you take it so to heart; but, ginger! I can’t help it, if she falls in love with me!” CHAPTER VIII. ON SHORE. THERE is nothing like vigorous health and the golden sunshine to dissipate the gloom from our irits. When, on the following morning, after ane had . en of her breakfast in her room, she e her appearance on the u deck, as rosy and beautiful as the earliest oe flower, Lieutenant Putnam forgot all his acta of the preceding night, in the joy of seeing her e was certain he had never encountered so beautiful a lady as she was, and he could only regret that they had not several thousand miles before them, before completing their journey. Spikes knew nothing of her appearance on deck, so he remained below in the engine-room studying the working of the machinery, and wondering whether he was not as competent to take charge as was the engineer. So our hero and heroine were left to themselves for some time. The air was crisp and cool, but not enough so to be unpleasant, and they paced back and forth on the deck, side by side, admiring the scenery along “he banks, and dis a thousand and one matters, such as 4 them- selves to two yo is WhO are mutually pleased at being wn into each other’s so- ciety. e — bank was covered with forest, that stretched away almost in a dead level; on the left was both wood and prairie, while far in the distance the faint outlines of a mass of moun- tains could be seen, their peaks appearing almost com ? chooks: com