Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 580 — page 2: what you’re looking at

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

a 2 The Outcast Cadet. telling of joyous revelry and happy hearts ashore, Sleepy Hollow Manor, as the grand old house of the Dabneys was culled, was ablaze with light, for from far and wide there bad come to partake of its hospitality, a goodly throng of guests, invited in bonor of the return home of one of the heirs to the vast fortune of old Judge Dabney, who some two years before had died leaving to a younger generation to enjoy the riches he bad accumulated in a long life of industry, Toere were three heirs to the fortune, and they were cousins to each other, two youths and a young girl. One of these, Richard Dabney was the son, and only child of the judge, and he had entered West Point when fifteen years of age, determined upon a military career, Rodney St. Orme was a nephew of the judge, and an only child of a widowed sister, whom the Seer of Sleepy Hollow Manor had devotedly oved, He was three years the senior of his Cousin Richard, and had been made one-third heir in the fortune of his uncle, with whom also he had resided, being under the guardianship of a pri- vate tutor, Pearl Vavasour was the third heir, and, at the time of her uncle’s death was in her eighteenth year, Her mother had also been a sister of the judze, and bac run off from school to marry a French music-teacher who had died and left her with a little daughter tocare for. — Years after the judge had found her out and cared for her, and when his will was read it was found that he bad made the son and daughter of his two sisters equal heirs with his own son, Richard, | Mrs, Vavasour had been serving as mistress of the manor, and she had been cared for in her brother’s will, and was requested to make her home there until the three heirs became of age, when the property would be divided, So matters stood when vacation days came, and then Pearl came home from _ boarding- school, Rodney St. Orme returned from col- lege and Richard Dabney received a short leave from the Military Academy that he might visit. Bleepy Hollow Manor, In onor of the occasion Madam Vavasour, as she liked to be called, had thrown the man- sion open, the first time since the death of the judge, and an entertainment had been given to which young and old, for miles around, bad been invited, The mansion looked to be almost on fire, with its many lights, and the magnificent grounds looked like fairy land with the hundreds of col- ored lanterns that hung in the shrubbery. The moon was at its full, and poured down a flood of radiance from a cloudless sky, while birds, awakened by the glare and music sung merrily in the trees, The scent of flowers floated upon the soft air, and the whole scene was one to remain in one’s memory never to be effaced. ty It was a masquerade ball, and between the dances many maskers were seen strolling about the grounds or along the white, sandy beach, Among these were two forms who were con- versing together in a low tone, one clad in the gorgeous dress of a Spanish bull-fighter, and the other as a vivandiere. Both wore masks, and yet each seemed to know just who the other was. As they approached the boat-house—a hand- some pavilion, in the style of a pagoda—a form was seen to step out of the shadow and advance toward them, The form was clad inthe full costume of a Mexican senor, gold-embroidered sombrero and all. It was a dress that had attracted universal admiration during the evening, and many guesses had been made as to who was the wearer, SL — ————— ———— ——— a ring that I wore, and he gave me six ** Who is he?” asked ove. ‘* Rodney St. Orme!” and she tore the mask froin his face, revealing the handsome features of the pa ‘‘ Who did this deed?’ demanded a young man, tearing his mask front his own face as he approached. ‘** It was he who wore the Mexican costume, and he came from the boat-house and fired a ! pistol at Rodney,” explained the maiden, who bad been upon the arm of young St. Orme when he was shot, and she was led away in an agony of grief, **He is dead, for the bullet has entered his brain—a well-aimed shot, certainly. Come, friends, let us carry the body to the mansion, and a sad ending it will be for this night of gayety.” ‘* But where is his murderer?” asked one, . ‘‘ Was ita murder?” another queried, ‘‘ What else could it have been?” ‘* An accident.” ‘‘Bah! that shot was a deadly one, and so intended.” ‘‘Then let us find the murderer,” cried a voice, and a score of young men dashed off in pursuit of the one who had worn the costume of | a Mexican cavalier, Up to the mansion the body of Rodney St. Orme was borne, while carriages were rolling away with their hy fb occupants, and the scene of festivity had become one of sorrow and gloom. . CHAPTER II. THE ACCUSED. Into the spacious library of Sleepy Hollow Manor the body of the dead young man was taken, and the guests who still remained, moved about with bushed voices and anxious faces. . Where was the one who had committed the a for such all now believed it to have en? | Lela Lawrence, the pretty vivandiere, was with her parents in the parlors, and she was striving hard to be calm, and tell what she knew about the tragic affair. , ‘‘T had been recognized by Rodney,-through esses to name who he was, and I guessed the third the m one, ‘Then we walked down to the shore-road, and were approac the boat-house, to take a row out on the waters, for there were other rowers out, when I saw the one who fired the shot step out of the shadow into the moon- light He crossed the boat-house and came toward us, then stopped, when but a few feet distant and raised his arm, ‘*A flash and report followed and Rodney sunk down by my si ‘‘In my fright I do not know what became of Such was the story of Lela Lawrence, and her white scared face showed what a shock it had been to her to witness what she had, ‘You say that the cne who fired was he who wore the elegant Mexican costume?” asked a gentleman who was a noted Metropolitan law- yer. , ‘¢ Yes, sir.” ‘You are e about his costume, Miss Lela?” | ‘* Yes, sir, for [saw it distinctly and there was no other costume like it,”’ ‘*It was the one who wore the Mexican cos- se yan fired the shot, for I saw him also,” said a bystander. | “And. so did I, though I was some distance away,” a young lady added, ** And who is he? ** And where is he?” Such were the questions that went flying about. All had now unmasked, and just then two persons entered the spacious parlors, but by went around the room, for all recognized in the one who stood before them the West Point Cadet, Richard Dabney. The lawyer stepped quickly toward bim and said sternly: ‘*Cadet Dabney, do you know of what you are accused ?” ! ‘+ Accused?” and he changed color, as all saw, " Yes, for a fearful accusation rests upon ou, : ‘‘Tt is false whatever the accusation is, sir,” was the quick and hot reply. ‘‘That you must prove, sir, for the charge against you is murder!” ‘* Murder!” As he uttered the words Richard Dabrey start- | ed back and turned deadly pale, ‘‘Yes, you are accused of murdering your cousin, and adopted brother, Rodney St. Orme!” ‘‘Lawyer Leunox, do you dare lay such a charge upon me, sir?” ‘*Cadet Dabney, [ hope to Heaven you can | prove that it is false; but not half an hour ago your cousin, Roney St. Orme, was shot down by the boat-house, while Miss Lela Lawrence was upon his arm, ‘‘The murderer stepped cut of the boat-house and several people saw him, and he was dre in Mexican costume,” 66 My God!” ‘You alone wearsuch costume; it is known that there was ill feeling between Rodney and yourself; you area dead sbot, and the bullet went straight to the forehaed. Can you prove that you are innocent?” ‘¢ Alas! how can I, forI will not be believed. I see that from the faces of youall. Iamaccused and already found guilty,” and the young cadet gazed with an appealing look about him, **T can prove Dick’s innocence of murder, for he was with me out upon the waters,” and the one in the costume of a Gypsy Queep stepped forward and threw off her mask. It was Pearl Vavasour, ‘‘He was with you?” asked Lawyer Lennox hopefully. | ‘* Yes, we went, as I said, fora row upon the Scund, and have but now re ; ** You must look elsewhere for the murd ‘rer of poor Rodney,” barat forward Pearl would have fallen fainting to the floor, had not Richard Dabney caught ber in his arms. He bore her to her room and left her in the care of her mother, while. he descended to the library where lay the body of the man whom he was accused of having k All stood aside as he entered to allowhim to ss, ; “There were those rag — believed he bys guilt y wisely held their peace as he ood in the presence of thedead. |. Going up to the body, where it lay upon the eye te the cadet still in his masquerade costume of a Mexican, placed his hand — o the forehead, right over the small wound the bull and said softly: “Poor Rod, how sad your fate, to be thus cut _ off in the very bloom of your life, “Ah Rod! if you had only lived té know—” | But, here be Epaused, for he seemed to realize that he spoke aloud and others heard his words. A moment more he stood there and then turn ing from the body left the library andsought his own room. | | Hardly had he done so when a stout man took bis stand outside of his door, and acom- — posite the | panion of bis on the piazza op windows that might serve as a means of exit — for the accused, should he make an effort to escape. CHAPTER III. THE VERDICT. THE morning dawned one Sleepy Hollow Manor cloudy and dismal. The elements seem~- ed to be in sympathy with those who dwelt there. Servants were busy removing the et had made, f = Fn << 3= Pin —_— * he . a "ac Ree a al = “A »~ — a ~ Sure . is 2 ~ —— a% 5 ps » ‘ awk rf . oF at tee ba Seg or % <% : ‘- IPt UL.. -s * * . a ” ae i ae 4 y i>. + J — = Sev Sd - r 5 : 2 22 es — + ae When within ten feet of the approaching | different doors, | lanterns from the trees and taking away all het couple, the arm of the Mexican was rai They were both masked, and stopped as they | remnants of the grand entertainment of the, 8 bee quickly, ared flash dimmed the moonlight for | crossed the threshold and gazed about them, night before, toe co G | en an instant, a sharp report rung out, silencing | One was a maiden, the other a young man, A village undertaker’s wagon stood at the Br ‘he hum of voices, and then followed a wild The former was attired as a Gypsy Queen, | door, and in the library were gathered a | a ‘ek in a woman’s voice. and a beautiful costume it was that she wore. | coroner’s jury, who wereto decide as tohow ape _ > silence for full a moment that followed, |' The lutter was clad as a Mewican., \ | Rodney St. Orme came to his death tothe best — oh ‘ost appalling, and then came in a voice; A hush fell upon all as-they beheld the one in | of their knowledge. : RAS | vie te 7 the Mexican garb, |. Within doors a pall rested upon the house- us Ip! Come to me, for Rodney St. There he stood, still unmasked, and he seemed | hold, for Miss Vavasour was ar n her By SO ‘ “nurdered|” —_ surprised. : ‘~~ | her mother was pacing the halls uneasily, the = 70% _»’ from the lips of the vivan-|. ‘‘ Have all unmasked so soon?” he asked. ; aor vanjs saaye™ about with silent awe andthe — mY | ves of ers ran toward | ‘ Yes,” answered the lawyer, and he added: |‘door of Di Dabney’s chamber was closed, oe ati a ‘pon her knees, beuding | ‘It is our request that you unmask also.” _| while without sat a constable. ot ue as ¥. ah xh companion, the Spanish | ‘ Certainly,” and the mask was removed. | This proved that there was still enepecion BANS ¥ Lo iv te) Pee ? A startled cry came from many lips, a mur- resting upon him in spite of the words of ares | Pa “OW te oo Ss dead l"'ghe cried. * mur of arnazement, commingled with horror | Vavasour, ae BOE os ‘wat St . coe “Tipe a Fate ee Q poc 0