Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 580 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

= silver and gold embroidery, the brought from his room and examin ‘have been recently fired, i — oe mre a a —————————~———————————_ — ——— ei a Ce reece At last Madam Vavasour knocked at the door of Richard Dabney’s room. It was opened by its occupant, who was dress- ed 1n bis cadet uniform, His face was very pale, and the bed showed that he had uot retired during the long hours of the night. The constable had said that he had heard the young man moving about all night, doubtless pacing the floor. “Dick, will you not join us at breakfast?” said Madam Vavasour quietly. ‘“'No, auntie, thank you, I prefer to keep m room until this fearful charge against me is settled; but you may send meacup of strong coffee, please.” “] will, and some breakfast too, for you may be able to eat something.” ‘‘ This is fearful, is it not, auntie?” “It is, Ricbard.” “ Where is Pearl?” ‘“‘Tn ber room,” ** Poor girl,’ and Dick Dabney turned away; but his ears caught the low-uttered words of his aunt: ‘* Poor boy!” He knew that it was to him that she re- ferred, Then Madam Vavasour left the door,and the constable took his stand once more. It was ten o’clock when Richard Dabney was called down into the sgh & The body of Rodney St. Orme lay in its coffin there, and the coroner’s jury had discussed the pros and cons of the case. Madam Vavasour was there, also Pearl, and the latter was as white as a ghost. Near her stood a young man to whom it was said that she was engaged. He was an artist, and his name was Oscar Leighton. A handsome fellow, he was yet reserved to hauteur and, a stranger in the neighborhood, the young men had not liked his having won the beautiful Pearl Vavasour, if rumor to the effect that he had done so was correct, Lawyer Lennox was also there, and he was watching the interest of Richard Dabney, for he knew that the life of the young cadet was in danger. At oné side sat Lela Lawrence with her father and the two others who had seen the murderer fire the fatal shot were also present, The jurors looked solemn and wise, as though they knew it all, and the eyes of all turned upon the cadet when he entered, He bowed to all present and took his seat al- most near enough to the coffin to lay his hand upon the corpse. Lela Lawrence was the first witness examined and she told her story the same as the night be- fore; but she knew now that her words were putting in jeopardy the cadet, whom she had accu She was compelled to state that she had re- cognized the costume of the murderer as one that all had admired, and yet none could guess the wearer, . The gorgeous sash, the velvet jacket with its d arge sombrero, with its jingling bells of gold, the massive spurs and white silk mask she had plainly seen. ‘¢ And the size of the wearer?” she was asked ‘by the coroner. ‘* Wasabout the same as Cadet Dabney’s form; but I do not believe him guilty, nor did I when I saw who was the wearer of the Mexican cos- tume,” she said. The weapons belonging to the syn were then Not one was loaded, yet a pistol seemed to Ths two otbers who had seen the shot fired told their story, and they, toc, said that when they beheld who it was that had worn ths Mex- ican costume they knew that it could not have been Dick Dabney. ‘*‘ Was there another costume worn like it last night?” asked a juror. ** None.” Then Pearl told her story, and it was uttered in a low but firm voice, ‘‘T was on the beach alone, for I went there to look for some one, and my cousin joined me. “T knew him by his voice, and asked him to ‘take me for a row upon the waters, ard he did so, ‘We were quite a distance off when we heard the pistol-shot, and upon our ‘return we landed at the lower boat-house and came up to the mansion pier north entrance, parting at the steps and both entering the parlors together but by different doors. “Then it was that I saw something had hap- <- “twa The Outcast Cadet. ‘** How long were you with Cadet Dabney?” asked the coroner. ‘‘ Nearly an hour, I should say.” Then the coroner turned to the cadet, and asked: ‘** Will you tell your story now, sir?” ‘* T was out upon the water when the shot was fired, sir, and knew nothing whatever of the murder until I entered the parlor as my cousin, Miss Vavasour, did.” ‘*May I ask if you are engaged to your cous- in, Miss Vavasour?” ‘¢*T am not, sir,” 6 There is a rumor to the effect that you are, ‘‘1t is a mistake, sir, for my regard for Miss Soto ggecad is such as a brother feels for a sis- rT. ‘This is true, Miss Vavasour?” “It is, sir.” **Cadet Dabney, I would ask you if there was any ill-feeling existing between the deceased and yourself? ‘*'There was, sir.” ‘**'You were on bad terms together?” ** We had not been as friendly of late asin our younger days,” ** Will you give the reason, sir?” **T will not,” was the firm response. In vain did the coroner urge and almost threaten, the cadet remained firm. ‘* In case of your cousin’s death, how does his fortune go?” ‘“*TIn ease he died before he was of age, and unmarried,-it would go to me.” ‘* He was not of age?” ‘‘ He would have been of age in two months more,” ‘* Ah! and should Miss Vavasour die?” before she married.” “And did not this will of your father’s fret you, that be made your cousins’ co-heirs with yourself?” ‘* Why should it, for he left mea large for- tune, and I have a profession that would bring me support, even if I had nothing else.” The case looked against the young cadet; but the witnesses who had testified could only say that the murderer wore a Mexican suit, and then there was Pearl Vavasour, whom no one dared doubt, swore to having been upon the water with the accused when the shot was red, With these facts staring them in the face there was i to do, in spite of circumstan- tial evidence to the contrary, but to give a ver- dict in favor of Richard Dabney,and tbat verdict was that ‘‘ Rodney St. Orme came to his death at the hands of a party to the jury unknown.” CHAPTER IV. AT THE GRAVE, THE acres surrounding Sleepy Hollow Manor were numerous, and stretched away inland for quite a distance, while to either side of the man- sion for half a mile, the grounds belonged to the estate, Upon a point of land not far from the man- sion was the little burying-ground of the Dab- neys. There lay buried five generations, and the spot had been well cared for by the living, who expected some day to lay their bones alongside of their dead ancestors. To this lonely spot, where the surf of the Sound would forever ring a requiem to the re- pose of his soul, the body of Rodney St. Orme was borne, It was followed to the grave by a vast con- course of people, and first among the mourners were Richard Dabney and his cousin, Pearl, who clung to his arm, Behind these two come Madam Vavasour and Oscar Leighton, and then followed others, Upon the stern, white face of Richard Dab. ney every eye was turned as he stood gazing down into the open grave, and many heard the low-spoken words of Pearl Vavasour: ‘* Courage, Dick, it will soon be over,” He spoke no word, and his face was like mar- ble as his eyes rested upon the coffin, while the deep voice of the clergyman read the impressive service for the dead. Then a hymn was sung, and the melody rolled out across the waters until every heart was filled with tears. Still that impassive face showed no emotion. Whatever there was in the heart of Richard Dabney he did not betray it. At length the solemn ceremony was over, the crowd turned away, and upon reaching the car- eee oud Dabney handed Pearl in while ** Her inheritance would go to me, if she died **T will walk home.” The vehicle drove off with Madam Vavasour, Pear], and Oscar Leighton, and Richard Dab- ney remained alone at the little burying-ground, for the grave-digger had done his work and de- parted, For a long time did the young cadet stand by the new-made grave of the man he had been accused of murdering, and then he started, for a hand fell upon his arm and Pear) Vavasour stood by his side. ‘Pearl, I thought you bad returned home,” he said, and his lips became bloodless, ‘“T left the carriage at the boat-bouse, and then returned here to see you, Dick.” ‘* And why?” ‘‘ Dick Dabney, from my inmost soul I feel for you,” she said, with a sudden burst of emo- tion. ‘‘T feel that you do, Pearl, for it is an awfu brand to have forced upon one,” ‘‘ Awful indeed; but you have borne up bravely under it. “ But, oh, Dick! Dick! why was it so?” ‘Circumstantial evidence, Cousin Pearl, was against me, and but for your testimony in my favor I would now be in prison.” ‘And did you think that I would refuse to perjure myself to save your life? ‘“No, no, I heard the shot, [: heard you ac- cused, for 1 knew who it was that wore the Mexican costume, and I hid away waiting for you to come. ‘‘When you did I also entered the parlors to save you,” ‘* By false testimony.” ‘¢ Was it not better so, for would you not have hanged?” He started at her words, then seizing her handg kissed them, while he said with quivering voice: ‘‘Pearl, you have saved me from the gallows, though you swore falsely in my favor, Never will I forget you, never!” and the cadet pressed the hands of the maiden in both his own until she cried out with pain, . “ And what will you donow, Dick?” she asked, after a moment. ; ‘*Return to the academy, of course,” ** When do you start?” a ‘¢ To-morrow, for I cannot remain here now, earl, | ‘‘ When I have graduated there is work for me to do, and one day it shall be done, | ‘‘But come, the shadows are creeping upon us, so let us return, and, cousin mine, may I ask you a few questions as a brother might?” ‘“Do not question me, Dick,” and she shud- dered, ‘*] must, for remember I am your guardian, now Rodney is dead.” ‘¢ Yes, I remember, so the will of your father says.” ‘ And you will answer me?” ‘} What would you ask me, Dick?” ‘¢ Who 1s Oscar Leighton? She started and answered; ‘¢ An artist.” ‘‘ That I know, and a talented one too; but what else is he?” ‘* A gentleman,” **So he appears in all things. ‘But where did you meet him?” ; “T was lying upon the river-bank one day . when I fell asleep. ‘* Thad been sketching and becoming drowsy threw myself down LS my shawl, ‘‘T awoke to find Mr. Leighton seated in his boat pear me, just finishing a sketch of me. ‘‘T felt indignant, and he sprung ashore and | earnestly begged my pardon, at the same time | presenting me with the sketch, ‘‘T could not be angry with him, and he look- ed over my sketches, criticised them, and after that we often met. ‘‘T found that mother and his father were old friends, and so we have often met since. ‘‘ Mother invited him to Sleepy Hollow for qa week, and that is allI can tell you of him, Dick.” “‘T can ask no more, Pearl; but he loves you to desperation, ‘“*l saw that when I kissed you on my arrival yesterday afternoon, and he was green with jealousy when you testified that you were out on the water with me last night, “T am afraid, cousin, that he will not make ' your ite a bappy one, should you become his; wife, ‘“‘T am afraid not,” she repeated in a low tone and as though her thoughts were far away, an _ the two walked on in silence to the man~ on, Ny oly ai a DOOKS.cOoOm