Beadle's Half Dime Library No. 705 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

Violet Vane’s Vow. 13 ‘‘Thanks fer the complymint. The same tez yesilf.” ‘‘ f want to see Mr. Duke.” ‘Oi am afeerd thit want will be the master av yez.” ‘* What do you mean, sir?” *¢ Misther Duke is not t’ be sane.” ‘¢ Well, he will have to see me,” ** Sure, an’ = doon’t m’ane it!” ‘Don’t I! Well, you'll find out Ido! I don’t permit no foreign vandal to incumber my free- dom, you'll discover that!” She flew at the servant with asuddenness that quite took him by surprise, and before he fairly comprehended her intentions, he was seized in her sinewy hands and shaken fill his teeth rattled, ** Consult a lone female woman, will ye!” she ’ yociferated, with a shrillness that penetrated through the entire house. ‘* 1’ll instigate better manners into your ossified pate, I will! Vu shake some of the misagreeableness out of ye! How do ye like this? Fun, bain’t it? I reckon ye won’t be mummivg so much after this little episody. Perhaps you'll know me uext time, h-o-o-o! hain’t this a joke! [ll declare I’m the most agreeafying little damsel you have seen in a long time. There, I guess that will do. If you'll wait till I have my little interval with your master I’ll come back and finish the ob. , As she swept serenely into the house, Mike leaned limply against the partition, gasping for breath an gazing at her in wonder. ** Begorra!” he gurgled, as the vigorous little spinster disappeared behind a door. ‘Oi hiv a falin’ thit Oi hiv bin rin over by a cyclone, Or perhaps it’s sthruck by loightnin’ Oi was, Oi dunno, Did Oi beur sam wun sp’ake about fun? Be me saoul, it was too funny! She thought Oi’d know the loikes av her nix toime. Faith, she was roight! She made some remark about a joke, but me attintion was so occupoied Oi did not see the point av it. Oi w’u’d loike @’ hoire a marn t’ kick me!” Mike was thoroughly disgusted with himself. Miss Miggles had little difficulty in finding her way tu Horatio Duke’s private office. Excuse me,” she said, as she opened the door at i walked undauntedly into the apartment, ** Do I behold Mr. Dukie?” The mine-owner had overheard the spinster’s shrill voice as she stood at the door, and he was in anything but an agreeable frame of mind, ‘*T am Mr. Duke,” he replied, with dignity. Miss Mehitable bobbed a courtesy. **’'m reel delightified to make your ultimate acquaintance,” she smiled, “ It is not often I am pleased by the first reappearance of a man, but you have such a benevolent and dispossess- ing cast of counterpane that you make me feel as if | had known you far back in my past re- sistance when I was a thoughtless and innocent maiden, In the surging throngs of unappeased humanity, we often encounter faces that call up floods of sweet thoughts and tender memories. It is like the refrain of some old song for long ears forgotten, and finally heard in a distant and. It ruffles up the innermost researches of the soul like a breaking-up plow in an old pas- ture. Itis very disaffecting.” Duke gazed at the little woman in amaze- ment, ; ** What can I do for you, madam?” he finally asked. ‘* Now, that’s jest like a man,” simpered the spinster, ‘* Why, you don't even give me time to catch my breathe? And I am quite stewed up after my interval with your charming Irish doorkeeper. I will have to be seated till this nervous fluctuation is banished, This is a real pleasant compartment, Mr, Dukie,” Duke’s face became still more forbidding as she calmly appropriated a chair. ‘*T have no time to waste,” be declared. ** Landy sakes, nor I! My time is fully pre- occupied, It is really distressing to premeditate how short time is from the nursery to the shin- ing, shore.” ‘ Will you please make your business known?” - “JT entreat you to have some consideration for my commotion!” ‘‘ Madam, business is business with me,” Miss Miggles looked distressed. ‘‘T did hope to recover one man who was not like all the rast of the regenerated critters,” she murmured, slowly rising. ‘“* But misappoint- ment awaits meat every turn. However, I have one thing to epee you: I am _ not madam, but miss. y full name is Miss Mebit- able Annable Miggles.” She felt round hastily for the pocket in her erum ress, ‘‘ When my idols are so crudely shattered I alone along the win am supremely affected,” she continued, seeming on the point of bursting into tears, ‘‘Ob, Mr, Dukie! you can never know how your sweet features touch my heart and call up sweet rememories of the past! There was one who looked so much like you, but he was false, false, false! He won the reflections of my tender heart, and then was reunited with an- other. Excuse these tears, I feel like declining my head on some broad breast and sobbing out my commotion,” Out came her handkerchief and she staggered toward the startled mine-owner. ‘‘Be careful! be carefull!” cried Duke, in alarm, But the following moment she had clasped her arms around him in a hysterical manner, Then, by a singular mischance, the bhandker- chief which she beld found its way to his mouth and nose. He wasa strong man, but the little woman overpowered him in a brief space of time, and then he succumbed to a stupefying odor emanating from the handkerchief, Hisstrength deserted him, and he sunk helpless and uncon- scious into the arms of his singular visitor, who lowered him gently to the floor. As she surveyed the man whom she had so successfully tricked, a triumphant smile passed over the strange woman’s face, and she mut- tered: ‘* Your bold game has ended, Jim Derril, and you have lost.” Sunset. The Vailed wee | of Damascus wandered ing mountain trail. The shadows began to gather beneath the som- ber pines, amid which the rising breeze made mvsterious whisperings. The lone wanderer appeared nervous and anx- iously peered back from time to time along the trail, Ste finally seated herself on a bowlder, murmuring: ‘*T will wait for him here, He will not fail to come. It is of the utmost importance. I must go from Damascus—J must! I cannot meet Philip. Poor Phil! I have treated him wretchedly I know, and he is one of the noblest fellows in the world. Iam sorry we ever met, I was foolish to imagine myself in love with him when [ only admired him, Frank Fenton is my ideal, and he isthe only man I ever really and truly loved, How singularly we met! I was a captive amid outlaws; he was an outlaw lieutenant. I was attracted by him at once, he was such a handsome, dashing fellow, but I tried to keep from falling in love with him, I thought it would not be right, but who can govern their heart! What a strange thing is a woman’s heart!” A little sigh escaped from beneath the vail, and then, suddenly lifted her hands, she threw back the covering, exclaiming: ‘It stiflesmy! OncelIl am away from this wretched town I will never wear a vail again even to protect me complexion!” The face revealed in the dusky light was a pretty one, but in the delicately curving lines there was no trace of firmness of character or fixedness of purpose, ‘*Poor papal” she continued, sadly. ‘He came to this wild Western land to find a home, but he found a graveinstead. Frank says Philip swore to avenge father’s death and has destroyed two of the wicked assassins. If that is true, he will never stop till he has kept his vow. He is relentless when he fixes his mind upon a pur- »ose, and I fear the consequence when he learns i love another. There is sure to be trouble, and Lam afraid bloodshed. Itis terrible to think of!” She shuddered as she contemplated what ber own fickleness and folly might bring about; but the false step Lad been taken and it was too late for repentance. She could only go ahead, re- gardless of the future. As the moments passed the lonely girl became still more nervous, ‘¢ Where can Frank be?” she muttered, gazing anxiously back over the trail, ‘‘ He never fails to keep an appointment. It is growing dusky, and J am afraid of the shadows to-night. If he does not appear soon, I will have to start back, for I will not be out alone after dark.” But it was not long before a manly figure ap- peared walking swiftly toward her. It was the young mine superintendent known in Damascus as Bayard Swift. She greeted him with a cry of delight and ran to meet him with her hands outstretched. CHAPTER XV, CONFRONTED—THE DUEL, ‘ He caught her in his strong arms and kissed er. | ‘Oh, Frank!” she murmured, as she clung to him, *‘ [ was afraid you were not coming.” ‘* You know 1 never fail, little one,” ‘I know it, but I got awfully nervous, The sup has gone down and the shadows are gather- ing under the trees, It was lonely.” ‘** But now—” ‘* But now I do not fear the blackest darkness. Lam with you.” He was thrilled by ber words. ‘** Such love and trust as yours is more than E deserve!” he exclaimed, ** No, no, no!” she cried, ‘“‘ You are worthy of the love of the best woman God ever made!’” ‘* And you are that woman!” declared the in- fatuated man, kissing her red lips again and again. ‘I care nothing for alJ the rest of the world so long as you are mine—wbolly mine!” Clinging to bim, she looked up into his eyes, as: she whispered, passionately: ‘“So long as God gives me existence I am wholly yours, my prince!” What man could ask for more? The wind whispered softly amid the pines as if the somber trees were telling each other of the lovers who had met there beneath their branches. The young man broke the silence. o Why were you so anxious for me to come? You said you must see me and asked me to take: every precaution against being followed.” ‘““Yes, Since last night you have been watched,” ‘* By whom?” ‘* One whom I dare not meet,” ‘* Violet Vane?” ‘ce Yes.” ‘*'Well, I do not fear him. ing dishonorable.” ‘*That is the way you look at if. it in a different ligbt,” ‘*Then he can simply ask satisfaction, and kL will meet him like a man,” ‘* That is what I wish to prevent.” ‘‘l am afraid you cannot prevent it,” ‘‘T fear so myself. I can see but one thing for us to do,” “That is—?” ‘* Leave Damascus at once,” ‘* And give up our mission here?” ** You say Philip has sworn to avenge father’s death,” ‘** He has, but will it be right for us to leave the work entirely to him?” She was silent several seconds, ‘* Oh,” sbe finally cried, ‘‘ what a situation I amin! If we remain, there is sure to be trou- ble between you and Philip. Our delay in Damascus may be simply suicidal,” ‘*‘And my flight would be cowardly. If you do not wish to meet him, I will see you safely in some place where he will not be able to find I have done noth- He may see ‘*That I will never consent to, you may be sure. If you stay, 1 shall do likewise. But we ye 33 go away and be married at once.” e started back in amazement. ‘* Have you forgotten your declaration that you would not be married till your father was avenged?” he asked. Her head drooped. ‘‘T fear I did forget it for a moment,” she confessed. ‘‘You knowl would be delighted to make you my wife atonce, little one,” he said, pass- ing his arm around her waist once more and drawing her tohim, ‘If we were married I would bave a claim on you that nothing but death could break, I could protect you then much better than I can now. You have put the barrier between us; 1 would be only too glad to sweep it away.” ‘* But it cannot be You say you are al- most certain of the men who murdered my father.” ‘“‘Tam, but I am not an assassin, I must prove that act against them or prove something, else that will give justice a chance to take them in hand. I know enough to hang them twice over, but my word alone would not convict them. I am waiting for them to make some move which I ean use against them. They are sure to do so in time, for they are villains of the first type.” “Oh, this waiting, this waiting!” ‘*T know it is trying, but I-bave promised you I would bring them to justice. I will keep my word, if Violet Vane does not destroy them.” ** Meanwhile—” ** Meanwhile the best thing we can do is get married, When you are my wife I can face Philip Vane Howard and defy him to take you > from me.” ‘*Ob, he will not try to do that! When he a "et i - hoes, - d igulttin gs fs ae _ / Ww \ Ya ex, z CcCpOOoOKS.com