Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 104 — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

16 No one, after a look upon this remarkable knight, could doubt but that the gems he wore were of the purest, and worth millions of doll and that his helmet and armor were gold an silver. With a quiet, easy grace the knight strode through the saloon, apparently enjoying the brilliant scene, and seemingly unconscious that he was the magnet that attracted all eyes. Of course there was but one one in every mind as to who this personage could be. It was Montezuina, of Mexico. Who else could wear such an immense fortune in fre metal and rich gems? lready was bis name upon every tongue, rich and poor, and he was the ‘‘lion of lions.” His punishment of Lucien Bethune, on account of his striking a beggar, had won the hearts of the sub strata. His purchase of Wilber Sebastian’s turnout— then the three elegant mansions on the Rue Saint Louis, two of which he intended pulling down to give place to a garden spot, had won the hearts of the rich. His undoubted courage and marvelous strength took splendidly with ‘‘the men ’bout town,” and the women, young and old, married and single, rich and poor, were crazy, because—he was a bachelor. His extravagances, his wealth untold, his deeds since coming to town, his elegant form, and startlingly strange and handsome face were now the theme of every tongue, and it was no wonder that the dazzling knight was at once known to be Montezuma. In fact, when he arrived at the door of the saloon, and tendered his sword to the keeper, that functionary had gazed upon it with open mouth, held it as though it were glass, and then returned it, with the remark: “It is too valuable, Prince, to leave here; please retain it.” With a bow, and a handful of eagles into the = of the arms-keeper, the knigh omnes into e salon, his ears catching the words: “That is the Prince Montezuma.” Presently two persons approached the knight —a lady exquisitely dressed, leaning upon the arm of a gentleman in silk domino. Both were masked, and had evidently been searching for the “ star of the evening,” for the gentleman said, aloud: _ Ah! Sir Knight, we are glad to have found ‘‘And I am glad to be found. Will you ac- cept my arm, fair lady?” and the knight offered his arm, and the three walked away to the dis- t of the idlers who had been critically exam- oe the stranger’s armor, “Is it permissible to ask if I can offer you re- freshments, my friends, and beg that you will request the company of all whom you may wish to invite?” “Yes, Sir Knight, we will accept with plea- sure; but, what means this disturbance?” and the gentlemen halted, as there seemed some ex- citement in their front. “It is an interesting affair, messieurs and madame,” volunteered a loquacious bystander, ‘*It seems monsieur there, in the red mask. and cavalier suit, has had two demoiselles fol- hain. 5 him the whole evening; one of whom he brought with him, and the other one attaching herself to him after his arrival; but as the ladies were dressed exactly alike, and, uS you see, are alike in size and form, he knew not which was the true one, until she, with whom he came, un- masked to show him, and in his anger he has just torn the mask from the face of the other— you see her weeping? yet she still insists upon being with him, and he evidently recognizes her as some one he did not care to see.” ** Pardon, lady, I will leave you on the arm of the senor, who I trust will kindly hold these for me.” As the knight spoke, he handed to his gentle- man companion his lance and shield. The next instant he confronted the angry, and evidently embarrassed man, that had un- masked a lady who had tormented him. ‘“* Monsieur,” aud the voice was strangel calm, while a silence like death fell upon all present, ** Monsieur, you unmasked a lady in a public saloon, where every mask is respected, and for it I shall show to these good people the face of a coward.” As the knight spoke he suddenly seized the red mask and tore it from the face of the man before him. It was Otis Alden that was revealed—his face now utterly colorless. “Tt is as I knew—my husband! Otis, Otis, you have broken my heart,” and the lady who was unm a young and lovely, yet sad- faced woman, turned dejectedly away and dis- appeared in the crowd. or an instant all believed that Otis Alden would spring upon the man who had tnmasked him, for they knew his violent temper, and that he was not la in personal courage, But, toe tad the man before him and daredAhot isk his strength with his; at any rate ke contetited himself with saying: All the rest of the shield was a solid. mass of fiamonds Montezuma, the Merciless. “Will you raise your, wisor, sir, that Il may know you, when. we meet to wipe out the in- sult just offered me?” : The knight raised his hand, touched a spring, and the gold visor flew up, revealing the smil- ings handsome face of Montezuma, who quietly said: ‘As monsieur hints at. a meeting, allow me to offer my card. IL will be in the saloon for two hours, and trust a meeting can be arranged for the morning, as L. have engagements to call me from the city after noon. With a bow Montezuma turned away and re- oined his friends, again offering his arm tothe dy, and remarking pleasantly: ‘* Now we will seek a refreshment salon.” Half an hour after a pleasant. party sat down to a gorgeous supper in one of the private sa- lons—a party invited by Andrea Angelos and his still beautiful wife, who, years before, had so ably aided Merle in his escape from death at vana. When Montezuma removed his helmet, as the others did their masks, he was presented to Cap- tain Arthur Grenville and his wife, and then to Captain Wilber Sebastian and Mildred. . A mo- ment after Rosal Abercrombie, his wife, and Brainard Abercrombie entered, and met the now famous Mexican—all -+having been invited to the supper by Andrea Angelos, the billionaire expressing a desire to meet those whose homes he had purchased excepting Lucien Bethune, whom he was to meet in a very different way in the morning. As | have referred to the changes which time had, or had not, made upon the gentlemen of miy romance, I should not of course slight the es. As for Rena Angelos, she had developed into a matronly lady of thirty-six, who, though: moving in the aristocratic eircle of. society cared more for her lovely home, which she had so nearly lost, and her son and daughter, than she did for a gay life. Helen Brainard that was,now Mrs. Rosal Ab- ercrombie, was strangely well preserved for.a woman on the ene side of fifty, for she still kept the grace and beauty of her form, and her face, with the aid of cosmetiques, as her hair with dye, affected youth ; but neither hair-dye, paint and powder would hide a certain shadow re expression, that her life bad been a mis- e, Estelle, who had sought and won Arthur Gren-_ ville, still defied Time, and looked little like a. | woman in her, thirty-seventh year riSw would have believed her more than thirty, for in some magic way she concealed the ravages time will make in beauty. She had lived a gay life since her marriage, affected devotion to card-playing, and frequent- ly won, from her. friends, large sums, but lest in the end more than she had won, Between her husband and herself existed only a show of courtesy, for Jong since, he had dis- covered that she did not love him, and that he had been mistaken in her character; but she was his wife, and that was a sacred name in his sight, and had been the mother of his boy, who had died in, his seventh, year, and carried the sunshine of Arthur Grenville’s life into the grave with him. Brainard Abercrombie was the especial pet of Mrs. Grenville, and she made use of him for balls, the opera, and a drive, when her husband could not attend her, and though the world.and . gossip got their heads together about this inti- macy of the lady with a man younger than her self, the husband saw nothing wrong in it; a true man himself he could not doubt his wife. And Mildred? : Mildred Monteith who had married Wilber Sebastian, because it was “fashionable to marry,” and her friends had urged it—Mildred, who had been so nearly sacrificed to Merton Ainslie, and had been sacrificed to Wilber Se- bastian—whose love had been with Merle— whose heart held a ve in it, had kept her vow; before the world, Wilber Sebastian was her husband; but in her heart she detested him, and kept him aloof, until he really feared his beautiful and haughty wife. He was proud of her, had full control of her roperty, and. yet he feared to raise the volcano Re haw was slumbering away back in her beautiful blue eyes. If Mildred was lovely as a fairy at sixteen, she was transcendently so as a woman in her thirties; only there was a dreamy sadness in her eyes, a far-away look, as though she dwelt ever in the past upon a hidden sorrow—as if co phantoms of a bygone love ever fettered her e, Her form was fuller, and she carried herself with a haughty dignity and grace that made her a queen among women, and as Montezuma bent low before her and offered his arm to lead her to the table, but one thought was in every mind—except Wilber Sebastian’s—that those pati ietuiell intended by Natwre for each other. Once Mildred looked , Montezuma, and her face paled and then flush- ed; but from that moment her manner seemed to un, pipe 8 change, end she charmed all by her wit and repartee as the merry party sat at t into the eyes of Felipe Cosala entered, wi ‘Captain Grenville, Wilber ee eee table, enjoying the delicacies placed. before them, an toasts in the priceless wine, All were charmed with Montezuma and show: ed it openly, while Mildred remarked: ‘*Mr. Montezuma, 1 donot regret the sale of my old home, now that I know you, and I feel ou will be a princely host; hut it did bring the oe. to my eyes to sign the deed, and I desired to refuse at the last moment and assert my wo- man’s rights; but Captain Sebasfian would never have recovered the shock, I know; he is devoted to business, and such a speculation lost would have killed him.” As pleasantly as this was said, Montezuma thought. he detected a vein of sarcasm in the reference to her husband, and be replied: ‘‘As a business man, muy dear madame, Cap tain Sebastian was perfectly right to accept my offer, for have a habit of buying what I wish 5 any price. Did you address me, Mr. Ange- os? ‘‘Pardon, Mr, Montezuma; but_a seryant brings the card of the irrepressible Don Felipe. As a friend of Alden’s I e t he is to act for him, too,” and Andrea elos seemed worried, while the ladies turned . They knew of the duel to be fought in the morning, and now here was another crowding upon it. Could, Monte- zuma escape injury, or death, in. meceng ‘two such ‘dangerous antagonists as Lucien Bethune and Otis Alden were known. to be? ‘‘ As the affair was a, public one pesbape the ladies will excuse my asking Don Felipe in here?” said Montezuma, with one of his fascinating sniles, . b sti The consent was readily granted, and Don a smile of apology on his dark face, : “A thousand pergons, my dear sir, but I am again a bird of ill omen, It seems, because I have had some little experience in affairs of honor, 1 am. selected by my friends to act for them,” and Don Felipe bowed to those present, all of whom he knew well. ‘“No apologies, Don Cosala; be seated and have a glass of wine, and then you can arrange with my friend Angelos, as. before, and—Cap- tain Grenville, is it asking too—”. “By no means, sir; I will willingly aid you,” said Arthur Grenville; for not knowing what experience Andrea Angelos had had in such matters, he was most anxious to see that Monte- zuma had fair play in every réspect, for he had taken a wonderful fancy tohim.._. *“ And my friend desires the services of Cap tain Sebastian,” said Don Felipe, glancing toward that gentleman. Wilber Sebastian seemed embarrassed, and looked at Montezuma, who quickly said; ‘Serve your friend, Captain Sebastian, for it certainly cannot alter our friendship, so oppor- tunely begun. Now, Don Cosala, have a glass of wine, for we are really rendering the ladies nervous.” Don Felipe drank several glasses of the iced champagne, and then excusing himself, with , ilber Sebastian and Andre Angelos retired to another part of the room to arrange the meeting, leaving the four ladies to the care of Montezuma and Brainard Aber- crombie, ... Seemingly unconscious of the nature of what the four men at the window were discussing in a low tone Montezuma charmed the ladies. by his brilliant conversation, and the presence of Andrea Angelos at his side did not alter a musele in his marble face. “Pardon me, but at what time?’ asked the Cuban. 3 The reply was pleasantly given: “You know I have got to kill Dr. Bethune at sunrise; make it fifteen minutes after—same places was the reply in a low tone, but all ‘* And weapons?” asked Andrea Angelos. Montezuma shrugged his. shoulders indiffer- ently, and the Cuban turned away. A moment after the four gentlemen approach. ed the table again, and Don Felipe, after anoth- er pone of wine, took his departure to tell Otis Alden the weapons were pistols, and that he had better practice all night long, for Montezuma was a dangerous antagonist to meet. CHAPTER XXI,_ THE LION’S Paw. Upon returning to his hotel Montezuma found the faithful Valik awaiting him, and his valet, a Persian, asleep upon the floor. But at the sound of his master’s step, Mezrak, the valet, sprung to his feet and was ready te attend him. ‘* Valik, while Megrak ig ere? off with this trumpery, you get out my Turkish rapiers and y, duelin -pistols; I wish, them in: perfect order,” said Montezuma, calmly. Tn an hour’s time he had taken a ba ig a cup of black coffee, prepared for him by. and written several letters, en he turned to the table upon which wasa box containing half a dozen pairs of single-bar- reled dueling-pistols of different sizes. They were of the very finest make, wh unornamented, and of a dull, yish : which gaye no reflection as an object to a the fire of an antagonist, CGOMERVOOKS- ECO