Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 128 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

Don 10 EF “Dare you enter there, plotting my ruin as you are, and after what has just occurred?’ “Oh, yes, Henrico; £ dare do anything. Come, I would again see thy swect daughter, and if she is to be the lamb o sacrifice, and not you, { would plot to get her into my power, hat her doting father may not be suspected of ielding her up to save himself and his gold. ome, let us walk,” and slipping his hand into the arm of Don Henrico, he led him along, in spite of himself, and soon they reached the ele- gant mansion, which was brightly lighted, and from the windows of which floated a voice in ats * ‘‘ My daughter has company,” announced Don Henrico, hesitatingly. ““What doth it matter? Present me to thy guests,” was the reply, and with a muttered curse Don Henrico gave the brass knocker a rap. Jacques at once appeared in answer, with some surprise depicted upon his face when he beheld who was his master’s companion. In the parlor, at the piano, a rare instrument in those days, sat Edna. She had just finished singing a Spanish ballad, while, by her side, stood a tall, elegant-looking gentleman of thirty, whose dark face and clear-cut features stamped his creole lineage. Edna’s face paled at sight of her father and the guest he brought with him; but she arose and bowed coldly, while Don Henricointroduced the Hunchback as: * friend, the Sefior Don Ivan Enderos, of the West Indies.” Noel Valverde, the handsome young creole, advanced at once, and with no sign of having observed the hideous deformity of the visitor, offered his hand, and said in an easy, winning way natural to him: ‘* It gives me pleasure to know Don Ivan.” The Hunchback grasped the proffered hand, and his hideous face flushed, as he answered; ‘* And I to meet Monsieur Valverde,” and he turned to a seat, a strange, soft expression in his eyes, for so often had the start of abhor- rence, the look of loathing, and shrink of dread, been turned upon him, that he felt drawn to the man who saw not his deformity, or, if seeing it, gave no siga of so doing. Uneasy at the presence of a man he wished dead, and unnerved at his failure to take his life, Don Henrico showed his agitation to such a degree that Edna, who now held perfect con- trol over herself, suggested an adjournment to the adjoining room for refreshments, Then Don Ivan so exerted his powers of en- tertainment that even the unhappy Don Henri- co was charmed with his narratives of scenes and adventures in other lands, while Edna seemed to forget his hideousness in the music of his voice, the fascination of his eyes, and the brilliancy of his conversation. Noel Valverde listened, enraptured, to every word that fell from the lips of the strange man, who suddenly broke the spell by a sinister, bitter laugh, and the remark: “* Butone such as I, a caricature on the image of my Maker, should not monopolize the attention of afair maiden and gallant cavalier. Adios, sefiorita and sefiors.” Witbout another word he arose and turned away, and, though Don Henrico followed him to the door, not a word was spoken between them, for, pulling his cloak around him, he strode forth into the darkness. But at the corner he turned, and, standing be- neath the shadow of a China tree, he muttered: **Ere Jong it will be a long good-night for thee, my orp yt cane, ip adler gh to the world of pleasure—and then will begin the swectness of my revenge against thee and thine!” _ Evenas he uttered the last words a dark ob- ject dropped down from the tree upon his shoul- ders; bony fingers grasped at his throat with death-like grip, while upon the ground sunk the Hunchback. One glance into the face of his assailant brought a gurgling cry from the lips of even leah Eenderos; and no wonder, for he was in the clutch of a being who, if anything, was more hideously deformed than himself! CHAPTER XVI. THE DWARF. Wir the steel grip upon his throat, and his arms pinioned to his sides by the vise-like legs of the person who had sprung upon bim, Don Ivan knew thathe was wholly at the mercy of this hideous foe. A head of monstrous size, huge white teeth, deep-set eyes, cunning and devilish, a skin as black as night, a dwarfin hight, a giantin body, with short, stout legs, and armsthatreached al- most to his feet, was what DouIvan saw in that glance, before his head reeled with the pressure upon his throat, and his eyes became blind with in. But then distinctly he beard, as he lay upon the ground in the power of his fearful assailant, the clang of an iron gate, a quick, firm tread, -and then a stern voice of command. ** Jocko! Jocko, what means this?” The clutch at his throat was released, the weight from his body removed, and then, as re- turning eonsciousness swept back to him, the ee ee Phe Chovalaen Sipradi. Hunchback heard the reply in thick, humble tones: ‘*Jocko hear him talkee bad; thinkee want harm to massa and massa friends, so wantee kill him.” ‘*T hope to Heaven you have not doneso. He is my friend and the friend of Don Henrico. Bad Jocko, to do this!” and Noel Valverde, for he it was, bent over the prostrate form—the Hunchback still unable to move. ‘‘He lives! Did you use your ugly knife, Jocko?” ‘*No, massa; me chokee him.” “That is enough; take him up and bring him home.” With perfect ease, and quickly, as though anxious to gain favor again in his master’s eyes, the dwarf raised the Hunchback in bis arms and followed Noel Valverde for the distance of a square, when they turned intoa grand garden through an iron gate which the young creole opened with a key. Crossing the ornamental grounds they came toa large and elegant mansion standing back from the street, and, knocking at the portal, it was opened by the concierge, an old family servant, clad in livery. ‘William, send restoratives at once to my room,” ordered Noel Valverde, as the old negro started back at sight of the burden carried by Jocko, and he stood aside to allow them plenty of room to pass. ‘Into my room, Jocko,” and the dwarf ascended a broad, carpeted stairway and turned into a carved door, which led into a suit of sumptuously furnished rooms; then, at a motion of his master, the dwarf laid the Hunchback upon a velvet divan. ‘‘Ah! Lam glad to see you recovering,” said the creole, bending over Don [van, whose blood- shot eyes were now open and fixed upon him. He tried to speak, but the effort failed, and Jocko handed a glass of wine, which he drank, but with difficulty. ‘‘T regret, sefior, this attack upon vou ex- ceedingly, and will do all in my power to atone for it; but Jocka, here, in some way believed oe my foe, or the enemy of Don Henrico and is daughter, and sprung upon you.” ‘““T muttered words he doubtless misunder- stood to refer to you, or them, and if he acted to save you, as he believed, [ cannot blame him,” answered Don Ivan, though with evident in. pee It is kind of you to thus excuse him; but the poor fellow is greatly attached to me, for, some years ago, he was an outcast in the streets—no oue caring for him, and having no home, for he was deserted by some ship’s crew that had brought him from Africa; one day I took his part against the rabble and gave him a home with me. Since then, if I go out at night he dogs my footsteps, and waits like a patient dog a return ; so you see I cannot but be fond of im. ‘*' You are a noble man, Monsieur Valverde and would to God there were more like you! I owe you my life, for your siave would have killed me, and from this day Lam your friend, and Jocko’s, for his very deformity makes him akin to me, and if you refuse not his friendship, I feel that you will not mine, for, hideous though I oe am neither a slave, nor a poor man,” ‘*My dear sefior, you are too bitter against yourself. The mind, the heart, both of which you possess, command respect far more than beauty of face and of form.” ‘‘In your eyes, yes; but not in the world’s vision. But I will not tax you longer with my presence, for [am recovered now * and declin- ing the urgent entreaties of Noel Valverde to remain all night, as his guest, the Hunchback turned to go, but started, at bebolding before him a young girl, who had just glided into the room, and looking at him, yet with no curious stare at his deformity or shrinking from him. Ata glance he saw the resemblance between the maiden and Noel Valverde—she possessing all the beauty of his face and form, toned down into feminine loveliness, and with eyes that were the windows of a pure soul. ‘*My sister, Manine, Don Ivan Enderos,” said Noel, politely, and the beautiful girl stretched forth her handin welcome, Bending low over it the Hunchback said, in his soft, win- ning tones: ‘‘ And to your brother I owe my life. Adios, monsieur and mademoiselle.”’ He again moved toward the door, and, a mo- ment after Jocko let him out into the street, saying humbly: ‘* Massa, forgivee Jocko?” ** Yes, for deformity makes us two akin,” and he walked away. CHAPTER XVII. THE BITER BITTEN. TRUE to his promise to Don Ivan the Padre Bonito was on hand to aid him in the kidmap- ping of Edna Enderos, for the fifty onzas had een paid, the carcvel* was ready tor sailing at a moment's notice, and the two plotters were * A three-masted schooner with lateen sails, fre- quently used in the West Indies. taking advantage of the merry Carnival to carry out their evil design. The plan of the Hunchback at first worked well, for Don Henrico being away from home, a forged letter from him, begging Edna to ac- company the bearer, who was the padre in dis- guise, and who would bring her to him, had caused her to leave her home, and, once in the waiting carriage, she was seized in the stron arms of Don Ivan, a handkerchief, saburated with a drug to cause unconsciousness, held to her nose, and in an instant almost she appeared as though dead. But the gay masqueraders in the streets blocked the way, the vehicle was detained on account of the crowded trottoirs, and, ever and anon, some fantastic harlequin would sprin upon the backs of the horses and remain unti lashed away by the angry garcon. In turning into the Rue Bienville they were stopped by an odd procession of Gipsies, trouba- dours and negroes, and again in front ofa café a band of fantastic singers were caroling melo- dies, to the amusement of the lookers on, Why do you stop, gargon?” cried Don Ivan, angrily, for the dozenth time, addressing the cabrioletea, ‘*T cannot go on, monsieur,” was the answer. ‘* Lash them out of the way,” came the stern order. ‘¢{ dare not, monsieur.” ‘¢ Messieurs,” and Don Ivan stuck his head out of the window; ‘‘ messieurs! cifoyens! will you kindly permit my cabriolet to pass, as I am in haste?” The crowd glanced upon the hideous face, and evidently mistaking it for being en masque, or made up, cried cut, pleasantly: ‘* Monsieur is one of us; let him pass,” ‘‘ Je suis infiniment obligé, messicurs,” said Don Ivan, in ect French; but in Spanish came a deep cath at those who had believed his face not human. But, though the cabriolet rolled on once more for awhile, the mad spiritof the Carnival was abroad too thoroughly to allow it to proceed wholly unmolested, and, at length, the driver was forced to a stand-still once more. ‘** Curses on tl is crowd! she will revive soon, and the padre and I haye no more of the dru with me,” growled the Hunchback, anxiously. ‘Then, let us get out and walk. Here, place these masks on her and yourself, and I will car- ry her, while you make way with those strong arms of yours.” ‘‘But, the people?’ * ** Will look upon itas a mad freak of the Car- nival. Itis our only chance—come!” He raised Edna in his strong arms, and the two men sprung from the cabriolet and began forcing their way through the crowd, who, in- deed, little dreamed that, in the act of carrying a maidenin his arms, the padre was far trom ps geey re a mere innocent joke. . ut, as they sped rapidly along the inflaence of the drug wore off, consciousness returned to Edna, and, as the reader will) remember, her cries for aid, at first, were believed to be feigned until, suddenly, there was one person who di not so regard them, and, boldly springing to the rescue, daringly took ber under his protection. serving that the crowd were in no pleasant humor with them, having discovered that their deed was one of desperate earnestness, the Hunchback and the padre beat a hasty retreat; but, the gay masqueraders were now willing for almost any. escapade against the two men, who, in the guise of masqueraders, were com- mitting an act of deviltry; so they started in pursuit, hooting and hissing, and getting up their courage to attack and punish the insult to a fair maiden, ‘*Come, to my boat! and then on board the caravel,” eried the Hunchback, quickly, as he moved rapidly forward, with the padre, in the direction of the levee, where the gig of the ves- sel, with its four black oarsmen, awaited tho coming of Don Ivan, But, seeing their purpose, the crowd pressed still closer, and it was evident that they were to be rudely treated, so both men turned at bay, seizing their arms. ‘“‘T warn you off, messieurs; we will not be bullied with impunity,” cried the Hunchback, and he bendled his short sword in a way that roved he was not to be intimidated, ‘It will be the worse for some of you, if you press us more,” warned the padre, in his deep, stern tones. “Rush on them!” ‘They are kidnappers!” ‘** Down with them!” came in angry voices from the crowd, and ascore of the boldest masque- raders, rendered more bold by the swords they wore, were forming a line to charge upon the two men, whom they doubtle s, when one of their number had been struck down, would have torn them almost limb from limb. ‘* Hold! what means this, citovens:” sudden- ly cried a ringing voice, and a tall form, closely followed by a short, stout figure, forced hin seif forward and stood between the angry crowd and theitwo men at bav, and who stood with their backs against an old ad: be wall, ‘‘Tt is Monsieur Noel Valverde!” called out one of the throng, as the handsome, unmasked face of the young millionaire was recognized. 0)(0\(0) €om C S ib