Beadle's Dime Library, No. 139 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

we Fire-Eye, the > Bea Hyena. 13 mings, crimson curtains, and rows of costly books, sat. Ross Vashti the master, gazing vacantly through the open window upon the sea view in the distance, At his hand, upon a small table, were a pile of opened letters and papers, showing that he had but just finished reading bis mail, and glancing at the news items. But the master of Sealands bad changed in the past few days, from the man of a week be- fore, and rumor had it, that his severe illness of only short duration, bad turned his dark locks white, and certain it is that he had one evening sought his room, leaving good-night for his young bride, and a demand not to be disturbed, and the following morning was a gray-baired man. There were hints among the servants of a shock received, losses of property, and all that; but the very day after he again appeared at the head of his household he sent to London and ordered a superb set of diamonds for his wife, and which cost a small fortune. To his bride he complained that neuralgia bad whitened his hair, and so the matter dropped, for reference to it, all saw, caused the master’s face to grow more stern and gloomy. As he sat there that afternoon in the library, some days after his moonlit interview with an avowed Satan in the tower of Castle Sealands, he mused half aloud, and the subject of his musings was one who has already conspicuous- ly figured in this story. ‘‘In the name of all evil spirits, why has the boy come back here? ‘‘T hoped to have gotten rid of him for near- ly two years to come, or a year at least, and here I find that he has returned to London, and is now doubtless gambling his pay away, that has accumulated since his departure. ‘*‘ Why did not some kind tornado sink him, or did not that pirate serve me a good turn by killing bim, I wonder? ‘“‘The king, when last I saw him, said noth- ing of the intended return of the boy, and I do not understand his coming back. ‘‘Well, I am ahead of him with Lois, at any rate, and I shall finger her fortune, when it comes, thanks to the kindness of that good Jew Shylock, for telling me what he did, and her avacicious father who sold ber to me, for I have sevse enough to see that she cared nothing for me, and still loves that accursed Brandt Grey- hursb, ‘Ha! ha! ha! have I not had sweet revenge on the name of Greyhurst for the blow the boy's father gave me years ago when he stole from me the woman I then so madly loved? ‘* Well, they are both in their grave now, Nanine and Paul Greyhurst, and yet I have not done with my revenge, for their son must die a beggar.” Just then his muttering to himself was broken in upon by the entrance of a servant, who said politely: “‘T have to announce, sir, that your son, Captain Vashti, has just arrived, sir, by post.” ‘“T will see him here,” said Ross Vasbti aloud, while to himself he muttered: “He is dead broke, I'll warrant, and will take oath that filial piety bas bruught him; but the king has forbidden me giving him more money to squander, which I cannot but regret as it was convenient for me to get my pick- ings out of— Ah! Tudor, my dear boy, you are welcome, nevertheless you have given me a great surprise,” and Ress Vasbti arose and ad- vanced toward the tall, handsome man who had entered the room with quick, firm tread. But Tudor Vashti came to a sudden halt, and the hand he had half extended dropped to his side, as he stared in open-eyed wonder at the man who welcomed him, and asked in sur- prised tones: Pig . **Have you gone back, sir, to the fashion of powdered hair again?” The face of Ross Vashti turned pale, while he auswered impatiently: “Of course you must comment upon my: hair, sir, even before you return my greeting; no, sir, lam getting so accursed old that my hair bas grown gray, or rather your fast life, led in London before you left, has frosted my head.” ; “Oh no, do not lay it to my door, but be frank and say it is a guilty conscience.” * Boy! Tudor! I will not—” “Now, now, don’t let us quarrel, but ac- cept my congratulations upon your marriage, and when I meet the fair bride I will offer ber my condolences: but by all that’s holy, tell me why you, nearly half a hundred years old, have married a child hardly out of her baby- clothes?” ‘Tudor, I will not listen to such language from you: besides I am only forty-one, and Lady Lois Vashti is—” ‘‘ Almost seventeen; but how fine that sounds, Lady Lois Vashti, but I know her to be a lovely woman, and you are to be con- gratulated as sincerely as sheis to be condoled with; but come, can you nov offer me a glass of wine, for my throat is full of the dust of travel, and to-night after dinner, and I have paid my deyoirs to Lady Lois Vashti, we will have a little talk on business together.” ** Business with you means an advance of money for your dissipations,” growled Ross Vashti, “True, Iam dead broke, for I lost several thousand pounds lately for three nights in suc- cession.” ** Back to your old traits agnin: I bad hoped that your cruise would have benefited your character.” ‘Oh Lord, no; it only sharpened my ap- petite for gaming— Ah! this is my sweet girl mother,” and the young officer arose, as Lady Lois just then entered the room, and with the courtly grace he so well knew how to assume at will, he crossed over to her, took her hand, and bending low kissed it, while he continued pleasantly: *T am glad to renew our acquaintance, Lady Lois, for I have known you ever since you were a wee girl, and admired you so much, that you may remember, before I sailed for the Americas, I wrote and offered you my heart and hand; but my father anticipated me, it seems, and what was my loss is his gain, while I have the sweet assurance that you will be a mother to me if not a wife.” For an instant Lady Lois seemed as if about to resent this bold address; but it was said so openly, and in such a deferential manner, that she laughed it off pleasantly, and dinner being announced, the three went into the dining- room, and together passed what would appear to an ordinary observer a delightful eveniug; but in the heart of each there was an aching void, though their faces were wreathed with smiles. CHAPTER XXV. THE VALUR OF NEWS, ‘Now, sir, as your fair bride has left us to go to the land of dreams, in which your hoary head will doubtless be continually popping up, like a nightmare, between her and a buried love, allow me to suggest that we turn to business.” ‘“‘T know of no business arrangements be- tween us, Tudor.” » ‘*T cam soon tell you, sir.” “Tt is gold you wish, [ am certain; but you have your pay, your estate should yield you a generous income, and you could live like a noble, were it not for your love of gambling.” “IT have news for you, which I will first make known tu put you in good-humor.” “No news will make me advance you one cent,” ‘‘ We'll see; would you not like to hear that one whom you looked upon as an enemy, if I remember aright, and had cause to dread as a dangerous rival, had done that which brings ignominy upon his name?” © “Ha! whom do you mean, Tudor?” “Why what an old gallant you must be to have badso many rivals as to forget the one to whom I refer.” . **Ah! you mean Brandt Greyhurst?’ “Yes, the boy whose intended bride your money bought.” “Well, what of him?’ impatiently asked Ross Vashti. ‘First, he got the news, in some way, that you were to marry the Lady Lois, and at once asked to come home, in a packet ship that beat us here four days; but I befriended you most nobly, and refused him permission, and the result was that he deserted the Lance to sail on the ship, but was taken and brought back in irons,” ‘Ha! ha! ha! a Greyhurst desert bis ship? This is indeed news,” chuckled Ross Vashti. “Oh, I knew the news would please you; ‘but it will give you more joy to know that he escaped when we anchored in the Thames.” “Escaped! is he at large?” | “Ob yes, but tbe king offers a large reward for him, and if he is taken he will at once be publicly executed.” ‘But he may come to this neighborhood, and I will at once give orders to the servants to keep watch for him, and whatever the king’s reward may be, I will double it to the man who takes him dead or alive,” and un- heeding Tudor Vashti’s remonstrance he called a servant and at once sent forth the tidingsre garding the deserter, and made known bis own generous orfer to his captor, but demanded that the news should be kept strictly away from the ears of Lady Lois. ‘You fear the hoy may run off with your bride,” suggested Tudor Vashti with mock in- nocence,. ** No, sir, I have no such fear; but I wish to see the last Greyburst under the ground,” said Ross Vashti, almost flercely. ‘Now, sir, for another piece of news; I drew from your banking house before leaving London twenty-five thousand pounds,” “ Twenty-five thousand devils! whodared to let you have that sum without my order?” yelled Ross Vashti. **'Your tool whom you honor with the title of partner.” ‘*T will discharge him at once, and—” * Discharge a partner ?”. Why I see the partnership was only a blind, and that he was really a tool as I before suspected.” ‘‘ And he dared to give you that immense sum?” ‘He dared not do otherwise.” ‘* What do you mean, Tudor Vashti?” “Thad the king’s order for it, or draft,” was the provokingly cool reply. ‘*You had the king’s order for twenty-five thousand pounds?” and Ross Vashti looked at the young man in utter amazement. ‘¢ Certainly; I am ordered to a larger vessel, fitting out for me to go pirate-bunting ona roving commission, and I have to pay for the equipment of the craft.” “Ah! but I think the king makes a mistake to place so large a sum in your hands to dis- burse; he should have let me attend to it.” **Oh, no, not to get your twenty per cent. interest out of, for you are as usurious as Shy- lock, the Jew, when you can be,” ‘© What know you of that man?’ **T have beard of him.” ‘Well, sir, to return to the king’s act; did your capture of the pirate craft you sent home to England, win you this favor?” se N . » “What did then?” ‘You consider yourself interested?” ** Certainly.” “Upon what grounds?” y ‘Being your father it is but natural.” ‘Upon the same’grounds the king gave me the money.” : White as his snowy locks now turned Ross Vasliti, and bis lips quivered, as he strove to speak, yet no sound came from them, and, with a mocking laugh, Tudor Vashti continued: ‘How deeply it affects you to find out that I know the little secret you have, with others, so carefully hidden; but I can bring back to your lips the.power of speech you seem to have lost, when I say that I intend to use my knowledge.” ‘In Satan’s name! what would you do, mad boy?” “Ah! you can talk now; gold is the magic word to open your lips; well, you ask what would I do? ‘Why simply ask of you a loan on a verbal promise to repay you when I can, and if I never do, I'll be that much better off, and you won’t miss it.” ““T can give you no money.” “Only a small loan; say, let me see, yes, call it ten thousand pounds.” ‘Ten thousand Satans!” ‘‘Oh, no, one is enough, if you are a fair sample of the others; yes, I wish ten thousand pounds.” ‘‘T cannot spare half of that sum now, for this villa has cost a fortune, its furnishing an- other, and my marrying has caused me to lay out large sums.” * All of which you will get back as soon as our wife receives her inheritance.” She has no inheritance, for her father is little more than a beggar.” ‘‘ But her uncle died ricb, you know.” | Again did Ross Vashti turn livid, and seemed to lose the power of exclamation, while Tudor laughed in the same low, mocking way, and continued: ‘If I do not get the ten thousand on the first secret I told you I knew, I will charge a like cS (E(©) Gomiicdoo