Beadle's Dime Library, No. 139 — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

ie bade SS oa A a ee ee Eee ee 16 ing the door ata rap, a young and handsome man entered, dressed as a sailor. ‘‘T had before seen Brandt Greyhurst, and I at once recognized him.” ‘¢ Well?” impatiently asked the officer. “He said to my friend, whom I was negoti- ating with, that, as the breeze was light, and the tide would ere long be against them, it was necessary to sail at once.” ‘Smugglers! by all that’s holy!” “T did not ask them their calling, but paid for the goods, sent them to the city, and have realized largely by their sale.” ‘Of course, but why do you connect Brandt Greyburst with this daring pirate?’ ‘“ Why,I saw the fleet craft the two men board- ed put to sea, and before the next sunset there were half adozen merchantmen captured,robbed and set fire to within sight of the land, and their crews reported the pirate just such a rakish little vessel as I had seen the night be- fore.” **T believe you are right.” “| expect so, and it would be a feather in your cap to capture the pirate and the deserter midshipman at one and the same time.” “Tt would indeed; now I regret what Idid ” “That you drove the midshipman to piracy?” asked Enoch in a well-feigned toue of inno- cence. ' “No! but when I got the king's order to sail, I paid a man to prevent my going at once to sea.” ** How could he?” ‘‘ The new vessel had been just drawn out of the dock, and was anchored in mid-stream, below some trading barges; one of them, by accident you know, Shylock, slipped her cable and drifted down upon the schooner, smashing her bowsprit, flying jib-boom, and crushing the martingale, figure-bead, all into one contused mass Lb} “Did it sink her?’ asked the Jew with in- terest, “Oh no, nor injure her hull, and the dam- age can be repaired in a couple of days; but it served me well to gain time, as the yacht needs repairs too before she can put tosea, or at least I so reported, for I sent word of the accident to the king.” ee Ah!” “There is that accursed exclamation again, what does it mean in Hebrew, Jew?” ‘* More than the translators of your Bible, captain, could ever interpret,” was the laconic response, * Well, what is to be done about. the notes? for I cannot pay them and musbt go to sea in two days.” ‘‘The last hour of grace is up with them at two o’clock to-morrow, captain,” . — * ‘You must redeem them.” **T cannot.” “ Jew, if you will save me this time, I will do anything you may ask of me.”’ “ Anything, your highness?” and the Jew’s eyes tuinkled. | * Don’t highness me, Jew,” ‘You ure a king’s son.” “ Yes, one he dare not own, but, yes, I’ll do anything you, ask, for 1 will then go-to sea contented, capture this pirate, and Brandt Greyhurst too, if be is on board the buccaneer att, and win favor.in the royal eyes once more,” : “Captain Tudor Vashti, I shall hold you to your word, and I will take up your paper and save you from ruin.” ‘‘But what am I to do, Shylock?’ asked the officer, impressed by the Israelite’s strange manner. “ Marry ! that is all.” CHAPTER XXX, A STRANGE. PROPOSAL. A BuRST of mocking laughter from the lips of Captain Vashti was the response to the Jew’s demand. | ‘* You seem pleased, my Christian captain,” he said, with a sneer. “Tam, for I never took you for a fool be- fore, Enoch.” “‘T am conceitéd enough not. to think I am one eg ‘And you wish me to marry?’ rT Yes.” ‘ “ And are in earnest?” sé Yes.” : ‘* And this is the request you make of me in return for redeeming the notes?’ “ Yes,” ‘Who am I to marry?” Fire-Kye, tie Sea Hyena. EEE een “ Will you do as I say?’ ‘*‘ That depends.” * Upon what?” “ The woman.” “T should think she would be the one to object.” ‘‘Upon what grounds?” ‘¢ Many.” ‘* Name them,” ‘You. are a disowned son, a spendthrift, a gambler and a forger ” ** You certainly do not mince matters.” * Why should I?” ‘Yes, you do know me, well, who is. the woman?” “You agree?” ‘*T cannot do otherwise.” ‘** You are wise for once,” ‘‘ Who is she?” ‘My daughter.” Tudor Vashti could not restrain the start he gave, and bis face turned deadly pale, for, in those early days for a Christian to wed a Jew was looked upon as a heinous crime. “You seem surprised,” said the Jew who was eagerly watching him, “ce I am.”’ ‘‘ Why should you be,” ‘‘ She is a Jewess, [ am a Christian,” ‘‘Bah! what are creeds where love is con- cerned?” sneered the Jew “ Love! where is the love?’ “She loves you.” ‘‘Tndeed! I am honored,” and there was a tinge of sarcasm in the tone that caused Enoch Shylock’s swarthy face to flush. ‘“So you are, for, my daughter comes of a pure race, while you are a disowned son, the offspring of royalty that does not gwn you.” ‘‘ You are right; but why one, who like your daughter is pure and noble, and must know much of my evil life, should feel affection tor me I+ cannot comprebend,” he said, deeply moved, ‘The hearts of women are as inscrutable as | the ways of tbe Providence your preachers talk so much about,” ‘Yes, I agree with you; she must know I am wicked ” ‘“é Yes.” “ That I have not one good trait?” ‘(She thinks otherwise,” ‘‘Then love has made her blind.” ‘¢ All love is blind except. one kind.” ‘“ And what is that?” ‘‘ Jealous. love.” ‘‘Ah, you speak truly, for jealous love is Argus-eyed, and can see more than there is to see; but you astound me, Jew, with your pro- position.” “ Why sbould I?” ‘She is a Jewess,”’ “ Yes,” “T a Christian,” ‘‘ What doth it matter!” ‘‘T fear the union.” ‘‘Do you not believe her a pure woman?” “ Yes indeed,” “Ts she not beautiful?’ “ Divinely so.” “Her form is good?” ‘“« Perfection personified.” “She is well educated.” _ “$o she seemed.” ‘* Aecomplished.” ‘Yes, for I heard her playing the harp with exquisite touch, and her voice is as sweet as seraphic music, while these paintings on the walls you tell me are her work, she rides splendidly, drives with a master hand, and I loved her at sight, so to speak, though it was not a love to in any way break my heart at loss of the object; but to marry her, Enoch, ‘to marry her, is another thing.” ’ “Yery well, Captain Vashti, our interview need. be protracted no longer.” > y he don’t be in such a hurry, Shylock, let me t “ pith You committed, forgery. without think- ing. ‘“‘T wanted money then.” . “ Your need is greater, now.” “True, by marrying your. lovely daughter I keep off ruin.” ‘¢ Yes,” ‘‘ But I have nothing to support a wife on.” “ Your wife will have.” “ Permit me just this once to- make use, of your expression—Ah]” . “T can interpret it for you from your lips; it means that if Adina is rich, it gilds the pill of matrimony,” sneered the Jew f ‘tri the Jew the following day. -—— You are right, it does,” “ Well she is rich, for I will give her to you by no means empty-handed.” ‘‘ How much, about, for instance?” said the sordid man. “Ts it a bargain?” ‘‘Name the sum.” “What do you wish?” ‘The notes redeemed—” “Yes,” “ About ten thousand pounds in cash for: myself—” yen” “That forged draft and the notes returned to me—” “ Yes, ” “ And, say, a handsome estate in the coun- try for Adina to live upon—” oe Yes. ” “ And about twenty thousand pounds pin money for her to live on.” ‘‘ Anything more?” “Yes; that our marriage remain a secret unless J wish to divulge it.” “ That is all?” “ ‘Yes, 7 ‘‘ Well, Captain Tudor Vashti, I will tell you what I will do, and name. my terms, and if you do not. accede to them, our transaction ends here,” ‘“‘T am ready to hear,” “ First, I will return you the notes and the draft to do with them as you please, for they are in the possession of a Jewish banker, my friend,” “Well?” “‘ Second, I will give to you for your per- sonal use twenty thousand pounds.” “The devil!” ‘‘T will give to your wife a handsome man- sion in the city and an elegant estate in the country.” | ‘““Why, my dear Enoch, how could I ever believe you ungeneronus?” The Jew smiled blandly and continued: ‘* And she shall have jewels, laces and gold and silver service worthy of a princess,” “My noble father-in-law, in prospective, you are the acme of genérosity.” “And I will give her deeds to property so invested, that it will yield her twelve thousand pounds per year, aa annuity worthy the bride of a, prince,” otha “Let me embrace you, my prince of Jeru- salem!” cried the astounded officer. ‘‘One moment, sir; you. have heard what dowry goes with my daughter?’ _ re 9 Yes.” ‘*'You are content?” ‘More than. satisfied.” “ Now hear my terms,” “Your terms?” cc Yes.” ‘Of course there is some accursed afterclap to hit me hard,” You can be the judge.” “Tam waiting.” | ‘In return I demand that J. shall have the right to make the marriage known when and how I please.” “The devil, Enoch, that would crush me in London.” , ae “The forged notes will not benefit you,” “But to marry a Jewess!”, ; ‘Ts not so, bad as what you have done, as. you will find when the executioner .of the Tower lays your handsome bead on the block.” “Ugh! don’t speak of such things, Shylock.” “Which shall it be: arrest for forgery, and. execution, or marry a Jewess?” “Tl take the Jewess,” : . ‘“‘With the right to me to make known the marriage!” “ ‘Yes, but don’t be in a hurry about it,” “J shall suit myself,” de oY Vt is this interesting ceremony to take place? , ) ' “To-morrow at noon.” _ “So soon?” - “The notes are due at twoo’clock.” —_ “Ab, me! I shall be on hand; my regards to my bride that is tobe, Enoch,” and with a shrug of his shoulders Tudor Vashti left the Jew’s bouse and wended his way to the club, where he gave his draft at one day’s sigbt, om the banking-house of Ross Vasbti & Company, aia received. Just before dawn. he left the club‘ money- less, having lost the entire amount by his reck- less playing; but his face wore no look of con- i ‘received the money, five thousand pans for: intending to meet it with what . = comicbooks: A