Beadle's New York Dime Library, Vol. II, No. 15 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

cS oe es ae ’ ; ; ‘hh tj it ’ he ; : 3) ne . 8 arrival in America, at the head of resolute and unscrupulous men, by whose help it was easy for an intellect like his to accom- plish great things. Two months after the meeting to which we hare introduced the reader, the count and his one hundred and fifty Dauph’yeers were assembled at the colony of Guetzalli— that magnificent concession which M. de Lorailles had obtained through his occult influences. The count appeared te command good fortune, and every thing he undertook suc- ceeded. The projects which appeared the wildest were carried out by him. iis colony presptires and assumed proportions which elighted the Mexican government. The count, with the tact and knowledge of the world he thoroughly possessed, had caused the jealous and the curious to be silent. He had created a circle of devoted friends and useful acquaintances, who op various occasions pleaded in his behalf, and support- ed him by their credit. Our readers ean judge of the progress he had made in so short a time—searce three ears—when we say that, at the moment we ntroduce him on the stage, he had almost attained the object of his constant efforts. He was about to gain an honorable rank in society by marrying the daughter of Don Sylva del Torrés, one of the richest hacien- deros in Sonora; and through the influence of his future father-in-law he had just re- ceived a commission as captain of a free corps, intended to repulse the incursions of the Comanches and Apaches on the Mexican territory, and the right of formin pany exclusively of Europeans if he thought proper. é will now return to the house of Don Sylva de Torrés, which we ieft almost at the moment the count de Lorailles entered it. CHAPTER VL BY THE WINDOW, Wuen the young lady left the sitting-room to retire to her sleeping apartment, the count followed her with a lengthened look, apparently not at all understanding the ex- traordinary conduct of his betrothed, es- ecially under the circumstances in which hey stood to each other, as they were 80 shortly to be married; but, after a few mo- ments’ reflection, the count shook his head, as if to dispel the mournful thoughts by which he was assailed, and, turning to Don Bylva, said ; ‘* Let us talk about business matters. . Are you aera’ A ¥ Have you any thing new, then, to tell “You shall be the judge.” “Go on, then. I am all impatience to roceed in rotation, You are aware, my friend, why I left Guetzalli?”’ ** Perfectly. Well, have you succeeded ?”’ ** As loxpected. Thanks to certain letters of which I was the bearer, and, above all, your kind recommendation, General Marcos received me in the most charming manner. The reception he deigned to accord me was most affectionate. In short, he gave me carte blanche, authorizing me to raise, not merely one hundred and fifty men, bat double the number if I considered it neces- sary.” “Oh! that is magnificent.’ “Ts it not? He told me also that ina war like that I was about to undertake—for my chase of the Apaches is a real war—he leit me at liberty to act as I pleased, ratify- ing beforehand all I might do, being per- suaded, as he added, that it would ever be for the interest and glory of Mexico.” “Come, Iam delighted with the result. And now, what are your intentions ?”’ “{ have resolved on quitting you to pro- ceed, in the first place, to Guetzalli, whence I have now been absent nearly three weeks. I want to revisit my colony, in order to help to protect my colonists from @ coup de main, by throwing up round the establishment earthworks strong enough to repulse an as- sault of the savages, This is the more im- portant, because Guetzalli must always re- main, toa certain extent, my headquarters.”’ « All right; and you start ?” “This very evening,” “Have you nothing more to say to me ?”’ 2 ‘“ Pardon me, I have one other point which I express! reserved for the last.’’ ae) quickly, Iam listening to you, my friend.”’ “On my arrival in this country, at a pe- riod when the enterprises I have since suc- cessfully carried out were only in embryo, you were good enough, Don Sylva, to place at my disposal not only your credit, whieb is immense, but your riches, which are in- ulabie,” eo this com- ~ “It is true,’’ the Mexican said, with a smile. ‘*T availed myself ° frequently assailing . employing your credil er the occa- sion presented itself. P. .& me now to settle with you the only part of the debt [ can discharge, for 1 am ineapable of repay- ing the other. Here,’’ he added, taking a paper from his portfolio, ‘ is a bill for 100,000 piastres, payable at sight on Walter Blount and Co,, bankers of Mexico. Iam happy, believe me, Don Sylva, to be able to pay this debt so promptly, not because—”’ ‘* Pardon me,’’? the haciendero quickly interrupted him, and declining with a ges- ture the paper the count offered him, ‘‘ we no longer understand each other it seems.”’ ** How so?” ** 1 will explain. _On your arrival at Guay- mas, you presented yourself to me, bearer of a pressing letter of recommendation from a man to whom I owed very great obliga- tions a few years back. ‘The Baron de Spurtzheim described you to me rather as a beloved son than as a friend in whom he took interest. My house was at once open- ed to you—it was my duty to do so, Our relations, at first rather cold, beeame closer aud moreintimate. lLoffered you my daugh- ter’s hand, which you accepted.,”’ ‘** And gladly so,’’ the count explained. ‘“‘ Very good,” the haciendero continued, with asmile. ‘ The money I could receive from a stranger—money which he honestly owes me—belongs to my son-in-law. ‘Tear up that paper, then, my dear count, and pray do not think of such a trifle.”’ ‘** Ab!’ the count said, in a tone of vexa- tion, ‘that was exactly what troubled me. lam not your son-in-law yet, and may | con- fess it? 1 fear I never shall be.”’ ‘““ What can make you fancy that? Have gen not my promise? The word of Don yiva de Torrés, Sir Count De Lorailles, is a ledge which no one has eyer yet dured to oubt,”’ “And for that reason, I have no such idea. It is not you Iam afraid of.’ ‘* Whe, then ?”’ $ “Dona Anita,”’ **T confess I do not understand you at all,’? Don Sylva said ap y, a8 he rose and began walking up and down the room in considerable agitation, ** Good gracious, my friend, I am quite in despair at having produced this discursion ! I love Dona Anita, but I confess that I faney she does not love me.” ‘“You are mad, Don Gaétano. Young irls know not what they like or dirlike. o not trouble yourself about such childish things. I promised that she shall be your wife, and it shall beso.” i Still, if she loved another, J should not like—’’ What ! Really what you say has not common sense, Anita loves no one but ou, lam sure; and stay, would you like to 4s quite reassured? You say that you start for Guetzalli this evening ?”’ “* Yes.” ‘* Very good. Prepare apartments for my daughter and myself. In a few days we will join you at your hacienda.”’ uw *‘ Is it possible?’ the count said, joyfully. ‘' To-morrow at daybreak we will start: 60 make haste.”’ “ A thousand thanks.’’ The two men exchanged a few words fur- ther, and separated with renewed promises of reef 2 again soon. Don Sylva, accustomed to command de- of your offers ng box, and spotically in his establishment, aud to allow - no one to discuss his will, told his daughter, through a waiting-maid, that she must pre- pare for a rather long journey the next morning, and felt certain of her obedience. , The news was a thunderbolt for the young lady. She sunk, half fainting, into an easy- chair, and melted into tears. It was evident to her that this journey was only a pretext to separate her from the man she loved, and place her, a defenseless victim, in the power of the man she abhorred, and who was to be her husband. The poor child remained thus for several hours, a prey to violent despair, and not dreaming of seeking impossible re- ose; for, in the state in which she found erself, she knew that sleep would not close - eyes, all swollen with tears, and red with ever. Gradually the sounds of the town died away one after the other. All slept, or seemed to sleep. Don Sylva’s house was yw into complete darkness; a weak ight alone glistened like a star through the a girl’s window, proving that there at east Bome One was watching. At this moment two hesitating shadows were cast on the wall opposite the hacien- dero’s house. Two men, wrapped in long cloaks, stopped and examined the. dimly- lighted window with that attention only found in thieves and lovers. The two men to whom we allude incontestably belonged The New York Library. ‘ ae er nell to the latter category. “ Hum!” the first said, in a sharp but suppressed voice, ‘‘ you are certaia of what you assert, Cucharés ?”’ ‘As of my eternal salvution, Sefior Don Martial,’’ the scamp replied in tue same tone, ‘* The accursed Englishman entered the house while I was there. Don Sylva we on the best terms with the here- Ici. We may-here remark that a few years ago, and possibly even now, in the eyes of the Mexicans all foreigners were English, no matter the nation to which they belonged, and consequently heretics. Don Martial continued : ““On the faith of the Tigrero, this man has twice crossed my path, aud I have spared him; but let hua be careful against the third meeting.” “ Oh!’ Cucharés said, “the reverend fa- ther says that « man gains splendid indul- gences by ‘cutting’ an Englishman. I have not yet had the luck to come across one. I am much inclined to indulge myself with this one ; It would be so much gained.” ‘On thy life, picaro, let him alone, That man belongs to me.” “Well, we'll not mention it again,’’ he replied, stifling a sigh; ‘‘ I will leave him to you, For all that it annoys me, although the uina seems to detest him cordially.” ‘* Haye you any proof of what you say ?”’ ** What better proof than the repugnance she displays as soon as he appears, and the pallor which then covers her face without any apparent eause ?”’ ‘Ah! I would give a thousand ounces to know what to believe.’’ ‘* What prevents you? Everbody is asleep —no one will see you. The story is not high—titteen feet at the most. Iam certain that Dona Anita would be delighted to have a chat with you,”’ ‘Oh, if L could but believe it!’ he mut- tered with hesitation, casting a side glance at the still lighted window. ‘“ By our Lady! If what is said be true, the poor child must be in a perplexity, if Not WOrse ; she has probably great need of assistance.” .. ‘“ What do they say? Come, speak, but be brief,”’ ‘A very simple thing—that Dona Anita de Torrés marries within a week the English- man, Don Gaétano,”’ “You lie, villain!’ the Tigrero said, with badly-restrained wrath, ‘‘ Ll know not what prevents me thrusting down your throat with my da ager the odious words you have just athaned: : ‘You would do wrong,’’ the other said without being in the least disconcerted. od am only an echo that repeats what it hears, nothing more. You alone in all Guaymas are ignorant of this news, After all, there is nothing astonishing in that, as you have only returned to town this day, after an ab- sence of more than a month.”’ “That is true; but what is to be done ?”’ ‘‘ Carai! follow the advice I give you.”’ The Tiger-Slayer turned another long glance on the window, and let his head sink with an irresolate air, Then suddenly approaching the lepero near enough to touch him, he said.in a low and firm voice ; ‘** Cucharés, L trust ia you.” “TJ am deyoted to you, Don Martial,’’ he replicd. ‘‘ Whatever may happen, count on me, What must I do?’ “Nothing; but wait, watch, and at the least suspicious sound, the first hostile sha- dow that appears in the darkness, warn me.”’ “Count on me. Goto work, Lam deaf and dumb,” “‘ Good!’ the Tigrero said. He drew a few steps nearer, undid the reata fastened round loins, and held it in his right hand. Then he raised his eyes, measured the distance, and whirling the reata forcibly round his bead, hurled it into Dona Anita’s balcony. The running-knot caught in an iron hook, and remained firmly attached. Don Martial seized the reata, and taking a leap, like one of those panthers he had so often tracked on the prairies, he raised him- self Py the strength of his wrists, and speedily reached the baleony, He climbed over and went up to the window. - Don Anita was asleep, half recliningin an easy-chair. . The poor girl, pale and exhaust- ed, her eyes swollen with tears, had been conquered by sleep, which never gives up its claim on young and vigorous constitu- tions. On her marbled, cheeks the tears had traced a long furrow, which was; still humid. Martial surveyed with a tender peace the woman he loved, though not ing to approach her. After a long contemplation, the Tiger- Slayer atlength decided on advancing. The window opened at the slightest push. Don Martial took one step, He, found himself in the room, At the sight of this viryiual GEomicbooks (E(0)