Beadle's Dime Library No. 162 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

6 “ But at last matters became so complicated I had either to confess to father that I was married, or tell Clarice the f truth, for he was slowly , and was determined to see me wedded before *“ T chose the latter alternative, and told her of her é. “She took it more calmly than I had supposed; but it was a part of her acting, as you shall see. “I was ey in my ors og ty for 4 yee being a paral was una o out, and Judge Gerard consented that his da bie race, who was to be my wife, should come to our house under the circumstances. “Shortly after my father died, and I inherited his vast property bealdes receiving a large fortune with my wife. : “A year after our my wife give birth to and her life was apaeeieed, twins; a boy and a gir for she never saw her children, who were Sy of a woman living not far away that I heard had lately lost her baby. rtant nature calling me “Business of an im away from home imm tely after the death of my wife, I was compelled to remain absent for over a year, and upon my return asked to have my children re for, having engaged competent nurses for em. **They soon came, and I was rejoiced in finding youa — healthy boy, and fearful of losing your sister, who had not attained your growth, nor seemed near so bright for her age. ** But you both continued in health, and I weary you, as you grew up, with the deepest in- erest. “ But why need I dwell upon the years that passed until you attained the age of youth? “Suffice it that you went into the Navy with my every wish for your success, while your sister re- mained at home with me to cheer my lonely hours. “All this time I had not forgotten poor Clarice whom I had so cruelly wronged. “Now and then I met her; but ever she passed me by without a word, though she it was, I had rward learned, to whom my children had been in their early infancy. | * * One I asked her about the death of our child, for I knew that she had been a mother, “She halted in the road where I met her, and said +6 ‘Neil Gregory I have registered an Oath against ’ you, and that our child ~ shall yet hear of.’ “T did not understand her and she would say no more, and I rode on pengering how it was that all her beauty had so rapidly and that in so short a time she had becorne like an old woman, for her hair had turned “ At last, in the. ‘nidat, of congratulations upon Seem Senedabined wad: Depa cite peraipeiay and | our grandfather een, with: p an elt that I would never arise from m bed. “Tt was a hard blow, for I loved life, and hated to give up the world and its leasures; but I felt that ere long I must die, and ed myself to my fate. “One day a woman called and asked to see me “I granted her. request and Clarice entered, and her first words sty ory, I have come to make known to ou @ secret t will cause you the deepest your dying hours.’”” - : CHAPTER XI. w hort sane) da toda to glin teeath ITH & 8 use, , Ma rmaduke Gregory continued the strange letter written by his dead father. “In Na the letter, ‘to the words of = Why have you come to torture me now in my helplessness?’ . ** Because I hate you, Neil Gregory, and because I have you in my power,’ was her almost savage an- swer. “*Tf you have aught to to it, and be- ue,’ f demanded, and ae ena an, a seat Fast front of where I lay: we mare Sach to say, Neil Gregory, that will ou, ~ let oe ask you how your children thrive?’ *T answered that daughter was well, and that wa ty yes earnest way: ey ml ‘ when your say your ptm bol ' I waa the one who took charge of them, that their mother to housekeeper that t. ***T told the housekeeper a for child had not died; Beng spe eg ieee Lo gel I was content, “ ‘Instead of dying, my child was a splendid baby of six more hs “* Well, I took your children, and you did not see them for a year; in fact you never saw your boy again, for he died ere he was a mon I buried him beneath the elm in my yard, where his Fe cemeny cnn now be found, you care to look or them. , “** But I told no one of his death, and quate my boy, your boy avd mine, Neil ry; place, and so you received the two back, though you \woudered why the male had so far surpassed the female child in growth and strength. “*The truth was that he was six months older that Now, Neil Gre nN reared my boy of *** Now, » you have ‘ed m e) dishonored tin, an-yous son, the child of Goes wits Grace, and I have my revenge in chat while his litt’s half-brother sleeps beneath the elm, he will *> uonored among men and inherit your proud naine and large fortune, *** Neil Gregory, in a short while you will die; but up to the hour of your death you will have to re- member that the boy you love, the one who is to in- herit your i rece is s er yak ay + “ co not speak, and o gazed at her, and seeing that her stran poten E had done just what she had intended it should do, on a second paralytic ke, she turned and glided from the room. The Mad “She believed I would die then, and knew that my will was made in rap orton as was ao eae tor of our name, excepting the marriage portion was to be given to your half-sister Grace. “ But life was ye yh | within me and I did not die, but rallied, and death may yet be some weeks off, for I have strength to write you this long confession. *“‘And more, I have strength to re-write my will and thwart that woman's revenge on me, though it falls hard on you, my poor son, for such you are, at oe I cannot give you my name. “Yes, I cut you off with five thousand dollars in cash, and this secret, this confession, and in so do- ing I revenge myself on the woman whom I believe murdered my own son to put you in his place “To your half-sister, Grace, I leave m entire for- tune, inclu this house, and also é known to her the secret [ now disclose to you. “‘And more, as Judge Leroy Townsend executes my will, he too knows the fateful secret; though he knew before of the wrong I did that woman Clarice, as the sexton, before dying, confessed his part in it to him. “To further humble that woman, although it falls heavily upon you, one menth you receive this confession, Judge Townsend is authorized to make known to the world what I here write you. “As for the poor po I you married, and who came with her young child to me just after the visit of that woman, me that — had sent her. and that the reverses her father had met with had driven him to suicide, she arrived at an ino rtune moment, for I felt revengeful too, and told her all you. ‘It nearly killed her, and she fled from my home with her child, as from a pest-house, and I doubt if you ever see her again. “* Now, my dishonored son, as you can no longer raise your proud head among honorable men, no longer remain ina service where your brother offi- cers will point the finger of scorn upon you,I ad- vise that you cease hunting down pirates and cast your lot with them. “This is the last advice I give you, and I die con- tent in having, through humbling you, revenged my- self upon that woman. F “*On the brink of the grave I sign myself, ‘“* Your father, Net. GReGgorY.” With the last word a groan broke from the lips of Marmaduke Gre that seemed to rend his very heart, and. utching wildly at the air he tottered to his feet and fell his length heavily upon the floor, shaking the little cottage to its foundations. CHAPTER XII. CLARIGE, - | THe heavy fall of Marmaduke Gregory aroused Mrs. Bond from a deep reverie in which she had fallen, after seeking her own room, She was gazing straight into the burning em- bers, seemingly reading there some sad story, when, with a bound, she was upon her feet, as the cottage shook under the of the young officer. Rushing across the hall she knocked loudly at the door, and no answer coming, she opened it and beheld the prostrate form. ‘‘ Great God! can he be dead?” she cried, in a tone of horror. Instantly she was upon her knees bending over him, her hand upon his heart. . No, no, he lives, for his heart beats; ha! this has caused him to swoon away, for it is in the writing of Neil Gregory.” She seized the letter, glanced at it an instant, and thrusting it inte her bosom, set about means for the restoration of the young man. With a strength one would not believe her ———- of, she raised his form, placing it u a lounge and unfastened his coat and vest, after which she applied restoratives she brought from her own room, It was a long, long time before he showed the —— sign of returning consciousness; but at he began to breathe heavily, and rally- suddenty, opened his eyes and sat u Pte e strange, quick glance around his eyes fell capues the woman’s face. Instantly he shuddered, and said ~~ felt myself falling, and know no more.” “Yes, you received a shock that unnerved you; but you are better now. “Lie down, and you will be all right once more.” Instantly he was upon his feet, and he said impatien y: “No, no, I cannot lie down; for me there is no more rest; but the letter, where is it?’ ‘“‘T have it here,” and she handed it to him with a trembling hand. ‘““Do you know its contents?’ he eagerly asked. “IT can ” she said. ** Read it, please.” His manner was strangely calm, almost ten- der, and she unfolded the sheets and read them through, he attentively watching her the while. When she had finished she raised her eyes to They were dim with while her mouth wore an expression of almost savage flerceness. ‘Has Ne Gregory ‘written the truth there? he asked, earnestly. “i He has ” ro every word?’ ** Yes. ‘You are Clarice Bond?” *T am,” 4 “My poor, poor mother; you too have suf- He drew her toward him, and sobbing with bitterness and joy commingled, she pillowed her head upon road breast, “Suffered? oh! how much my own poor heart only knows, “When that man, whom I had so devotedly loved, so cruelly deceived me, and deserted me, I swore to be avenged, my son. . ‘*But I believed that in gi to you that which he would deprive you of, I would have ample revenge, and I was cruel enough to hope when he lay yzed before me, that what I told him would kill him, and the secret remain buried in the grave. “But alas! he rallied, and in the end he thwarted me, and upon you, my brave, noble boy, has fallen the curse t dy be my act,” ‘Ay, curse it is, for I am dishonored before the world, and within the month all will know just who and what I am, as you see his letter says Judge Townsend will make it known.” : ‘But will Judge Townsend do so?” she eager- y asked. ‘* Will a viper sting when trod on?’ was the bitter se, and then he continued: ‘“‘T had him by the throat last night, and he will not forget it; yes, he will surely dis- honor upon me, for it lies within his power.” She was silent a moment, and then her eyes roamed to the tall old clock in the corner. acer o’clock,” she said aloud. “Well, rest here to-night, and try to compose yourself to sleep, my poor boy.” ‘And you?” “‘T have some work to do; but the vessel at anchor in the inlet is yours?’ sé Yes.” ‘Well, remain with me until I have thought over what is best; perhaps after all the judge may keep the dread secret from the world,” ‘* Never! not that man; but even should he, it will be in my heart and brain and drive me wild.” She made no reply, but going out for an in- stant returned with a glass. ‘Here, drink this and it will soothe you,” she said softly. : He seized it from her hand and eagerly drank it down at a swallow. ** Now lie down and rest until I come back.” ** Whither would you ther ?” “God bless you for that name from your lips, my son; I have work to do just now. Lie down, please, and await my refurn.” Mechanically he Cheve and his eyes closed wearily as she left the room. | “The drug will contrcl him fora short time; now to carry out my half-formed plan, for will carry it out, come what may.” She went to a desk and took out a purse heavy with gold and placed it in her pocket; then she took from a chest a glass jar, and out of this took something that appeared like the root of a tree. Thrusting this into the bosom of her dress she threw her shawl around her and hurried from the cabin, CHAPTER XII. THE SMUGGLER. Down the hiilside went Clarice Bond, the poor, w for half a mile, and en, under the cliff and half-hidden in a rocky glen she came ess rude cabin. A light was ing in it, and she knocked oor. at the There was a stir within, and a woman’s voice woman was Bs Was & RODE Tete ee than coat wee ' . visible than would be ex- in m Piece so humble, and the woman air of refinement above the class of fish- ermen’s wives, ‘‘ Well, Nannie, I have made a late but I ae ty See oe at ee business,” Mrs, d. ‘¢ Come out, Carl; it is Mrs. Bond,” called out the young woman, and a partition was shoved aside from the back of the cavern, the act dis- closing a cavernous entrance, in which stood a young man in sailor garb. He had a frank, resolute face, yet a little reckless, and placed in his belt a pistol he had drawn when the knock came on the door. “I have to be cautious, Mrs. Bond, since I have been suspected, you know, of being a smuggler,” he said pl tly. , a not wonder at your caution, Carl; but come, if Mrs. Carter excuse you, I wish you to aid me, as I have a sick gentleman at my ‘Of course I will excuse him for you, Mrs. Bond,” said the young wife. ‘Yes, we do anything for you,” re- sponded the young sailor. PS are very good; but how is my little pe “In the cradle and never better,” said the coim Ebooks (E(0)