Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 172 — page 3: what you’re looking at

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

—__=— must slip from bis grasp which death pa ee ‘ Mon it shall not be, for he shall change his ] , The priest smiled, but the baronet hissed orth: “Oh, you may smile, Pere eben ee Ning I mean it, that Alvin Alstone shall change his will.” ** He is ben, oi “That may be, but he will yet live for some hours.” ‘* Perhaps.” oe He is not unconscious?” “He is in full possession of his senses{” 44 Yes ” ‘Then he shall change his will.” He | wil) be as firm as the Rock of Gib ‘“‘Tf I asked it, yes, but—” ‘*Eive, I know, make no such request of him?’ said the priest quickly and in an inquiring tone. ** No, she would die a pauper first.” “Who then?” Bp 4s You liad ‘* Never!” “Tsay you will, Grayson Brandt,” hissed the baronet. ‘*And I say never,” and the priest turned deadly pale, while his voice trembled slightly. With a vicious ay Sir Grey Alstone turned upon him and asked in a low tone: ‘*Have you forgotten that we were at college together, Grayson Brandt?” **T am Pere Brandt, Sir Grey Alstone,” stern- ry said the priest. “In the church you may be; but I know you as Grayson Brafdt, who twenty-five years ago mur—” ‘For the love of the Virgin, hold!” cried Pere Brandt, in pleading tones, and he wrung his small, slender hands together nervously. ‘No, I shall tell that secret which you and I onlv know, Grayson Brandt, I shall make you feel what it is to thwart me in my desperation, for I am desperate, with debts staring me in the face, and ruin treading on my beels. “Alvin Alstone’s money, willed to my daugh- ter, with me his executor, will save me, and if you will not help me, then when 1 fall, I shall drag you down with me, accursed priest.” The baronet was now quivering with rage, and the priest saw in his eyes that he meant all he said, and said anxiously: " Grey Alstone, for the love of God, spare me!’ 4s No had é ‘** But I cannot make him change the will.” “You can, by exercising your priestly will, and threatening him with everlasting torment, for he is a faithful believer in your creed.” ‘But I dare not so offend the laws of God and man,” came in piteous tones from the strong man. " Then I shall brand you before the world ‘But I was innocent in the sight of high Heaven.” ‘Appearances are against you, Grayson Brandt, and circumstantial evidence hus hanged many an innocent man.” The priest shuddered, and his face became livid, while he seemed to totter with the emo- tions that overwhelmed him, while his. tor- mentor gazed mercilessly at him, and said, after a moment’s silence: ‘Time presses, Pere Brandt, and Alvin Al- stone is dying, so speak your will » emf or—” **QOh, , have mercy! J yield }” A fiendish look came into Sir Grey's face, and then he fairly trembled with joy, as he cried: ‘‘Then hasten to his bedside and use your power; remember, Eve mtst inherit all.” Without a word the priest his hands several times over his truly noble face, and then left the room, the baronet remaining bebind, loating over the victory he had won, and seem- ing to feel no doubt of the result. CHAPTER II. . THE CURSE. ALVIN ALSTONE knew that hope was over, for the doctor had told him there was none. The East Indian climate had undermined his health, while the country was yielding him a fortune, and his dream of a luxuriows old age had ended soon after he returned to England. The grand old castle, his servants, his gold, all But, with the resignation which seems one of Nature’s best gifts to the dying, Alvin Alstone accepted his fate, and lay counting the hours as they ebbed away. : It was night, and he felt that the dawn of day would never come to him, for weaker and weaker grew his pulse, though his mind re- mained clear. He smiled as his confessor entered, and said faintly: ‘“T die at ge with the world; but I would see my brother.” ‘First’ les me say something to you, Mr. Alstone, and alone,” said: the priest a low tone, and good Catholics, the nurses left the room. ‘Well, Pere Brandt?” said the dying man. ow we eee ee ee The Black Pirate. “‘T am sorry to say that Iam not content with the way in which you willed your prop- erty ” began the priest. ’ Why I remembered our church generous- ly,” answered Alvin Alstone with surprise. ‘Yes, and I, as its priest, thank you; but you have willed your vast estate away from your own flesh and blood.” “T will it to Aubrey Caverly, the son of the man who did for me more than my father, and to whom I owe the foundation of my fortune. ‘* His son has a noble title, but is poor, and to him I leave my wealth.” ‘* But your kindred?” “They do not deserve it.” 2 ‘* How has the Lady Eve forfeited your re- spect and love?” ‘In no way; she is a noble girl, and I left her a legacy.” ‘‘A mere aig Mr. Alstone, when she should have n the heiress,” said the priest warmly. “Not for her father to squander my gold, Pere Brandt; he inherited the title, he got the fortune, and the former is all that is left, and he shall not handle my gold.” ‘His daughter certainly has character enough to — the inheritanee.” ‘With all bis faults she loves her father, and he would get it from her.” “ Still beg of you to make her your heiress.” ‘ Never!” | “ Reflect, my son.” sé 0.” ‘* Then I must insist.” **But can you do so?” “Yes, when a are doing a wron death-bed,” said the priest in a low, “But Ido no wrong, priest.” **T feel to the ype on a 3 If I refuse?” asked the dying man in a> whisper. ‘‘{ shall have to withhold from you absolu- | tion,” and the voice of Pere Brandt trembled. Even the pallor on the face of the dying man deepened at this, and he said eagerly: ‘No, no, you would not do this, Pere Brandt!” | “T must.” | ‘Oh God! must I cast off all hope and risk > this?” he groaned. ‘No, my son, do as I wish.” | ‘*No, I will risk the future,” said Alvin on your tone. As for Lord Aubrey Caverly, the baronet had never liked him as a prospective son-in-law. He knew the young noble came of a race whose extravagances had impoverished them, and though he felt that he loved Eve, if willing to take her without a dowry, he did not believe in ‘‘love matches” by which no money came into his coffers. A handsome, dashing young officer of the dragoons was Lord Aubrey, like Sir Grey al- ways in debt, but most generally popular with his associates, which was not the case with the baronet. He had first met Eve Alstone at a run across country after a fox and fallen in love with her form and riding, and tried hard to overtake her to see her face; but she bad held the lead, and it was only when Reynard’s “ brush” was resented to her that he caught a good look at er, and from that moment his heart was gone. Though liking him, Eve did not encourage him, and yet he was jealous of her every look upon any one else, One day. whén out sailing with a party in a smal! yacht, a squall capsized the boat, and Eve, with a number of others, were left strug- gling for life in the rough waters. Fortunately it happened to be near where a vessel-of-war was anchored, and a young lieu- tenant had seen the catastrophe, ordered a boat lowered,- while he had sprung overboard and | soon held Eve Alstone securely in his ermé. Leading her to the upturned boat, he also | rescued another maiden, and then Lord Aubrey | Caverly, who was a very poor swimmer, and 1 ie pene Sow boat coming up, all were saved. Taken on board the man-of-war, the pleasure party were cared for most kind] , until dr clothing had been sent for, and when Eve Al- stone returned to Alstone Hall that night, it was to dream of a tall, manly form, a daring, handsome face, and eyes that had seemed to look down into her very heart, and she con- | fessed to herself that she had received her first lesson in love, and that the dragoon faded be- fore the naval officer. It was not long before Lord Aubrey also realized that in Lieutenant Leon St. Vale, of the Royal Navy, he had a most dangerous rival, and, although he owed to him his life, he hated him most cordially, and was a very happy man when he discovered the terms of the will of Alvin Alstone, which made it a necessity for Alstone firmly, ‘‘ for,” he added, ‘‘I feel that I him to marry Eve Alstone, a necessity he hoped have done my duty.” ** And will you risk the everlasting curse too, Alvin Alstone?’ | There was a stern ring in the tones of the priest, for be saw the man slipping through his | , and whatever his own t or innocence n the hidden sin held over him by Sir Grey Alstone, he must protect himself, he felt. Alvin Alstone shuddered at these words, and cried: ‘No, no, I will not go into the grave with a curse upon me; I will change my will, but in one way Pe ‘* And that change?” “T Jeave Lord Aubrey Caverly my fortune, | upon condition he marries my niece, Eve Al- | stone. “Tf she dies, he gets all; if he dies, she in- | herits all. ‘*T’|l not do more, Pere Brandt.” The priest saw that he meart what he said, and that little time was to be lost, and instantly summoned the confidential agent of the million- aire and had the clause in the will inserted and duly witnessed. Propped up upon pillows Alvin Alstone then signed his name in a hand that was perfectly firm, and then said, in clear tones: ‘* Pere Brandt, to escape everlasting damna- tion, and a curse upon my grave, so have [ left my fortune; but now, in your presence, I give my wi tee? / curse ae ewes upon et a Lees upon all property ssess and my gold, and | cordid orever note be those P| Puherit it | even to their children’s children.” All stood aghast at his fearful oath, and gazed in breathless silence, expecting him to say more. But he remained silent, and Pere Brandt sprung to his side to find him sitting bolt up- right, his eyes wide open and staring, his lips | as the curse had come from then, but the spirit gone, for Alvin Alstone was dead. CHAPTER III. LOVE AND GOLD. ALVIN ALSTONE was laid in the marble tomb of his ancestors, and Castle Welcome Haven was deserted, the servants seeming glad to fly from its roof, upon which a bitter curse had fallen, and ere long it e known as Cas- tle Curse. With the terms of the will Sir Grey Alstone was compelled to be content, for his daughter had inherited the estate on conditions, and, if he could hasten her marriage, he felt certain that he could obtain from her sufficient money to pay his debts, which were now not as pressing, as it had been rumored abroad, at his instiga- tion, that he had shared liberally in the inherit- ance. | and believed the maiden would see as well as he did. The curse accompanying the mheritance was _ religiously kept away from Eve by her cunning father, and when made known the young dragoon, he felt no scruples, as he would take the gold, though it were covered with curses sufficient to tarnish it. It was with a sad heart that Eve Alstone Jearned the nature of her uncle’s will, and at first she rebelled; but her father pleaded with her to save him from ruin, and threatened suicide if she did not, and burying her love for Leon 8t. Vale in her inmost heart, she consented to sell herself for gold to Lord Caverly. In the times that the two, Eve Alstone and the naval officer, had met, they had not only learned to love each other devotedly, but man- aged to become secretly accepted lovers, and itt was with a heart full of bitterness that the maiden sat down and wrote to Leon St. Vale: “Forgive and forget me, as I am unworthy of you, having sold myself for gold. Eve.”’ But the naval officer had risen rapidly in rank from his nerve, daring and resolute spirit, and he was not the man to give Eve up quietly, when he knew that she loved him, and felt sure she was' sacrificing herself to save her father, and he boldly called at Alstone Hall. As ill- fortune would have it, he found there Lord Caverly, who had just signed with Eve and Sir Grey the marriage contract, and, though apparently safe in his prospect of gain- ing her for his bride, the young noble allowed his peer ¢ to get the best of him, and assum- ing the right of host, said sneeringly: ‘This is a family meeting, Lieutenant St. Vale, and your presence was not asked.” “Neither was it, sir, on a former occasion, when I dragged you out of the water, but I was there as you may remember, and being here now, itis for Sir Sta not yourself, to tell me that my presence is distasteful either to himself or bis daughter,” was the cool reply. Sir Grey’s cunning brain at once saw a better way out of his trouble than ae another man’s wife for money to pay his bts, even if that wife was his own daughter, and he was delighted at the — for he mentally con- gratulated himself that it would lead to @ private encounter between the rivals, and he muttered: ‘They do say at the clubs that St. Vale isa dead-shot and a master of the sword, and were he to kill Lord Caverly, why Eve gets the entire fortune.” With this idea in his mind, the reader can readily observe that it was not his intention to pour oil on the troubled waters, and he said in reply: Ebooks Com com