Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 172 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

=< you with the world of creditors who are dog- ging your steps.” ‘Tt will, my child; now fill up this order for the money.” | ‘‘To what sum, sir?” ‘*That is what I do not know, but, as I said itis in the neighborhood of ten thousand, and just make it in full for what the bank holds in accumulated interest.” Eve, without hesitation, wrote the order, and her grasping father kissed her hand in gratitude, after which he said, having carefully folded the paper away: ‘* Now, my child, we sail for America within the month, and the change will do us both good, for, of course, you go with me,” “With pleasure, father, for I wish a sea voy- ” “Then I shall at once begin the settlement of my debts, and make my preparations to leave,” and, again thanking his generous daughter, Sir Grey Alstone left the room. And, as the door closed behind him, two re- marks were made sotto voce. The baronet muttered: ‘*There’s a cool fifteen thousand in the Thread- needle Bank, the attorney hinted, and I'll get it all.” And Eve said: ‘* Yes, now I know what I do, I shall cer- tainly meet him at Castle Curse, as poor uncle Alvin’s inheritance to me is now called. “Ah, me! will it prove a curse, I wonder?’ CHAPTER VIL. UNDER THE SHADOW OF CASTLE CURSE. For some time after her father had left the room Eve Alstone, or *‘ Lady Eve,” as she was called, sat at the window of her pleasant room gazing out upon the scene of valley and hill which she loved so well. But, though the hill-tops were rosy with the tints of the setting sun, and all nature seemed beautiful, the eyes of the maiden seemed not now charmed with the scene, for her manner was distrait and nervous, and she tapped the floor impatiently with ber slippered foot. At length the shadows began to deepen, the sun sunk behind the hill-tops, and Eve arose and threw around her a mantle, and prepared otherwise for a walk out of doors. Watching an opportunity when there were no at visible in + a i sae tee she slipped out upon the lawn, and, gaining the shelter of a huwthorn hedge, wended ber way rapidly along toward the west. The wind had risen slightly as the sun went down, and sighed mournfully through the trees, and the forest was dark and forbidding. But Eve did not hesitate, for she was of a fearless nature, and, as though well acquainted with the path, hastened on into its depths. It was a long, dismal walk of a mile, before she emerged from the gloom of the timber out upon an open space, from whence, in the dis- tance, was visible a gloomy pile, behind which was a silvery light in the heavens, the precur- sor of the rising moon. _ Crossing a wall of stone, by a stile, she fol- lowed a winding path directly toward the gloomy = of rock, which now, with the bright ight behind it, developed into a grand old castle, with every turret, angle and roof stand- ing out in bas relief. Around the castle the ornamental grounds were weed-grown, and upon all there seemed to rest an air of total desertion and neglect, for not a glimmer of light came from a window, excepting where the moon cast its ro ht the towers, giving them the effect of being bril- liantly lighted up. ' A monotonous roar beyond reached the maiden’s ears, and she paused an instant, but resumed her walk as she said: ‘* It is the roar of the surf upon the beach.” As she drew near the somber pile of rock she again er es as though, with all her courage, not wishing to trust herself nearer. But as she stood there a tall form suddenly advanced from the shadow of the castle, and, the moonlight falling full upon him, was reflect- ed by a dazzling uniform that he wore. ‘‘ Lady Eve, you area brave, noble woman to meet me here,” he said, earnestly, as he ad- vanced toward her. “ At first I —— I would not come, Lieu- tenant St. Vale, but afterward changed my ee ne you wrote that you sailed so soon,” she replied. K Yes, within a few days, and we go to the American shores, for since our last war with the States there have been a number of priva- teers of both sides that have turned to y; and our Government is determined to hunt them off the sea, and for that purpose our vessel goes.” ‘‘ It is a dangerous work you enter upon,” she said, softly. ‘Yes, and yet a sailor’s and soldier’s duty is to face danger with pleasure; but come, stroll with me on the beach, where the moonlight falls, and let us talk together, for 1 bave much to say to you, as we may never meet again, Lady Eve.’ He drew her hand within his arm as he spoke and led her down the stone steps to the sandy beach, she making no resistance. <4 The Black Pirate. Reaching the shore he would have turned to the left, but she led him toward the right, as though involuntarily, while she said: “ tg0 to America, too, Lieutenant St. Vale.” ‘You! no, that cannot be,” he replied, with surprise. “It is true, for Sir Grey goes out under the king’s commission to Canada, and I shall ac- etry him.” ‘* The saints be praised! then we shall meet again, Eve, as Hilifax on the northern coast will be our rendezvous,” he said, joyously. - She made no reply for full a moment, and halted, while she said, in a low tone: “Do you know t spot, Lieutenant St. Ve rted d tl to her f e sta earnestly in er face, and responded, Reeaby: sé Oo “‘ It is here that you broke faith with me.” ** Hear me, Eve, for it was to tell you why I broke my pledged word to you that 1 wished to meet you to-night. ‘‘As I promised in my letter to you, I came here to this fatal spot and declined to meet Lord Caverly. ‘* All were intensely surprised, but I gave no explanation more than a refusal to fight, even to Captain Dudley, my second. ‘* Believing that I acted wholly from fear of facing him, Lord Caverly used these words: ‘**] brand you as an infamous coward, un- worthy the uniform you wear.’ “Lady Eve, you know not all those words portend, for they would force me to wear the curse of cowardice before my fellow-men, and drive me out of the king’s service as unworthy to wear my sword, “Then, Lady Eve, I broke my pledge, but determined to spare him, and I gave him his life after disarming him. “ But a second meeting was pressed upon me, and to kill him was in my heart, and I did so. “This is my explanation, and I hope I may not be unforgiven in your sight.” He took off his hat and stood with bowed, un- covered bead before her. For an instant she was silent, and then said, in her low, sweet tones: “Leon Bt. Vale, do you see yonder tower of Castle Curse, as my inheritance is now called?” and she pointed to the eastern turret overhang- ing the beach. ‘Yes, Lady Eve.” . ‘* Well, in that tower I stood the day of your duel here.” He started, and gazed earnestly into her face, while she continued: “Some strange foreboding that your pledge would be. broken caused me to come here, for I learned from my father where the meeting was to take place, and fascinated, I was compelled to remain. “‘Isaw their impatience at your not comin on time, and in my heart I blessed and thank ou. ‘“Then I saw them start and gaze out over and harbor, and I looked too, and beheld your t ““T saw you land, say something to Lord Aubrey, and then what followed I could not keep my fascinated gaze from, and the scene will go with me to my grave, as it must with you. “I beheld him fall, and saw him borne up the castle steps, while you sailed away, as believed, having broken your pledge to me. “Then I looked upon his dead face, and in my heart I felt bitterness toward you.” “But now, Eve, are you bitter still?” he asked, softly. sé No. ” ‘“* And you love me as—” “"Sh—! You must not speak now of love to me, Leon, for do you not see that I am draped in black?” “For a man whom you did not love, and whom force of circumstances would have made you m ,” he answered, bitterly. ‘Lieutenant St. Vale, let us not speak of the past, and only hope for the future. ‘*T came here to hear your own words of why you broke your pledge to me, and now we must ‘* But not forever, Eve?” “That depends npon you; come, lead me back to the forest path.” ‘“*T will not allow you to §° alone, but see you to the grounds of Alstone Hall.” ‘‘T thank you, for that forest was so dr to-night, and all through it, I felt as though Aubrey Caverly was walking by my side,” and she shaddered, and starting suddenly, cried: “See! what is that dark object? It looks like a buman body flung ashore by the waves.” “It is only my little boat, love, that I came here in, for I cared not to ride horseback, as I might be seen and recognized, which would compromise you; besides,” he added hesitat- ingly: ‘‘ Ifhave a duty to perform to-night after sa you, and I can only go then in a boat.” “A duty ? she asked in surprise, ‘Yes: you know Crag Cove a league down the coast?” ‘ ‘Yes, for I have often ridden there to see the old Rock Ruin.” , LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LLL LL LL LL LLL LL LLL LLL LL gsstssssesstesteesssesss-eteeessessssssnssssnesnsnseeeesthassstase © “That old ruin, Lady Eve, was once the home of my ancestors, and was known as Rock Hall, as it now is called Rock Ruin, ‘*But those of my blood were wild, reckless and extravagant, and it passed out of m father’s hands into those of a wealthy land- holder, a cousin of ours, who let it go to de- ‘ And it is there you are going to night?” ‘*' Yes, Eve.” “It is strange, for no one dwells there.” ‘*True, but it is my inberitance, I have dis- covered, and I go to look it over by moonlight,” and he spoke bitterly, and again drawing her arm through his, he led her back by @ Curse, through the dark forest, and bidding her farewell, saw her disappear within the portals of Alstone Hall. Then he turned and retraced his way back by the old castle, passed the spot where he had killed Lord Caverly, and springing into his little boat seized the oars and pulled in the direction of Rock Ruin. CHAPTER VIL. THE SECRET OF A DUNGEON. AFTER running a league down the coast, Leon St. Vale rounded a rocky point of land, which formed the arm of a small cove, surround- ed by bleak shores, Upon the edge of a crag jutting out from the main plateau, stood a ruin of what had once been a seaside home, but which was now noth- ing more than a mass of crumbling walls. poe these the moonlight fell with silvery light, relieving their gloom, and to the sheltered 0a or basin, beneath, Leon St. Vale headed his at. There was no landing, other than a moss- covered rock, and upon this the young sailor sprung, and placed a small anchor, to which the painter was attached, to prevent his boat being carried off by the wash of the waves. “‘Now to see what the letter says, so that I can make no mistake,” said St. Vale, as he drew from his pocket a large paper with a broken seal, and opened it, so that the moonlight fell full upon it. In a low tone he then read: “Sono Square, Lonpon, October Ist, 18—, “ To my cousin, Lieutenant Leon St, Vale, greeting; “Ere the film of death shuts out the light from my eyes, | write you these few lines from my lonely bachelor quarters in this great city, and send my epistle through the Admiralty, to find you wherever you may be roving the seas. “In leaving this world to go to a land where gold is not needed, that which I now possess should be left to those who are of my own flesh and blood, and hence I name you, Leon St. Vale, my heir to the lit- tle that I have. “Old Rock Hall, eee forefathers’ home, and your birthplace, which I bought under the auctioneer’s hammer, I leave to you, though little is it worth, and my living here in London goes to erect a monu- ment to my memory, for I do that for myself, which my kindred, or no other man, will do for me. ‘This closes my estate, and if you can make Rock Hall what it once was fyou may have a lordly home one of these days to carry a fair bride to, for thither your father led your mother just twenty- seven years ago to-night. “With Rock Hall I leave you a secret, which the inclosed key will unlock. “The key is rusty, as you see, for it has not been used 9 witha sandy 2 Spec but it will answer its pur- pose if properly u *Go is Hock Ruin by boat, land on the rock, un- der the crag that supports the octagonal tower, and you will find niches in the cliff by which you can as- cend a few steps to a shelf of stone, where you will find ample standing room, “Examine the face of the rock before you and ge will find there a door of stone slabs and a hole hat the inclosed key will fit into. “Turn the key once to the right and then exert your strength, and you will open the door of rock, and a cell chamber will be revealed, i aan that sry ead St. Vale, you ae Maca! © balance OF my inheritance to you, and the secret of Rock Hall will be revealed. iis : “Your blood kinsman, ‘*Locas Leon, of “ Rock Y Having read this letter twice over, Leon St. Vale drew from his pocket a massive key, with a bandle in the shape of a cross, the ends being long enough for his hand to get a firm grasp upon them. j A short examination of the face of the cliff then revealed the niches, and placing his feet in these, and keeping his bands against the wall of rock he readily ascended to the shelf above and here paused for awhile, The crack in the rock, showing the door of stone, he saw distinctly, and without hesitation inserted the key in the hole. But it was rusty, aud would not turn in the lock, and drawing it out he rubbed it bard ainst the rock until it obtained a polish, when once more he inserted it in the key-hole and it turned in the lock. But, strong as he was he could not move the stone door, for the spray of the sea bad incum- bered the cracks, and even the moss had grown in some places over the seams where it opened. ' With his sword he went to work, removed the moss, and then thrust the blade into the seams upon either side, and above and below the door, and once more exerted his strength, "comicbooks . r .* | a | | : . ; ait? x 4 °