Beadle's Dime Library, No. 198 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

= 8 and was most anxious to have Percy Wynd- ham released, if there was no cause for hoiding him in durance vile. The following morning therefore was selec- ————— ted for the trial, while the master of The Ever- | glades lay dead in his elegant home. The small court-room was crowded, and rumor bad it that Percy Wyndham had sought no counsel, and only intended to tell bis story as it occurred, offering Toby and Phoebe as wit- nesses, if they would be admitted, for negro testimony was not legal in those days. The youth came into court white, but per- fectly self-possessed, and glanced over the sea of faces turned upon him. | Those that bad said the Wyndhams werea | proud family, too proud to mingle with their neighbors, felt now that they were right, for the youth seemed now, even in his trouble, as | signed for Nina Wyndham, proud as Lucifer. And those who bad called him effeminate, now changed their minds, for there was that in the stern face in repose and trouble, that ' wholly banished the look of womanly sweet- | ness natural to it. The judge was a blunt, honest man, and lost no time in calling up the case. To Percy Wyndham he said: “Mr. Wyndham, you are arrested upon a | most serious charge, preferred by one of our most respected citizens, and God grant you can | refute it. Major Mortimer fell by your hand, and there were no witnesses present, which brings your meeting to a basis not in the dueling code. ‘¢ Please state the particulars, Mr. Massey, of your coming upon the scene,” and the judge bowed to the planter, who arose and told his story, just as it bad occurred, and his son, Morgan Massey, repeated it in almost his father’s words. ‘‘Now, Mr. Wyndham, what have you to say in your defense?” asked the judge. ‘‘Simply, sir, that Major Mark Mortimer, having acted dishonorably toward my father long years ago,” (Percy had heard from Toby of the duel of his father and the major,) ‘‘ he sought to revenge himself upon me for the wound he had received at the hands of Captain Wyndham, and offering me insult, to engage me inan affair of honor, | yielded promptly to his wishes and we fought, with a result you know.” Percy spoke with a distinct and ringing voice, and his words made a good impression. But the judge asked. ‘““Why had you no seconds, Mr. Wynd- ham?’ “Tt was an affair that demanded settlement at once, as I did not wish my father to take the matter off of my hands.” ‘‘ What was the nature of the insult offered ou?” , “That I decline to state,” was the decided response. ‘‘What were the terms of your due!?” “To stand ten paces apart with pistols, for we had two weapons each, and advance to- Gether, firing, and to fight to the end.” ‘Major Mortimer fired I suppose?’ ‘* He drew trigger first.’ “Strange that he should miss, for he isa remarkable shot.” ‘And so am I,” was the cool reply, yet delivered with not the slightest air of bragga- docio, ‘You are certain the major fired first, sir?’ ** A man badly wounded in the body, judge, may fire at a foe and kill him; but one who receives a death wound in the head is out of battle the moment the bullet touches him,” was the reply of the young man, “That is true,” said the judge, while a hum of affirmation went the round of the room, ** And your word is the only proof you have that the duel was a fair one, Mr. Percy?’ “The word of an honorable man, sir, should be proof enough; but one other I care not to name and two of my father’s slaves saw Major Mortimer both draw trigger and fall.” ‘‘ The slaves’ testimony we cannot admit.” ‘True, | know it is valueless in law.” ** But the other person?” ‘Was one whom I will not permit to be dragged here, for witnessing what she did I fear has unseated her mind. “Tt was my mother, sir.” “‘ Her testimony might aid you, sir.” ‘*]T prefer to suffer the penalty rather than drag ber here.” ** Yet I shall have to insist, Mr. Wyndham, that she appear.” ' ee a eer eee eee —— Percy Wyndham seemed now anxious and worried for an instant, and all present noticed it. But, after a moment of thought, he said: ‘‘T have another witness, sir, that the duel was a fair one.” ** Name him.” ‘“‘T had not expected, sir, to bring the words of the dead up to save me from any alternative, but, anticipating that a meeting without sec- onds might be misunderstood, I asked of Major Mortimer his siguature to a paper, which he gave.”’ ‘‘ And have you that paper, sir?’ “T have,” ‘You will show it?’ ‘ If you demand it.” sé l do.”’ Percy Wyndham drew from his pocket the identical paper which Major Mortimer had It was written in a bold band that had noth- ing feminine about it, but was signed by Ma jor Mark Mortimer, whose signature was known to several present. ‘‘This is satisfactory, Mr. Wyndham, if Mr. Massey recognizes the late major’s signature, for he knew him best of all of us.”’ The Skeleton Schooner. | | | | —_ — - AS * Yes, it is too evident. ‘‘ She is mad,” answered the judge, ina kind- ly tone, and turning to Mrs. Wyndham, who glared upon him like a tigress, he continued: ‘‘Come, madam, return home, I beg you, with your son.” ** You say [am mad, do you?” she said, ina boarse whisper. “You are ill, my dear Mrs. Wyndham, for the shock of poor Mortimer’s death at the hands of your son has unnerved yor. *‘Go with him to your home, and soon all will be weil.” She looked bewildered an instant, and then her eyes rested upon her son, and in tones that touched the hearts of all wbo heard them, she cried: ‘* Percy, my boy, my son, Go you say that I did not kiil Mark Mortimer, and that it is but a freak of my disordered brain that makes me so believe?” Percy Wyndham was as pallid as a corpse; but in a voice that had not the slightest tremor _ he replied: ‘(It is Major Mortimer’s signature,” said tho | | and you must return with me at once.” elder Massey, firmly. Others said the same, and the judge turned | to Perey Wyndham and said: “The very man you killed, Mr. Wyndham, saves you. ‘You are free to go, but in future affairs of a like nature secure seconds.” Percy bowed haughtily, and turned to go, when there was heard a loud cry in a woman’s voice, and Mrs. Wyndbam came rusbing into the room. CHAPTER XIV. GONE MAD. THe cry of Mrs. Wyndham had startled every one in the court-room, but none more so than Percy Wyndham, her son, who well knew her voice. He turned paler at the cry than he had at the danger that had threatened him, for, had he been proven guilty of taking unfair means to end the life of his enemy, a ‘‘jury of his peers ” in that country would have very quick- ly brought bim guilty of murder in the first de- gree, and, in spite of his proud name and wealth, he would have ended his young life upon the gallows. Following the cry, as I have said, Mrs. Wyndham came into the room. All gave aside to allow her to pass, and straight to the front she went. She was dressed in a black silk velvet riding- habit that fitted her faultless form to perfec- tion, and a black s’ouch bat, in which were sable and dark-green plumes, was upon ber head. Her small hands were incased in gauntlet gloves, and in one she held a whip, the bandle studded with precious stones. The other hand upheld ber flowing skirt. Adown her back, and almost to ber feet, for it had shaken loose from its comb and fasten- ings, hung ber black hair in waving masses, and falling upon each side of ber face but in- creased its pallor. Her eyes were burning with a strange light, her lips stern, and her whole face quivering with emotion. A beautiful woman she certainly was, and a murmur of admiration arose on all sides. But her eyes were upon the tall, slender form of her son, her only child, so strangely like her- self in beauty, and to his side she bounded, while she cried in piteous tones: ‘‘Oh, Percy! Percy! are they daring to try you for my act?” “ Mother, be calm and come with me,” the youth said, almost sternly. ‘No, 1 will tell them all, for I alone am guilty. ‘See, Sir Judge, Iam the one you seek, for I killed Mark Mortimer, ay, shot him dead for a revenge I have long treasured in my heart. ‘‘Ha! ba! Percy, now you see that I would not allow you to suffer when I can save you.” Her words created the wildest consternation in the assemblage; but seeing that Percy Wyndham wished to speak, the judge rapped loudly for order and said: ‘‘ Silence! Now, Mr. Wyndham, I will hear ou.” ‘‘ Judge, I beg that you will aid me in lead- ing my poor mother to a carriage, for you see, alas! that I spoke the truth.” a TT 2 TT ‘* Yes, mother, youare mad to make such an assertion. ‘* Put come, I am cleared of all stain of dis- honor in my meeting with Major Mortimer, ‘* Mad! mad! ch God! I must be mad when my son tells me I am,” shrieked the unkappy woman, and bending her bead until her chin rested upon her bosom, she allowed herself to be led from the room, and witbout resistance entered the carriage of the judge, who placed it at the disposal of Percy Wyndham, whose face seemed .suddenly to have had years added to his life, so stern and bard bad it become, CHAPTER XV. REMORSE, It was a startling surprise to good Uncle Toby, when the carriage of Judge Lathrop rolled up the door of Lakelands, and he beheld his young master spring out, and call to him to aid bim in carrying his mother to her rooms. ‘‘ Mistis is in her room, sir,” said Toby. ‘‘She is not, for she is here with me. ‘* Call Nance and Pbhcebe at once.” “ Lordy! this is a miracle sure,” said the old negro, as be hobbled off after his wife and daughter. He found Phoebe sewing at the door leading into the wing, and asked: “Child, where is your mother?” ‘* Inside, sah,” answered the mulattress. ‘** And mistis?” ‘In the back room, sah.” ‘“Then there must be two of ’em. ‘Go to the front door, child, for Mars’ Percy is there and wants you.” The negress obeyed, and Uncle Toby entered the room, to find Aunt Nance dozing over her darning. ‘‘Old ’ooman, where is mistis?” ** *Sh—, old man, she have been sleepin’ this long time,” said the old woman. ‘* Just look in an’ see, honey.” Nance ‘‘ looked in” and gave a yell, for the bed was vacant, and the window was open. ‘*Don’t get skeer’d, honey, for we have found mistis. **Come on, for Mars’ Percy wants you, but I is afeerd he won't trust the Toby fam’ly no more, honey.” Old Nance saw that something serious was the matter, and she was mystified at finding her mistress gone; but she followed Toby ta the front door, where they met Percy coming into the mansion having his mother in his arms, **Oh, Lordy! is she dead?’ groaned Nance, while Phobe was wailing bitterly, as only a negress can, when their emotions find vent in tears. ** No, she is very ill though. ‘Is her room ready?’ said Percy, in a voice that made them start. ‘* Yes, Mars’ Percy.” He bore his mother to her room and laid her upon the bed. Then he turned to the old negress and her daughter, and said sternly: ‘“ Nance, I leave my mother, in the care of yourself and Phoebe, and one of you must be ever with her, for it seems she has eluded you, dressed berself in her riding-habit and escaped to the stables, where she got her own horse and came to the village. ‘‘Tf you allow my mother to escape again, IOO <€om (E cs , -~ (E(0) ~~ — ee