Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 20 — page 32: what you’re looking at

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

pe — . . er Ka,” Salam” - p £ —w ——s ~~ 2 © - ine. . ia ” * ; _ : =, . Rye ae Paes ee ee . mee ——_ “~ > . hee “ -—- ~ Pd - — t a : . 7 - . ~— os ~ * > ~- = A ~<a my ’ 7 ~ - ‘“*T do not unaerstana you, sir.’ *** Perhaps so! listento me. ‘There are on this table eighteen hundred thousand piasters, that is to say,a fabulous fortune, which would form the happiness of a dozen families.’ ‘** Well? I answered in surprise. ““* Well, I will play you for them, if you like. Hang it, my dear sir,l am in luck at this moment, and I will not let fortune es- cape me while f{ hold her.’ ‘*T have nothing more to stake, sir, and you know it,’ I said, in aloud and haughty voice. ‘I do not understand what you are alluding to.’ ‘““To this he replied, without seeming in the least disconcerted, ‘ You love Dona Isa- bella Izaguirre ?” ‘** How does that concern you?” “¢Tf I may believe public rumor, you are to marry her ina few days,’ he continued calmly. ‘ Well, I too love Dona Isabel, and I have made up my mind she shall be mine by fair means or foul.’ “¢ And? [ interrupted him, violently. “* And, if you like, I will stake these eighteen hundred thousand piasters against her hand. You see that I appreciate her value,’ he added, as he carelessly lit his ciga- tte. “** A splendid game! what a magnificent stake! a man can not act more gallantly!’ such were the remarks made around me by the witnesses of this scene. ‘** You hesitate ?? Don Pacheco asked me in his ironical way. - ** No.’ I answered ina hollow voice, my teeth clenched with rage. ‘I accept.’ ** The audience uttered a cry of admiration. Never in the memory of piayers at Arispe, had a game of monte afforded such in- terest, and all eagerly collected round the table. I felt for Dona Isabel that profound love which constitutes a man’s existence, «Who is to deal?’ I asked my adver- sary. . “¢VYou!’ he replied, with his infernal smile. ‘‘ Five minutes later I had lost my Isabel ! There was a moment’s silence. It was ey- ident that the wound in his heart was as viv- id as on the day when he received it, and that only a strong interest induced him to refer to it. ‘‘ At length,” he continued, as he wiped away the cold perspiration that beaded on his forehead,and mingled with the blood that oozed from his wound, “the stranger ap- proached me. ‘* * Are you satisfied ?’ he said. * *Not yet,’ I replied ina gloomy voice: ‘we have still one ome to play out. ***Oh,’ he said, ironically, ‘I fancied you had nothing more to lose.’ ‘** You were mistaken. You have atill my life to gain from me.’ _ “**That is true,’ he said; ‘heaven, I will win it from you. I wish to cover yourstake to the end, so let us go out.’ ‘““* Why do that?’ I said to him. ‘This table served as the arena for the first two ames, and the third shall be decided upon ’ “*Done!’ he said. ‘By Jupiter! you are a fine fellow! I may kill you, but I shall be proud of my victory.’ ‘‘ People attempted in vain to prevent the duel; but neither the stranger nor myself would listen to it. At length they consent- ed to give the weapons we asked for. The two heroes of Arispe, the men who had for so long a time formed the sole topic of con- versation, had at Ti Sa decided to settle which should definite y hold the palm. ‘‘T leaped on the table, and my opponent at once followed my example. I enjoyed the reputation of being a fine swordsman, and yet, at, the second pass, I fell with my chest pierced through. For three months I hov- ered between life and death, and when Dy outh and powerful constitution at lengt umphed over my horrible wound, and I was approaching convalescence, I inquired about my adversary. On the day after our duel, this man had married Dona Isabel; a week later, both disappeared, and no one could tell mein what direction they had one. ‘*T had only one object, one desire—to re- venge myself on Don Pacheco. §8o, as soon as I was sufficiently recovered to leave the house, I sold the little left me, and quitted Arispe in my turn, followed by my friends, who were as poor as myself, for the blow that had struck me had struck them too, ot ages myself, they ny desired revenge on Don Pacheco. For 4 long time our re- searches were vain, and many years elapsed . ere I grew weary of seeking their trail. There were only two of us now to do it, for the third had left us, > 40) soa _.** What had become of him I didnot know, but one day, by change, at an American fron- tier village where | had gone to sell my pel- try, Satan brought me face to face with this friend, whom I never expected to meet again, The New York Library. He wore a monk’s gown, and so soon as he perceived me, walked up to me. The first words he addressed to me after our length- ened separation were : **¢ T have found them again.’ ‘“T understood without it being necessary for him to make any further explanation, for my hatred had taken such deep root in my heart. What more shall I tell you, Nina ?”’ he added, with an effort, while a fearful smile crisped his blue lips. ‘‘I took my revenge. Oh! this vengeance was long in coming, but it was terrible! Our foe had be- come one of the richest land-owners in Tex- as; he lived happily with his wife and chil- dren, respected and loved by all who sur- rounded him. I bought a farm near his, and then, on the watch, like a jaguar with its rey, 1 followed his every movement, and introduced myself into his house, So “ag be ened a period had elapsed since our last meeting, that he did not recognize me, al- though a foreboding seemed from the out- set to warn him that I was his enemy. **One night, at the head of a band of Pi- rates and Apaches, my two friends and my- self, after assuring ourselves that all were quietly sleeping in Don Pacheco’s hacienda, glided like serpents through the darkness ; the walls were escaladed, and our vengeance began. ‘** The hacienda was given up to the flames ; Don Pacheco and his wife, surprised in their sleep, were pitilessly massacred, after under- going atrocious tortures. I tore both your- self and your sister from the arms of your dying mother, who sobbed at our feet, im- ploring me to spare you in memory of my old love for her, ‘‘T swore it, and kept my promise. I do not know what became of your sister; I did not even trouble myself about her. As for you, Nina, have you ever had any cause to reproach me ?”’ he girl had listened to this fearful reve- lation with frowning eyebrows and livid cheeks. When the bandit stopped, she said harshly : ‘*Then you are the murderer of my father and mother ?”’ ‘*Yes,’’ he replied, *‘ but not alone; there were three of us, and we took our revenge.” “Wretch!? she burst forth; ‘‘vile as- sassin !”” The girl uttered these words with such an implacable accent, that the bandit shudder- ed “Ah!” he said, ‘I mia ar the lioness. You are truly my enemy’s daughter. Cour- age, chLd, courage, Assassinate mein your turn. What restrains you? Rob me of the short span of life still left me, but make haste, or Heaven will prevent your venge- ance.’’ The girl gave no answer, “You prefer seeing me die; well, receive this last present,” he said, plucking from his bosom a bag, suspended from a steel chain; ‘‘in it you will find two letters, one from your father, the other from your mother; you will learn who you are, and what name you should bear in the world, for the one I mentioned is false ; I wished to deceive you to the end. That name is my last vengeance. . . + Nina, you will remember me.” ‘ Ve girl made a bound at the bag and seiz- ed it. “Now, good-by,”’ the Pirate said; ‘‘my work is accomplished on this earth,”’ And seizing the pistol Red Cedar had left him, he blew out his brains, fixing on the irla wigbee of strange mesons: But she id not seem to notice this tragical end, for she was tearing the bag with her teeth. When she succeeded in opening it, she un folded the papers it contained, and hurried- ly perused them. Suddenly she uttered a shriek of despair, and fell back, clutching the letters in her hund, The Indians and Pirates ran up to help her, but, quicker than lightning, a horseman darted from the chapparal, reaching the girl without checking the speed of his horse ; he bent down, raised her upin his powerful arms, tnrew her across his saddle-bow, and passed like a tornado through the astounded spectators. “ We shall meet again soon, Red Cedar,” his said in a loud voice, as he passed the squat- ter. Before the latter and his comrades could recover from their surprise, the horsem had disappeared in the distance in a clo of dust. The horseman was Bloodson! Red Cedar shook his head sadly. ‘‘Can what the priests say be true?” he muttered; ‘is there really a Providence ?” CHAPTER XXXI, _ THE RIVALS. * Arrer the tragic execution of the Pirate, the hunters slowly continued their journey, The scenes we Save described fn previous chapters had spreaa over them a gloom which nothing could dissipate. - . Since his daughter’s disappearance, Don o~ ihe Zarate, who had been suddealy hurl- ed from the hight of his hopes, maintained a Roomy and stern silence. alentine and General Ibanez were nold- ing an animated conversation, the two In- dians, Curumilla and Moukapec, going in fron. and serving as guides, Don Pablo and Ellen rode side by side ; they alone of the smal: party seemed happy, and a smile now and then played over their faces. Alone of the little band the two young people had the faculty of forgetting past sufferings through the present joy. During Sandoval’s execution, Elien had been kept aloof, hence she was ignorant of what had occurred; and nothing happened to dnil the pleasure she experienced at see- ing herself reunited to the man to whom she had mentally given her heart. Ellen was describing to Don Pablo how Dona Clara and herself escaped from Red Cedar’s camp, protected by the two Canadian hunters. ** Ah!’? Don Pablo said, “ talking of those hunters, what has become of them ?”’ ‘* Alas !’’ Ellen replied, ‘Sone of them was killed by the Apaches, and the other—” ‘Well, and the other?” “There he is,’’ she said; “‘ oh, he is de- voted to me, body and soul.”’ Don Pablo turned ronnd with an angry movement, and a dull jealousy was inflamed in him. He looked at the hunter who rode a few paces in the rear, but at the sight of his open, honest face, over which a tinge of melancholy was spread, the young man seriously upbraided himself for his appre- hensions. e quickly went up to the aunt- er, While Ellen regarded them with a smile; when he was at the Canadian’s side, he of- fered him his hand. ‘“‘Thanks,”’? he said to him simply, ‘fo what you did for her.”’ Harry pressed the hand, and answered sad- ly but nobly: ‘*] di@ my duty; I swore to defend her and die for her: when the hour arrives, I will keep my oath.”’ Don Pablo smiled gracefully. * Why do you not ride by our side ?”’ ‘* No,” Harry answered with a sigh, as he shook his head; “I ought not, and do not wish to be the third in your conversation. You love each other, and be happy. It is my duty to watch over your happiness ; leave me in my place and remain in yours.’ Don Pablo thought, for a moment over these words, then pressed the hunter’s hand a second time. ‘*You have a noble heart,’’ he said to him; “I understand you;”’ and he rejoined his companion. A smile played round the hunter’s pallid 5. gr Yes,” he muttered, s0 soon as he was alone; *‘ yes, I love her. Poor Ellen! she will be happy, and if so, what matter what becomes of me?”’ He then reassumed his indifferent look :* but at times he gazed with a feeling of sor- rowfal pleasure on the young people, wao had renewed their conversation. ‘Ts he not.a glorious fellow ?”’ Ellen said to the young man as he pointed to the hunter, Don Pablo sighed. ** You love bim,’’ he murmured, The maiden smiled. “Tf you mean by those words that [ place an unbounded contidence in him, that I feel a sincere and deep affection for him, in that sense, yes, I do love him.,”’ Don Pablo shook his head. _. ‘* That is not what I mean,” he said, She mats on him fixedly, and remained silent for some minutes, the Mexican not daring to question her., At length she turned to him, and laid her hand on his shoulder; at touch the young man started, and quickly raised his head. ‘‘ Listen, Don Pablo,’’ she said, in her clear and harmonious voice. ‘ Accident one day brought us together,’’ she continued, with a sort of feverish animation, “ under extraordinary circumstances. Onseeing you, I felt a sensation at once sweet and painful : my heart contracted, and when, after defying my brothers, you set off, I looked after you so long as I could perceive you through the trees, At length | returned dreamily to our cabin, for I felt that my fate was decided; your words echoed in my ears, your was in my heart, and yet you had appear to me as an enemy: the words you u in my presence were threats. ence “rose the strange emotion that agitated me ?”’ ‘*“Oh, you loved me!’’ the young man ex, claimed impetuously, ll alll * Yes, di [not ?” she continued, ‘‘It is what is called love,” she added, ina aenyere ing voles, while two tears fell fram her long lashes and coursed down her pale cheeks ; ‘in what will that Jove result? The daugh- books -?s. : 7