Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 22 — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

Z RSE mt tl ee ee cn eee ey worthless, compared with some old volumes that were mouldering on a shelf. Beside these, were fire-arms of various kinds. She turned over the title-pages of the books with avidity. She re- joiced in the happy impulse that had led to this good fortune. She lad now something with whieh to occupy her thoughts, or at least to beguile them of a portion of their heaviness. Anything was better than absolute apathy. Having prayed to God for aid and support, she became more tranquil, and seated by the friendly lamp, read herself ta sleep. CHAPTER XX. OWEN DRAWS THE LINE. “ We must make Tawny some moccasins,” said Nathalia, to Owen. It was on the same day that Bernard had seen Whitelaw for a moment; he was still absent, seeking him. «“ She don’t need them,” replied Owen. “ Her . feet are growing harder every day. Little In- yin girls 11 do very well without shoes.” “Jt seems cruel to see her walking through i | the bushes with naked feet,” added Nathalia. “She don’t mind it. If she hada dozen pairs of moccasins, she’d soon outgrow ’em.” ‘‘T do not think she is all Indian. There ap- ears to me to be white blood in her veins, [ elieve she is a half-breed, Owen. She don’t turn her feet inward when she walks, as Indians do.” “T told her notto. SaidI to Tawny: ‘Turn your toes out, or I'll cut ’em off.’ She winked and blinked at me very solemn, and she’s twist- ed her ankles like little saplin'’s twisted by the wind, ever since. It was hard for her, but she never complained. We can’t have no savage ways in our kingdom, you know, Queen Nattie. Everybody must walk straight here. She must make her hair eurl, by-and-by, like yours.” “That is impossible, Owen! Shie can’t curl “her hair ; Nature has made ‘it straight.” “ Ab, ha! that’s where Nature made a mis- take ; she should have made her feet straight and her hair erooked, Owen can see these things; he knows what's right and what's wrong.” » «“ Where’s Bernard ?” Owen looked earnestly at the girl. “‘He’s out, wanderin’ this way and that. There’s something the matter with his brain. I think Bernard is underwitted.” “ Underwitted?” repeated Nathalia, color- ing. 7) Yes—that's it! He's goin’ to be a fool; but he'll never be so smart and knowin’ as this wild boy, if he’s never go big a fool.” There was & cunning, satisfied smile on the Jad’s lips. | -“ What makes you think that he is losing his wits ?” Nathalia asked, suppressing a smile. “ Because he sighs and mutters, now walks fast and now walks slow, He wasn’t so when he he first came tothe island. He was happy when near the queen. Ah, hal he had eyes tor the ueen. He never looked at Owen as he did at | er, What have you done? Haye you been eross to him al «T’ve done nothing,” replied Nathalia, blush- ing. g. Never you tell lies, Queen Nattie! He that runs beside me will whisper if you tell lies.” Nathalia was considerably confused, but Jaughed at the nazveté of Owen. ‘* But come, Nattie—come! The melancholy one wants to see you. What makes him come here—the man that’s hidin’ on the island? Is it because he likes you, and you like him?” “Did, he send you?” asked Nathalia, quick- ly. va Ay; he told me last night where to find him, and that I was to ask you to come,” “He is very friendly, Owen. OughtI to see him ?” Nathalia’s manner was troubled. “J don’t know—I don’t know |” replied Owen, shaking his head, “ Owen’s devil is dumb just. now. Let me see if I can see him.” The youth took the fragment of a mirror from his pecket, which Nathalia had seen him have before, and looked at it. . “Yes, he’s here—he’s always here—but he moves his head from side to side, something like Ido. The whisperer is full of mystery. But I'll have it out of him; I won’t let him keep things back. He shan’t run beside me, if he gets sullen and silent.” “I am very much perplexed, Owen,” said Nattie, slowly following the youth. “‘ This man called Whitelaw, seems gvod and true. Some- thing draws me fevoaistably towird him,” . Whitelaw. “ But low is it with Bernard ?” asked Owen, ell looking back over his shoulder, drawn to him, too.” ‘“You ask singular questions!” said Nattie, sighing. “Who was that for? What did you sigh for, “Are you Queen Nattie? Was it for anything on the isl- and? “Was it for the sun, or the moon, or the sea, or the sky, or for the fish below, or the birds above ?” “T don’t know, Owen. I am not happy; I am lonely, disturbed, and miserable! t wish there was some one to advise me.” Her voice was low and sad. “Never you care for that! Owen has got the brain to advise you. Don’t you be troubled about what’s best. When things are goin’ wrong, I’}] let you know. But I must whisper with the whisperer before I talk of that! Tawny, don’t drag your feet wo! We are near the place now. You'll soon see him. But you’d better keep close. Bernard wouldn’t like to find you talk- in’ with the melancholy one’ I shouldn’t won- der if Bernard had a whisperer, who has told him that Whitelaw is on the island.” ‘Do you think he knows it ?” Nathalia asked, hurriedly. “Owen’s devil says ‘ Yes.’’ Ah, ha! that’s what he walks so much for! NowI understand. He’ll be angry, by-and-by. He’s afraid—he’s afraid.” Owen dropped his voice. “ He wants Queen Natti¢ all to himself. . I wonder if there’ll be a quarrel ?” “ Quarrel?” repeated Nathalia, in a startled tone. “Ay, a quarrei! Men’ often quarrel about pretty ones, and sometimes kill each other. hat’s because they’re fools—isn’t it ?” The words of Owen made a deep impression e on the young girl. They showed her a danger that she had scarcely thought of.. She knew not what to do. She was inclined to turn back and not sce Whitelaw ; but he had already observed her approach, and was advancing to meet her. “T thank you, my child,” he said, with a pa- ternal air that quite assured her. “ The sight of you makes me happier. Yor brought all this balm and sunshine—did you not? I did not notice either till you came.” ‘“That’s the way to talk to ’em,” said Owen. “ But you know, well enough, that Nattie did not bring the sunshine. There was sunshine on the island before she came,” interposed Owen. “True, lad; but the morning is brighter for her presence.” “Say what you’ve got to say,” said Owen, “so I can take her back to the palace Be careful that you don’t please her too much, for nobody shall take her from the island. She ran away with me, and to me she belongs. Ah, ha! the whisperer has whispered! He says you're thinkin’ of something that can’t be, I must keep between you two.” Nathalia stepped back in alarm; a warning voice was in her ears. Whitelaw himself was startled. He tried to shake off the feeling. “T would not harm her, silly boy,” he said. “ You'll drag her down, down, down!” The youth’s eyes were fixed vacantly upon Nathalia. His handsome face seemed iliuminat- ed with the spirit of second-sight. «“ He is indeed mad!’ murmured Whitelaw. ‘‘ But he is wise,” added Nathalia. ‘ His wis- dom sometimes seems not of earth. Is he not beautiful in his innocence and truth? Let us shun each other! Let us never meetagain! I feel in my soul that we are in danger of some- thing, I know not what.” “fig a childish, groundless fear!” answered Whitelaw, in those thoughtful, earnest tones which were natural to him, and which signified to the honesty of his purpose. “ Nathalia, I am wonderfully attracted to your side. You won me to yourself the first moment I beheld you. I cannot aualyze the feeling. I should be con- tent, I think, to have you always near me, to rotect and take care of you, in a paternal way. Do you believe in me, child ?” Nathalia gazed into those eyes, and replied, frankly : “TI do; I cannot help it!” “What is it?—what is it?” moaned Owen, moving about uneasily, “ He cannot make me understand him.” © Who cannot ?” asked Nathalia. “The whisperer!” sighed Owen, “ But go apart, I tell you!” 6 al “Am I evil?” asked Whitelaw, impressively. “Not wicked — not wicked; but you are draggin’ her down, down! Come away, Nattie ! come away, sweet Nattie! Owen will save you.” pensive and earnest | be ‘ : 19 The mad boy threw up his hands, and waved Nathalia and Whitelaw asunder. “What does it mean?” cried Nathalia. Owen drew a line with his finger on the ground tween them. “There! there! don’t pass it—don’t pass it, and you'll do well enough. Owen’s devil says so. Tawny! Tawny! come here.” Tawny was standing like a statue, with her hands behind her, as usual, a few yards distant. She approached quickly at Owen’s bidding. “Stand between them!” said Owen. “ Al- ways stand between them. If you don’t, I'll hate you! When she goes out, go with her. No matter if they beat and kill you; always stand between them !”’ ‘ Tawny placed her little bare feet on the line Owen had drawn, with her back to Nathalia, and her face to Whitelaw. “ Ah, hal’? eried Owen rubbing his hands. “* That will do it! Now you two are haunted— haunted as Owen is! You'll have to kill her to get rid of her. Let ‘em cut you into inch ~~ Tawny, but don’t you move, , Ha, ha! a, ha! what a whisperer! How much he knows! Now I can go.” With these words, rapidly spoken, Owen ran away and left them, muttering: “ Ah, ha! ah, ha ? Nathalia and Whitelaw looked at each other in a sort of terror. Both were troubled. Cast- ing their eyes downward, they saw the little bronze figure between them, motionless and grave. , ““T came,” said Whitelaw, in a tremulous voice, “to say something ; but I cannot say it.” “ Don’t! don't! If you love me, don’t!” ax- swered Nattie, imploringly. “ Do you know #”’ asked Whitelaw, with a won- dering look. ‘‘ My heart whispers something |!” gasped Na thalia. . “ Think of it—think of it! 1 will.ewait your answer, here, to-morrow.” | ““T am held back,” replied Nathalia, with a shudder. 3 ‘“‘T must live near you!” said Whitelaw, sol. emnly. “1 will be your child—your submissive, lov. ing child! Let your thoughts rest there.” oth involuntarily glanced at Tawny. “It is the hand of God!” murmured Nattie “ Perhaps — perhaps!" exclaimed Whitelaw. painfully affected. ‘To-morrow — come to- morrow.” | He made a motion, as if to stretch his hand over the child’s head, but ehecked the impulse suddenly and with a tremor, then turned and dashed into the woods. | | CHAPTER .XXI. WHITELAW AND BERNARD. Bernard was at the lodge when Nathalia re- turned. He noticed that she was unusually thoughtful. She averted her eyes when he looked at her, and was emba ; ; ‘‘ Nathalia,”’ he said, “ do you remember the night when we met for the first time ?” ‘‘T ean never, never forget it!” she answered, with an involuntary start. : “NeithercanI! On that night :I loved you,” added Bernard, in atone half melancholy, half reflective. : Nattie’s cheeks glowed, and she was silent. “ Your face has been before me ever since,” he resumed. “ Every pursuit, but that of you, has grown distastefal. But one word rings in my ears, and that is, Nathalia! I blessed the. chance that wafted me to this island. When I first came, I was happy. I was content in being near you, and my society seemed to give you pleasure. Now all is changed; you have be- come reserved and silent. Nathalia, you con. ceal something from me! You have a secret that troubles you.” “Bernard! Bernard! do not talk to me! Your words disturb me!” she exclaimed, quite agitated. “ And should they not disturb you?” cried Bernard, with warmth. “ You have withdrawn your confidence from me; you have bestowed it upon ove nearly twice my age. He is compara- tively a stranger to you, and you have given him stolen interviews in the woods.” . “ What do you say, Bernard?” she asked, with a conscious blus | “TI have discovered your secret. Whitelaw is on op island! You will not—you cannot de- ny it!’ ; “ No; I will not !” murmured Nathalia, pain, fully confused. “Why did you not confide in me ae in a Gomicbooks } 5 (E(@)