Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 22 — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

—eEeE—EEE————EE | ‘mine, but not for taking you out. It'll come to me some time, per -mused Whitelaw. ‘“ “ He pushed you in!” he said, with a searching look. ‘“ How long did you remain in the water?” | ‘Several miserable hours!” she answered, in ~ avery low yoice. . “I was chilled, and the fear of death was on me.” “ He returned and saved you ?” “ He did.” ‘‘ How did he appear ?” “Excited and eager.” . Infamous villain!” muttered Whitelaw. ‘Do you know any possible motive for this unnatural deed ?” Sgt “T have a secret, which he considers of im- portance. I-know where-he obtains gold. I saw him, too, attempt the lives of Neil Travis and Bernard Ross, actuated by a firm conviction that those. two young men were watehing him for the purpose of discovering the gold-secret. Ralph wished to lay me under a solemn obli- gation to observe en gate silence in regard to my knowledge, which my whole soul, at that time, rebelled against, and I refused.” “ That may account for pushing you into the The whole transaction fills me with horror and amazement. But it is too dreadful to talk of, and furnishes — the strongest possible reason why you should be withdrawn entirely from his. influence, and placed completely beyond his reach. Give to me, Nathalia, the sweet privilege of guarding you. Every consideration urges this plea.. That wonderful sympathy which draws us together, askas and demands it. Nathalia, let us break down this superstitious barrier ; find rest and shelter.in. these arms.” . Nathalia was 'moved. She had confidence in him who stood before her; a firm, yet gentle trust in his manhood. Her eyes wandered from his eloquent face to Tawny. She thought of the warning of Owen ; she could not forget Bernard. Her distress was apparent to Whitelaw ; he rieved to give her so much pain.. Two power- Ful, invisible forees were upon the twain; the one Wana them forward, the other held them back. Tawny, fixed anil motionless, looked straig|it forward, seemingly seeing and hearing nothing. | ¢ritical and acute in such matters. The trunk The little red hands, crossed upon her back,| of a pine tree had been rolled from the shore into A foul murder, it would seem, has were toward Nattie ; their childish smallness ap- ealing to what was affectionate and motherly within her. | “ Shall I put her aside, Nattie ?” asked While'aw. There was a deeper meaning in his voice than naturally attached to the simple action referred’ to. Nathalia understood him. “No, no!” she answered, earnestly. “ Let her remain between us. Let her remain, I say | Let.us not scorn the voicethat speaks to us. Owen.is my friend ; my guardian ; and without his consent I will do nothing.” | “ You have spoken right, Queen Nattie,” said Owen himself, suddenly appearing. “You must always think of me. It was I that took’ you|’ away from the wicked one, and it is I who take eare of you. He has come to my island, but he’)! have to go off; I sha’n’t let him stay. He that runs beside me, whispers about bim'™ “ We wish not to be disturbed,” said White- law, somewhat annoyed. “Never you be afraid! All you've to do, is to listen. to the wild poy of the woods. You haven’t passed the line, I see ; Tawny’s fect are on it. Ah, ha! But she'll haunt you!_ I’ve only to tell her to do a thing, and Pe does it. If you’s to stay here all day, she wouldn't be tired. Tawny is the line; you can’t pass over Tawny. Come, Nattie, come away! Bernard is at the lodge, looking cross. You must speak a good word to Bernard ; there’s no little Ingin girl between you and Bernard.” Then to Whitelaw : e ‘“‘ Melancholy one, you ean come, too. There'll be no harm in goin’ there. You've only to be eareful of what you say to Bernard. You mustn’t talk any more with Ralph. Ralph hates ou; he that runs by my side says he hates you. e wants you to drag Nattie down, down! There's asecret somewhere, a very strange secret, which will eome out one of these days.” “« What is it, Owen?” asked Nathalia, im- pressed by the youth’s manner and words. “Ah, ha! that’s what I can’t understand. The whisperer. has tried to make me, but I can’t. I wonder there is, anything I me understand, ps.” ‘“ There is something inexplicable in all this,” iP it be madness, it is an ex- traordinary madness.” ? * “ At times,” answered Nathalia, “this boy’s utterances seem like inspiration.” 4 Owen's handsome face was turned earnestly hitelaw. ha on Nattie; his eyes gleamed with pleasure, He had found a soul that, in some deyree, com- prehended him. Her words fell most gratefully on his ears. “Twill not agree with you on that point,” ‘gaid Whitelaw. ‘It is our duty to be governed ‘by our best judgment, God hiving given us rea- son for our guidance. Owen has told you truly that Ralph is on the island; Nat Stratton. is with him. But do not fear. You have friends ‘who will watch over you. Go with the lad, Nathalia, I will see you again at the lodge. Heaven keep you till then!” Whitelaw left her slowly, and she return. with Owen to his island horne. OHAPTER XXVIL STRATTON. REBELS. to face. They met beneath tac s,2aamg trees on the east side of the island. _ You. have seen my_niede,” What have you to say to me?” ‘But little, indeed. I. doubt your right to treat with me on tais: subject. Your motives are, to me, mysterious,” returned the other. ‘What motive can I have but the good of the child? I feel mvself unfitted to eare for so gentle a creature’ My te nper is unequal—my moods dark and changeful. I have not always done right by Nattie: «In you, I think I have found a man of wonor, who will make her hap- piness your chiefest care. This is why I as- sent so Wiilingly. Is not the matter clear gnough ?”’ : ) Ralph appeared thoughtful and candid. ‘You area man of evil deeds, I am afraid. Your hands are by no means free from guilt. I nave heard dar< whispers concerning the disap- pearance of Bernard Ross. The Jad Owen, ina recent visit to the shore, has seen Kid Kerly, who, in searching for the young man, detected certain suspicious marks in the sand. He dis- said Ralph. small red spot near the water's ede. no er, . life in the He had orthwest having rendered him very the lake. been committed.” Whitelaw did not take his eyes from Ralph's countenance, He observed the rapid changes in his expressiqn. “Do you accuse me of the crime?” asked Ralph, frowning, and assuming an <tfended air. * Did yon come here to insulf me, or to speak of Nathahia? Ifthe first be your motive, let us part ;.1 will take away my niece, and you will see her no more,” “T have, as yet, accused you of nothing. ‘[ have but uttered the thotghts that naturally come up..in my mind upon seeing you, and re- membering what Owen heard from the moun- taineer.” : Whitelaw spoke caJmly. | “The boy Owen is an idiot, and Kid Kerly'a mediling fool! The trapper had better go back to his fur-huuting, scalps, and squaws. Come not to me, Mr Whitelaw, with words like those you have uttered. I know that I have my sea- sons of madness; but I was never mad enough to ‘ake human life. There is’ a hereditar t~ > of insanity in the Quimby family This ‘a. sree to acknowledge ; but it ruas not to the -ginmission of crime. If it bas ever led me to vil, repentance followed. so close upon it that I aastened to repair the wrong.” | Ralph’s manner was self-deprecating and hum- ble. Had Whitelaw known less of him, his words would have had more weight, “TI feel it my duty,” added the miner, “'to warn you gecceiy ¢ the boy Owen, whose folly sometimes takes a dangerous diréction, anger, he is terribly violent! I know not that he had anything against young Ross; but he might have had, I don’t accuse him of the murder, if there has been one; but I am’ sure that a paroxysm of rage would carry him perilous extremities.” ee ‘T have never observed anything but gentle- ness jn the character of the youth. He is 8tr » ly averse to having Nattie accept the offer I haye made her, On that subject he is singu- ” larly in earnest. om nf ‘Her beauty has, doubtless, affected the nalf- witted creature. Persons legs foolish than he have loved her. And now you furnish» motive to make him dislike the young man, Ross.” “ You think Owen loves Natbalia?” initerro- gated Whitelaw. “ After what you have told me, I don’t enter Whitelaw and ym Quimbr &7ain stood face. ‘tinotly traced the imprint of feet, and found’a in recognizing the tracks, a long | quickly. In his ° 25 ! tain a doubt of it. Beware of him—-beware of him! Although a mere Jad, he may work you infinite mischief,” said Quimby. wita a waruing shake of tbe head. ) “You ceive neither yourself nor me. i never sho)’ fear Owen: ‘2 is imnocence it- self.” “ A fatal mistake, this opmion may prove i”. exclaimed Ralph, uneasily; for the self-posses- sion of Whitelaw annoyed aim. His hatred j burned fiercely within; but he stifled the tame which had blackened and charred his conscience A seuse of insecurity haunted him. Every sup- port seemed slipping from beneath him. His crime, on the Jake shore was following him. Suspicion was already pointing at him. Possi- bly, he would be obliged to. flee before his yil- lainy was accomplished. While his thoughts and fears were thus active, Nat Stratton joined them. .Anger and discontent were pictured ~* upon his visage. He scowled at Ralph, as he drew near. : “Mind what you do!” he muttered. . ‘ Mind, I tell ye! No double-dealin’ with me.” “ His mind is somewhat shattered,” whispered Ralph, to Whitelaw. ae ‘Shattered !’’ repeated Stratton, catching the last word. ‘Who wouldn’t be shattered, to suffer what I have? Come, come! If I can’t hit the mark, no one sha!l.”’ Then, to Whitelaw : “ Whatever he wants. you to do, don’t, du it! You can’t trust him; if he says one thing, he _means another. If he says he’s your friend, set it down that he’s your, deadly enemy. , There’s the truth for, ye, Help Ha! ha! How do you like the truth? You don’t hear it often. ut you'll hear it now, every day and hour.” “My poor friend,” answered Ralph, soothing- My and with transcendent bypocrisy, ‘be calm! It’sallright; nothing iswrong. You shall have your own way meverything.” _ , | “ What does he want?” inquired Whitelaw, _with.a penetrating glance. ‘What he has promised !” cried Stratton, “ That you shall. have,” interposed Quimby, “It’s all right, I say.” “It’s all wrong, say!” thundered Stratton. “Why do, you Jeal me on andon? Why do you point the way to perdition? Why do. you | eap crime.on me? Are my miseries to go for nothing? Have I enriched you, to be mocked | at in return? I will rob you of that. I will tell all the world where treasure can be had for the diggin’ !”’ . “For God’s sake, comrade, be quiet !’’ cried Ralph, internally boiling with rage, but keeping down its outward manifestation. | “You wince, do ye? Itouch the raw.spot, don’t I? But am I to be a football for you durin’ the rest. o’ my life? My time is short; them terrible sights will cover me, soon. I shall be shot plum” centre. What do I ear. what happens? Don’t frown and glare at me, Ralph Quimby ;. you can’t change one hair white nor black. t am so pear played out, that I am ‘indifferent to everything. 1 ean’t be hang- ed, nor drowned, nor stabbed with steel! I have a sublime advantage over ye all, Quail before me, you Ralph Quimby! I shou'dn’t wonder if I should throttle ye, so you can go before, and tell’em I’m comin’!” Ralph took him by the arm, to lead him away ; for he trembled at the consciousness of the rev- elations it, was in his power to make. Stratton shook him off in a moment. “No, nol’ he said. ‘ We two are done. You have broken faith with me; you are bar- ainin’ with him for Nattie. Don’t deny it, for Pevaibias! ye. I crept along like a serpent on the ground. Imistrusted mischief. How sharp my ears were! I could hear you think, altuest. I know the truth, pow. You can go pour way, _Ralph, and I'll gv mine; and we'll see how twill end. Whitelaw, look out for this man. eee eee | He has no loye for ye, and, by some infernal, -erooked, windin’ subtlety, he'll catch you in his black spider’s web. He promised me Nathalia before he did you. I loved her, stranger! You _know nothin’ about love, or 13H wouldn't stand there, so calm and quiet, Mn go mad who ‘love as I do. My passion has burned away my senses ; it has coneumed my life, ‘I shall die ail _miserable wretch, obnoxious alike to her and to ‘God. .This monster, has fed my hopes; he has led me from ste) to step, till T’am spotted as a | leper, with sin. If you would be happy, gees this creature. You'll ontlive me; and, if you have any power oyer the girl, take her to some country so distant, that he never heard its name!” | Stratton waved his hand solemnly, warning- jy: and darted away. Whitelaw turned his foot- steps toward Owen’s lodge, leaving Ralph stand- ing motionless and astounded. EOmiecooo -— ——— —— <S5iGO