Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 22 — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

Dll ee ee el el y ie on ee prised at what they beheld; they had not an- ticipated a scene so amare and striking. Ralp nodded his head slightly to Nathalia, who did not raise her eyes to look at him, then said to Whitelaw, carelessly : “Well, this is comfortable, I’m sure! The housekeeping arrangements seem to be quite complete. A pretty good place for my runa- way niece!” Whitelaw pointed to seats. Ralph sat down; but Stratton stood a moment, gazing at Nar thalia. “Down!” whispered Ralph. Stratton me- chanicilly obeyed, respiring heavily. Quimby turned to Whitelaw, glanced at Nathalia and Owen, and asked : “ What have you to say, Mr. Whitelaw ?” “JT would ask you,” answered the other, “ to relinquish all claims to this young woman, and to assume no right nor authority to govern her actions. indeed, she has arrived at an age when she needs not the censorship of such an uncle.” ; “A modest request, truly!” sneered Ralph. “ Being her only relative and guardian, it is my duty to maintain that censors ‘ of which you are desirous to deprive me. y niece must come and go when I bid her. Officious meddling with my affairs will prove unprofitable to you or any one.” Raiph spoke with manifest bitterness. He found it hard to struggle with that burning hatred that was within him—that had haunted —that had followed him year after year. The failure of his project, and a change of tactics, produced a change of manner. Policy did not row seem to dictate that deceptive smoothness vlich had before characterized his intereourse with Whitelaw. A moiety of his vindictiveness oozed out, in spite of his great self-control. “You mean to my that you will not allow Nathalia to choose her own tenor of life, and euch companionship as is congenial to her age and tastes; and, I might add, which is proper to her sex ?” Whitelaw’s stern and melancholy eyes were bent upon Ralph, who quailed before them. “JT mean to say he answered, doggedly, that all my friendly overtures being rejected by you, I can hold no farther parley with you respect- ing my niece. I have, at present, other views.” ‘May I ask what they are ?” “ You can.” “] do ” “And I will not tell you! I ct © hate right to come between me and mine. our treat- ment, your coldness, Ss sinister insinuations, have changed my feelings toward you. If I do not put you to the trouble of proving your ac- cusations, attribute it to my forbearance.” ‘“‘ Nathalia,” exclaimed Stratton, springing to his feet, ‘is mine! I have loved her with an intense and fatal love.” Ralph caught him by the arm and drew him back to his seat. Nattie shuddered. “Be quiet, stu id animal!’ admonished: Ralph. “ Leave all to me.” “JT will ask no forbearance, Ralph Quimby,” said Whitelaw. “I can, if need be, bring atart- ling evidence of guilt; but I must have time.” « Now—now!” retorted Ralph. ‘I demand those proofs now. He who accuses me of mur- der, shall not put me off by ingenious pretexts. I throw upon you the responsibility of those proofs. will not be rendered terrible and criminal in the eyes of my niece.” He darted a warning look at Nathalia. “ Ah, ha!” interposed Owen. “ Owen’s dev- il ean bring evidence. He that runs besitle me knows how murder comes out.” _“ Peace, fool!” said Ralph, turning sharply upon him. |. . “T would,” added Whitelaw, with a pensive air, “that you had spared me this trial. I pos- sess, Ralph Quimby, unhappily for me, @ strange and terrible gift. I can recall from that bodiless world whence they go, the restless hosts of murdered persona, for the purpose of fixing upon their slayers the crime of their deaths.” ia Ralph Jaughed derisively ; Stratton regarded the speaker with mute attention. te h, if you will,” resumed Whitelaw, im- pressively, “ but more serious emotions will, perhaps, arise, when I assure you that T am willing to be put to the test, and will, at your bidding, evoke the spirit of the murdered Ber- nard Ross.” “ Frightful !” exclaimed Nathalia. “The device will do for children; it is too shallow for full-grown men,” said Ralph, in- credulously, and with a motion of contempt with the hand. “Do you put me to the proof?” demanded Whitelaw. with solemnity. “T do! I do! Procvea with your incanta- tions; I am ready! Ralph Quimby can’t be frightened with hobgoblins.” “ We'd better go,” whispered Stratton, touch- ing Ralph upon the arm. “Don’t be an idiot! When we leave this lodge, Nathalia goes with us!” He struck up- on his breast-pocket, where he carried his re- volver, and let the breech of his rifle fall warn- ingly upon the ground, “Ah, now you talk sense, Ralph! We will carry her away, if we have to cut this man in pieces !”’ Stratton grasped his knife. There was a fero- cious glare in his eyes. “Never you be afraid, Nattie. The whisper- er has whispered a good word in my ear. Ah, ha! We're enough for the wicked ones. Sit you there, Queen Nattie, and be calm,” said Owen, encouragingly. “Go on with your farce!” said Quimby, im- patiently. “ Be silent, then. Utter not a word while I proceed. Your safety will depend on your strict observance of this precaution. ft is no light thing I am about to do.” Ralph shrugged his shoulders ; but Stratton’s countenance was grave and anxious. It was the former’s threat only, in regard to Nathalia, that gave him courage. In imagination, he had al- ready seen the brig of Bernard a score of times. He would have fled, had not the young woman held him like a magnet. The torches flared and flickered in the centre of the lodge. A black smoke arose from the burning pitch, mounting fantastically to the opening above. Sometimes the flames burned with an intense fervor, casting a red glare on every object, then fitfully subsiding, left a pale glimmer, in striking and ghastly contrast. ‘Whitelaw arose and walked slowly around the torches three times, repeating some monot onous words in a language unfamiliar to Ralph. He then plucked some hairs from his beard and head, threw thém into the flames, and agaid muttered the unintelligible formula. This done, he dropped oe upon the torches that emitte! a pungent odor, and speedily diffused itself through every part of the lodge. All this was done with the greatest gravity.’ The conjurer now seemed agitated, darted a warning glance at the miners, clasped his hands, bowed his had reverently, and said, in a loud and solemn voice : “ Bernard Ross! Bernard Ross! Appear— ‘appear !” hitelaw paused. The objurgation acted upon Stratton’s guilty conscience. Dread was upon his face ; while something more than cu- riosity mounted to the eyes of Ralph. No spectre uprose. ‘Wherever thou dwellest,” resumed White- jaw, in the same thrilling tones, ‘‘ whether in the earth beneath or the air above, separate thyself from the elements, and take visible form. Appear! appear !” A cloud of smoke suddenly rolled up between the torches and the extremity of the lodge ; when it disappeared, Bernard Ross. was seen standing there. His garments were saturated with water; a cord dangled from one of his wrists, his face was deadly pale, and there was a little spot of blood on his forehead. His eyes were open and fixed. Both Ralph and Stratton arose with an invol- untary crys and gazed at this unexpected appa- rition wit ef mete consternation. “ Spirit,” said Whitelaw, in a subdued tone, “to subserve the decrees of eternal jtistice, in- dicate thy murderers.” Bernard slowly raised his arm and pointed grimly at the miners. Stratton’ fell upon his knees, exclaiming : “T confess! I confess! Yes, we are guilty— Ralph and I. But he led me on; he whispered the murderous thought.” Ralph sank to his seat, and ec vered his face with his hands. His strong frame shook like a reed. His hardihood was for a moment ‘con- quered. “You. confess ?” said Whitelaw, turning to Stratton. “ All—all! Bid him go—bid him go!” he answered, averting his gaze from the, to him, terrific vision. | “ This is hallucination!” muttered Ralph. “Look up,” added Whitelaw. ‘Whitelaw. — Both obeyed; but Bernard Ross had disap- ov peared. Ralph Quimby’s natural effrontery began to return. ‘““What means this miserable jugglery ?” he stammered. ; ‘It’s meaning, to you, must be fearful,” Whitelaw answered, with severity. “You may frighten this »oor maniac,” re- sumed Ralph, making a contemptuous motion toward Stratton, who stood trembling, his fea- tures convulsed with terror, “ but a man in his senses will scorn such trickery.” _ “T wished to convince myself of the accus- ing fears of a guilty mind, and induce you to acknowledge a crime. I have deceived you in but one thing. You have seen, not a disembod- ied and ghostly existence, but Bernard Ross in his proper and corporal form. Your cowardly attempt upon his life providentially failed. He was borne on the waves toward this island, and saved by the extraordinary daring and skill of Owen.” ) _ “ Not dead! not dead !”” cried Stratton, exult- ingly. “Haha! that gives me strength again I come back to life !” He paused and looked at Nathalia. His wild and ungovernable passion was rekindled in all its fierce fervor. “ He’s ailive—is he? Then he will come and take her. Yes, I shall lose her. That will be worse than death! I had rather die than live to see such a thing. Die? Shall I not die soon? I shall—I shall! The hour draws near. She shall go before, and I will follow, to love her in that world !’’ Stratton sprang toward Ralph, snatched the istol from his pocket, cocked and leveled it at athalia, with that ineredible quickness that characterizes the movements of madmen. A puff of smoke came from the opposite side ot the lodge; the crack of a rifle rent the air; Stratton clapped his hand upon his breast, sprang upward, and fell. In falling, his fingers clutched the pistol convulsively ; it was dis- charged, and its contents lojged in Ralph's riglit side. Kid Kerly immediately stepped from his hid- ing-place and stood beside Nattie, a little jet of ; smoke still curling from the muzzle of his wea- on. we Plum’ centre !” groaned Stratton. “I told! ye I should be shot plum’ centre! I’m goin’— goin’! - You'll soon follow, Ralph. Heaven di- rected my fallin’ hand. Nattie—where are ye, Nattie? Your face grows dim. I hear the dash of waves. Bernard! Bernard! How the dark vapors settle on the lake! How fast I drift! I shall not drown. Plum’ centre—plum' centre, I tell ye, Ralph!” Nat Stratton uttered the concleding words in a husky whisper, and drifted away pire on the Lake of Death. CHAPTER XXX. AND THE LAST. While the final act in the scene of the miner's life was transpiring, other forms glided silently into the lodge — Neil Travis, his young wife, Father Brady, and Barney Powers, who had all been ferried over to the island by Owen, and had remained hidden outside, watching W hite- law’s egnjuration through small openings in the oan Not one of them had anticipated such a edy. Ralph Quimby had fallen from his scat upon the floor, where he was writhing in pain, bleed ew fast. rompted by feelings of humanity, White- law attempted to examine his wound, but Ralph shrank from his touch, exclaiming : “ Away! away! I want not youraid. This wound is past the art of man; and if it were not, you, of all men, should not minister to me.” “°Tisn’t a time for them kind o’ feelin’s,” aaid Kid Kerley. “All dislikes ought to be for- ot when one’s life is flowin’ from him, as yours is. Confession, they say, is good fer the soul. I don't pretend to be much in the way o’ good- ness, but I mean to do about right, sure as shoot- in’. It’s trae that I shot that copper-diggin’ ‘vitter plum-ceutre ; but it was the only way ot! savin’ the gal. He'd better go under nor she; _ and I can't say that [’m sorry | put an end to his wicke:iness. He wasn’t of much ‘coun’, no- ‘ways; but Nathalia is a blessin’ to all that come near her. Her life’ ia worth more nor a score o’ sich villains, and I don’t think the Master o’ | Life will greatly reprove me for the deed.” Tawny stole to her father’s side, and nestled ber hand in his. “Poor little one! I wouldn't had ye seen ecomicbooks.com