Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 23 — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

glory. It is astomshing hew quick some fellows keel up when they’re drink ing. A quart lays ’em out as stiff as logs, but # gallon don’t knock my underpinning away : it only makes me a little more devilish alone in m than usual—that’s all! I feel just like doin something bold and Satanic yet to-night. j (heliers I'll go and visit Hatite, and borrow a thousand or so of the old girl.” With the captain, a bad idea was not allow- ed to rest long before it was put into execu- tion. ‘Taking another drink or two, and fillin his pocket-flask for further use, he weaned himself in a seraépe, and moved away in the darkness and gloom toward the plantation— zoing on foot, so as to make less noise than a would on horseback. CHAPTER LV. It was after midnight—wearing along in the hours of morning—and yet Mrs. Delorme had not retired to rest. She had become almost @ shadow of her former self—nervous, fretful, wretched, and unhappy. Strange fancies, that the love of her husband had changed to hate fears, that her passion for Lagona had been discovered, and a continual dread that Malor son would continue to annoy her, and eventu ally reveal the secret which he held in terior over her head—all these things combined to render existence to her a burden rather than a pleasure. The custom very prevalent in the South— and ever such in France—o! having a chamber separate from that of her husband—an ides which should have occurred to the unfortunate Mr, Caudle—alone prevented Mr. Delorme from learning the state of feeling to which his unfortunate wife had beeome reduced. He, however, paid but little attention to her altered appearance ; or, if he did, he probably attrib- nted it to the cause which made him so miser- able—the loss of his almost-worshiped daugh- ter. To and fro—fretting and moaning—paced the unhappy woman at the hour which we have named. Suddenly, a noise was heard upon the piazza outside of the chamber win- j dow, and the next instant the form of a man, who had ascended from below by some grape vines which were trained over the lattice-work, met her eye. She was on the point of scream- ing, and giving an alarm, when he stepped boldly through an open window into the room, and she recognized John Malerson, her great- est dread and terror. Sinking, pale, and almost fainting, into a chair, she hoarsely whispered . “ For Heaven's sake, man, why do you come her ?—why do you torment me py And she trembled yet the more when she saw, by his flushed face, reddened eye, and staggering gait, that he was intoxicated. “Don’t make a fuss, or get seared, ‘ Hat,’ old girl—I’ve come to see you a bit!” said he (a the thiem, husk, ‘one which always indi- ates intoxreahun. “ You ses I’m a goin’ off in whe :orain'’, and 1 wanted to say good-bye to ye, iust for old-time’s sake. Lerdee, how ou cid love me once! Come, give ’s 4 kiss on the strength o’ that! Come, old gitl—ro bangin’ back !"’ And he staggered toward her. * Stand back, John Malerson—stand back, or your life is not worth a straw! I will soream, and bring those here who will not wait to ask why you came, before they punish your audacity !” The attitude of the lady, as she sprung to her feet, and the low, determined tone in which she spoke, for a moment abashed the ruffian, and he paused. é “Sit ye down, old girl!” said he, after a moment's hesitation—* Sit ye down, and have a talk with your old Jack. He won’t trouble you if owl be quiet !” And he took a seat, and seemed more sober than when he entered the room. Mrs. De- lorme also sat down; for she was too weak to remain upon her feet. | . Say what you have to say quickly, and be- gone!” she whispered again. “| am so dry, I musi wet my whistle before { try to talk!” said the ruffian, taking his flask from his pocket, and applying it to his lips. After taking so hearty a draught, he offered the flask to her, saying: “ Hadn’t you better tuke a swig, Hat., just to steady your nerves ? You look pale; I reckon the old gent don’t feed you overly and above common well !” “ Yes; give me the liquor!” she said, hoarse- ly, as she clutche | the flask. “Ineed strength 3 The New York Library ! : = LL NEE eee eee... for there is a rough, wild path before me, and I know that [ must tread it!” She drained the flask to the very bottom, while he looked on in stupid wonder. “That'll make you as drunk as the boys I just left!’ said he, as she cast the empty flask upon the floor. ‘“‘ It will give me atwength to defy you, you heartless villain!—to tell you that l will no longer be the slave uf terror—no longer fear to call my soul my own! I bend to you no longer! Dog, do guur worst! You are not my master, now!” she cried, while the color flew to her cheeke; her form seemed to swell with strength and passion, and her eyes flashed furiously. Jack Malerson was a bold, bad man, sober or drunk; but the very desperation of Mrs, Delorme intimidated him, and he fairly shrunk from her angry gaze. «“ Leave me, eoward !—leave me before I eall help, and give you into the hangman’s hands.” she cried, in a reexless, fearless tone. “Hattie, Hattie, don't get excited!” he starninered. ‘Don’t — that’s a good girl, Bow r “Go! Do you hear me? Go!” ehe eried. “ Don't Reet so much noise, or they sill hear yal’ said the villain, growing sobe with fevr. “They shatl hear me if you don’t leave soon!” “But Hattie, if I breathe oae word — tell who aad what you are, it will be your ruin!” “ Well, let ruin come! Better that at once, than a long life of misery and suspense! I vety you! do your worst! Help—here, nenP!” Her Inst words were uttered in her loudest aud shrillest scream. “Woman, you will ruin me and yourself!” oid Mulerson, furiously. ‘ Hush, you fool — hush?” And he seized her by the throat, and tried to choke hor into silence. At first, she threw him back from from her, and uttered another wild and piercing seream ; but he, thoroughly maddened, seized her by the throat with both hends, and erushed her down to the floor with all hie might. In vain she gasped for breath ; her eyes seemed to be starting from her head, her tongue lolled out from her mouth ; her face grew black—a mo- ment more, and there would have been no life left for her. Butacrash was heard—the door flew open, and a dozen men, with lights in their hands, and arms, also, rushed in. The first was McCullough, with a rifle in his hands. One glance told him what Malerson was doing; and before the villain could do more than release his intended victim, and turn to- ward the window to make his escape, the butt of the Ranger’s rifle crashed down upon his head, and he fell, like a bullock stricken dow» by the butcher's hand. ‘Ig the wretch dead, or will he live to grace the halter?” asked Mr. Delorme, who recog: nized the fallen man. “T don’t think U've quite killed him; bur you had better look to your wi'e, sir!” sacd the major. ‘The raseally robbez hasn't ieft life in her, I fear!’ Mrs. Delorme was not quite gone, but sbe was senseless when the terrified women-serv: ants took her up and earried her to be, while the plantation surgeon waa speedily scat for. Meantime, eld Malerson was dragged away with less care thana dog would have reeeived, and pitched into a guard-room, where a sent. nel was put over him, in case he should re cover so far as to try to escape. After this was done, a thorough seareh was made all over the premises, to see if there were not more of the gang about; for it did not seem possible that he would have had the hardihood to venture alone upon such an en to be her brother! If she is sufficiently re- covered in the morniag, she must fully explain all. If he is not her brother, and not Paul’s father, then, as sure as there is a God, he siall terprise, especially when there was such a large | force on and about the place, and so muct danger of detection. But no sign of any other person conneetea with his gang could be seen. “| do not believe that Ada MeAlpin was eognizant of the fool's intended visit here!” | said the major, 47 he prepared to retire to resi again; “ out ¥ will find out before she receives her arms and ceo to go!” «“ What shall we do with the wretch, Maler- gon ?” asked Mr. Delorme. “T hardly know—he ought to hang; but if he is Paul’s father, bad as he is, that would hardly do!” «“ Paul does not believe he is, nordo I! Yet, my wife says he is, and has ackuowledyed him ‘Rr 4 rim 2 oR "EO hang! If { neversee my poor Stella again, it would be some satisfaction to see those suffer who were concerned in her abduction!” “ You will see her again!” said the major, confidently. “I feel itin my heart—have felt it all the time—that we would get her back for you, safe and sound !” ‘* Heaven grant it! Let me more to my breast, and I can eaid the planter. ** You'll soon see her; and then you'll not think of dying, by a long shot!” said the ma- jor, pleasantly. “ But good-night; I must get a few winks of sleep to-nivht, for Heaven only knows when I'll have another chance. can’t sleep more than a weasel when I’m off on & scout!” The major retired ; and once more all was atill in the house. ress her once ie contented!” CHAPTER LVI. “So, Miss Ada, your compact not to annoy any one in this State, and not to permit an of your band to do it, has been very atid. denly and easily broken ?” said the major, as he rode up to her tent on the morning which followed the event narrated in the last ehap- ter. “JT do not understand you, sir!” she said. “When I returned last night, you had no complaint to make of my men—they were all here when I reached the camp; and as I at once retired when I entered my tent, worn out with fatigue, I have heard nothing, knewn no- thing whatever against them !” “ Where is Jack Malerson ?” asked the ma- or. “In the camp, I presume — he was there when I returned. Call him,” said she, to one of her men. “ You'll have to call loud and long in this eamp, and then without avail,” said the won “ He lies at La Bolsa de Flores with a broken head, without much chance of recovery. He broke into the house last night, probably in- tent on robbery, and nearly murdered Mrs. Delorme while she was ee ea the alarm !” “He is almost dead, you say ?” asked Ada. “Yes; he was still senseless when I came away.” “T wish he was quite dead! He has not a particle of honor in his breast: said Ada “T hope, sir,” she added, to the major, “ that you will do me the justice to believe that J did not have anything to do with this matter —that I did not dream of his intended action —for if I had, it should have been prevented. “T believe you!” said the major. “ You may as well ride back with me, and see what is determined in regard to his fate ; and after that, I will furnish your men with their arma, and see them started toward the Mexican bord- ers !” “One word to my men, if you please, ma- jor, and I will be ready to go with you !” The major nodded assent, and Ada ordered the men to be assembled. The graceless crew soon got together, the most of them wearing the sickish sheep-stealing look of men who had been drunk over night. “Men!” said Ada to them; “we would now be ready to leave this camp and go “pon our business, if it had not been for the actions of vous former leader, John Malerson. He has roken our compact with this gentleman, and the consequence is, that he has been danger- only wounded while committing midnight de- predations, and certainly forfeited, perhaps lost, his life. Let his fate be a lesson to you, and teach you that even among thieves some honor should be found! I go to see him, and I command you not to stir from the eamp un- til I return. Disobey me, and I leave you to your fate—obey me, and I will lead you to victory and to wealth !” The reply of the men came in a faint cheer —the debauch of the previous night had un- fitted them for a strong one. Ada now armed herself as usual, and mount- _ing her horse, signified her readiness to ac- company the major to the plantation. For a little while, the major rode on in si- lence by her side ; and then suddenly exelaim- ed, as if he had been thinking of something very important in his mind: “ What a pity! what a pity !” “Who do you 80 pity—of what are you thinking ? asked Ada, A Re ,00 com (G S) (0) >