Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 23 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

6 sir; but the skull! was too thick for penetra- tion. Some of the rest scared from black to mulatto, an’ that’s all.” “Very well—you may a: well try and col- lect what cattle and horses you can while the Rangers are here, and then, if you like, you ean have an opportunity to distinguish your- self when the major follows the red rascals in the morning.” “Thank ve, Mr. Delorme—thank ye kindly ; but the ambition of my youth has fallen in the rear on the advance of age. I can drive na- gers, but if I have to fight Comanches, Id ra- ther do it home wid me own throops at me back.” Mr. Delorme smiled ; and ordering refresh- ments for the Rangers, went himself to see Mrs. Delorme, to assure her that the immedi- danger was over. CHAPTER X. “ Hurrah for Jack Malerson—hurrah for the best man that ever packed a deck o’ cards, eut a throat, or winged a copper !”’* “Hurrah — hurrah —three cheers for our bully captain !” The one who first spoke was the lieutenant of a gang of gamblers, thieves, and cut-throats, who hailed Jack Malerson as their captain, and those who with wild hurrahs echoed his words were the members of the gang, who were as- sembled to weleome their leader back from what he termed a pleasure-trip to the country. “Thank you, my lads—thank you heartily. Though I’ve been off on private aceount this time, l’ve brought back enough to treat with.” And he tossed down a handful of gold on the table. “Call in the drink, boys—eall in the drink. Make yourselves us jolly as a drunken gang of taiiors till l come back. I’ve an er- rand that'll take me an hour or so, and then I'll boozet with you to your heart’s content.” The place where these men were assembled, was one of the few low and dangerous dens which may be found in the pretty and enter- arr city of Galveston—a town whose growth 1a8 indeed been rapid, for well does the writer remember it when one poor tavern, a board- ing-house, kept by Mrs. M——, the wife of a eelebrated but dissoluie minister, since dead— and a few shops and shanties, were all that could be seen on the sandy shores of the island — when Commodore “ Boots Taylor” was lord of all he surveyed, and master of a rotten schooner and a disabled steamboat. But avast with these reminiscences, and even those of a more pleasant nature—I must on with my story. Tn a very pretty cottage, within sound of the pleasant dash of the breakers, which rolled anowily over the outer bar and in upon the white fisiah; sat a female, whose age could not be much in advance of twenty years. Her plexion so fair that a freckle here sad there could be seen amid the red and wh.te of her cheek and brow—her eyes of a melting blue— her lips full and enticing—her form rather slender, but exquisite and voluptuous. Her expression was of that dreamy, lovable, and hair was brown, rich, and glossy—her com- Be kind, so well described in the Dudu of ron. "The room was elegantly furnished—we did not say tastefully. Yor its pictures aad adorn- ments were rather too Parisian for an Ameri- can latitude. Books, magazines, and music lay upon the centre-table, and a guitar rested against a chair within reach of the lady. She appeared to be in a sleepy, dreamy, quiet hu mor, for she leaned back in an easy-chair be side the table, with her round chin resting on the palm of her little white hand ; her small, slippered feet elevated upon a velvet-eovered stool, and her eyes half-closed. Startled by a rather heavy knock at the door, the color flew to her cheek, and she half rose, as she said: * Come in.” The person who entered was none other than our new acquaintance, Jack Malerson. That he was a stranger to the lady, was very evi- ‘dent from the look of wonder, not unmixed with alarm, with which she received him. . “This is Miss Ada McAlpin, I believe,” said e « That is my name, sir,” she replied. “ My name is Jack Malerson, father to Paul. You know him well enough,” said he, taking * Copper, a slang term for @ policeman or other civil officer. SS Te = E “ = $$ nn a seat coolly, without waiting to be asked to do 80. “T have met Mr. Paul Malerson, but he never spoke to me of his father!” said the young beauty, looking rather distrustfully at | the rough-looking eustomer before her. “Didn't he? But I must forgive him—he’s my ‘ precious’ only. He sent you down this ring; it’s a sparkler, isn’t it ?” said Malerson, handing her a large and very valuable diamond ring. “ When and where did you sce him, sir?” asked the lady, taking the ring, and looking at it with a glance of undisguised pleasure. “T was up af his uncle’s plantation to see him. Fine old uncle that—rich as Creesus— but he’s got a mighty pretty daughter, and I’m afeared they’re setting traps to get Paul to marry her.” “They never shall—he is mine—mine ?” said the young lady, passionately, rising to her feet, and quivering all over with excitement. “ Nor with my consent; for you're a girl of spirit, and worth a dozen of her—I like you,” said Malerson, bluntly. «Will you watch over this matter for me? I love [aul Malerson, and he has said that he loved me,” said she, in a winning way. And she advanced and put her soft hand in his rough palm, and looked into his eyes with such @ beseeching look, that his Lold gaze softened beneath it like ice melting in the sunlight. “T will, Ada, for I like you now, though I never heard much good of you.” “Thank you,” said she. ‘“ Will you have some wine?” And she rang a bell for a serv- Ani. “] like brandy better—wine will do for entuer folks than I; but I’ve been brought up in a rough way at sea, and am a rough cus. tomer !” “The finest diamonds are found in the roughest coats,” she said. And again the sun- light of her smiles fell upon the rude shell of his harsh nature, “ T don’t wonder that Paul fell in love with you,” he said. ‘ You've got a terrible eap- turin’ way of ‘your own.” The servant now came in, and the lady or- dered such refreshments as she judged would best suit Mr. Jack Malerson, or Capiain Jack, as he liked to be termed. And among these he made himself freely and perfectly at home, only pausing now and then to bestow praise on them, or upon his beauti- ful hostess. Leaving him thus engaged, we will open another chapter. CHAPTER XI. On the day succeeding the attack upon La Bolsa de Flores, Maj. Ben and his Rangers followed the trail of the retreating red men; but they had got beyond his reach, carrying away their dead and wounded, and also a large number of Mr. Delorme’s best horses. ‘The damage which they had inflicted upon the panies was very great, hut such, however, as e could easily repair with the immense means at his command. Although Mrs. Delorme begged him to re- move from a position so dangerous, he stub- bornl sefiner for in all Texas could not be found richer land or a more lovely situation. And as new settlers would inevitably gather around him in the course of tima, the value of his property would increase with years. And Mr. Delorme was a stern and resolute man, strong in his hate and his love—powerful in all his prejudices. Until this time, he had exhibited a dislike, rather than a partiality, for Paul Malerson ; for in truth there was more to dislike than to like in the charaeter of the youth—for he was wild reckless, ill-governed, and none too hon- orable in his ways. But he had for his wife’s sake—to whom he seemed much attached— borne with him, and allowed her to supply him with pocket-money from her own most liberal allowance. But since the battle in which Paul exhibited so much bravery and coolness, the manner of Mr. Delorme changed toward Paul, and he treated him as kindly as if he were his own son. He bade Stella on no aesount to ride out without a: escort, and sugyested tat Paul would be the best she could choose And he also consulted Paul in his new plana for rebuilding, where the destruetion had oe- rea Bieta 7. him several valuable presents, and in many ways exhibited marke of esteens and confidence. And this seerned the more remarkahte. he cause he never asked aflere or allucd to Aveo * . » ao ® ‘ Why, the undutifal dog! | The New York Library. pee -catatlee Paul’s father, or the single visit which he had made to the plantation. Mrs. Delorme was overjoyed at this treat- ment of Paul, for now the road seemed smooth by which she meant to aecompiish her long- cherished design of his union with Stella, the heiress of Delorme. And she took an early opportunity, when they were alone, to urge | him to do his part toward bringing about this | desirable eonsummation. ' “Stella does not seem indifferent toward you!” she said. “Urge your suit and she will love you!” « But, my good aunt, I do not love her !” he replied. “T don’t ask you to love her—think of the property! You may yet be the richest plant- er in T.-xas, instead of—” she hesitated. “ A dependent upon your bounty!” said he, bitterly. ‘“ You might as well speak a thought as to harbor it!” “Oh, Paul, you are eruel! Were you my own son, I could not love you more, or do more for you, than I have done !” “A favor loses half its value when the giver ever holds it up, like a debtor’s over-due note, before the reeeciver !” “ Ah, Paul, I do not deserve this! I only seek your interest. It were better that you were married and settled down.” But I have a “Maybe so—may be not, My fa nh to ask, my worthy aunt. ther —” “Oh, for heaven’s sake do not speak of him !” eried Mrs. Delorme, turning pale. “But I will. He tas some secret of yours. What is it?” ‘“Paul—you must never know it! When you do, I will cease to live,” said she, half choking with agitation. “It is strange !” muttered Paul. “It must be something that much eoneerns me, or else you'd not fear to tell me.” “Never speak of it to me again, Paul, if you love or even respect me!” she said. “T shall not, without you stint me in poeket- money,” he said, coolly. “My God, are you as base as your father ? she groaned, “A little selfish—but not base, my good aunt. I want to take a trip down to Galves- ton, and need money to keep up appearances. I have a little divinity there, wrapped in mus- lin, who thinks the world and all of me.” “Oh, Paul, Paul, how you torment me!” * Yes—like my namesake of Tarsus— I’m given that way.” ‘Would to heaven that, like him, you'd 7e- pent, and mend your ways ?” “T will, my good aunt, in time—after I’ve sowed my wild oats.” “ Beware of the harvest which you may reap, after such sowing. I show you how you may become rich, happy, and respectable, and you—” “T, dear aunt, will stop bantering you, and seriously think of what you propose. In truth, [have thought of it, and studied over it, since the old man has shown a liking to me. Stella is a pretty girl, and if she don’t like me, at least shows nv signs of hatred. The reason why I wish to go to Galveston is, to break off with my flame there in an honorable sort of way; for if I do not, she might come here to epoil our game!” “If that is your wish, Paul, I will get money for you immediately. Forgive me, my dear boy, if I wounded your feelings! I know you are yood at heart.” “Yes, aunt, but as rough as a@ cocoa-nut outside.” “When do you wish to leave for Galves- ton ?” “To-morrow! I reekon the old man will send me down to buy new machinery for the sugar-mill.” “Well, you shall not go with an empty purse. Only take my advice, and Stella will soon be yours, and then your fortune 18 made!” CHAPTER XII. Tt was two or three we-ks after the attack, when the overseer, Mr. Mahoney, eame riding through the large gate in great haste. He did not draw reign or cease spurring his mustang until it was cheeked by the front piazza of the house, whereon Mr. and Mrs. Delorme and Stella were sitting, enjoying the cool breeze of approaching evening. And here it was brought up so suddenly, that Mr. Mahoney turned an imvoluntary somerset out of the Eomiecboo S) (e (0) ,*