Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 23 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

a terrible war:whoop of the real Comanche been heard in their rear; and the next instant, pouripg in a murderous fire, a band—they new not how large. or who they were-— bounded in amongst them, led by a warrior, whose every blow brought a man to the earth. “To your horses, lads—save yourselves as best you can—they're too many for us!” cried the leader of the attacking band. And lucky was it for them that their horses were near, else not one of them all would ever have escaped. As it was, more than half were left dead upon the ground. But the leader, fighting desperately, got the rest off, and all of his wounded. And not being pre- red for pursuit, Mr. Delorme could not fol- ow them. CHAPTER XVI. “ Lagona, again I must beg you to forgive me for my unjust suspicions, and my eruel and unmanly treatment,” said Mr. Delorme, after he had returned from driving away his assail- ants, and stood onee more in his house. “Tagona forgets all but the pale-faced chief's kindness!” was the reply of the young chief. “ Again you have placed me under renewed obligations by your bravery. How can I re- watd yi ye “ By never speaking of it again. I have done right—no more !” “Take this from me,” said Mrs. Delorme, attempting to throw a rich chain of gold about his neck. But he pushed it back with his hand, and quietly said : “Tam free! I do not like chains!” She blushed, and turned away; and in a few moments was in her chamber, where she burst pnssionately into a fit of weeping. “QO Heaven! I am scorned by this savage : J, wlio am beautiful, and so fondly, madly love him ?” she sobbed. But the sound of vl tba aoe ahead warned her to be upon her guard; and she checked her sobs, and hastily wiped her eyes. It was Paul Malerson who came. His face was flushed, and he seemed much exsited. “ What do you want? Why do you come here to my private chamber ?” she asked. “Do you know, madam, who it was that led the attack here to-night ?” said he. “No. Why do you ask? Who was it? she answered. “It was the man that you told me was my father!” said Paul, narrowly watching every change of expression in her face. “Heavens! John Malerson a robber?” ak most screamed Mrs. Delorme. “Yes. I suspected as much, when I saw him and his associates in Galveston. He led the murderous gy en irwig as Indians, to- night. And now I know why he asked so par ticularly about the wealth of Mr. Delorme.” “You have not. told Mr. Delorme of this t?” “No; he was busy when I came in,” “Then, for your tite, do not! The villain has been foiled: do not now expose him !” “TI do not believe that he is my father.” “He is, Paul—O Heaven! heis! I know it! Would to God that I did not !” “ What is the secret that he holds in terror over your head ?” “Paul, in merey do not ask me now. The time may come when I will tell you; but do not ask it now. I am very, very wretched !” And she wept, as if she, indeed, was so. “T am going to Galveston again,” said Paul, when his aunt became more composed. “ For what ?” she asked. “To warn him, that if he puts his feet on this plantation again, his neck is in danger— even if he be my father.” “ Do be cautious, Paul! Let me advise you not to go near him. Some of his vile gang may assassinate you.” “T do not fear them. Moreover, I must go to Galveston, for I promised to see Ada Me- Alpin ,once more, before I part with her for- ever That done, you may arrange matters with Stella and her father, for me, as soon as you please. I begin to love the girl, and I am sure she does not dislike me.” “Well, Paul, if you must go, do it ; but re- turn quickly. Take this purse: it contains all the money which I have by me now.” He took it, and left her again to herself. “ The Red Warrior, CHAPTER XVII. Ada McAlpin sat in her beautiful room, looking pale, sad, and dejected, to an unusual degree. She was not dressed with her custom- ary care. Her beautiful hair lay in tangled masses upon her white and lovely neck and shoulders. Her eyes were red with weeping. She started, and trembled, when she heard a knock at the door ; and her voice was low and husky when she said = donk in.” It was Jack Malerson who entered. His look was also gloomy and morose. “ What news ?” she asked. “ Dark—very dark !”” he muttered. “ Where is Paul?” she asked. “7 neither know nor care. I went to De lorme’s place to carry the gin off, and thus serve you, and lost half of my party, and came near losing the number of my mess!” “ And I'd not have shed a tear if you had,” said Paul Malerson himself, who had followed the footsteps of his father noiselessly, and now stood upon the threshold of the room. Ada started, and uttered a faint scream ; ne John Malerson turned, with a scowl, and said : “Listeners never hear any good of them- selves |” “ Whether you are a listener or not, you will never hear much good spoken of you !” said Paul, bitterly. Then, turning to Ada, he said : “T did not think that you'were leagued with this man and his robber gang!” “1 am not, Paul—I am not!’ she said. “It is falee! Did I not hear him this mo- ment say, that he had tried to carry off Stella Delorme, to please you?” cried Paul, angrily. “ Yes—you heard me say so; but this girl: knew nothing of the plan!” said John Maler- son. “If P's want to abuse any one, pitch into your father, and not into that girl, who is ten times too good for a milksop like you!” “ Your gang didn’t find me a * milksop,’ the other night, I reckon!” said Paul. “Some of them went to their last home, with # ticket from my hand.” “Yes; and if you don’t look out, some of them will provide you with a traveling-pass to join their friends in the long journey |” “T’m not afraid of them, here or anywhere else. They may thank me that they and their’ leader are not in jail; for I alone know who it was’ that made the attack on La Balsa de Flores.” “Indeed! Well, I am very grateful that you don’t try to hang your father! They: will feel very glad to hear how merciful you are. Probably they'll vote you a resolution of thanks !’ said John Malerson, with a sneer. “T will not’ bandy words with you; but I wish to see this lady alone, sir.” “Oh, very well! But mark you, lad: you needn't try to play her false, for your fancy charmer on the plantation, for you shall never marry her! I’ve sworn to that, remember!” “Bah! you threaten one who knows no fear,” said Paul—as his father, after uttering these words, left the room. “Paul, you are not going to marry her, are oe Oh! tell me that you are not, or else ill me on the spot!” ‘ Ada, if I were more of a villain than Iam, I would lie to you, and say that I would not marry her. But I cannot say it. Stella De- lorme will be mine in a few days.” Ada did not reply. It seemed as if she could not. Her face became as pale and ‘as rigid in its expression as marble. Her fingers were clutched into the palms of her hands till the blood actually started from beneath her finger-nails. There was ne. a tremor on her lip; not an eye-lasn qnivered; not a limb moved; but her eyes gazed upon him with an icy glare, which he never, never could for et. 5 “ Ada, what is the matter ?” he asked, at last, almost terrified by her silence and terrible look. “ Nothing,” said she, speaking slowly, as if she were in great pain. “Go!” she added, ne her arm, and pointing towards the oor. “My Heaven! not while you look so! You are ill!” he cried. . “Go!” she repeated; and still her white arm and its marble finger pointed to the door. “ Not leaving you thus!” he cried. “ Speak one kind word to me, Ada!” “Go!” she said, louder than before: and still she pointed to the door. 9 ——————— — He was almost as pale as she when he obey- ed and went out. She stood after that for a momentas he had left her—stood until she heard him close the front door; and then she fell senseless to the floor. CHAPTER XVIII. “ My God, girl, has he been striking you ? asked John Malerson, as he entered the room, and found Ada upon the floor, with the blooc streaming from her nose and mouth. “yx es, to the heart!” she murmured. “Not with his hands, but his words — his words !” “Poor girl, I pity you—indeed I do!” said the captain, with unwonted tenderness, as he raised her from the floor, and helped her to wipe the blood from her face. Merrible, indeed, was the mental excitement, the soul's struggle, the heart’s misery which could produce such an effect physically upon her. Malerson would have called a servant to help her, but she forbade it, and went alone to her toilet-room, and there washed away the stains as well as she could. She was very pale when she returned to the sitting-room, but very calm. “ You have been kind to me, sir, so far!” said she to Malerson. “ Will you yet help me? I have considerable money and many jewels.” “T don’t want any of your money—but tell me what I can do for you, and it shall be done. What do you want?” “ Revenge—RrVENGE !”’ said Ada, in a husky whisper. “On him?” asked the captain. “Yea, but through her! She must die, and by my hand!” “Good! I like your spirit. But how can this be accomplished ?” “Tn some disguise I must her presence—once there, very heart’s blood !” “ Well, study out how you wish the thing done, and I will never fail you. I have fifteen or twenty men left, who burn for vengeance on those who killed their companions.” “T will arrange some plan as soon as my brain cools. It 1s hot now, very hot.” “ Yes, poor girl—I see it is. I will go now and see my men, and keep a look-out upon Master Paul. Were he not my own son, I'd split his wizzen before I slept. But I shall have use for him, and he may comy to reason after that girl is out of the way. He may yt be yours, and as fond as ever.’ “ Never—never !” cried Ada, wildly. I have loved’ him as never woman loved before—but now, words may not tell how I loathe and hate him! I hate him too much to wish for his death. I want him to live, that I can make him miserable. Lut leave me now, | wish to be alone, that I may grow calm. Come again to-night. I will by that time think of a plan to govern my future course.” ‘“Women are curious creatures,” murmured the captam, as he went out. “If they can’t love, they'll hate—if they can’t be honey, they'll be vinegar—if they can’t whisper, they'll thunder. Curious creatures are wo- men.” The captain had just finished this ne tig when he saw his son moving slowly along the street. “Paul, hold on a bit,” said he. meseage for you.” “ What 1s it?” said Paul, gloomily, for he felt bad at the manner in which he had parted from Ada, to whom at one time he had been much attached. “T want you to tell Mrs. Hattie Delorme, as she calls herself, that I am in need of a couple of thousand,dollars; and that if she will send the money by you she wil] save me the trouble of going to her husband, and ask- ing him for it. Tell her there is no use in her fooling with me—I must have it.” “T will deliver your message, and advise her to treat it with contempt,” said Paul. in admission to will drink her “T've a “Which she will not do,” said the captain, passing on. CHAPTER XIX. “T cannot endure this ever-burning ion —nor can I yet restrain it! I had thought, when I married Delorme—or, rather, when I linked myself by marriage-bonds to his wealth— that the wild ions which were my curse in outh had left my veins, abandoned my na- ure forever! But wilder glows the fire now cS (E (0) (e(oy paylice boo