Beadle's New York Dime Library, Vol. XVIII, No. 232 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

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Oxx, the:Mun of Iron. — —— <a and change my clothing, for I haven't a dry thread on me, and then will tell you all about the most ridiculous adventure you ever heard of.” She whisked out of the front apartment, which the young ladies used during the day, and in @ remarkably brief space, was back again. r My vi areal oar ag na mee gushing le, as sie dro nto a iT Oppo- oie. “1 fell into 4 gets ad ** But how?” *‘ I started across the Fulton street ferry with father, this evening from Brooklyn, where you know we had been to make a call, when b some mischance, which no one can understand, * Sigpee off the boat, just as it reached this side. ‘*‘ Mercy | what a narrow escape!” “I suppose it must have heen, since every one pronounces it such, but I never thought of it until I was helpe! out.” ** How long were you in the water?” **Only a few minutes.” ‘* How did you manage to keep afloat?” ** Don’t you know I can swim?” _*T never had an occasion to learn that fact.” ‘‘Tbhanks to father’s good sense I learned to swim when I was a small pe: ‘“‘T am glad to say that I also know how.” “It was an easy matter, therefore, for me to keep afloat for a few minutes, until a rope was thrown me, Then 1 was pulled safely out. But think what a fi ure I cut!” “That is a smal! matter.” ‘I was dreadfully mortified; a gentleman took his wife’s sles from her shoulders and threw it over me, and, as soon as possible, father called a carriage and sent me home,” ‘* Where is your father?” ‘*He will be here shortly; he had to meeta gentleman on important business,” ‘*T am surprised that he did not come with ” “He offered todo so, but there was no neces- sity, and I knew be had a most particular en- ATT * paid the wentio Bea. Scat e e gentle Kiva, ** you have t cause to thankful,” pods lng So Ihave and if I know my own heart I am ‘You might have drowned or been struck by the wheels of the ferry-boat.” ‘* All that was possible, but I did not, so let us think no more about it.” ~ vie are you not likely to suffer from ex- posure ‘* Fortunately the weather is warm, the water was cool, and, if I hadn’t taken my bath in such a shockingly sudden way, 1 really would have enjoyed it.” ‘To-morrow we go to Philadelphia,” said Eva, after » moment's silence; ‘‘ home can never be home, when I know the loved form is gone from it forever.” “Tt must be sad on that account, and some- times I wonder, dear cousin, how you can bear to enter the old family mansion, from which a father, mother and loved brother bave gone out never to return,” “It is unspeakably sad, but life’s burden must be boruve, Were it not for the love of Donald I would aay. that I might be taken away to join those who have gone before.” The cousins conversed in this affectionate man- ner for half an hour ormore longer, when uncle Ward, as he was called, appeared on the scene. CHAPTER VII. AN ATROCIOUS PLOT. Warp Hivpretu, the old man, whom our readers have hea d of before, was warmly wel- comed by his daughter and niece, They conversed affectionately and pleasant- ly, but both the young ladies saw that some trouble pressed upon him, His gayety was plainly assumed, when he re- ferred to the pretended accident to his daugh- At last Cera compelled him to tell his trouble. ‘‘ It is a very serious matter indeed,” he said: “T feel it is my duty to tell you all, and yet I shrink from it,” ‘Why should you hesitate, dear uncle, when ou know we would share all your trouble? If tis anything which money can help, you have only to let me know.” ‘“* Alas, there are some ills which money can- not heal.” ‘* But there are few which it cannot help.” ‘* Is this one of them?” asked Cora. “T fear it is.” ‘* Pray speak, dear uncle.” He besitated & moment; then, with a deep sigh, said: ‘“T may as well out with it; Iam likely to be arrested on the charge of manslaughter, if not a still more serious crime.” Eva clasped her hands with a gasp and Cora almost swooned. “Tell us! tel) us! it may not be so bad.” ** You know, my child, that you could not ex- plain how it was you came to fall off the ferry- hoat into the slip.” sos tT cannot understand it now.” - — y Gow was it?” 565) . ‘ You were purposely shoved overboard, ** Impossible!” “The fact nevertheless.” “ How i a learn it?’ jected Accidentally, or rather provi y; do you not remember that some one lurched against you?” ‘*I recall something of the kind, but I sup- eon! that was caused by the motion of the t. ‘Not at all; you remember a young scamp who stared so impudently at you that I warned him to stop or I would pull his nose for his im- pertinence?” ** Yes, but supely he would not commit such a crime for so slight an offense as that?” ‘I would not have believed it, until a gentle- man whom I know very well, assured me he saw him make thed y movement i hat sent you overboard.” ‘** Can it be possible?” ‘‘ While my friend was talking, the scoundrel walked by us, ana I heard him chuckling over his crime. I was so infuriated that I struck him a terrible blow. He went down on the pavement, and | fear was mortally injured.” **Ohb, father,” wailed Cora, ‘how dreadful!” *‘ But it cannot be hel now,” said the un- conscionable falsifier; ‘‘ be is likely to die, and yousee what a situation it places me in.” ‘ Will not the law consider you bad sufficient justification?’ asked Eva, so shocked that she could scarcely speak. “It might, had | struck him at the time he committed the deed, and Cora’s life was in danger; but tiat wasall over. Besides it may mpossible to prove that it was an inten- tional act on his part.” * How will they know it was you, father?’ ‘* My friend was the only one who knew me and he promised to say nothing about the gad oocurrence, ‘Then how will they find it out?” ‘Others saw the affray, and the description will enable the police to tiack me; I manag to get away during the exciiement; but depend upon it, they will be after me.” ‘* What can be done?” ‘Tell me what J can dof” asked Eva. : The old gentleman was «silent a minute or w 0. ‘I did a good deal of thinking on my way here, and I have a plan; but it will put you both to a great deal of inconvenience, if ‘not discomfort.” “*Tell us what it is, father.” ‘You can name nothing we will not gladly do for you. dear uncle.” ‘* We must leave the city.” ** But we intend to do so,” said Eva; “we are to start for Philadelphia to-morrow.” “I will be assuredly traced to that city; it will be as bad asif I remain in New York.” ** What is it then?” ‘We must go in hiding for a time.” ‘‘ Where is there a better place for hiding than in this great city?” The question was asked by Cora, and it might have puzzled many a person to reply. ut the old gentleman was prepared. He sadly shook his head. ‘““We will start for weeny Sy early to- morrow morning, that is on the first train. “ But will not go there?” ** Not for the world.” ** Where?” “I have a place in mind; I will take you to it, and we will stay several weeks until the ex- citement blows over. What do you say?” The question was addressed to both, and they were equally prompt in making answer. ‘* We will go to the ends of the earth for you, father.” ‘Give yourself no concern on that point; but tell me, uncle, why is it necessary that we should go in hiding?” Fortunately for Ward Hildreth, he was pre- pared for this very natural inquiry. ** At first it would seem unnecessary, but Iam well known as the father of Cora and the uncle of Eva. The police will bunt for you both, and, should they find you, the consequences will be most unpleasant to say the least. ‘“‘ The matter is settled,” remarked Eva; ‘ but why not go at once?” “There is no need of such desperate haste; any time before to morrow noon will answer; you will need this evening to make your prepar- ations; get ready, and 1 will go down-stairs and fix the matter with Mrs, Johnson.” The interview with the widow was along and important one. She was given to understand that it had become necessary to make a burried departure for Philadelphia, and she was put under a pledge to answer no inquiries that might be made concerning them, She was at liberty to say that her guests had seen fit to go to the Quaker city, but she was not to mention their right names nor tell any- thing further. She received a handsome fee in addition to her liberal charges for entertaining the three for several days. When Mr. Hildreth came upstairs again tho — ee night was far along, and his daughter and niece had completed the preparations. He suggested that they retire, and Eva Hil- dreth obeyed. Cora remained a long time v ith her reputed parent. They talked earnestly in low tones, 7 gr certain that nothing reached the ears of the gir in toe adjoining room, who was tossing in a feverish sleep. Alas! poor Eva Hildreth! Not a shadow of a suspicion entered her pure mind of the dark plot that bad been formed by these evil spirits days before, and in which the first successful step had already been taken. Had she but known, she would have fled fron: that house as from a plague! Slowly and surely Lom webs of the spider wer ; being woven about that fair girl by those w hor: she believed to be her friends, but who, in truth, were her most cruel enemies, CHAPTER VIII. A THUNDERBOLT. Waar a record of happivess and misery, vico and virtue, joy and sorrow, life and death, is each issue of roomy Pape tm Thousands who glance over the printed page each morning read there the doom of their hoyes ir this world or their exaltation to the hig. | pinnacle of expectancy. Among the former class, on a certain sum- mer day, was Donald Marvin, of the City of . Brotherly Love. He bad wondered why so many hours had passed without receiving a letter from his be- trotbed, Eva Hildreth, but rightly decided that she had sailed earlier than was originally in- tended, ‘Poor girl,” murmured the young lawyer and devoted lover, ‘‘sne has met with the great affliction of ber life, ‘‘She was most devotedly attached to ber father, whose whole pride and delight was in his splendid daughter. ‘‘ Never was there a more besutiful sight than the devotion, trust and. confidence of these two in each other. **T wonder not that Eva’s beart was almost broken when she was compelled to see him close his eyes in death. ‘How I will cherish and love her when she is mine! She shal! find in me father, brother, bus- band, protector— My Goi!” At ee instant the heart of Donald Marvin He had been busy emotpe rte, Bremnos ae) fn copy of a morning paper, when on a paragraph. It was an Associated Presg telegram from New York. It was beaded, *‘ A Sad Suicide,” And it read tbus: we t evening, between nine and ten o’cleck, as eye rested the f -boat New Brunswick was making her way across the Courtlandt street igrry tathe Jersey City slip, Miss Eva Hildreth, of iladelphia, whe was — deals beside her 2 E the Pos ong > sud- rung u running quic e stern, sepad overtcant, The startling artion Was 80 uL- expected and swift that no one was able to inter- fere. Her uncle, Mr. Ward Hildreth, who was ac- companying her to Philadelphia, did his utmost to revent her committing the rash deed, but failed. Some ee go py and ee 0 , who was ering so profou rom. Nee Bowe: death of her manent that rer iol was unsettled. Every effort ble was made to rescuo her, but she instaritly disappeared in the darkness, and the body at the present writing has not been re- covered,” Sueh was the dispatch which froze the blood of Donald Marvin with horror. And well migbt it do so, Eva Hildreth was his affianced bride. He had been counting the days and bours that must el before he could clasp her in his arms, and holding ber there, kiss eyes and cheeks and month again and again. “My God?” be wailed, after sitttng motion- ae ee minutes, “‘I never dreamed of this!’ The paper had dropped from bis Jap on the floor, where it lay for several minutes. He was sitting in his own modest apartments, in Walnut street. oe stooped over, and picked up the paper again. He stared at the appalling he ‘ch, until the words were burned into his brain ‘s if with a white-hot iron: ‘* Dead ! dead! dead !" The words fell from his lips as if he wre pro- nouncing his own doom. Once more the journal slid from bis lap to the floor, and he looked across toward his book- case. But he saw nothing. His thoughts were beyond that room. He sew vhe fairest and sweetest of women, as she stood on the deck of the outgoing steamer, Again he watched the fluttering handkerchief waved by the delieate gloved band, and the enchanting countenance. He saw that lovely face until it faded out from view, and the mighty steamer vanished from sight on the great Atlantic, (E EOP AIC exeye) <S i a SS — - - . L - ’ - —< _ — _ a = * - ? a Jn P P ‘ + ' ~e ad . ‘, , Comes ote oe pe eeiingee— a ha Tig (eo)