Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 257 — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

jaf s * ve _ mace, You need the fresh air—and I— — 6 recognizing vho it was, but then she yielded to the gentle furce which drew the little, sun-em- browned hand through his arm. . **You are seeking a breath of fresh air, like myself,” he said quietly, continuing toward the moisture-dripping rocks at the foot of the dam, **It is hardly endurable here, this evening, but I think there will be a liftle breeze found up on the top of the dam. Shall we go there?” “I believe that is what I intended doing, though I am not quite positive,” replied Bertha, with .a little laugh. . ‘‘ 1 am so nervous—so dis- turbed by the coming of that dreadful man— that I cannot rest or sleep. Do you think there is any danger? That it was any of his fellows who made the trail father discovered?” **No danger .can touch you, while a man among us draws the breath of life, Miss Bertha,” and quiet though the tone was, there was some- thing-wonderfully assuring in the words, **] was thinking more of father than of my- self,” she said, ina mofe steady tone. ‘ That man uttered such dreadful threats; his voice sounded so cruel, and his eyes seemed fairly on e as he spoke!” “An idle. braggart, —_ mm him trouble you, little one, He can work you o harm,” _ “But his friends?, You said they would hunt him up!” | *“Doubtiess they will, if he has any near. But supposing they should; what can they do? Nothing to injure us. We hold possession of the valley, and can continues hi! ling it against a far stronger force than they are at all likely to comprise, even should they be Lold enough to try force.” | . “But there may be fighting—and some of us may be killed!” with:a little shivering. . "And the stars may fall from the heavens and crush us to pulp,” laughed Benedict. ‘* Fie, little girl; this is not like you—borrowing trou- ble in: advance, and picturing horrors. which are scarcely within ,the bounds of, probability, instead of looking on the brighter side of life, and cheering us poor rascals after our hard toil.” _ “I cannot help. it,” murmured the young woman. ‘There is a dreadful foreboding at ay heart. It seemsas though something fright- ful was about to happen, and the more I try to banish the’ thought, the more persistently it haunts me!” lack of healthful exercise,” laughed Benedict, ently dropping her hand as they gained the oot of the steep and rocky ascent. et’s see if you have lost foot, Never fear—I will to catch you, should your foot slip, Now— rward!” . , . His cheerful humor seemed infectious, and with a light Jaugh her clouded brow cleared, and she clambered nimbly up the steep, sure footed and graceful as a chamois. _Clay Benedict followed closely, but his as- sistance was not needed, and then they stood side by side upon the dam, with the wedge- gnabe pond lying like a sheet of silver before em in the bright moonlight. _A slight but cooling breeze was sweeping across the water, feeling most grateful to their Bao) heated brows, and Bertha drew a long breath as | ghe faced it, - ** Delightful!’ she exclaimed, removing the ~— had worn, and tossing back her curling oc ‘* More than that—it is heavenly!” © Startled by the fervor with which he. spoke, ‘Bertha turned and involuntarily shrun lanced into his face, then away a bit, still more startled by what she saw in his blazing eyes.” « “Does that strike you as being rather ypers bolical?’ he said, with a short laugh, ‘“ And et it fails to express the full force of my feel- gs at this moment, With the prospect before Pee the vision which now fills my eyes, en as it fills my heart to overflowing—I would snot exchange situations with the grandest | angel in heaven! Do you ask why? Because they say there is nothing there in the so-called realms of eternal bliss, save purely platonic ve, - *€Tdo not understand you,” faltered Bertha, her fair face flushing, her eyes averted, as she moved toward the path by which they had just ia" ncaa “Wother will miss me—will want me, must go back.” ’ But a firm band detained her, with gentle fore xeaer Not yet, Bertha, This is too pleasant to be hastily exchanged for yonder ohe teh re nee your presence even more.” ‘She cast a shy, frightened glance up into bis face, and what she read in those glowing eyes >. ie Seemed to scare her still more, She murmured mething — she could not have recalled the rds she used an instant after the breath died away on her lips—and moved hastily toward the chute. | ° A brief frown darkened the lover’s brow, but then he followed her lead, reaching her side as ooo beside the cut-off, one hand resting __ against the huge bowlder which bad, earlier in e day, caused Ralph Burnham such uneasiness Pi <a eS Never let thought of | Se Bs a ae OF — . } - . wr > 2 - Y<4) ° ; | ‘ or Death-Trap D “Tt would be frightful to fall into that!” Bertha exclaimed, pointing to the swift hurry- ing waters that roared and swirled through the race, broken into foam here and there by pointed rocks which showed their dark crests above the surface. ‘* It makes my head swim only to watch it dash along.” ‘* The cure is easy; don’t look that way,” re- plied Benedict, with a slight smile. “ But I can’t helpit! 1t exerts a terrible fas- cination over my mind. If I was given to superstition, I would almost believe it a. pre- monition—a warning that it was fated to be the doom of me or mine!” : She spoke hurriedly, almost incoherently, and it was plain to be seen that she had not yet fully recovered from her fright at his words and looks a moment since. Benedict frowned again, as this thought oc- curred to him, but his voice was cool and steady as he responded: ‘*It would be a hard struggle, truly, were one totumbleinto that race. But if the fellow wasa strong swimmer, and did not wholly lose his-head, he might save himself by taking ad- vantage of some of those eddies—though he’d have little time to waste.” ‘*Tt makes me dizzy. {[ must go back,” mur- mured Bertha, turning from the water, to fiod her retreat barred by the figure of the young gold-digger. = | 2 . & ** Are you quite sure it is the water you are. trying to flee from, Bertha?’ he asked, his voice low, but intense, ** Of course; what else?’ she faltered. “ Let me pass, Mr. Benedict, I must hasten back to father,” ‘The evening is young, and your father, dearly as he loves you, will not suffer greatly if you spend a few minutes, more, little one,” he whispered, his strong arms imprisoning hers. ‘*'W bile I—I have watched for a chance like this for days, and I cannot suffer it.to escape me unimproved.” ** Let me go!. you have no right—” ‘Shall I ever have that right, Bertha, my love—my angel—my all?” he breathed, his handsome face bending very close to hers, the mad passion overleaping all bounds, A low, gasping ery escaped her lips, and she sought to free herself, but bis grasp only tight- | ened and beld her powerless, while the words - ©The result of a fit of indigestion, caused by, flowed from his lips more swiftly, more im petu- | | nreee—— ee ee eS eee e-em eee ously than the waters rushed along the race, ‘*T must speak, and you must listen, Bertha. ‘*Come— | I can contain myself no longer, Ihave watched our nimbleness of | and prayed for just such an opportunity as this, ollow close enough | and nowit has fallen in es way, I must im- prove it—must tell you why ite ie it. “And yet, little one, you must know what I would say. You are not so blind but what you have read my heart long since. You know that it is yours—has been yours even from the day of our first meeting. Ay! I loved you then with a love that was stronger, more intense, more perfect than man ever felt for woman be- fore, and yet that passion has steadily grown more pore, more idolatrous with the pas- sage of each day, until now—words are far too feeble to express my love for you—actions alone can do them justice,” He bent his head stil] lower, and pressed bis burning lips to hers, not once, but repeatedly, unheeding her convulsive struggles, until she freed one hand and struck him full in the face, a gasping sob accompanying the action. tartled, he relaxed his fervent grasp, and the woman started baek, for his person still barred the way. There was naught of fear iu her face or atti- tude now, and if she trembled it was because of indignation and injured modesty. Her voice rung out sharp, and even cine yas f ‘‘How dare you treat me so? Coward—vil- lain that you are!” and her glorious eyes were flashing with a depth of fire such as he had never until now deemed them capable. For a moment he stood amazed, then an hum- ble expression replaced that of doubt and won- der, as he spoke softly: ‘‘Pardon me, Bertha, if I offended. I was hardly conscious of my actions in the madness of my love—” She cut him short with a swift, angry motion ot her hand that might almost have been a ow, ‘“ Madness indeed! Say insult, rather!” His face flushed hotly at the word, then turned pale as death as he caught her hands and held them firmly imprisoned within his wn. “Listen to me, Bertha—nay, you_must,” as she struggled to free ber hands. ‘TI have the right to demand that much, no matter what else you may see fit to deny me, “T admit that I have led a wild—some might even call it a reckless, if not actually criminal life—career thus far, but [ stand ready to make amends and fully reform. Ihave sown my crop of wild oats, and believe 1 am none the worse for having done so. Ihave ample wealth, my family is one the most haughty and purest blooded need not look down upon, and I can sive my wife a home and position in society to roud of.” | “Why do you tell me this?” asked Bertha, - iy . xy . =e? & « d : >» ‘ ‘ her face very pale, but her voice cold and steady as she fully encountered his burning gaze. * Pray, what can it interest me?” “* Because I offer them all to you, with onl one drawback—myself,” he said, bending his head toward her face, but pausing as she drew back once more, “Bertha, do you not yet a Ny ee my meaning? I ask you to be my wife. ‘*T thought you knew—did not father tell you?” she exclaimed, a puzzled expression com- ing into her eyes. ‘Your father?’ he echoed; then -astily add- ed, ‘Yes, he did say something about your being disposed of—I think that was the term he used—but I attached little importance to his words at the time, and bad entirely forgotten the fact until now. What did he mean?’ “What he said: that I have no right to listen to'such words as you have spoken this night, even.if I had the inclination—which I most assuredly have not !” with energy. *‘ Bertha! what am I to understand by this??® “That. you*bave insulted me most shame- fully! How dare you, after being fully warned—” His grasp tightened upon her hands, his eyes glowed with a light that was almost as lurid as tbe light of a coal-fire, his voice’ was husky and strained, as he said: 3 ‘* Tell me, bow are you bound? What did he mean by saying that you were disposed of?’ ‘*That [am already a wife, and—” ‘‘ You—Aa WIFE?” he gasped, staggering back, dropping her hands to grasp his temples as he stared stupidly at her. eet have been married nearly two years,” she snid, speaking hurriedly, and seem- ing to feel some compunction for the evident pain the startling commmunication gave bim, ‘‘I wet ef, you knew the truth. I'm sure father said he had told you all. i never dreamed of this. I thought you regarded me in the light of a friend—that you looked upon me as a sort of sister—or I would never have been so frank, so— I find itis very bard to express my mean- ing, you have ‘so terribly startled me; but surely you understand?” . _Tremblingly, almost ‘incoherently she spoke, one little band gently touching bis sleeve, but then she started back witb affright as he turned fiercely upon her. , ‘*Ay! I understand this much: that you bave played. with me as only a heartless co- uette and. shameless flirt can toy with the heart of an honest man. That you have led me on and on, laughing in your sleeve at my infer- nal folly and credulity—only to throw me over, - now that you have brought me to land likea silly fish!” “Stand aside and let me pass!” Bertha cried, her eyes oop with indignation. ‘‘ You are insulting, sir! You make a fool of yourself, and then vent your spite on a helpless woman. Had “oe ep been with me, you would not dare speak sO His hands tightened their grasp, and he lifted her light figure from the ground, taking one stride forward and pausing. upon the brink of the madly flowing water, above which he held her poised, while he swiftly spoke: _** You remember your presentiment of a bit ago? The devil is whispering in my ear to loosen my and make that horror a reality! Would it be a whit more cruel than your treat- ment of me? Would it not be poetical justice? Bah!” and he Jaughed savagely as she struggled to free herself. ‘*‘ You are no more than a babe in my hands, I hold your life at my mercy—I, to whom you have shown none. If I chose to doom you, no power of eitber earth or heaven could rescue you! And why should I not? You say you are too good for me. You call me vil- a and rascal—I, sa 3 you better than life —-love you even now, though you say you are Wedded wife” g His voice choked, and he staggered back, low- ering bis arms, but still maintaining his grasp as she struggled to free herself, uttering a gasping rT for help. here came a shout in response, and then the sound of hurrying footsteps. Bertha heard them, and struggled anew, Clay Benedict heard them, and glanced over bis shoulder, but too Jate for self-defense. . A strong hand tore Bertha from his grasp, a heavy blow fell upon the side of his head, and throwing up his hands with a shrill oath, he toppled over into the chute, head-foremost, to be grasped by the roaring waters and whirled away ) . ,CHAPTER V. BERTHA’S LITTLE ROMANCE. AS she saw Clay Benedict fall headlong into the race—as she beheld the frothing, whirling waters part and then close above his form, stif- ling the mad ery that seemed torn from his lips by that rescuing blow—Bertha Burnham forgot for the instant all that had gone before, save her sickening fear of the water demon, and a wild cry burst from her bosom. “Save him! Heaven of mercy! he will per- ish! Save him!” _The appeal was purely mechanical, The poor girl realized not the words ber pallid lips shaped, com choo oF ° - z se | a>, * ad s ee & : SS : 4 x ‘ < 7 ; 4 iP f f f : 4