Beadle's Dime Library No. 260: The Masked Mystery; or, The Black Crescent — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

or ae ee Blake had striven, vainly, to discover the whereabouts of Harnden Forde and Eola, The brief note Austin had received, failed to say where he should look for his betrothed, and the young man. despite his wound, which was beginning to pain him severely, had ex- hausted all his patience in the search. Hotel registers were examined, with no sat- isfactoury result; Christopher Crewly, in his eccentric nature had daringly faced many a masculine boarding-house-keeper, with in- quiries, And Bertha, returning day after day, to their secluded rooms on First street east, always brought the same words: *¢ Not found,” Matters were, indeed, embarrassing. © It re- quired all the guileless art of gentle Ora’s lips, to soothe and calm her motherin the hope that the kind Providence that had so far watched favorably over them, would at last bring them to those after whom they sought. Ora’s sweet faith in Heaven was sublime! It was after nine o’clock. The grand stands were filling rapidly with eager sight-seekers, and the pavements crowd- ed with moving masses, Windows, balconies, house-tops and every conceivable place from which a view of the great kaleidoscope below could be obtained, were darkened with the forms of those who laughed and cried out in a spirit that bespoke the fullness of their aban- donment to the prevailing enthusiasm. Flags and streamers flaunted gayly to the breeze; across the avenue, at intervals, were arranged triangular ropes, to which were sus- pended fluttering ensigns; and the head-quarters of the committee who had wrought this grand panorama of elegance, beauty, mirth and life, unusual to dull, sleepy Washington—appeared as a vast picture of gorgeous imagery, in which the fantastic image on the front of the building formed an admirable center. Even the habitual toper seemed to have for- gotten his customary drink, in the general ex- citement; for intoxication was rarer than on other holidays, ° Soon the grand stand at Seventh street was packed. Countless pretty faces wreathed with smiles, or, anon, a parting of coral lips in rip- pling laugh exposed the pearly teeth of dash- ing fair ones whose cheeks were flushing with the heat of gayety. Among the throng on the pavement, before the stand, moved Wat Blake and those who were bent upon the same mission as his own, in the city; yet even they seemed to forget the object of their pursuit, in watching the showy -equipages now whirling along and out of the avenue, to clear off for the races, Austin Burns was not with them. Com- plaining of his wound, he had preferred to re- main in the house. Swift steeds were speeding past, as if on wings—their sinewy limbs glistening in the sunlight, and fiery nostrils dilated by their panting breath; the hum of hilarious voices rose like murmurs of a lisping breeze through boughs of rustling verdure; and here and there a laugh, a cry, a shout aroused fresh impetus to still greater warmth of gushing spirit, In the minds of those who saw the Carnival, is fixed a picture whose sublimity will only perish with the loss of memory, “T say!” whined Crewly, who was con- tinually losing sight of those why accompanied him, But they did not hear, and the crowd jos- tled him still further from his friends each moment. : “T say, Wat Blake!” in a key pitched go bigh that it ended in a squeck, Blake turned around in time to see his long, tall, cranky fricnd punch an obstinately im- movable urchin with bis umbrella, then apolo- gize to a lady, for having trod on and ripped several tucks out of her dress, n ‘¢ Come on, Mr, Crewly.” «“ Coming—hang it! Let me get through here!” cried the lawyer, making a frantic effort to force his way. ‘‘ Careful whose toes you tread on!” growled a portly gentleman. “Take ’em bome and put ’em out of the way, then!” shouted Crewly, in his ear, “Fight!” yelled a greasy boot-black, hoping to start a row; for which attempt, a white umbrella unceremoniously descended on his head. With Wat Blake’s assistance, the lawyer ex- tricated himself, and the whole party continued eastward, across Seventh street, past the bare ; —— The Masked Mystery. corner in front of St. Marc, and proceeded on where the crowd was not so dense. As they passed beneath the avenue windows of the St. Marc, one of the young ladies who were ensconced there for the day, treated Crewly to an orange-peel which nearly broke the crown of his hat. He looked up to say something crushing, when Wat Blake stopped suddenly short, and the lawyer collided with him. ‘‘Oh!” gaspingly —“‘ Excuse me—” ** Look there, Crewly !” interrupted Blake, Standing near the curb-stone, evidently in- tent with gazing at the brilliant displays out on the street, were Harold Haxon and Gil Bret. Perhaps Blake spoke too loud, considering their nearness, for at the same moment, Haxon turned and faced them. Simultaneously, with the villain’s discovery of their presence, Christopher Crewly, as if inspired with some ungovernable motive, sprung forward, his umbrella uplifted, and the worn silk hat tumbling from his head in the suddenness of bis moyement. CHAPTER XXIIL A RACE FOR LIVE GAME, We have sail that weeks bad passed since we left the pursuing parties on the cars at the Gepot in Baltimore. How chilled with unhappiness were at first those weeks to Eola! Each cold blast that whistled in on winter’s wings seemed to grow more icy in its wailing voice and fell upon the young girl’s ear with saddened, mournful sound, How different this winter to those she had been accustomed to pass amid the warmth and gayety that ever cheered her father’s house prior to the events which led to their flight. She missed the pleasant parties, soirees and countless other bright features of life which bad hitherto figured in her unclouded ex- istence; and the young heart chafed in the shadows that hovered for the first time on her pathway. But, how nobly bad she striven to banish the enervating broodings which at times crept upon her. Her face was schooled to smiles that, while they deceived the one for whom they were forced, betrayed how severe the tax she im- posed upon herself; yet the lips spoke naught but words to encourage him whose only strength was in her resignation and promises of abiding love. Harnden Forde had told his daughter all. Yes, with quivering lips, he poured the whole story of his past life into her timid ears, and, weeping like a child, he intermingled the sad narrative of his wife’s wrongs, with moans of penitence. The discarding of Bertha; the infatuation that held him to Louise Ternor’s will—the wo- man of whom he could speak but as a beauti- ful demon; his attempt upon the life of the Ricbmond lawyer, whom he had bribed to steal the marriage record; the theft of the Black Crescent at the instigation of the woman whose wish had once been his law; the spurn- ing of his outraged wife, when, after all ber suffering, she had come to him and offered a forgiveness which he had set aside with harsh words; the final desertion of the siren who had wrought his ruin—and her note of Satanic triumph; the letter of warning from the for- tune-teller, who, even then, he believed to be a reader of the stars and true Prophetess of Fate; the horrible, meaning contents of that letter—all this was told her, and her heart had near stood still as she listened to the fearful detail, But it was past. Harnden Forde had kept his promise to his child, and Ecla, true to her own pledge, tried in every way to cheer her stricken and repentant parent back to the semblance of his former self. She would smile even in those hours of ab- solute misery; for what but misery to know that a father who held the precious affection uF & pure, saint-like child was after alla mere Villais who had sought willfully the destruction of bis wife, and torn from that wife the dear- est gems on earth—her children? He repented, Upon this Eola built her com- fort, with promises that Heaven would not de- ny forgiveness to a repentant soul; and more— no doubt 800n clear away the mist of trouble that dimmed the day of life. How alike, eee 23 these two sisters, strangely separated—Ora and Eola—in gentleness and faith! She had work before her. She was not, like her father, giving to foolish superstitions —who could "be, holding faith in Truth and Light? The first task was to uproot this superstition; for, while it would ease the mind of the tor- tured man, it would also bring her nearer to Austin Burns. With a determined will she set about the work, and knew not, until then, how admi- rable an actress she was. She would ridicule, then denounce, then strive by persuasive argu- ments, such as only woman can use, encour- aged afresh with each effort, by marking a de- cidtédly beneficial result. As the days went by she applied herself with freshening ardor, and, at the same time, spoke of her mother—of her mother’s nature, which, though she could remember nothing of its love, was one, she felt sure, to forgive, if not for- et. And Eola longed to see that mother. Would that some circumstance might bring them to- gether! was her constant thought, Harnden Forde was changing. His eyes at times sparkled with their old light; bis sunken cheeks were filling with flesh; the haggard look bad almost disappeared, and a flush that bad not tinged his face for many days now told of health and reviving strength. Pari The twentieth of February arrived. It was a day Eola had anxiously looked for- ward to, for on this occasion she meant to use the picture of rejoicing people to demcnstrate the pleasures of those who cast aside all care, and even forget the absorbing mazes of busi- ness pursuits; and to the picture would be added her own voice to further the scheme of resuscitation, Harnden Forde ate his breakfast that morn- ing with a wholesome appetite, and smiling at the merry conversation of bis watchful child, “Such a glorious day, father!” she ex- claimed, when they entered the parlor after the morning meal, “Yes,” he returned, quickly; “and we must not be idle. Come, burry now, and get your things on. Remember this is the day of the Carnival!” How like himself be seemed! With heart bounding and face glowing, she hastened to procure her habit, and in the mean time Forde had sent for a barouche. Kola was inexpressibly happy as they were being driven away from their boarding house, which was near tbe east square of the capital, She was bappy in tbe result of her great exertions, for Harnden Forde, as he sat there — beside bis beautiful child, talked, acted—was — . like other men. sight that awaited them—a sight which had brought thousands from all parts of the United States; and as they whirled into the avenue =a @ 7 —* a led ? << J.2 * y ox) * “<9 ' < y On they went, filled with eagerness for the _| - ’ » * ? 4. rez and mingled with the gay throng of racing carriages, Forde’s face soon betrayed how con- | tagious was the general enthusiasm, On up the avenue, commenting, laughing, a 7° and Eola’s lovely features, twice lovely in the outline of joy, attracted the attention and admiring gaze of many. Her deep-blue eyes vied with the soft azure — re of the skies; and, anon, a silvery laugh rong from her lips like the warble of a bird. Her long, rippling tresses, flowing in a cloudy mass about her shoulders, glistened in the sunlight like a golden mist. J ogal On, hearkening to the ring of jest and bursts of merriment; and then they turned about at. Seventh street, to return upon the floor-like vm ‘ c= .* a drive, for the races were about to commence, At that instant Eola saw every trace of color recede from her father’s face, A laugh — 5 was upon his lips, but it seemed frozen there, The change in his demeanor was abrupt, startling. She saw that he was trembling—that his eyes appeared fixed in their old staré of ter- ror, upon something on the north pavement of the avenue. w a 4 ‘= ‘ +, ad A * ce ‘> Pee a cH a ¥ Filled with apprehension, she laid her hand x upon hisarm. He did not move. «father, what is it? What is the mat- ter? ae his. There she saw what had startled bim. it was not without a shuddering feeling she beheld the man for whom above all others she EO@NNICLOOOK<S,EC) (C No answer. Involuntarily her eyes followed And — J aa " ane ~ “Aa * , + - a | 4 S) a