Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 363 — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

ata | G ** And TI have always been so lucky, too,” she murmured, as she strode restlessly up and down. ‘¢ Fortune has always seemed to favor me so. Whenever I have been closely pushed, fate has always sent some friend to aid me, but, alas! I fear that in this case there is nochance of such a lucky event occurring, for who could I possi- bly find that would be of any assistance in fight- ing such a man as Crowningshield?” Just as the words left her lips there came a ring at the door, The lady did not expect any callers that even- ing, but as some of her lady: acquaintances were in the habit of running in without warning, in anticipation of some such visit she resumed her place by the center-table and endeavored to compose her features so that they would not show any signs of the stormy gust of passion which had convulsed them. The negro servant went to the door, held a brief conversation with the person there, and then came into the parlor bearing a card upon his salver. ‘De gemmen at de door would lke fur to hab de pleasure of a few words wid Missus Judge Jones on important business,” said the negro, as ho presented the card, lt bore the name’ LAYMOND RANDOLPH. The woman was in that peculiar stato of mind which inclined her to look upon. every stranger as being far more likely to turn out to be a foe than a friend. The name was strange to her, and there wasn’t any important business that any one could wish to seo her about excepting the one subject which was troubling her so much. But she had the soul of a hero in her delicate frame, and she did not shrink from the trial, although she had a presentimentthat the visit of the stranger meant mischief. As the sound waves travel through the air, so the subtle instinet which was to predominate in her physical make-up, seemed to warn her of the approach of any one who was destined to have any influence upon her movements, And though she had not seen this stranger, and she knew nothing of him, for the name even was unfamiliar to her, yet the impression pro- duced by his coming was such that she f:1t sure some crisis of her lite was at hand. She felt that sho was becoming nervous and agitated—something rare for her, for the iron- like nerves which she possessed were seldom troubled by anything. Her agitation increased so much that she folt constrained to walk into the back parlor, while the servant ushered the renileman into the front one, so that she might have time to recover her- self. The necro showed the visitor into the room, and then departed to his lair in the basement. She waited until his footsteps diced away on the stairs, thon feeling that this time she had in a measure recovered from her strange agita- tion she returned io the front apartment, The visitor’s attention had been attracted by one of the masterpieces of art that adorned the wall by the door and he stood with his back half-turned to the lady as she came into the apartment, so that his face was hidden from her but there was something so familiar about his figure, something which recalled to her the memory of the man for whom she had left her home and whose wandering footsteps she had been glad to follow, no matter which way they went, that for a moment she felt—to use the old expression, as if her heart was in her mouth. Then, attracted by the rustling of her dress, the gentleman turned and the two came face to face. Both started in amazement; simultaneously a cry came from their lips. ‘ Roxanna!” exclaimed the man, “ Reuben Maxwell!” eried the woman. And in another moment, forgetful of every- thing, of time and place—the danger of being spied upon—reckless of all consequences, they rushed into each other’s arms, Roxanna Merivale—for the woman was Rox- anna despite all her denials—and the gambler husband whom she had for so many years mourned as dead, were again united, The woman was the first to recover herself and remember how imprudently they were act- ing. ‘Be careful—we must be on our guard for we are liable to be observed,” she continued. ‘“‘The house is full of servants and some of hem are no better than so many spies; they are apt to be loitering around when they are least expected,” and then she withdrew herself from his fond embrace and motioned him to be seated. Now that the first surprise was over, he had resumed his natural calmness, and helped him- self to a chair. ’ They sat one on each side of tho little orna- mental center-table and for a moment gazed earnestly at each other, anxious to discover what changes time had wrought. ‘¢ Of all the unexpected things!” Randolph ex- elaimed. We will give him the name by which he was now known, although Reuben Maxwell wes roally his right appellation. oe a 1 thought you had passed in your checks long ago,’ ‘*And I was sure that you had, for with my own eyes I saw you stricken down mortally wounded, shot right through the forehead.” ‘* No, there is where you have made a mis- take: the ball only inflicted a slight scalp wound, taking an upward course, and although the blood flowed profusely yet .[ was not mortally hurt, although I was laid up in a hospital for Lo7 ry three months,” **T was sure you had been killed and I did all | [ could to avenge your death.” —_———_—_——— ll aw **You didn’t succeed in doing any particular damage to the men you shot, nor did I for that matter. I was the most injured of the party,” he remarked. **T thought I had killed the two I fired at and believing you to be dead I fled to escape ar- rest,” ‘The affair was hushed up; no one happen- ed to take any notice of the row, and when the bloods bound up their wounds, and none of them had anything more than a scratch, they came to the conclusion that the least said about the matter the better; they were men enough to have me lugged off to the hospital, where they told a cock and bull story about how a pistol had accidentally gone off in my hand, and whether the doctors believed it or not, they took me in and took care of me un- til I was able to get about again, ‘Tt was an ugly wound and I had a close call for my life. ‘‘T do not doubt it,” she remarked. ‘“When I came out I searched for you high and low, couldn’t find you and getting a good chance to make a raise in the West, went there, and only came back about three months ago. ‘* But I say, what are you doing here, rigged out like a queen? By Jove! you are more lovely than ever and you don’t look to be a day older, and by-the-by where is Mrs. Judge Jones?” ‘‘T am she,” Roxanna replied, CHAPTER OXY. THE EXPLANATION, “You are Mrs. Judge Jones!” he exclaimed, completely astonished by the intelligence, “Yes, did you not suspect it?” ‘No, upon my word I did not; I never even dreamed of such a thing. By what miraculous chance did you secure so rich a prize in the matrimonial market?” ‘‘It was merely by accident and due to the charms with which nature gifted me,” the lady replied with a light scornful laugh as if she des- pised the beauty of face and form which had lag her so much since she came to woman- ood, ‘* After your fall beneath the bullets of your enemies and my mad attempt to avenge your death, [ hurried like a crazy woman into the fee making my escape by way of the rear door, ‘‘T had sense enough to snatch up my hat and cloak as 1 rushed through the rear apartment, eager to escape from the polico whom, in my fevered imagination I saw already on the front stairs hurrying upward to drag me to prison. The instinct of self-preservation was strong within me and led me to make an attempt to es- cape, although I was in such a state that I was reckless whether I lived or died, but someway I had a terrible horror of being dragged into a police court and so I fled, not knowing where I went or caring. ‘““T wanted to get out into the air where I could breathe, for it seemed*to me if I remained within walls I should stifle. ‘* Possibly you will not believe it, Reuben, but you are the only soul whom I have ever encoun- tered that I felt the least degree of affection to- ward.” ‘Oh, I can believe that readily enough!” ex- claimed the man warmly, extending his hand and clasping her taper fingers within his own strong ones, ‘**'You have given me proof of that a hundred times. I deceived you when I took you away from your country home, and yet you never gave utterance to a single word of complaint,” ‘* T loved you, and was content to follow your fortunes, no matter how hard they might be,” she replied, simply. ‘*But release my hand; we must be on our guard, you know. ‘* Well, to continue my story, I wandered through the streets, never taking heed which way T went until I found myself on Cambridge bridge. ‘“When I saw the water—it was a bright moonlight night—the thought came over me that I could find peace and rest beneath the sur- face of the dark stream, but that idea only lasted a moment, for I am not the kind of girl to throw life away as recklessly as though it could be had for the asking. ‘The sound of footsteps approaching on the bridge attracted my attention, and, as near as I could make out, it was a young man, and well- dressed. ‘“‘T needed a banker just then, for I was al- most penniless, and [ made up my mind that this gentleman would do as well as any one. So Crowningshield, the Sleuth. 19 ——a oy ee ae es —~. I waited until he came so near that I was sure he would see what [ was doing, and then I climbed over the fence and descended to the pier upon which the draw worked. ‘** The plan succeeded to a charm. ‘‘ He ‘ioe ht that I intended to commit sui- cide, just as save me. ‘*He was a perfect gentleman. but oh, so soft, as far as I was concerned,” and the ripe, red lips of the woman curled in contempt. ‘That is about the way all men are affected who are lucky or unlucky enough to encounter you,” the other remarked. ‘You are an exception to the rule!” she ex-: claimed, quickly. “ Well, { don't suppose that I am particularly soft. Itisn’t my nature to be affected in that. way. I don’t think I will ever be apt to make a. fool of myself for any woman, but I loved you as much as it is possible fcr me to love any one,” **Oh, I’ve not the least Coubt about that,” she remarked, quickly, ‘‘ and Isuppose that it is be- cause you are ;o different to all the men that I have ever encountered that I feel toward you as. I did—and do,” she hastened to add. ‘*For, Reuben, I assure you that, though we have been separated for years, during which time I have mourned yeu as one dead, yet in my heart I still cherish the same affectidn that once impelled me to leave home.and friends to follow you.” “Tm glad to hear it!” he exclaimed, “ for I assure you, Roxanna, you cre the only woman that I have ever met who had power at all to quicken the blood in my veins,” ‘*T believe that, for you treated me honestly, although you did feed my imagination with some pretty extensive stories in regard,to world- ly prospects, but that is all past and gone, **To resume my story. This gentleman fell over head and ears in love with me e+ first sight. I told him a fabulous tale, and won his sym- pathy at once. He said he would see that I did. not suffer, and, to come quickly to the end, within a short time he askedme to marry him, and I, careless since I had lest you as to what. became of me, consented, ‘* We were married, and a child was the re-- sult of the union, ** And now comes the strange part of my tale. Although this man fairly idolized me, and did all in his power to make me happy, I grew to fairly hate him as time passed on, ‘The birth of the child, which ought to have brought us closer together, on the contrary scemed to separate us—or rather, it} seemed to push me still further from him, for I played my part so well that he never suspected that I was: at all indifferent to him, although I could see: that at times he wondered at my coldness,” “You cold!” exclaimed the man—‘t you, Rox- anna, with your heart of fire!” “Yes; but that heart did not warm to this: man, to whom the chance of fate and not my own free will had bound me. ‘When the child was a little over a year old, a circumstance occurred which completely al— tercd my way of life. ‘Did [ ever tell you about a miserable old expected he would, and hurried to wretch who knew all the circumstances of my — early life?” ‘*T do not remember that you ever did.” ‘Well, there is such a man, and he chanced to discover me. He came at a most unlucky moment, too, for my husband was a scion of one of the old and wealthy Boston families, al- though he had rather hidden this fact from me, and his marriage had been a secret one, for fear of exciting the displeasure of a rich relative from whom he expected one day to inherit: wealth. ‘* At last he had confessed the truth, though, and his uncle, the relative in question, took the matter quite pleasantly, and it was arranged. that he was to come and see me. ‘Of course, there wasn’t the least doubt in my mind that I could produce a favorable im— pression, and I looked forward to the meetin with pleasure, for 1 was heartily sick of the ei et, humdrum life I was leading, and longed for. money that I might be able, in a whirl of dissi- pation, to forget the past. ‘* Just at this moment this miserable wretch— this Old Lead Pencil appeared. He had played the spy; knew exactly how I was situated, and SS a to blackmail me for the rest of my e. “The scoundrel!” the gambler exclaimed. ** Tf Thad been in your position, I should have felt like killing him!” “And so I did, but there were reasons why I could not. And after all, his appearance only served to snatch me from one life into another, so perhaps I ought not to complain. **A month or so before this event occurred, when I was out one day on an errand, I met Judge Jones. ‘* The sidewalk was slippery, and I fell. He assisted me to rise, and became a captive to my charms immediately—and he made no difficulty in telling meso. He said outright that I was: the only woman in the world he had ever en- countered whom he would like to marry; and then he told me that he was a millionaire, and ng Be — ~ Se eee Oe ee ee ee eee ee . —_—— EOMEE CS Gor JOO