Beadle's Dime Library No. 509 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

| ' early-morning summer air, the former came to | a pause, n Yonder is my boarding-place,” said she, pointing to a poor but pleasantly surrounded little house, at whose modest garden-gate they had stopped. ‘* Fortunately, itis yet very early. Ishall have ample time for breakfast, before setting out for the mill,” * You are not going to the mill any more. For God's sake, if not for mine, don’t think of such a thing, Miss Merrivale!” There was a suggestion of privilege, if not exactly of proprietorship, in his openiug words, that did not seem wholly displeasing to her; and she had as yet made no certain reply to his ab- rupt declaration, or afforded him actual en- couragement, Still, the avowal had been succeeded by a con- fused exchange of certain confidences, and the youthful pair were already friends, with some- thing more than a possibility of being yet bet- ter and closer ones. The young woman had placed her hand on the gate, without making a reply. Dearly would she rejoice to quit the coarse and wearing drudgery that was bearing down so crushingly upon her young life. Nothing could please her better; but still she would not sacrifice her proud independence, ‘T have already told you, Mr. Mayfield,” she said, in her low, firm voice, ‘‘ that I cannot and wil) not accept charity from you, or from any man.” ‘“*Oharity 2? But it isn’t charity I offer, Retta,” he cried, eagerly—after which he made a delighted pause, to realize that she did not re- sent his use of her Christian name, ‘‘ Haven't I laid my heart bare to you unreservedly? And, if you can’t exactly love me in return—not yet, perbaps—doesn’t the other fact—the fact of my loving you, and being rich, you know— give you a perfect right—nay, impose a sort of necessity upon you—to let me relieve your distress?” She smiled while shaking her head, and yet with a slight suggestion of giving or modifying her refusal, his words were so eager, so euthu- siastic. ‘* Hardly,” she replied. of the world—Harvey.” He flushed with pleasure, ‘* But itis my way!” he exclaimed, joyously. ‘** Besides,” argumentatively again, ‘‘since you say you could earn a subsistence by giving les- sous in music and singing, if you bad buta fair start, whatever you would take from me might be only as a loan, you know,” ** Under no other circumstances could I think of taking anything,” she murmured, irresolute- ly. ‘‘And yet so much depends on influence, recommendations, and all that, it might be long—oh, ever so long before I could return it.” For answer, he snatched one of ber bands and kissed it—it was still so early that there was but slight risk of the action being observed—with as much respectfulness as if it had been his sister’s, After which he drew a package of twenty-dollar bills from his breast-pocket, and gayly counted ten of them into her hands, er eyes sparkled. But the careless manner of the gift seemed to astonish her yet more than the money itself, long as she had been unused to the display of such affluence, ‘* Tt is too much!” she half-gasped, - ‘Not half, nor quarter, enough,” with an airy gesture, as he returned the roll to his pocket, and patted his grip-sack with an un- consciously caressing movement—he had left the dark-lantern behind in the old house. ‘ But if you'll only bear in mind that there’s any lag more of it for you in the same loan- office, I sha’n’t grumble,” What a curse is poverty, what a blessing wealth, contrasting each other no less sharpl and bitterly than misery and beatitude, Hell and Heaven! The flush of assured relief was already in the befriended girl’s face and eyes, though it was with a sort of dreamy and mechanical breath- lessness that she folded up the crisp bills and hid tiem in ber bosom. ‘* You must be very rich!” was all she could say at first. * Sq so!” a little uneasily. “I don’t com- plain, **And yet your wealth has come to you but recently, you say.” ‘Yes. At least, I am not so nsed to it as to have become slavishly grasping and mean, as I have reinarked the vast majority of your fabu- lously rich duffers to be. Was it an unexpected ““T should say not! legacy, then?” vf Something in that line,” with renewed un- easiness. ‘‘It’sa-sort of secret, though, Retta; a close secret, at that, though I may some day let you into it.” ‘** And are you accustomed to carry such large sums with you?” ‘* Oh, yes—nowadays.” ‘* Ah! well, if the source of your great wealth is a secret, Harvey, I already know enough of you to feel sure that it is a perfectly honest one, or else you could bave no connection with it,” He started, though the trustfulness of the look that accompanied her words should have added to his self-satisfaction, ‘*That isn’t the way a ee eee ee Old Falcon, the Thunderbolt Detective. 4) ‘*Of course you’re right there,” he slowly re- | Mayfield hurried on, desirous of catching tie plied, recovering himself. ‘‘I have just as hon- est and indubitable a right to my fortune as you or any one could have to lost tnoney picked up out yoader along the roadside gullies,” ‘* No more than that?” , ‘* What do you mean, Retta?’ ** Why, how can you ask? Such money could not rightfully belong to the mere finder, but only to the loser, or original owner.” ‘*To be sure, to be sure!” with a forced laugh. ‘*T did but jest. But look you. Retta,” anxious- ly shifting the topic, ‘* you speak of wanting a start with your lesson-giving?” ‘* Yes,” with new interest. But at this juncture they were interrupted by a passing buggy, moving slowly northward, in which were two young men, of fashionable but rather dissipated appearance, both of whom looked hard, and even somewhat surprisedly, at the young woman, without taking any notice of her companion. ‘**Do you kaow those young men, Retta?”’ asked Harvey, when they had passed, * { do not,” she answered, yet turning slightly a e, Pee Never see them before?” ** Never, to my recollection.” This quite de- cidedly. ‘*Strange they should look at you so hard, then. Look! both are again twisting their heads around for a parting glimpse at you.” “That is nothing,” said Retta, somewhat coldly. ‘‘ Young gentlemen are often so rude nowadays.” “Especially when young ladies are so attrac- tive as to appear little less than angels!” And he gave a jealous little laugh. ** Pardon me; you were saying—” “Oh, yes! ell, there are several fashion- able, or half-fashionable, ladies at Mrs. God- love’s, where I board, who might want to try you on as a music-teacher, [ll pass the hint around, if you say so.” “Thank you! That may be worth think- ing of,” **Ob, ['m sure you'll get a good start there, if even under my unassisted recommendation!” he cried, at once beginning to see everything rosily, ‘There is the widow herself, to begin with. She has naturally a fine voice, but both sings and plays ignorantly; and I have more than once heard her lament her lack of cultivation. And then there is Therese Bertrande—La Tra- vadeuse! I don’t know, to be sure, whether she sings or plays, or even cares a rap for music, But,” with a laugh, “if the widow would have oe on my recommendation, so would La ravadeuse, and in hot haste, you may depend on it, The young girl opened her brown eyes to their fullest extent. ‘**And who is the widow, and who is La Travadeuse? she inquired. Mayfield laughed again, besides blushing a little; and then he-seemed to take a sudden reso- lution. “Tt’s a queer complication that they make of it with me—those extraordinary women!” said he, with a fresh burst of laughter. ‘ But I don’t want to have anything apart from you, my friend, soI shall tell you all about it from A to Izzard.” And so he did, then and there (always except- ing any reference to the money secret), without reservation, and with such frank ingenuousness that she could not but smile with him at the eccentric comicalness of his situation. ‘*Was ever anything more ridiculous?’ he cried, at last. ** Don’t I suggest to you a bundle of fresh clover between two—well, we will say two does? Or as a bone betwe n a leopardess and an elderly Indian princess—for La Trava- deuse often suggests the former to me, and there is something in her absolute unconscion- pe that sometimes makes me afraid of er, Retta had suddenly grown very grave. ‘Tt isn’t right for a young man—this sort of thing,” she said. ‘* I would speedily break with both of them, if I were you, Harvey.” ‘“Gad! so I would,” with a really anxious look, ‘‘and none more gladly and readily—if I only knew how, However,” with a sudden brightening up, ‘who knows but you may be able to help me in this, Retta?’ ‘* Perhaps so.” She held out her hand, ‘* Good- by, now. Here is Mrs, Kelly opening up the front of the bouse.” ‘** But you will let me call soon, to know how you oe getting along with your new projects?” es He pressed her hand warmly,-and went on Se way, but almost immediately came running ck. **T had meant to ask you something,” he'cried breathlessly, ‘‘ but forget to.” **What is it?” . “Your nan.e, Retta—so evidently a nick- name—what is it an abbreviation of?” She was graver than ever now. _‘*That must remain my secret,” she replied, a little coldly. ‘‘ As you have one that you keep from me, Harvey, so I shall keep this from you. Good-by,” with a parting smile as she was re- treating up the path, ‘‘ and may God bless you!” seven o’clock up-train, and already anxious in his mind as to the best disposition of bis sudden wealth, without exciting dangerous suspicions, especially on the part of Therese Bertrande. As he was bourding the train be experienced a new indefinable sensation of uneasiness on per- ceiving two men curiously and critically regard- ing him from the station platform, He recognized them as the same young men who had stared so hard at Retta Merrivale from the passing buggy. CHAPTER XIII. AN INTERRUPTION, ‘‘Who can those fellows be, and what cen they want?’ thought the young man to himself, and bis hand closed mechanically with a tighter clutebh upon his grip-sack. ‘Jn driving hither they must have passed the treasure-cottage, And what could they bave meant by staring so inquisitively at Retta?” ut bere the train moved away with him, and, being both in love and troubled over the secret course be bad Inid out for the day, the thought of them quickly passed our of his mind. But his troubles, or anxieties, were not slow in making a start. He bad scarcely breakfasted, after a careful toilette and complete change of clothing, than Mrs, Godlove, whose fasbionable “‘ guests” took their morning meal rather perfunctorily, with a high-toned disregard of any regular hour, fol- lowed him, timidly and yet balf-reproachfully, to the foot of the stair. 2Gr; night.” '* Ob, yes, I was, ma’m—till eleven o’clock.” ‘‘ But after that?” with motherly anxiety, in which both suspicion and reproof were mildly mingled. At once suspicious, in bis turn, that bis skulk- ing departure might bave been noted and com- mented upon, he exclaimed, a little irritably: ‘* Well, what of it, ma’m? I suppose I am at liberty to go and come.” ‘*- Yes, yes: ob, yes!” and the “ai bod widow was almost tearful. ‘‘ Would dare to be anxious over your movements, Mr. Mayfield? Of what account am I?” ‘* But how were you aware of my not oceupy- ing my room later on?” wholly disregarding her solicitude. ‘*[ was compelled to investigate, sir. You had a visitor.” A visitor at after eleven?” _“ Nearer twelve.” With a slightly quivering lip. “What visitor?’ ** Major Falconbridge.” Mayfield started back, and with difficulty mastered his alarm. ‘** What did he want?” “How should I know, Mr. Mayfield. Detec- tives are not often communicative,” ** But what did he say?” ‘* Nothing. But he seemed surprised and dis- appointed, and asked if you often slept away from home,” aa Oho )? ‘‘'Yes, And I hope the major excused me if I manifested a little indignation in your bebalf, Mr. Mayfield—Harvey,” with a thrilling drop- ping of ber voice. ‘‘ But I stood up for you. answered, with truth, that your hours were mostly unimpeachable, your habits, as a general rule, the most highly correct.” ‘“Ah, thanks, thanks! Well, did he say he would call again?” ‘‘He was unceriair, He had wished to see you last night on a most important matter. Another day might be too late.” He nodded, and was about hurrying up-stairs in no very enviable state of mind, when Mrs, Godlove timidly laid her plump hand on his arm. ‘*Mr. Mayfield!” ‘* Well, ma’m?” **'You haven’t wholly given up your divinity studies and aspirations, I hope.” ‘* What makes you suppose I have?” ‘*T do not see you with your once beloved books any more. Since she came, all is so changed.” ‘Oh! with a nervous laugh, though perfectly willing that his transformation should be ascribed to any but the real cause ‘‘ Therese, as usual, eh?” ‘Can you blame me? Prior to ber coming, you—you were so kind, frequently so sy:m- pathetic, tome.” Witha regretful smile that parted her lips charmingly, and half-obliterated the provoking little crow’s-feet about ber hand- some eyes. ‘* However,” resignedly, “ but I suppose I am only an old woman now.” . ‘Indeed, you are nothing of the sort,” he in- terposed, impatiently. ‘* But really you must excuse me now, my dear friend. I have press- ing business that will occupy my entire day.” **On, don't let me detain you, for the world! Why should I? What,” semi tragically, * is left for poor me? All the happy, innocent times are changed. The church sociables, the sweet singing-classes I attended with you—all!” He turns to ber again, a sudden thought Mayfield, you—you were not bome last EGoOmic JOO cS ia ee * ian