Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 544 — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

————————— — He ee = EP Set... nee ‘The Back to Back Pards’” ing forward, he seized both of her hands, and kissed them rapturously, crying: ‘* Chiquita! You are the light of my eyes!” ‘* Hey! bey! listen to him, ye gods! Shall I tell my mistress that you have transferred your affections to her maid?” ‘Tell her anything, so that you tell me she is safe!” cried Tom, throwing bis arm about her. **On my soul, I am afraid of you!” laughed the little conspirator, delighted with the inten- sity of his love, as evinced by his ecstatic aban- | donment, the glow on his face, the dancing bril- liancy of his eyes, the quiveriAg passion of hap- piness in his voice. ‘*‘ Even your friend—who will never fall ill of bashfulness—is nothing to this, Pray you remember, senor, that we are alone in this deserted house! I, a timid little thing, ain entirely at your merzy, with no pro- tection but to report your conduct to my mis- tress, if l ever escape you! Do you fancy that she is so angelic as to be without the common human weakness of jealousy? It is only in Heaven that there is no marriage or giving in marriage, and I fancy even there a lover is not permitted such license as this.” ‘* Tell me she is safe!” insisted Tém, ‘* Come! come!” bantered the girl, her black eyes fairly dancing with elfish mischief, ‘‘I dare you to kiss me!” ** Done!” criea Tom. And he made good his acceptance as quick as lightning. hen he released her, “Oh! oh! oh!” screamed fhe minx, yet so Si amherst that there was no danger of her voice ing heard beyond the four walls of the house, Then she immediately gave a different signifi- cance to her outcry, by pursuing: ‘*Was there ever rare sport spoiled by such recklessness! It is no compliment, senor, that you are so overjoyed about another as to be in- different whether you strike my chin or the end reat T shall ‘not b *But I shall not be without my reven Now I have you for life! Wiensve? I ania new ribbon, or a lace kerchief, I have but to blackmail you! My mistress, as you will learn to your cost, is the greatest stickler in the world for the proprieties in love. A word of this from me, and she will slay both of us guilty ones, and herself iu the bargain! But if she prove so fool- isbly fond of you as to condone your offense. and stay her hand with only my blood, there is yet Gomez to drive his ae into your back! ‘* Well, sir, what have you to say for yourself ati ly that hal ‘**Only that you shall never betray m want of. ribbons, or kerchiefs, or anything een that will add to the ravishment of your bewitch- ing a aap he a! what a tongue you have, to be Ye cried Chiquita, with ‘affected ” taalfilces, ‘“‘ Well, I have been kissed many a time betore in my life; but if you stand by your promise, I shall regret this infidelity to my poor Gomez less than any other.” ‘‘And now,” pleaded Tom, “ haven't you taxed my patience long enough? What of Francisca?” ‘*T have been preparing you, senor, for bad news.” ‘* Bad news!” “ She is dying.” “s bye for me, yoeeeat ‘**'Was there ever such conceit! Of chagrin at having involved herself in all this sothee for the sake of a man who, after all, is no good Catholic!” ; ‘* Not a Catholic!” protested Tom, “ Indeed Iam!” ‘ *¢On your honor,” senor !—by the love you bear my mistress!” cried the little maid, with a sud- den earnestness that took Tom by surprise, ‘On my honor, he assured ber, “and by such a love as no woman ever before inspired! What made you think otherwise?” ies replied with a deep inhalation of relief. ‘* You can’t always tell about these Americans! I feared you were a heretic, which would have spoiled everything! ‘* Well,” her manner changing back to mis- chievous fun, “‘I shall come to believe you fel- lows, one of these days, if what you swear to turns out true like this!” She did not tell Tom that this was an allusion to her recent interview on the subject with Charley Osborne; and our lover was too much en din his more immediate concerns to pay any critical attention to her remarks. ‘Did Francisca make a point of that?’ he asked, eagerly. ‘Well, to be honest with you, no,” admitted the little maid. Then, glancing quizzically at him out of the corner of her eye: “Tt isashame for me totell you; but I’m afraid she has been so foclish as to think noth- ing about you, so far—” ** Nothing about me!” as the teasing Chiquita came to a halt, ' ‘¢ Save only that you are yourself, senor!” “God bless her—and you!” cried Tom, de- lizhted beyond measure. ‘“So much the greater reason,” pursued the little maid, with a sudden assumption of the air LL, ——————— of a duenna, ‘‘ why somebody should look out for her interests. And who is there but me?” ‘There could be nobody more to my mind!” declared Tom. At which Chiquita laughed hilariously. ‘* A duenna who drops notes at the feet of lovers who lack the wit to sbape their own fate!” ‘Is it fair to remind me of your services be- fore I have had opportunity to show my appre- ciation of them? Leave off teasing me, and tell me—she is well, and looking hopefully forward to the issue of our love?” ** Do you take me fora love-letter? One would fancy you had the impudence to imagine that sbe had sent me to you, inscribed all over with ledges of undying devotion! Look me over} Tou will find nothing written on me, I assure you! Would she not have locked me in a closet, if she had dreamed that [I was bent on such an errand as this? One day you will awake to the fact that you owe something to my pity, young man!” ‘*7 owe the greatest happiness of my life to you! But at least you can tell me if she was hurt. Iasked her, and she protested that she was all right; but I have been devoured with anxiety ever since. And you will be a dear good girl, and tell me the truth!” ‘‘T more truthful than my mistress? Would I have the presumption? Aside from that con- sideration, the shortness of our acquaintance alone excuses you for placing reliance in any- thing I say to you. Those who have known me longest and best will tell you that I am an in- corrigible little liar! Ask Benita! She judges me without fear or favor, But why should Francisca be burt?” Nothing in the little maid’s tone or manner indicated the subtlety of this question. Tom could not guess that she had picked up every possible scrap of gossip about where and how he had been found; and that she threw out this seemingly innocent leader to draw from him how it had come about that he had lost and his friend got possession of his sweetheart, ap- parently with no consciousness on the part of either, Tom told of the shock of that collision in the dark, when some one had dashed between them; and received the assurance that he need borrow no trouble on that account, since Francisca had sustained no physica] injury whatever. It was not so easy to relieve his apprehensions touching that ominous scream after their part- ing. Without stopping to puzzle out just how the exchange of sweethearts had been effected, Chiquita saw tbat it was Maude who had been captured; and her pretense that she was under Charley Osborne's protection being evidence of intrigue, it was plain that, baving deceived Tom as to her identity, she would find some way of still keeping him in the dark, Chiquita there- fore felt safe in =. out her own scheme. ‘* A man,” she said, looking reflectively into Tom’s eyes, “is a pig-headed animal, and gener- ally goes blundering abead in his own way, in spite of anything that can be said; and yet I am going to try to infuse into you a little tact, such as comes naturally toany woman. [ am going to ask you to draw a line across the threshold of the dancing-hall, and another at the entranoe of Francisca’s home, and never in your future intercourse with her to make any allusion to any event that may bave happened between those two,” ‘“What? What? What?’ shouted Tom, be- side himself with terrorandrage. — “Ah, look at him!” cried the intriguante, “Seg how white he is!—how his eyes glare! He is a murderer at heart already! One would think be was about to eateven unoffending me!” ‘*P}l have his a blood!” hissed Tom, brough his clinched teeth. ; Whose heart’s blood, pray?” demanded the little maid, quite coolly. ‘Say 40 more! ried the outraged lover, starting toward the door, | , ‘Stay! protested Chiquita, Shee herself in his way. ‘‘ Did ee tell you? The most ig*headed of his kind! pm Do not trifle with me! I do not wish to know! My poor darling! But I will carry her his heart, with my sword through it!” ‘A fine present for a poor darling! What would she do with such an article of bijouterie? Come, senor! I perceive that you begin to give evidence of a return to your senses, But I am curious to know whom you are going forth to ” Eom began to waver. The teasing light in her eyes was not consistent with any very seri- ous grievance on the part of her mistress, whose bofior and happiness were as dear to her, almost, as to Tom bimself. ‘¢ That villainous cousin of hers!” he answered, to draw her out. ‘‘ And wherefore?’ she asked, with exasper- ating persistence. ; “Shall he offer her an indignity, and I not resent it? If he were a thousand times her cousin, I would carve him into inch pieces!” And Tom ground his teeth with a recurrent rage 27 faults, cannot be laid the slightest indecorum im all his association with her, save only the tear- ipg away of her mask in your presence, which,, I must say, you requited handsomely. It may be of interest to you, senor, to know that from that moment to this Alverado Saumarez has not: rested his eye nor the weight of his finger upon his cousin.” ‘*Is that so, Chiquitat—on your honor as a woman!” ‘**On the honor of my mistress, which I hold more sacred than my own,” ‘*God bless you! But it was one of his vil- lains, then, I will find him out! I will—” ‘Abate your ardor, senor, The woman you love has suffered nothing that need cause you a moment’s uneasiness, nor at which any womam but she would feel a pin’s-worth of chagrin. But in securing her as your wife, you do not yet imagine what you are getting. She is the most exquisite creature the good God ever made!” **Obh! I need no assurance of that /” cried the lover, in ecstasy. ‘* Listen! In all the years of her tender mai- denhood she has never felt the touch of a man’s: hand, save only in those attentions which are permitted to the most distant courtesy. Now, for the first time in her life, barring only you, to whom she gladly accorded the right, she has felt herself in the arms of a stranger.” “Whose? Whose? Tell mehis name! I wilk have bis life!” “One such that, if you knew, you would not dream of retaliating upon bim!” ‘“*But I would! Be he high or low, he shall not live to bring the blusb to ber cheek!” : ** Now, now, you stupid fellow! Do you not see that it is you alone who can bring the blush to her cheek—that it is you alone who can wound her sensibilities indescribably more than is possible to any other? Of what avail the blundering idiocy which you men call satisfac- tion, after you have humiliated her beyond words to tell, by betraying a knowledge of what she considers a defilement, though she knows: well enough that it was not intended as a wan- ton insult? What are all other men in the world to her, living or dead? Is it not your opinion that she prizes? ** But you are a sensible man. You know that this is nothing, save in her supersensitive im- agination. ill you, then, sacrifice her deli- cacy, that you may seek the gratification of a. foolish resentment? **Come, come, senor! be guided by me, No one in all the world knows herasIdo, I telb ou she is Parian marble, she is Venetian glass! y one py ae you can shatter the most exquisitely beautifnl prize that ever fell to the lot of—well, a fellow who deserves a little some- thing—I will admit that!” **But who does not deserve such a priceless little friend and monitor as you!” cried Tom, with a burst of gratitude. And then, since all this praise of his sweet- heart was lotus to him: *“*Goon! Tell me about her!” ** And spoil for you the happiness of findin out for yourself!” cried the little maid. ‘ have told you so much, only because 1 knew that, left to yourself, you would go flounderin about till you broke her heart, only to bewa the results of your own bungling as a mysteri- ous dispensation of Providence!” “You are a wise little woman!” exclaimed Tom, pressing her hands again. ‘And I owe you more than I can ever repay.” **One word further. She will probably make it a matter of conscience to tell you about this— a folly in women which you sturdy fellows do not return! But if you are clever enough to evade her once or twice, she will not have the courage to take it up again. When you twoa old and toothless, and get to maundering over your youth for the amusement of your grand- — But it can then do children, it may come out. no harm, She will Jaugh over it with you.” ‘You may depend upon me. With the way so clearly pointed out, I hope to display more for. ‘Well, then, we come to the final question: When do you purpose to take her?” ** As soon a8 I can get her!” | “That is promptly answered, But you know the adage:—There is no time like the present.” ‘““ Nothing could delight me mvure! Every hour’s delay is an age out of Paradise!” ‘**'You go out to fight Senor Alverado an hour before sunset?” es “Tf he kills be futile; but i Pie kil ‘*Look here, Chiquita! I bave never in m life killed a man—not even in a fight, which is — not easy to keep clear of in this country. Must her cousin be the first? Heis her cousin, you know, good or bad. I had resolved not to kill him, unless he got me in a corner where I could’ not otherwise save my own life, I cannot at my repugnance to having his blood between s “Well, well, senor!” cried the maid, with glowing eyes, ‘‘I am indebted to you for more and more confirming my good opinion of yout m of : “Pi Him, to whose charge, whatever his other ’ It isthe Blessed Virgin who bas rewarded the cleverness than you at present give me credit. ou our pane for the future will. pan ae = *.. [com G S 0\(0)(0)