Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 551 — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

— la cee on . nounced that she must go back to the ball-room, to be at hand in case Mrs. Brackett wanted her. She turned to go, but suddenly ‘* caught her breath ” with an audible gasp. ‘‘ Bless me, mademoiselle!” she cried, ‘‘ the Roman senator is coming. I will get away!” And she made good the threat by running off to the ball-room. She had left food for thought. Blind Alice could not use her own eyes, but she had accepted the general verdict that the Roman was Garry Kean, and it threw her into a little flutter. Since her sudden illness she had not seen or heard from the ex-actor, and she could not avoid the impression that he was about to seek her com- ny. var both hoped for and dreaded this result, She had some fear that her note to him had been warmer than modesty would allow. It had been written at a time when she believed she was about to go away, perhaps never to see him again, and that occasion was different from meeting him alone. The Roman approached, but not alone. He was accompanied by a short, awkward-looking man illy made up to represent a centurion, In these men we recognize Bradley and John- son, but their disguise was too perfect to be penetrated. Even Electa’s sharp eyes were at fault, and, having observed the senator in con- versation with the centurion, she had decided that the latter was English John. The two men came up at once, and the senator bowed low. ‘‘T crave your pardon, fair shepherdess,” he said, ‘‘ but may I ask if I am on the rigbt road to Rome?” The voice was not familiar, but that did not surprise Alice. The perfect change of tone, as she regarded it, rather awakened her admira- tion, and appeared to be in keeping with the ex- actor’s profession. ** No senator should be ignorant of the road to Rome,” she answered. ‘Times have changed since the days of Julius Ceesar.” ‘* Was he your friend?” The best 1 ever had,” ‘* And what of Mare Antony?” ‘‘ He was Ceesar’s avenger—a noble man. Do not judge him by any strolling actor you may have seen.” Alice smiled brightly. As she thought that Garry Kean was speaking, and Garry had played Mare Antony, the pleasantry seemed very gs sa 7 I have heard modern Antonys well spoken of.” ‘‘ Only by poor judges.” The senator was more in earnest than he seemed, and he would gladly have put into his voice the hatred he felt for Kean, but he con- _ trolled himself and spoke lightly. ‘‘Have Roman senators, as a whole, degener- ated?” Alice asked. ‘‘ That is one on me, fair shepherdess. Being modest, I will not attempt to answer. But as to shepherd girls, there can be no difference of opinion.” ~ “ And all must think unfavorably ?” ‘** Not so; indeed, you wrong the modern shep- herdess.” ° The senator glanced quickly toward Electa and the centurion, The latter was doing his duty nobly. He, too, was acting the gallant, and not without success. Believing that she was talking with English John, Electa was gra- cious. Why not? Jobn was a worthy man, and Miss Parsons was not the oldest lady in the world. Why should she not, on this evening of festivity, converse in a friendly way with a truly good man? The senator lowered his voice. ‘** There is a rustic bench over yonder,” he ob- served. ‘* Will you sit down, shepherdess?” Alice had some misgivings, but she did not utter them. She accepted the invitation, and they occupied the bench. It was a retired re- cess, with just such a mingling of light and shade as would have pleased a romantic couple, but all this was lost upon Nathan and Alice, He was full of evil plots, and her sightless eyes’ could not see the beautiful or the homely, Bradley spoke eagerly. : ‘‘T have longed for this opportunity,” he de- clared. . ‘* Have you?” ‘**Indeed, I have. It is a long time since I saw you last.” ‘*T have been ill.” ‘“*So I beard, and you have had my deepest mpathy.” You did not decide to leave the ‘* Thank you. city? ‘**T shall never do that while you are here.” ‘*T should have gone only for my sudden ill- ness; I was making preparations to start.” “To what do you attribute your illness?” _**T have no theory.” ** Well, you are, most happily, fully recov- ered, so let us be content. Alice, the days are long when I do not see you. How will this end?” **T don’t know.” “** Would I have any hope if I spoke to your father?” Garry Kean. ‘* Not at present,” Alice answered, hurriedly. ‘¢ You must trust to time to change his ideas.” ‘** Ts there not a better way?” ** What way?” ** ‘You will not be angry if I suggest it?” ‘**T think not.” ** Alice, I love you devotedly, and life with- out you can be no more than a dreary failure. Do not condemn me to long misery. You do not know what doubt and fear are mine, as I look upon you from a distance and see no hope in the future. There isa hope, if you will but grant it. Alice, otber young couples have been obliged to resort to elopement !” Miss Brackett started abruptly. ‘**Do not speak of that!” she exclaimed, pained surprise very perceptible in her voice. ‘*T see no other hope,” Nathan gloomily as- serted, . ‘** That can never be.” ‘** Alice, I did not think that of you!” The plotter spoke in a voice of deep melan- choly, but he had unconsciously made a mistake in carrying out his scheme. Believing that Kean bad declared his love for Alice, and had been formally accepted, he acted upon that idea, and had actually proposed an elopement in a case where there had been no mutual under- standing, whatever might be the intuitive per- ceptions, . efore Alice could answer his pathetic re- proach there was a rustling of garments close at hand, and with a few casual remarks an- other couple occupied a bench near at hand—so near that, though a vine-covered trellis shut out all view, the two couples were practically side by side. Alice held up her hand warningly; she had recognized one of the voices, The invisible per- sons spoke further, and even Nathan became conscious that they were Mrs, Abram Brackett and Colonel Yoke Norman. ‘ The girl began to tremble. She dreaded her imperial step-mother, without fully understand- ing how the latter hated her, and would rather have been discovered by almost any one else. Mrs. Brackett would feel no sympathy for her. Alice kept her ari not daring to leave, lest the noise should cause investigation, and com- ow her own companion by a gesture to be silent, Their neighbors > and every word was audible to Alice and Nathan, ‘* By Mars! it is good to get away from the ball-room!” declared the colonel, with a sigh. ‘*T thought you liked dancing,” returned Mrs. Brackett. ‘* Ah! but there are better things!” ** Indeed !” ‘*What can compare with the company of a lovely woman?’ ‘** Nonsense, colonel!” returned Mrs. Brackett, but her voice was not severe. ‘* Madam, you know how I adore you!” ** Soldiers and sailors are proverbially fickle.” ‘But not Kentucky gentlemen. Mrs. Brack- ett, the men of my State loveas they live—for all time!” ** As gallant as ever, colonel!” ** As discerning as ever, madam. I am not blind. The charms of the fair sex appeal to m whole nature, and with the queen of women sf know no emotion but happiness.” ** More flattery !” ‘¢ [ swear that I mean it, madam!” Alice listened in dumfounded surprise. Here was the bachelor colonel making love to her step-mother, and Mrs. Brackett listened gra- ciously, evidently enjoying the bomage paid. rt however, did not forget business, if Norman id. ‘* You should think of grander things,” she an- swered, ‘“ What could be grander?” ‘€ Ambition!” ‘* By Mars! I had forgotten that!” ‘* Do not forget again. You aspire to be mayor of this city, and I am your ally. Let us keep these facts in mind.” ‘* My hopes waver.” Why?” . ** Elijah Nicholson has the inside track, and will surely be renominated, unless by some pect | chance, werun him off the track. Our one hope is to secure Abram Brackett’s co-op- eration. You know what hope there is of that.” ‘** Brackett is a clod!” declared Brackett’s wife, tartly. ‘** You ought to be able to sway him,” ‘*T have no influence with him.” ‘** He is a brute!” ‘You are right, colonel; that is what he is.” Alice grew cold with horror, but Mrs. Brack- ett went on: . ‘* He is as destitute of the ordinary feelings of the human race asa rock. Ambition finds not the least place in his being. He would be a brick-layer and feel as much content as though he were a king. His harsh, imperious, icy na- ture is utterly repulsive. If he were a king, he would bave all his courtiers angry witb him in wees A iod vee ebed —- one of ae a favor, ut would shower ings upon the beggars of the street, He believes that all men are equal, provided that they are honorable, as he calis it, Bah! I hate such views—such idiocy!” a LS —_—_— + rrr rr i > 19 The female Cesar beat her pretty fcot impa- tiently upon the floor. ‘*Most unjust and unwise judge!” muttered the colonel. ‘* He cares only for his doll-faced girl.” ** Alice is a clipper!” ‘* Why don’t you go to her?” sharply demanded the lady of ambition. ‘* Dear madam, I never mistake a star for the lorious sun. Alice is a child. You, Mrs. rackett, are the most glorious woman the world ever saw.” CHAPTER XXIII. “THE CANKER OF AMBITIOUS THOUGHTS.” ALICE trembled and was pale with horror, but Nathan Bradley smiled sarcastically and was well satisfied. He cared not a fig how much Colonel Yoke Norman made love to Mrs. Brackett, and the secrets he was learning might yet be useful <0 him. In any case, this talk must have effect upon Alice, and he hoped it would so influence her that home would become distasteful, and make her reconciled to elope- ment, ‘‘Colonel,” replied Mrs. Brackett, with kind reproof, ‘“‘let us have no frivolity. We were speaking of the mayor’s office. We must secure it ” ‘‘ Were you my wife,” declared Norman, “f would poll every vote cast for mayor!” ce How 9” ‘¢ You should charm them.” ‘Yet, I cannot even charm Brackett.” ** He is a dolt!” ‘*He isa man of iron. have been false to the confidence you reposed in me, without ambition.” ‘* Why not threaten him?” ‘‘Threaten him! Threaten Abram Brackett? Ye gods! colonel, ove might as well threaten am iceberg. ‘Stubborn’ isa weak word to apply to the Iron Judge, A threat only makes bis mulish qualities stand out more prominently,, and that is superfluous. He isa hard man to manage.” ‘* It is shameful that you are bound for life to | such a brutal wretch.” ‘‘He is not brutal, colonel; no one could use me better. He is merely undemonstrative.” ‘¢ He 1s brutal to overlook, and be indifferent. to, charms like yours. Dear madam, fate is un- just. It links fire with ice, and expects the fire to submissively die out in an Arctic atmosphere.. This is wrong—cruelly wrong. Mudam, you should have been my wife!” i The Kentuckian waxed fervent, and endeavor- ed to take Mrs. Brackett’s hand. It was with- drawn from his reach. In justice to Mrs. Brackett, it should be said that she was not a woman without redeeming qualities. She did notcare a picayune for Norman, but her am- bition pointed to political alliance with him, and she was vain enough to like compliments. She answered his last words with a sigh and two low-murmured words: ** Happy lot!” To say that Alice was horrified would but feebly express it. In her frank, straightforward nature there was no guile, and her limited ex- perience, bad left her ignorant of the fact that there was in the world many a woman who in- dulged in flirtation, and yet bad no desire to change her lot. Alice did not suspect that, om Mrs, Brackett’s part, all this was empty talix, and was simply appalled to hear such language from her father’s wife. Nathan Bradlev took it for what it was worth. He knew that Mrs, Brackett was too much a woman of the world to prefer the ungainly col- onel to the Iron Judge: and knew that it was surface talk; but he saw how it affected Alice, © - and was pleased thereby. | On one point Alice and Bradley were in ac- cord; both bad begun to find the situation intol- erable. She was anxious to be out of hearing of such iniquitous conversation, while Nathan — wished to press his own suif. They could not, however, talk or go away undetected. Colonel Yoke Norman had been drinking heavily, and he was reckless, He betrayed the fact in his next words. ‘* Madam, fate was unkind to us.” ‘** Fate is often unkind.” ‘* Would we had met before your marriage!” ‘The time is past.” ** But the future is before us. leave Jack’s Delight—” He was treading on dangerous ground, and cab Brackett promptly checked the flow of his. words. -**T am too much in love with this city ”"—she hated the place—‘‘to go away. me day, no- doubt, Judge Brackett will be mayor. At pres- ent, you are the favored of fortune; win the prize. I will throw all my influence for you, ** And Brackett?” ‘¢ Must be brought over somehow.” If we were to ‘‘ How strange that so stupid a man should x have such a charming wife!” “ Colonel, it see such things. You are so discerning. doubt there are many broken hearts in Ken- eCoypniricel oxeKey <S3 . = Do not think that I 1 have argued with the man, but he is . ou musb ires intellect like yours to No Sins es Pee * me -_ és vie &. . A "FE ‘ - » iy > <7 a