Beadle's New York Dime Library No. 551 — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

NNN - weak, CHAPTER VII. THE COURSE OF DOMESTIC LIFE FLOWS ROUGHLY, Mrs. BRACKETT was angry! This was noth- ing new, as the servants of the house could tes- tify, but it was seldom that she had occasion to feel offended at the judge. He left ber unre- stricted mistress of her time and conduct, and treated her with dignified politeness, which pleased her quite as wellas affection; and as a result, there was usually peace in the higher de- partment of the Brackett house. On this occasion the prevailing rule was re- versed. Mrs. Brackett was angry, and the flash uf her eyes boded no good to the future, In one way the fair lady gained by the change, Her cheeks were flushed, and this, with the magnifi- cent sparkle of her eyes made her handsomer than ever. Abram Brackett could not appreciate her beauty just then, and he sighed as he answered: ‘“Do not speak hastily, Agatha, Let us dis- cuss this mee Why should you care to accept Colonel Norman’s offer? Is there a woman in the city who can rival you under existing con- ditions?” ‘* They think they can.” “If there is sucha person it must be Mrs. Nicholson, but her won hold is ber husband’s position, She certainly is not beautiful or charming.” ‘Do you suppose she would admit the fact?” ‘She ought to be aware of it.” , “For a judge, your simplicity is charming. There never was a woman yet who thought her- self destitute of charms; there never will be one. Nonsense! Why doltalk? This matter is not open to argument. Logie will not put a woman down; the only way to humble her is to crush her. You know as well as I do that if you would consent to run for the mayor’s office you would be elected, and I should rule as undisputed queen of Jack’s Delight. When I consented to come to this then-barbarous place you told me I could easily rule the society which would grow up here,” ‘*T think you do so now.” ‘‘ What of Mrs. Nicholson, Mrs, Reed and Mrs, ? ‘* When there is an evening gathering you get all the attention, and they get none.” . ‘‘ True,” Mrs. Brackett complacently replied ; *‘ folks are not blind, Still, those women have money and position, if notcharms. They flatter me, fawn upon me, hate me, all at once, They must be crushed—so /” She extended her hand and slowly closed it, with the pantomime of ‘‘ crushing” her enemies. ‘* Suppose you outdo them entirely, where will you find the equals to associate with?” ‘‘ Equals! There are none here who are m equals, Circumstances have forced me to loo upon them; to allow them to live, as 1 may say; put [ despise them. What would they be wit out the money of their husbands? Nothing! And that is what | will make them. Do you under- stand, judge? Nothing!” ‘*‘ How can you take pleasure in suchan am- bition?” Brackett gravely asked, His wife made a contemptuous motion, ** All men and women save you are ambitious, How was it with Cesar?” ‘* How did Ceesar end?” ‘‘ Bah! don’t think to frighten me. Had Cesar been a woman, be would never have fallen from his high estate. He could win battles on the field, but when it came to diplomacy, he was If Caesar had been a woman, he would have bound to him irrevocably the knaves who finally took his life. Perhaps you wonder how, Tll tell you. He would have set a snare for each and all of them, got them in his power, and then held them as a cat holds a mouse!” 4 Mrs, Brackett spoke with force and entbusi- asm. She knew herself well, and knew her own wishes, She was ambitious, and in that passion lay the motive, the ruling spiritand the here- after of her life. She ought not to have been the wife of a man living in 2 Western mining-town. There is no more resistless force than a woman who aspires to reach giddy hights, Her course is usually headlong, and if she fails, and falls with the fight unwon, she goes down in a blaze of glory. tmay.be only the ephemeral glare of the shooting star, but she likes the sparkle and the glitter, and is happy in her brief notoriety. Judge Brackett knew his wife’s failing. Her ambition was the bane of his life; it had stead- fastly stood between them and happiness; it had made her disregard the duties of home; it had been the means of keeping them on a polite foot- ing which was more appropriate to strangers than to man and wife, He heard her latest declamatory outburst pa- tiently, and then modestly replied: : “TJ think, Mrs, Brackett, it would be more to our credit to let these rival politicians fight their battle alone.” ‘Are youa clod, sir?’ cried the woman of ambition, ‘** Not at present.” The judge sighed as he spoke. He was in a melancholy mood, and, just then, felt that the senseless clods were to be envied. ‘‘Then have some animation, Come; shall LLL LL ill ttt te ils, Ui Garry Kean. we be Colonel Yoke Norman’s allies?’ Mrs, Brackett asked. At any other time the judge would have re- fused, kindly but firmly, but he remembered Nathan Bradley’s demand, and there was some- thing like grim humor in his reply: ‘*Give me time!” ** How long?” **Say forty-eight hours.” ** Will you decide by that time?” ‘6 Yes,” ‘So be it, then. I begin to have some hope of you; I may make a man of you yet. I caution you not to get into one of your ‘iron’ moods, and refuse me, In forty-eight hours!” ‘‘In forty-eight hours!” repeated Brackett, thinking how he was to give Bradley a like an- swer at that time, The lady arose, ‘*T will leave you now,” she observed, ‘‘Stay a moment!” directed Brackett, with a sudden return of deep gravity. ‘‘ Have you heard any rumor—that is, any report which—” His reluctant tongue was saved from asking the question. ‘*Do you refer,” asked his wife, ‘‘ to the report which associates the names of Alice and that Garry Kean?” ‘ec es,” ‘**T am astonished!” cried Mrs, Brackett, trag- ically. ‘‘ Has Alice gone mad? Has the girl no judgment? Has she no consideration for me ?” ‘** For you?” ** Yes, indeed!” **I do not comprehend.” ‘Don’t you see that, when lam struggling hard to lift our family to an elevated position, it is a severe blow to have a thoughtless child bring comment upon me?” ‘Is that your main consideration?” ** Most certainly.” : ** What about Alice, herself?” ‘Oh! I presume she don’t feel it!” The contracted brows and stern face of the judge heralded an approaching storm, and be now spoke severely: ‘* Agatha, will you forget your supreme selfish- ness for awhile? Do you not see that Alice will be the chief sufferer? Her sacred name will be on the lips of every gossip.” ‘* And the effects will be upon me /” pettishly added Mrs. Brackett. ‘** Be silent! I cannot bear too much!” ** Judge Brackett!” exclaimed the lady, with feezing hauteur, Well?” ‘*Did you order me to ‘be silent? Since when did I become a servant? Since when—” ‘* Listen tome, Agatha! I did not intend to offend you, but trouble has upset me wholly—” ‘* And you the ‘ Iron Judge !” **l am weak, horribly weak, where Alice is concerned.” ** Always ‘ Alice!’” Brackett’s face flushed perceptibly, but he raised his head scl and his regard and speech were equally steady as he answered: ** Always ‘ Alice,’ with me. She is my daugb- ter, and her affliction binds her to me with chains of steel. I should be a brute if I forgot the duty [ owe her, but I cannot forget: she has been a dear and dutiful. child, and iny love for her is as instinctive as the impulse of re- iration; it is ag than my own love of life. She has not had the advantages in life pesteges by the rest of us. Her sightless eyes ave not n able to study the faces of men and women, and read there the language of their minds—the index of their secret natures. She relies upon intuition to tell her whom to Jike, and whom not to like, and who can be alway right under such conditions?” ‘* What in the world does all this mean?” de- er the queen of Jack’s Delight, impatient- y. The judge steadily continued: ‘* Now that she has made a mistake it is not to be wondered at, but we must shield her, as far as possible, from the consequences of her un- fortunate acquaintance with the actor.” ** And horse-thief !” ) Brackett made a deprecating gesture. “ eee added the lady, ‘‘do come to the poin “*T will. You, Agatha, have always ignored Alice—” ‘* What! do you presume to give me lessons in propriety?” cried . Brackett. ‘** Be patient, Agatha. This is a time when the past should be forgotten. Are you not will- ing to help Alice?” “1? How?” ‘*Comments have before now been made on the fact that she is never seen, abroad or at home, in your company—” ‘* | have no wish to compel her.” ‘¢ But now it would crush one-half of this un- fortunate scandal, and vastly oe Alice, if you would make her your companion in your drives, your calls, your receptions. Show that you ap- prove of her, and the hydra-headed demon of gossip will be given a severe blow.” Mrs. Brackett’s lip had curled in scorn, She was Abram Brackett’s wife, but sbe had never considered herself Alice Brackett’s mother, She had no ill will toward the first Mrs, Brackett— \ @ on the contrary, she could not help feeling some gratitude to the woman who had made room for a successor by giving up her own life--but she had never been disposed to burden herself with Alice. In one way she had never been a cruel step- mother; her hand had never been raised in an- ger against Alice; but she had totally ignored the girl, and they were almost the same as strangers. Of late she had observed that Alice was grow- ing very pretty, and the present proposition would have been rejected with the eagerness of a selfish woman who foresees a rival, bad not an idea suddenly occurred to the female Cesar. Her eyes brightened, and she replied: ‘*T will comply on one condition.” ** What is that?” doubtfully inquired Brackett. ‘*] will carefully chaperon Alice to please you if, to please me, you will enter the political arena. and throw all your influence for Nor- man! CHAPTER VIII, GARRY KEAN’S FRIEND. Tue Iron Judge looked annoyed for a mo- ment; then his firm face became grim and de- termined. ‘*Do you seek to make terms af such a mo- ment?” he sternly asked. ‘* Why not?’ his wife asked. ** Must I pay for, bargain for, what is your duty as my wife?” ** My duty?” * Your duty, Mrs. Brackett!” ‘‘ Is itmy duty to render implicit obedience to you?” she haughtily asked. ‘* Be calm; there is no reason for quarreling. I only say that you are my wife; that the honor of my family is as much in your hands as in mine; and that itis your duty to preserve it, Yes, and your own interests demand it!” ‘*How so?” ‘You aspire to be the queen of this city. Would it not be well to keep scandal from your door?” ** Alice is not my child!” ‘" Heaven knows you are not a mother to her in fact, or in conduct!” Brackett bitterly ex- claimed. **Do you complain of me?” ‘“*Mrs. Brackett, will you listen to reason? Why waste words in idle talk? Your duty and our interests alike require you to aid Alice. ill you do so?” **She ought not to have sulliec her name,” ‘*Her name is as spotless as that of an angel, and if any man dares assail it, I will shoot him as I would a dog!” uttered the judge, his great eyes flashing. ‘“‘Itis the covert tongue of idle gossip which I dread, and that must be stran- led. I deeply regret that Alice ever met Hu- rt Lawrence, but I remember that she is blind. Not for a moment doI blame her; my heart is full of love and tender pity!” His voice had grown husky and broken, and in every way he revealed the unbounded love he held for his daughter. It was a noble affec- tion, and all the more striking because it came from one so stern and resolute in all other mat- ters. Mrs. Brackett listened; Mrs. Brackett watch- ed. She was not moved; she did not feel tender pity for blind Alice. She did not care a fig for her step-daughter, and her indifference left her free to meditate and scheme. The judge had said that he would not bargain with her, and she knew how firm he could be, She was crafty, and she saw the way to the goal of her hopes, she believed. First of all, she must place her husband under — obligations to her. Then later, she could work upon his gratitude to accomphish her own ob- jects. . ‘*T suppose it does place Alice unpleasantly,” confessed the female Cesar, her manner becom- i1g as bland and sunny as the blue skies of Italy; ‘‘and I will not desert her in this emergency. You have disappointed me, judge, but I will not forsake her. Rest easy; whatever I can do shall be done!” Brackett looked at ber keenly. Disturbed as he was, he had not lost his powers of perception, and he beheld the sudden change in his wife’s manner with suspicion, Long before, however, he had learned to make the most of small favors, and he did not expect generous devotion to his interests. “I thank you, Agatha,” he replied, with dig- nified politeness, ‘‘ You shall not regret what- ever you can do for Alice. make no suggestions, for I see you are anxious to go, but I will speak with you later.” He courteously opened the door for her; she > bowed and passed out, going with graceful courtesy which matched hisown. It would have been a good scene for a king’s court; it was but | a poor one as between man and wife. Abram Brackett had long been accustomed to — expect no more than formal]*ty, and when once more alone he considered that matter no further, . There was more serious food for thought. Only a short time before Mayor Eli son bad approached bim and r in the coming campaign; and now Nathan comicbooks ust now I will . Nichol- uested his help _ : ery ay’? a b Me Aa sai See.