Beadle's New York Dime Library, No. 574 — page 17: what you’re looking at

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Eleanor remained silent a moment. There was no doubting the genuineness ot those wild and burning words, Oo woman, as a rule, is et a ky CHAPTER XXVIL. ‘“‘IN THE MORNING BY THE BRIGHT LIGHT.” THERE was an unusually joyful breakfast perhas averse to know herself the inspiration | partyin the charming moruing room of Colonel ' i of an overmastering passion in any man, under | any circumstances, and Eleanor Sherwood was | not an exception to the rule. However, it required but the recurrence of | Charles Howland’s wrongs in her thoughts to sufficiently modify any gentleness or commiser- | ation which this passionate avowal might have | momentarily evoked, ‘‘T am sorry for this,” she said quietly. ‘‘ But do you nut remember my once hinting to you, or in your presence, that, even were my inclin- ation otherwise, 1t would be impdssible for me to marry any one?” “Yes.” And Colonel Sherwood, to whom the hint had been made more directly, also looked up interestedly. ** Tt would be impossible.” ‘*T can’t believe that,” growled the Creole, ** Nevertheless, it would,” “Why?” ‘** Because I am already married.” He looked at her in blank incredulity, which was equally shared by her father. ‘* You—married—now?” hoarsely exclaimed Burley. sé Yes.” “Since when?” “Since the night peecon ine Charles How- land’s departure for State Prison—where you are speedily to take his place!” with passing ve- hemence—*' when I was wedded to him in bis Tombs prison cell. The Reverend Mr, —— per- formed the ceremony. My cousin, Hugh Spen- der here, witha male friend, was among the witnesses. The certificate is in my bosom.” Burley suddenly placed his hand on his beart, and gave a strange, inarticulate cry, like that of a wounded animal, Then he was once more of an out- ward calmness, in which, however, there was a ano ‘*Was Florine aware of this?’ he asked, in the same strained huskiness, ‘* She was another of the witnesses.” A spasm of impotent fury passed over his dark face, and his hands clutched convulsively, but that was all. **'You have not only broken my heart,” he said, with terrible simplicity, ‘‘ you have slain it. Beware! it is not well to incur the hatred the remorselessness, of such a map as I.” And then he was gone. It was probably well for Florine Duprez that she was not on view as he slipped like a phan- tom through the hall, and thence out of doors, Colonel Sherwood, who had dropped bewilder- edly into the first chair at hand, turned a look of half-stupid inquiry on bis daughter and her cousin, ‘* Tt is all true, papa!” cried Eleanor, joyfully. ** Tell him the rest, Cousin Hugh.” ‘“*The missing witnesses that were necessary to prove Charles Howland’s innocence are pro- duceable, sir,” Hugh gravely exclaimed. SESE re ** Judge B , fully acquainted with the facts, arrived in the city from his vacation tour yes- terday. He has already placed the matter be- fore the governor and the Supreme Court. Howland should be a free man, by an, executive order, by to-morrow morning, if not sooner, It is a mere preliminary to the mere formality of reopening his case, in the form of a new trial— which may also take place to-morrow—which can but result in the announcement of his inno- cence and the vindication of his good name within a couple of hours. The prosecuting at- torney has been acquainted with the newly-dis- covered facts, and will decline to resume the rosecution to follow. An order of arrest for es Burley, on the charges of perjury, con- piracy and subornation of witnesses, will fol- ow, as a matter of course. But had it not bet- ter be obtained at once—I can manage it—lest he should endeavor to escape?” ~ Colonel Sherwood had regained somethings of his powers of collected thought by the time the explanation was finished. ** Little ees of that as yet, I should say,” he replied. ‘* My bank offices were closed before we came up-town together, and the man’s salary account is underdrawn by at least five hundred dollars. My bookkeeper told me so. To-mor- row before the bank opens will be time enough.” : Here there was a ring at the door-bell. The ~next moment a tall, bright-faced young man, whose appearance caused Eleanor to turn dead- ly pale at first, and then with a great ecstasy mantling her loveliness with its roseate expres- sion, to spring to her feet with a sharp little ery, her hand to her heart, slowly entered the bi room, : Then she was somehow in her husband’s ) arms. "i Charles Howland had lost none of his bright, brave manliness by his brief State Prison expe- rience, though it was accompanied by a tinge of melancholy that it might take years to efface. Both Colonel Sherwood and Hugh Spender si- o lently wrung the young man’s band, and then in stole away, leaving the reunited ones to them- 2 4 \. PFs ‘ ** “eo! 4 ah - #y Sherwood’s charming Harlem residence on the following day. In addition to Howland, who was already in- stalled as one of the family, Hugh Spender was present, Eleanor was the incarnation of bridal bliss; her young husband could already make himself generally agreeable, after his old-time wont, when he could manage to divert his attention from the happy and beautiful face at his side; Colonel Sherwood was himself in the highest of spirits; so was the lawyer; even Miss Bigbee had somewhat relaxed her Amezonian-Draco- nian rigor of intellectual mien; and Florine, who bad begged permission to assist the waitress in her duties for that particular repast, was as pretty as a peony, and sprightly as a bird at mating. It was even a happier meal than the dinner which had preceded it, when, naturally, How- land’s first appearance in the family had been attended with more or Jess awkwardness or con- straint, But now all was freedom, sociability and ease, In fact, the good feeling was being travestied in the servants’ quarters, to which the romantic story of the ich we marriage bad already pene- trated, and the occasional festive sounds that reached the saloon were permitted to pass with- out adverse comment, as might otherwise have been the case, ** Let ’em toot up a bit,” jovially observed the colonel. ‘‘ They’ve a right to be happy, as well as we, and the whole thing will be public sooner or later,” with a wry face, as he thought of the club banterings in store for him, ‘‘ However, I can stand it if you folks can,” glancing com- ically at the couple. ‘* They say there is no honey without its gall,” replied Eleanor, brightly. ‘* Even if the say- ing should apply to honeymoons, in the shape of an unavoidable publicity, I think we get a little comfort out of her shining.” ‘*T am quite sure J can,” said Howland, the touch of sadness vanishing from his smile as he turned to her. a “Oh, publicity is nothing in New York,” Spender observed, philosophically, ‘* Where is there any romance that those ubiquitous imps, the reporters, do not get hold of—and mostly with no objection on the part of the partici- pants therein.” ‘That is all very well, my dears,” said the colonel, with a significant glance at the couple. ‘But lock you, there is something else that must be amended by publicity—the social pub- licity of that which has heretofore beep secret,” They understood that be referred to their ex- traordinary marriage, which he had already in- timated should be celebrated by a grand wedding dinner or breakfast at an early date—and mere- ly inclined their heads in assent, ‘* Marriage itself should be amended, Ezra Sherwood,” at this juncture interposed Miss Bigbee, with *the Ne eg mbt calmness that seemed to be inseparable from her fourth cup of tea as at present, ‘‘ In the existing state of so- ciety it is simply a barbarism—a ghastly relic of the despotism of man!” “Oh, pshaw!” grumbled Sherwood, uneasily. But Hugh Spender was disposed to give the old girl a ‘ chance,’ as he expressed it in his own consciousness, ** What would you substitute for the rites of Hymen, ma’m?” he genially inquired. ‘‘ Nothing,” was the dogmatic response, ‘*Hymen’s all right—or his rights are—but they simply ought to be transposed, so to speak,” ‘*In what way?” _ * Woman, the true head of the family, ought to be the commanding figure before the altar, instead of as now—the pale, puling, trembling, subordinate, gasping vassal of despotic. mascu- linity’s tyrant will—his helot and his slave—the —the second fiddle in the orchestrian union!” Eleanor burst into a laugh, while even How- land smiled, though Spender maintained his gravity. ahae? 7 ** Stall,” he ventured to protest, in a timorous way, ‘‘ isn’t the bride at times a rather willing vassal, you know?” ‘* Does she know better than to be so?” scorn- fully. ‘*‘ Where is ber proud pristine will that untold ages of base, cowardly oppression have crushed, ground, bammered, battered, trampled, plunked and smashed out of ber? Answer me that, Mr. Spender,” ‘* Well, they occasionally seem to have a little of it left, or a very close substitute for the voli- tional principle—at least in rare instances— you will surely acknowledge that, Miss Bigbee?” She waved her fifth cup on high, and quatfed its contents as if it bad been a goblet of wine— a stirrup-cup to her galloping fancy, as one might say. | ‘* No, sir—never!” she all but shouted. * Will? Its ghost, its shadow, the phantom of her mur- dered individuality, her smothered instincts, her assassinated womanhood, Oh!” with a wild, banner-bearing enthusiasm, ‘‘ when will they rise? It cannot be an inspired leader that they BM ion Se pall ae is Pad 2 fet , <.. linet lead — » a on ee ne 8 ee ae ED. / ' aE ~The ee BP ROkemNNNTRCecmamesmm>- nome mmnesen-compnmem-spr-op symm et. tee poe ty, yt eee ee ee ee ee ee ES a ee ee ee 2, al ee, Sa ee om Vee ~whetede a 2 dS Et ee - By go require, for am not J here, sword in hand, can- non in my belt, shield over my broad breast, willing, eager for the trump to sound the onset? But alas, no!” with a noble dejection; *‘once a slave, always a slave. Too late, too late!” ‘* Oh, bosh, Jerusha!” the colonel snapped out again. ‘‘ Finish off with the entire tea-pot at once, and give us a rest from this species of ex- hilaration. Or if you must have the whole earth, be content with a principality or two at a time.” ‘* Exhilaration!” echoed the championess. But at this moment the morning newspapers were brought to the colonel, and for the time being she subsided, ‘* Ab, just as I feared!” exclaimed Sharwood, rapidly scanning journal after journal with his practiced eye, while his coffee was growing cold. ‘* Every one of ’em has its article on it a ready. ‘A Prison Marriage; ‘A Novel Revelation; ‘A Fashionable and Wealthy Young Lady ’— By Jupiter! I can’t even stand the headlines,” ‘‘ It will be forgotten in a week,” interposed Spender. “ Don’t let it worry you a particle, sir,” ‘‘ Well, I shall do my best.” ** What can you expect of newspapers con- trolled by men ?” squawked Miss Bigbee, rush- ing into the breach with freskened vigor. ‘‘Hang ’em to the lamp-posts, dynamite ’em, give ’em fits! Shall we not inaugurate a new Reign of Terror, when our streets shall run red with masculine blood alone? Was it a god or a goddess of reason that planted th@ imperial red cap of democratic France upon ber young brow? Answer me that! and if goddess, as it was, why a goddess, and nota god, if it was not an admission—torn from the bosom of the des- pot sex—that woman is the superior, the bull’s- eye and the queen? Where will I look for an answer?” triumphantly. ‘‘ Echo answers, with her raven-croak, ‘ Nevermore!” Colonel Sherwood made a movement as if to flee, but another diversion was caused by the re- entrance of the footman. ‘* Mr, Esty, sir,” he announced. ** What! my bookkeeper here, at the bank- opening hour. Te ar,” ‘Show him into the library; I have only to finish my coffee.” ‘* If you please, sir—” ** Well?” in surprise. ‘* Young man says he must see you instantly. Very much hagitated, sir.” ‘‘ Agitated. Bring him in here, then,” This was done. ‘““Why, how now, Esty!” exclaimed the banker. ‘* Nothing wrong, I hope?’ The intruder—a fine-looking young man, who had exchanged a pleasant word with Howland, after bowing modestly to the rest of* the com- pany, in spite of his agitation, which was fully evident—made an effort to control self, ‘¢ Yes, sir,” he diffidently replied. ‘‘ Very much wrong, [ am sorry to say.” Out with it, my man!” “John Burley has robbed the safe, and is doubtless ere this well started for foreign parts in the Fearnaught!” f CHAPTER XXVIII. BURLEY’S FLIGHT, IMMEDIATE investigation of this stunnin im- particular, together with certain other details. Burley bad taken the precaution of drawing the residue of his patrimony, about two thou- sand dollars, out of bank on the preceding day. That be was the robber of Colonel Sherwood’s safe there were conclusive evidences left behind. He had doubtless entered the offices on the fol- Jowing night, probably soon after receiving the finishing blow to his i at the Sherwood residence. The safe-door had been found wide | open next morning; the receptacles guttedof — twenty thousand dollars. Asthelockshad not — been forced, it was evident that he had duplicate keys, which had doubtless been in his on : a long time, in preparation of such an attempt if deemed advisable. | Then inquiry at his lodgings elicited the in- formation that he had all his effects removed several days before, in all probability to the yacht as a yet further preparative. His crea- tures had still remained in the responsible posi- tions and among the créw, through Colonel | Sherwood’s dilatoriness in making an investiga- tion, as urged to do by his daughter, when she had made him acquainted with the details of Burley’s foiled conspiracy directly after the lat- ter’s last visit to the house, As has been seen the yacht had already been provisioned for a long voyage. All that Burley would have had to do was to step on board, give the order, and be off for the open sea, iy This, on the requisite inquiries being a santa’! a> (2 e: de done, 46 proved to have been t what he had shortly before midnight, and the Fearnaught had subsequently been mentees and recognized == blowing out through the Narrows before a stife y _ She was doubtless , va >) =t + a% he . ~ te: 7 by this =scomic their cash, in bills and specie, to the amount of _ Me rs #* ain~ “an piece of intelligence proved its truth in ever Ps 5 4 : NP. A ee ae hs 4 ties. dx