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LY MAY AGNES FLEMING. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.- 8.- 9.- 10.- 11.- 12.- i.j. -GUT EARLS(^()UI?T'S WIFE. -A woxDj;iii''ur. wo.m'an. -A TEKItlULE SECRET. -NoniNE-s ul:vi::>(;e. -A .MAD MAiailAGH. -ONE NIGHT'S MYSTERY. -KATE DANTON. -SILENT AND TRUE. -IICiR OF CIIARI/rON. -CARRlin) 15Y STURM. -LOST FOR A WOMAN. -A WIFE'S TRAGEDY, -A CHANGED HEART -PRIDE AND PASSION (New). "MrB. Flcmin',''H ptoric? are growin.u; more and more popular ovcry day. Tlifir de!; negations of charactor, life-like conviT,«atioii.=i, flashes of wit, con- HtaiUly varying scenes, and deeply inter- esting plotii, cotubiiio to placo their author in the very first rank of Modern Kovelists." All published nniform with this volamo. Prlco, $1.50 each, and sent free by mail on receipt of price, BY G. W. CARLETON & CO., Publishers New York. Pride and Passion. ^ NoucL BY MAY AGNES FLEMING, AUTHOR or GUY EARLSCOURt's WIFE," " A IF.RRIDLE SECRET," "A WOXnr.RFL'L WOMAN," " ONF- MGHT's MYSTERY," "silent and TRUE," "A MAD MARRIAGE," '* LOST FOR A WOMAN," ETC., ETC. " I know not, I ask not If ^-^uilt's in th}' heart ," I but know that I love thee. Whatever thou art." — Moore. ^, NEW YORK: Copyright, 1SS5, by G, W, Carleton & Co., Publishers. LONDON : S. LOW, SON & CO. Mnccri.xxxiT. Stereotyped by Samukl Stodukr, ELKCTnoTYI'EIt & StKUKOTVI'KR, W) Ann (Street, N. V. Trow PniNTINO AND BOOK-BINDINO Co. N. Y. CONTENTS. CHAPTER PAOS I. Tlie Mermaid ^ II. The Lone House 25 m. An Escape go IV. Fontclle ^g V. Jack De Vere qj VI. The Secret 73 VII. The Midniglit Music 83 VIII. The Vendeita 95 IX. Jacinto , -.Qg X. A IMystery J24 XI. Captain Disbrowe makes a Discovery l;59 Strange Meeting 15;} iimasked jrjrQ ide and Passion Igl Queen Uncrowned 20)i XIII. XIV. vi CONTENTS. CHAPTER PAGB XVI. The Story in the Lone Inn 220 XVII. The End of the Story 233 XVIII. A Woman's Nature 248 XIX. Little Orrie 2G1 XX. A Proud Heart Crushed 267 XXL "He Giveth His Beloved Bleep " 285 XXIL The Lonely Grave 299 XXIIL Over the Sea. 314 XXIV. Norma 326 XXV. Oil with the Old Love 345 XXVI. A Secret Sorrow 354 XXVII. Resurgam 373 XXVIIL The Actress and the Earl 383 XXIX. An Old Foe 395 XXX. " All Things Hath an End " 406 PEIDE AND PASSIOK CIIAPTEIl I. THE MERMAID. " Whoe'er has traveled life's dull round, Where'er !iis stages may have been, Maysigh to think he still lias found His warmest welcome at an inn." — SlIENSTONE. HE time — late in the evening of a raw April day, many a year, most probably, before you were born, my dear sir or niadam. The scene— a long, bleak strip of coast on the Jersey shore, washed by the bright waters of the Howinii: Hudson. A low, black, rakish-looking schooner, with a sort of suspicious look about it, strikingly suggestive to nautical individuals skilled in reading the expressive countenances of schooners in general, 1iad just come to anchor out in the river, a sliort distance froin the shore ; and a boat, a few minutes after, had put off from her, and landed two persons, who sprang lightly out; while two more, who had rowed them ashore, leaned on their dripping oars, and waited, as if for further direc- tions. *' You can go back now. I don't want you to wait for me. TU stop at the 'Mermaid' to-niglit. If I want you, you know the signal ; and tell Sharp Bill to (71 8 THE MEUMATI). ; I keep ail nneommon sharp look-out. Come, my little Spanish Jockey o' Norfolk; put 3'onr best lei( foi-einost, lioist all sail, and let's be.'ii' down on that full-blown craft. Bob Rowlie, of the Mermaid inn." Th ak ic speaKer mive nis eoinnamon a bl ow on tl 10 b'lck, at this passaiJi'e in liis discourse, that sent hiin reeling, as well it iiiiij;ht; and then, with a coarse laugh, sprang, with more agility than might have been ex- pected from his looks, over the wet, shingly, slippery beach, towards the high road. lie was a man of some forty-five or fifty years of age, short, brawny, and muscular, though not stout, M'itli an extremely large head, set on an extremely short neck, which made u]) in thickness what it wanted in length. A complexion like unvarnished mahogany, with a low, retreating forehead ; a pair of sharp, keen, glittering, hawk-like eyes, gleaming from under thick, scowling brows; a grim, resolute mouth, expressive of the most unllinching do-or-die determination, made up a face that would hardly be associated, in female minds, with the idea of love at first sight. This eloquent frontispiece was rendered still more attractive by a per- fect forest of underbrush and red hair generally ; in- deed, there was considerablv more hair about his coun- tenance than there seemed any real necessity for ; and his tarpaulin hat crowned a head adorned with a violent mat of hair of the same striking color. The gentleman was dressed in an eas}', off-hand style, that completely set at deliance all established civilized modes, with nothing about him, save his sailor's hat, to betoken he was a seaman. Yet such he was, and a cajitain. too ; Cajitain Nicholas Tempest, commander of the I'ly-by- Kiglit, at your service, reatler. A greater contrast to the gentleman just described than his companion, could hardly have been found, search the wide world over. lie was a slender lad, of not more than sixteen or seventeen apparently', with a face that would have been feminine in its exquisite beauty, but for the extreme darkness of the complex- rilE MERMAID. f la ^ a ion. Every feature was perfect, as faultlessly chiseled as if modeled after some anti(]ue statue. His eyes were larTufi (captain's face. Captam IS ick, with a stilled growl, took the boy's hand in his own huge digits, and gave it a crushing shake. " There! don't coino it over me with your soft-saw- der. Master Jacinto, if you please," he said, as if half angry with himself for the hking lie could not help feeling for the handsome boy. " You've got a sweet tongue of yom* own ; and tliongh it can sting pretty shari)ly at times, you are always ready to plaster tlie wound over again with some of tliat same honeyed bal- sam. ^'(Ui see yon can't take me in, my lad. You'll have to cut a few more of your eye-teeth before you can manage that. Here we are at the Mermaid, and there she swings herself, the same picture of ugliness she has always been since I first had th(> pleasure of her acquaintance. Wonder if old Kowlie has thought pro]")er to die of apoplexy yet f As he spoke he ptissed through the low doorway, and entered the house, closely followed l)y Jacinto. The dooi" opened straighr into the bar-room — a low, dirty, smoke-hegrimed place, with a strong odor of ardent s])irits and sawdust pervading it. Numerous casks were ranged round the walls; and on the shelves behind the counter were arrayed bottles, decanters, and glasses, and all the other paraphernalia common in such places. Leaning over the counter, with his back to the door, and busily engaged in turning over the greasy leaves of a dirty little account-book, "'as a fat, round- about little man, with a rosy face indicative of an uulim- itod amount of solemn good-nature. ■i/ ■ THE MERMAID. 15 J3 (1 h I "I say, old J>ob llowUc ! wliat elicer, my hearty V called Captain Nick, }• WAV O f eon iDlvuu with this re^picst Mr. TlowHe waddled leisuri^ly to a door at the other end of the room, and opening it, he called, in a husky falsetto, '• Mrs. Uowlie-e-e I" 16 rilE Mh:iiMAID. I I What do joii want j" called a brisk voice from within, as a incny-lookin:i; little woman, like her hus- band, sonieuhat of the dumpling order, came to the doo r aT)( peep e( 1 out. some Captain JS'ick Tempest has arrived, and wants 4',...,l '> food Ol 1, marcy sakes Caj^t am, Jiow h je do ?" c sau Mrs. Kowlie, bustling out, and holding out her hand to the burly captain. " How unexpected people keeps a turning up! I'm raillj glad to see you. I railly am, now." "Thankee, Mrs. Rowlie — thankee!" said the cap- tain, as he sprung up, and gave the buxom dame a rousing salute on the cheek, while Mr. liowlie looked on in solemn dismay; "and lh)W do you lind yourself, old lady i JJlooming like a hollyhock, as usual C "Lor', ca})t;iin, behave yourself, can't ye?" said Mrs. Rowlie, jerking hersell; away, and wiping the olfended cheek with her check apron, " please goodness, you've no more manners nor a })ig. lley ! who's this •; Lor' 1)1{ ss me ! where did this uncommon hanilsomo young gentleman come from C she exclaimed, suddenly, catching sight of Jacinto, who was still leaning care- lessly against the door. The boy doifed his cap, and bowed with a smile to the old lady, who gazed at him with unconcealed admi- ration. "From S[)ain, Dame Quic^kly, if you ever heard of such a ])lace," said the ca])tain. " Rut never nund liis beauty now, while there is more important mat- ters to attend to. Do you know I've had nothing to cat siiice early noon, and now it's almost night!! Come, be spry. I hear soniething iizzling in tliere, and, il" my nasal organ does not deceive me, something good, too. What is it ^" " iS tewed rabbit," said the old ladv, whisking the dust olf a chair with her a])ron, and bringing it over to Jacinto. "Do sit down, sir, and make yourself comfor- table. Yes, Captain Nick, yes ; everything will bo TUE .,:EliMAlD. 17 1(1 It- to lo rciidy directly. Lur'' bless me ! how excessive liaiidsonie that young gent is, to be sure !" said Mrs. Kowiie, cotto 'VOCCj as she hurried into tlio inner room. "Yes, that's womankind, all over," said Captain Tempest, bitterly. "Let them sec a liandsome face, and old loves and old friendships are alike forgotten. Curse them all ! every mothers daughter ot* them, I say! Old and young, rich and poor, they are all alike. Even this old fool, now, the moment she sees the liand- some face of this young Spaniard, she is read}' to forget and nei^lect me — me, who has done more for lier than he ever will or can do in his life. And these are the things that men love — that men every day stoop to love, and make fools of themselves for. Talk of cher- ishing vipers — there never was born a woman yet who would not be a viper if she had it in her power." It was evidently some inward feeling, in which good little ]\[rs, Kowlie had no share, that sent Cap- tain Nick Tempest so excitedly from his seat, and caused him to pace with such an angry, ringing tread up and down the little room, his face full of such furious, repressed passion. Mr. Rowlie gazed at him, for a moment, in stolid surprise, and then busied him- self in lining a black, stumpy pipe with tobacco ; and Jacinto, sitting toying with a little gray kitten, cast furtive glances at him from under his long eyelashes. " Smoke V said Mr. li(jwlie, sententiously, holding out the black, stumpy pipe to Jacinto. "jNo, thank you; 1 never do," said the boy, with a half-laugh, as ho declined the civility. Mr. Kowlie said nothing, but immediately clapj)ed it in his own mouth, and was soon pulHng away until he could be just faintly observed, looming up dindy, through a cloud of smoke. " Come, captain," called the voice of Mrs. Kowlie at this juncture; "come, young gentleman — I don't know your name," she said to him, apologetically, as he followed the captain into the inner room, " or I'd call you it, r?ii sure." iH 1 18 TEE MERMAID. If I ' I'* " I wouldn't advise jou to try it, if yon liuve any regard for your teeth," yaid Captain Nick. " Call him Mr. Jacinto, if you like. 1 fori^et his second name now; but it's a stuimer, and would knock you over stiff as a jnackerel if you attempted to say it. Di'aw in, my young hearty. One vv^ord's as good 'a^ ten — eat away. Amen. There's a grace ! Xow fall to." And, following precept by example, Captain Tem- pest immediately '' fell to," with an appetite six hours old, and sharpened by the sea-breeze to a terrifying ex- tent. Jacinto partook lightly of Mrs. llowlie's dainties, and looked on between laughter and dismay, as she heaped up liis plate for him. . "I say, old woman," said Captain Nick, when busi- ness in the supper department began to slacken a little, "when did you see that old witch of Hades — Grizzle Ilowlet ?" "Let me see," said Mrs. Kowlie, leaning me'lita- tively on her l)room. " She ain't l)in here, I don't believe, sincje the night you left. No, she ain't —not since then." "Humph!" said the captain, thoughtfully, as he resumed his knife and fork, but in a far different man- ner than before. At this moment, a sudden bustle in the bar arrested their attention ; a sharp, harsh voice was heard address- ing some (piestion to Mr. Uowlie — evidently the voice of a woman. Mrs. Kowlie looked at the captain and uttered an ejaculation, and that worthy mariner dropped his knife and fork, pushed back his chair, and half arose. " Marcy sakes !" exclaimed the little woman, "did you ever 'i Why, I do declare ! if that ain't her, her own blessed self !" "Her own blessed self!" said the captain, in an undertone, and with a grim smile. '' Her own cnrsvd self, you mean — the old hag! How did she know f was here? I believe there's something of the vulture in that old beldame, and that she scents her prey afar TUE MEIUIAID. 19 i, her eyes iilling vv'ith a dusky fire. " Cap- tain Tempest, you have been warned. Look to your- self !" '• I intend to, my dear," said the captain, with a sneer, as he, too, arose. "What a loss yon are to the stage. Kemble could not have spoken that sentence more tragically. Wliat, are yon going';" Wrapping lier coarse cloak closer ahout lier, and drawing her gray hood down over her face till nothing was visible but a pair of fiery eyes, the woman waved her arm with a gesture half-warning, half-menacing, as she cast a last look at the captain. That gallant mariner responded by a bow, as pro- found as that of an old lady in a minuet, and kissed his h;ind to her as she disappeared. "Good riddance to bad rubbish, eh, Jacinto?" ho said, when she was gone, with a quick, sharj) glance toward the boy. " Ugly as original sin, and with the devil's own temper. 11a! the Mysterious Unknown is calling again ! As I am likely to have an interest in tlie gentleman, I think 1 will just step out and j i ".I ^il ■ K ■JM H >r ii'i 'III! ih! if> j(* I' 1 I 24 T//i27 MERMAID. Bee liiin. What do you say to coming with me, my lad V Nearly a minute passed before the l)oy either an- Rwered or turned round, and when he did so at last, Captain Tejnpest saw a face from wliieli every trace of <;ok)r liad tied — white even to the very H})S ; and with a look ho stranfi;e and in(.'xi)licable in the depths of the dark, hi^trous eyes that it fairly sta<^gered that worthy mariner 5) "JIallo! what's the matter with you, my boy ^ he exclaimed with amazement. '" Notliino^!" said the boy ; but even his voice was changed so tliat tlie ca])tain hardly knew it. Ca|)tain Tempest L(;ave him a piercing look, but could not fathom the sudden emotion that had bhmched the cheek and changed tlie voice of the Spanish boy ; and at length he turned away with a long, wailing whistle that told how com])letely lie was baliled, aud followed l)y Jacinto, passed out of the room to behold his uuknowu foe. TUB LONE HOUSE. 25 me, my tlicr an- at last, trace of id with 3 of tlio worthy ' boy^' >ice was ok, but hmc'hed .sh l)oy ; wailing ed, and i behold 31,. .HI. CUAPTER II. THE LONE HOUSE. *' Away then hied the heir of Linne, O'oi- liill, and holt, imd moor, and fen, Until he came to a lonesome lodge That stood so low in lonely glen." — Pkkcy Keliques. OTII Mr. and Mrs. Eowlic had deserted the bar-room and stood in the doorway talking to the stranger, who was on horseback, and con Id be clearly discovered in tlie last rays of the fading daylight. Captain Tempest drew back a little behind the ample person of the worthy host of the Mermaid, and scrutinized the new-comer with more interest than one usually examines complete strangers. And very well worth looking at the stranger w;is, as ho sat on his su- perb horse like a prince of the blood ; and the captain could not help inwardly acknowledging that seldom had his eyes fallen on a more gallant llgure. lie was a young man, of not more than four or live-and-twenty, tall and linely formed, with a certain bold, dashing look that well became him, and a sort of undeiinable grace about him at once careless and high-bred. His dark, curling hair, his clear, bold blue eyes, his hand- some moulh, shadowed by a thick, dark mustache, with his handsome figure, made up what all nmst have admitted to be a remarkably handsome young gentle- man — for a gentleman he evidently was. llis dress was travel-stained, his heavy top-boois splashed with nuid, and his horse looked as if he had been ridden long and hard. 1 1 1 1. 1 , 1 ' * 1 ■ :i: !m ! ■ » III!,' HI !; Ill, ih» ' I 86 T'zz'^; zOiVA' no USB. Holding the reins in one hand, the joung man was pointing with iiis whip toward the north. '"So that's tlie way to Fontche, is it^" lie was say- ing, half-nuisiugly. " 1 thought it lay in the opposite direction. Can 1 reach it to-night, do you think f ' he said, turning to Mr. llowlie. " Well, yes, sir ; you might, and then again you mightn't," responded that worthy, scratching his bald pate in perplexity. "How many miles is it from here?" asked tiie stranger, adjusting his horse's girths. " Well, sometimes it's more, and then again some- times it's less," replied Mr. Kowlie, sententiously. The handsome stranger looked up and favored mine host with a stare of so much surprise at this announcement, that Mrs. Kowlie felt called u[)on to strike in. " He means, if you ploaso, sir," said that little wo- man, dropping a smiling little courtesy, " that it's ac- cording to the way you go. li you take the turnpike, it's nigh onto forty n)ile ; but it' you go over the mountain, it's ten miles less, sir, if you [)lea80." "Oh " — said the stranger, enlightened, and touch- ing his hat gallantly to the old lady in acknowledgment — " I see ; but as 1 am a complete stranger here, I do not know the way over the mountains ; and it would bo rather inconvenien*", not to say unpleasant, to break my neck just at ])resent. So, on the whole, I'll take tho road for it ; my horse will do it in live hours, I think. Is it going to storm before midnight, think you T' said the stranger, glancing at Mr. Kowlie. " Well, now, there ain't never no saying about the weather hereabouts, 'cause it generally does wl.'at it ain't expected to do. It might rain, you know, and then again it miglitn'l," faid Mr. Kowlie, evidently de- termined :»ot to commit himseli". The stranger laughed. "Oh 1 thank you ; quite enlightened. What an ac- quisition you would be to an almanac-maker, my good 4 ^- THE LONE no USE. 37 man was was say- opposlto ink (" lie L^ain you his bald sked tiie lin some- sly. lavored D at this upon to little wo- nt it's ac- pike, it's louiitain, d touch- d_i;'nient 13 re, I do ould bo •oak my ikc tho I think. II T said )()ut the wl.'at it ow, and utly de- it an ae- ly good friend. Well, I thinlc I will try your road for it — and an infernal road it is; my horse is lamed already. Good-bye, my friend; p;uod-bye, madam," said the voun"" man, gathering up tho reins preparatory to start- ing, Ml tliir^ time Captain Nick had been watching him, ail. 1 listoiiimx intently; and now muttering : '' JSiot so fa--t, my hue fellow. I'll lind out wnat you re made of lir>t," he came out, and stood directly in his way. " Vii^'^ pardon, sir — going to Fontelle, eh V '• Yes, sir; have you any objection V said tho young man, soothing his horse, startled by the captain's sudden appearance. "Not the least, my young friend. May I ask your business there f The young man raised his handsome eyes, and lixed them full on the captain for a moment, and said quiet- "Yes; you may ask, but whether I'll answer, or not, is another (piestion." " You'd like a guide over the mountains, wouldn't you?" continued the unabashed captain. '"What would you think of me, now^" " Well," said the young man, carelessly, "after nui- ture deliberation on the subject, 1 should say, if 1 want- ed an impertinent scoundrel for a guide, i should take you. Your face is anvthinj'' but a letter of reconnnen- dation, my good friend." "Then, by Heaven!" said the captain, his face growing crimson with anger, ''■ my deeds shall not belie my face. Out of this jou shall not stir until y(ju hayc answered for that e])ithet !" •"My dear sir, you really must (^xcuse me," said tho young man, in his careless way; "1 never quarrel, saye with gonthMnc!!." With a tierce oath. Captain Tempest grasped the stranger's bridle-rein so violently that the horse almost fell back on his liaunches. I 1 1 M f i 1^ M^ ! t ► I ,t I 28 Ti/"^ LONE HOUSE. " You violent young puppy ! do you know who you are talking to?" he cried, in (i voice hoarse with passion. 'SSome rascally, lowd)red Yankee, 1 have no doubt ! Come, sir, let go my bridle-rein !" said the stranger, caludy, but with a sudden rising light in his eyes that might have warned. Captain Tempest of his danger. But Captain Tempest, hearing only his calm, even tone, laughed insolently in his face, and grasped it all the tighter. As he did so, a hand was laid on his arm, and the boy Jacinto stood beside him, his momentary emotion all gone, and his face expressing only concern {•.t the cpiarrel. '' Do let go, captain. Why should you quarrel with him, a perfect stranger?" said the boy, earnestly. At the sound of his voice the stranger had given a sudden start, and fixed his eyes on his face, with a half- puzzled look, like one who tries to remendjcr something. Jacinto did not meet his gaze — he was looking intently at the ca})tain. " Go to the d — 1 !" was his harsh response, as ho shook olf the boy's hand and tightened his hold of the bridle, never for a moment relaxing his insulting stare of derisive triumph from the sti'anger's face. The words recalled the youug man from the tran- sient interest Jacinto had excited, and with a stern com- pression of his handsome mouth, and. ;\ bright, angry llasli of his handsome eye, he turned to the ca[)tain. " Will you let go my bridle-rein, sir?" he said in a hijifh, i-iuiiiuii: tone. ''No !" said the ca])tain, with a sneer. "Then, by Jove ! I'll make you!" ho cried, and quick as lightning he raised his whip and cut the cap- tain a blinding slas-h in the face. AVith a shriek of a beast of l)rey, Captain Tem])est, bleeding and blinded, sprang back, and with a dei'isivu shout, the young man struck spurs into his horse and llew down the nxal, shouting back a- he vlid so: "Good evening, my kind friend I — better luck next tiniol" And, with a laugh, he was out of sight in a TEE LONE HOUSE. 29 who you passion, doubt ! 3ti'iui_ii:er, ?yes that iiger. hii, even ud it ail his arm, mentary concern •rcl with 1 ii^ivcn a li a lialf- iiethini>:. intently 3, as ho il of the ng stare ic tran- rn eoni- t, angry lain. Aid in a xl, and lie cap- t'nijx'st, Icrisive rse and k next it in a ■hi moment. The last glimpse he had of Captain Tempest, showing him livid and ioaniing at the mouth, in a per- fect fivnzj of impotut the faint, distant liooming of the sea, and the melancholv wailinii; of the wind, that M'as risinj:: each moment ; and his sharp pace gradually relaxed, and loosening the reins on his horse's neck, he snllered him to go at a more moderate pace. Isight had fallen at last — fallen in more than Egyp- tian darkness — with a "gloomy sky above, a gloomy earth below." The wind came wailing np from the sea, and over the distant hills, in long, lamcMitable blasts, and a thin, drizzling, uncomfortable rain that pierced the ski 1, began to fall M'ith it. The blast was I'aw, and cold, too; and, with a shiver, the young man lifted a folded cloak <)f black ch/th, lined with rich fur, that lay over the saddle, and Hung it aroung his shoulders. In vain he sti'ove to pierce throngh the Tartarian darkness — the eyes of Arij;us himself would have :*^'ailed in such a night ; so, put in.g his hat down over his face, to shade it from the blinding rain, he allowed his wearied steed to jog on after his own will. "If 1 had 1' ju^ht the storm would have arisen so soon, I Would have staid at that imi all night," he said in a sort of 6olilo(piy; "but it's too late now, and I must make the best of a bad I)argain. On, Salad in, my l)oy, on! Tliere is rest and comfort in store for you, once we reach Fontelle. I wonder if there is no house along the way, where I could stay for the night ; or have 1 lo.- 1 my way among the wilds of Jersey i What a J)on Quix(jte I am, to be sure!" lie said, with a slight laugh, "to leave !Men'ie England and ride over to America in search ot" adventures, and begin l)y horse- whi])ping one of the natives. What a remark;d)ly liand- Bome boy that w^as, and how his \oice did remind nio I n i; ii'l ^'f ;!(i l!t! W ,i I 1 ' iHi 80 37/^ Z0.YJ5; HOUSE. I of — lux ! if tliat's not a liii^lit, hy all that's lucky ! Turn. Sahulin ! tlicre's f^lielter at hand !'' Fill- in tlie dibtanc-e, dindv tM'inldlno; thronirh the deep u'lodin, tlie tvuvek'r liad cautrht a faint, uiiftTtain ray of lii^ht, and never did Ftorni-tosi^ed mariner Lnil the weleDUie l>eacon more t^'ladely than did he. Siiladin saw it, too, and priekiiii,^ u]) his ears, lie mended his de- jected ])ace and struck otit' from the high-road in the diicction whence it came. Nearly an Imnr had elapsed since his leaving the IMermnid, and the young man judged he had come about six miles during that time. The light appeared, as he went, to have been further off tlian at lirst he liad supposed; and the house, if house it were, to be situ- ated in a sort of marsh, or bog, into whicli his horse suid< at every step, ^till, Saladin plowed his way bravely on, sinking and rising again, until tlie light was reached at last, and the traveler saw it issued from an upper wind(jw of a solitary liouse — in very truth, a *' lonesome lodge that stood so low in lonely glen." '' Now, the saints alone know what sort of sav^ages live here," said the young man, as he alighted, and raising the handle of his heavy riding-whij), knocked loudly and authoritatively at the door; "' but be they goblins, kelpies, or earthly sinners, J '11 try them, sooner than pass such a night as this is going to be, under the cold canopy of a JS'ew Jersey sky." And again he knocked as if he woidd have I eaten down tlie stout oaken door. A moment after, and the sound of bolts withdraw- ing met his ear ; and the next, it swung partially back, but as he attempted to enter he was held back by a chain which prevented the door opening sulhciently for that purpose. Not a ray of light could he see, l)ut only a white fac<^ that shone through the deej") darkness. "Who are you f said a harsh, uni)leasant voice, that might have belonged either to a man or a wonuui. " A traveler caught in tho storm, wlio, seeing the TUB LONE HOUSE. 81 ky\ Turn, iroiigli the , init'crtiiin inriiiLM' liiiil ). Saladin (led Ills de- roud ill the caving tlie had come : aj)]ioaiTd, irst ho iiad to be situ- his hor.^e d his way e light was id ironi an •y truth, a glen." of savages ghted, and ), knocked t be they em, sooner under the again he tlie etout withdraw- ially back, back by a jicntly for 3, but only kness. int voice, nan or a seeing the jio-ht, has sought shelter here," he answered, prom])t- " Arc you alone?" " Yes ; unless you call my horse company. Come, mv friend, be hospitable enough to let me in. Iain able to pay you, as it happens, for a night's lodging." "Enter," said the invisible voice, withdrawing the chiiin. "■ One has to be careful who they admit these times; for since the war there have been mar.iuding jiarties of soldiers knocking about the country, and it makes it dangerous for a poor, lone woman to admit every one. AValk in, sir ; Til see to your horse." " Thank you ; I always make a point of doing that myself. I'll accompany you, if you'll allow me." ''As you like. Uere, Orrie! Orrie!" called the woman, suddenly throwing open a door and admitting such a flood of light from a huge, blazing lire, that for a moment the stranger^s eyes, accustomed so long to the darkness, were half-blinded. " Wluit^" said a childish voice, so close to his el- bow that he started ; and looking down he saw a little boy, apparently about twelve years of age — the most eltish mite of childhood he had ever beheld — with a small, thin, dark face, j)recocious beyond its years, and lit up by a pair of the most wonderful black eyes that evei' were seen. Its dress was an odd alfair — a short red-llannel skirt under a boy's jacket, and a boy's cap crushed down over a tangled mass of short, thick curls, from beneath which gleamed its odd, wild, cunning, little, eltish face. "Take tiie lantern and show the gentleman the way to the stable," said the woman — a remarkably tall, hard- featured specimen of femaledom — as she passed into the room and left liim. The child darted away, and presently re-appeared with a dark-lantern ; and springing out into the rain, seizod his horse by the bridle, and led him oif, followed by his master, who laughed to himself at the odd figure the child cut. ti i;* i • II il u ' It I' 1 'It'll' 1 ^'■l;i i 1. .11 Hi I ^1 ii I 82 TUB LONE no USE. '• What a spicy tiger tliat same little atom of man- kind would iJialvo! and what a rii^ he has on, to be sure ! llo woiiUl 1)0 worth a luiUioii in cash to ride the favorite at the Dcrl)y." Tiic child led the anitnal into the Ftal)le occupied by another horse, and tied him up, and l)i>i::an un- loosening Ids trap[)ings in a twinkling. The .young man assisted him, and when Saladin had been properly rubbed down and cared for, tliev both left the stable together, and turned toward the house. " You're quite used to this sort of thing, I see, my lad," he said, glancing in ^ningled curiosity and amuse- ment at the boy. " Tying up horses ? — sliould think I was," said the child, with something like a chuckle. "Is this a regular tavern, sonny V "No ; but folks stop here sometimes, though." " Who lives here ? What's your name, my boy ?" " I ain't your boy! I ain't a boy at all! I'm a girl ! and my name's Oriole ; but for short they call me Orrie," said the little one, sharply. " Whew !" whistled the young man ; " here's a dis- covery. I beg ten thousand pardons; but your dress led me into error. What nudvcs you wear boy's clothes ?" " Oh ! she makes me wear whatever's handiest 1" " AVho is ' she,' Miss Oriole V " Why she, you know— her that let you in." " Oh ! that tall old woman ! Is she your mother?" "My mother f said the child, with a shrill, cllish laugh ; " no, I ain't gt)t none — never iiad any. She's only old Grizzle !" They had reached the door by this time, and the little one darted in, in her (piick way, held it open for the stranger, and tiien closed and bolted it again in a flash. " Come along, right in here," said Oriole, wliose fleet motion reminded liim of her namesake, as she held open the door of what seemed to be the kitchen, )f man- n, to bo to rido ccnpied ixnn iiii- :/f yoiino: ropcrly e stable see, my ainusG- ■'* THE LONE HOUSE. a.T >aid the 5) 1. boy ?" I'm a icy call a dis- drcss boy's bt!" 101- ?" eliish She's id the Ml for in a liose she 3heii, ,s np the ample chimney of which roared and crackled a huLCG tire — a welcome sight to our coL and weary traveler. '• Set a chair for the gentleman, Orrlc. Sit up to tlu! lire, sir, and warm yourself," said the woman, as slio whipped a large pot olf the lire, from which issued a f-avory odor of boiled pork. The young man looked at her, and thought that in all his life he had never seen or heard a more villainous and re})ul.>ive-looking specimen of the angelic sex. Jt seemed to him that she imparted a sinister character even to the peaceful and domestic occupation of pre- paring supper. " Woman, lovely woman !" thought the young man, with a half-laugh, as he looked at her grisly face, almost hideous in its ugliness, now that the hood of her cloak, which she still wore, was thrown back. " What a mouth for kissing! I wonder if by any possibility anyb(»dy could ever have loved that woman, for in her best days she must have been worse t!ian uglv — wicked ! AVonder what this queer little kelpie in the bare feet is to her. Old Grizzle! a most appropriate name. A 'poor lone woman, indeed!' It's little she need fear intruders, guarded by the three-headed dragon of Age, Ugliness, and Poverty." The young man arose, and turning his back to the lliv, brought his coat-tails forward over his arms, and with his legs in the form of a triangle, subsided into that slate of tranquil liap])iness all true-born English- men i'l'el in the above ])Osition, and saidc into a day- dreaii!, from whieh a call to siqiper awoke him. The hungiy traveler obeyed with alacrity, ])ull!ng out his watch, an elegant gold one set with brilliants, to see the liour. As he rej)laced it, he started slightly to see the lierce gleaming eyes of the woman lixed upon it, with a greedy, devouring gaze, that was instantly removed the moment their eyes met. That look was a revelation. lieplacing the watch, ho sat dovm. in silence to supper, inwardly wondering Kli I n 1 1' It! f^ U.\ ■I ,11 :i '■i i i' 84 y/Z^ LONE HOUSE. Avlietlier he would not liave been quite as safe out in the slonu us liere, and v^hether, as the old adau:e has it, " he had not halluoed before lie was out of the woods." Dui'iiiij: the meal, he was assiduously waited on bvthc woman, wiio made various efforts to draw from him h*.-> name and business, which he completely battled by his evasive axiswcrs. "' Your room is all ready, sii', and you can go to it whenever yon like," said the woman, as he arose from the table. " Very well, I will p;o now. But first," he said, carelessly, "I will look lo my pistols, lest the priming may have got wet with llu ram :■? lie drew out from the brea^t-])Ockct of his great-coat, as lie spoke, a pair of handsomely- mounted pistols, and examined them carefully. As he suddenly looked up from his occupation, he caught his hostess looking at liiin with something like a sneer on her repulsive face. "It is not safe to travel nnarmed these times," he said, looking her full in the face, as he replaced them. " A well-])rimed pistol is about the best thing a man can have just at present." " Quite right, sir," said the woman, lighting a cau- dle. " This way, if yon please." lie turned and followed her np a flight of stairs, and into a large, dark, low-ceiHnged room, where a lire was dimly burning. In one corner stood a bed, and in another a table, and this, with a corij)le of chairs, com- prised the sole furniture of the room. Setting the candle on the table, the woman bade him good-night, and left tiie room. But somehow, tired as he was, the young stranger could not make np his mind to go to bed. There seemed something evil and sinister about the woman, and the jdace altogether, that banished all de- sire for sleep. This lonely house, far removed from every other habitation, was just the place for deeds of blood and darkness. All the old tales he had ever heard or read of travelers robbed and murdered in ,ii'- € -.5 THE LONE HOUSE. 85 3 out in e has it, wootb." 1 hvtIiG lain l)!.i . bj his go to it se from lie said, ^riminrj ;at-coat, ols, and >ked up •kini,^ lit va face. les," lie [ tlieni. a mail a can- stairs, a lire ii'l in eoni- i;' the night, rann'or lit tllG ill de- i'roni !d8 of ever ed in lonesome old houses, and never heard of more, came crowding through his mind, until he had worked him- self into a waking nightmare. Placing his pistols on the table, he raised the blind and tried to look out, but ir was as dark as Erebus, and a ])crfect tempest of wind and rain was raging. Preferring to risk the uncertain danger of robbery and murder, rather tlian the more certain one of a complete drenching, he flung himself into a chair before the fire and fell into deep thought. An hour passed, and then another, and all was perfectly still. The lire began to burn low on the hearth, and the candle llared and guttered on the table. Kising with a yawn, the young man was about to throw him- self, dressed and all, on the bed, when a sight caught his eye that startled him almost as much as the ghost of BaiKiuo did King Macbeth. At the head of the bed, on the whitewashed wall, was the dark, clotted mark of live lingers, as if a bloody hand had been sud- denly dashed against it. There it was, glittering red, and ghastly, and horrible, in the dyin<^ light of the fire — that bleeding hand on the wall. It seemed so like the realization of his fears, so like a ghost risen from the dead to warn him, that he recoiled in horror from the grisly sight, and gazed on it with pretty much the same feelings as Itobinson Crusoe gazed on the solitary footj^rint on the sand. All thought of going to bed was now out of the question, and approaching his door he opened it softly and listened. The door at the foot of the sitairs, open- ing into the kitchen, was ajar, and through it, plainly audible to his ears, came the subdued hum of several V(jice5 — men's voices too. The young traveler had stood face to face with death ami danger many a time before now, and had plenty of physical courage ; and now as he saw his full danger, his nerves seemed changed to steel, and his handsome face grew set and stern. Softly removing his heavy boots, he stole noiselessly down the stairs, and through the crevice in the door he 86 TUB LONE no USE. W ^ I |:,jt • ii 'li could plainly see and hear all that passed in the room — himself unobserved. Three men, one stout, middle- aged and bhort, the other t^vo young, and of almost gigantic stature, either of whom might have taken a premium for villainous countenances, sat round the tire, talking in low, earnest voices. The woman Griz- zle, the most villainous-lookinii-of the lot, sat beside the elder, and it was her voice he lirst heard. " I tell you it's worth lifty pounds, if it's worth a farthing !" she was saying. " It was set with gems — real brilliants, too — none of your sham cheats ; and he's a born aristocrat himself, if ever I saw one — noth- ing of the swell or humbug about him. Of course, he has more money with him than that, and you will iind him the best bird you have plucked this m.any a day 1" " But the pistols ?" said the short, stout man. " Pooh ! he's asleep before this. The light's out of his room, and even with his pistols, what can he do in the dark — and against three ? He thinks Ave will come in at the door, if he thinks of it at all, which is not likely, though he is wide awake, I can tell you. What does he know about the trap under the bed 'i I tell you there's no danger, and it will be five hundred pounds, if not more, in your pocket. What makes it better, he's a stranger, too — I know he is, though he was as close as an oyster, and dodged every qucsf ion I asked him." Some strange magnetic attraction made the young man remove his eyes from the speaker's face, and he was startled to encounter a pair of great, wild, glitter- ing black orbs, fixed full upon him, riveted to his face. It was the child, Oriole, crouched up in a corner, her great black eyes l)earmg full upon him. lie half raised his hand as if to warn her to be silent, when the voice of one of the young men caught; and fixed his attention. " Of course, there's no danger ; and that fellow's as safely done for as if his throat was sli^ from ear to car this minute. When are we to settle him, mother ?" *iiy THE LONE HOUSE. 37 .1 « I'll go lip to his door and listen first," said the woman, rising, "and try to find ont whetlier lie's asleep, or only shannning. I'll be back in a minute." '' Jle'U soon sleep somid enough, I'll warrant him " tuiid the other young man, stirring up the lire with'a laugh. At that moment the young stranger felt l hand icy cold, grasp his wrist from behind with a grip of iron; and with a half-repressed ejaculation he turned round to see who had caught him. ^'^ 88 AN ESCAPE. CHAPTER III. AN ESCAPE. i/ac&Vl n •1 USII ! " said a terrilied voice, " don't make a noise — don't speak ! It's only me." It was the voice of tlie child, Orrie. The young man glanced in wonder to the place where he had seen her last, but it was empt}'- now. " Come up stairs, quick ! Oh, hurry, hurry !'* ex- claimed the child, in an agonized whisper, as her little hand clenched his wrist for a moment, with almost supernatural strength, and then she tlitted as lightly and noiselessly as a shadow up the stairs. There was no time to lose. The woman, who had stood listening while they spoke, now started to cross the room ; and the stranger, taking two or three steps at a time, sprang lightly up the stairs and entered his chamber. Little Oriole was ther", before him ; and the mo- ment he entered, she shv* back the bolt secured the door. "Ilush! Listen!" said the child, in the same startled whisper. " Make a noise when she comes, so she won't think you arc aslec}). If she hears you awake she won't come in just yet." The creaking sound stairs invariably persist in mak- ing when one treads them on tip-ioe, warned them that the lady of the house was at hand, and tlie young man, acting on the child's hint, began to whistle, pausing AN ESCAPE. 89 rhtlj rao- i now and then, and moving throngli the room as tliougli lie were preparing for bed. Oriole stood with hei- ear glued to the key-hole, listening with all her might, holding- up one little linger wariiingly, and now and then giving iiim an approving nod. At last she raised her head, and drew a long breath. " IShe's gone," she said, coming over and looking earnestly up in his face; " l^ut she'll come back, and so will they— old Till, and Kit, and IJiaize." '* J\ly dear little girl, how in tlie world came yon on the stairs that time V^ said the young man, who at lirst had been inclined to distrust her ; but the terror and earnestness of her face was too real to be assumed. " I saw you, and came round the back way — there's another joair of stairs, at the end of the house, that we come up sometimes, and 1 had to come round or old Grizzle would have seen me. But oh ! what will you leasant prospect, upon my word! i might as well deliver my last will and testa- ment, veritably at once, to this queer little damsel, and then devote tljc remainder of the time to prej)aring for AN ESCAPE. 41 lieaven, or — the other place ! I say, my little friend, I wonder they are so itnprndent as to allow yon to know about these blood-chillini^ things, or to be in the room with them while they are plotting their hellish schemes C " Well, they wouldn't cither; only the last time the man screamed out, and I heard him and came in. It was in this room, too," said the child, sinking her voice to a whisper, and casting a territied glance around ; " and he was on that bed, and old Grizzle had him by the hands, and J]hiize by the feet ; and they kept him down, and his lace and neck was all covered with i)lood, and he screamed out — oh, dreadfully ! — until Kit held the pillow over his face, and when he took it away, ho was as still — oh, as still as anytliing ! And then" — and Oriole's voice sunk lower and lower, and she shivered convulsively — *' they put him down cellar — and he's been there ever since !" A slight shudder passed through the form of the young stranger, and a look of horror and loathing swept over his line face. " Heavens above ! what a siiJi-ht for a child ! What a sight for any one in a Christian country ! What did they say to you for coming in, my dear chihH" "Oh! jhiiize would have killed me, only she wouldn't let him ; but she beat me dreadfully," said Oriole, wincing at the recollection. '' And she said, if ever J told any one, she would put me down cellar along with him. i never did tell any one either, till you come ; and i shouldn't have told you, only they were going to put you down cellar too. Don't you tell her, mind — you said you wouldn't, you know I" ''Neither i shall — don't fear. And so, as you knew of the other murder, they didn't mind your being in the room and hearing of this ^" " JSio," said Ofiole ; '' they thought I would not tell, you know, 'cause it's a good long while since then, and 1 never did tell nobod)'." 43 ^iV ESCAPE, '.i I 111- 'til iiii< 'It l| 1' IF " And wjiy is it that I am to bo ' put down cellar,' as you call it, sinco tlicy liavo let otliers escape ?" '"Oh! 'cause you've got money — old Grizzle says so — and a nice watch, and lots of things ; and she wants 'em. If 1 was you, I'd give them to her, and tell lier I wouldn't tell i.nybody. They won't be any good to you. you know, if you are killed !" " That's true enough," said the young man, with a momentary smile, ""liut supposing I neither let them kill me, nor give them the watch — eh? How would that be, Orric ? If it comes to killing, I rather fancy they will find two can play at that game." " liut there's four of then], and you can't kill four," said Orrie, with a pnzzled look. " liarge odds ; but I've fought against as many be- fore now. I didn't live in a certain green island of th« west, as aid-de-camp to His Grace the Lord Lieutenant, for three years, without getting into a shindj'^ now and then — thank fortune !" said the young Englishman, speaking more to himself than Orrie. " And so you're going to kill them ?" said Orrie, with simplicity. "I shall make the attempt, my young friend; and if I fail — why there will only be a scapegrace the less in the world. But sec here, my good little girl," he said, stopping before her, and lifting the tangled hair off her small, gipsy ish face, " what will they say to you, wdien they find you here 'i they will half kill you, won't they i" " Oh, yes ! I forgot," said the child, starting np in terror. '^ I nmst go. I can't stay, you know. Old Grizzle, no doubt, thinks I have gone to bed ; and if she were to catch me here, she — " " Would put you down cellar," said the young man with a smile. " Yes," said Orrie, moving quickly toward the door. But, at that instant, a sudden noise, startling enough, arrested her steps, a id sent her young bloodcurdling to licr lieart. It was the liushcd sound of footsteps below, and a :.| I I AN ESCAPE. 45 door. LUg to sudden noise, as if sonic one had stumbled, followed l)y 4| a iierce, suppressed oath ; and then there was an in- stant's deatli-like silence. As if frozen where she stood, the child Orrie paused, \ her great bkujk eyes wikl and dilating, her lips spriiig- \\\\X, white and quivering, apart, her small hands invol- untarily clenching until the sharp nails saidv in the quivering Hesli, her very breathing suspended, until it became painful to listen for its return. Not the faintest sound escaped lier ; she stood as if turned to stone. Making a hasty motion for her to be silent, the young man seized a pi^^tol in either hand, and iixed his eyes steadily on the trap-door, his handsome face set stern and resolute, his eye bright, bold and dauntless, his ]")ulse calm and steady. There seemed a motnentary pause below, in winch nothiiinr was to be heard but the beatinir and dashini»:of the storm without ; and then there came the near sound of bolts cautiously withdrawing beneath. Tlie young stranger grasped his pistol tighter, and sighted it, with deadly accuracy, for the trap. One moment more, and one at least of these midnight assas- sins would have got his due; but Fate, or Providence, or the brave young Englishman's guardian angel willed it otherwise ; for, at that moment, in the very crisis of all'airs, a most nnlooked-lor interruption occurred. } A loud and violent knock — a knock that shook tho wl'ole house from attic to cellar — resounded on the front door. There was a quick, startled ejaculation from below, and the bolt was nurriedly shot back. \ A faint, repressed cry bi'oke from tlie lips of Orrie ; and the young man lowered his weapon, and looked at her in wonder. Again the knock was repeated, louder fuid longer than before, until the iiouse echoed and reverberated with the thundering noise. The stranger bent his head, and listened intently ; aud, with hearing sharpened by excitement, heard the 44 /1/Y ESCAPE. ii' li I sound of retreating feet below ; aud tlien, for an instant or two, all was perfectly still. But only for an instant ; then the belated wayfarer ■without, whoever it miii^ht be, evidently determined to be heard if tlie door lield out, raised another uproarious knock, nccompimied by a shout that could be even heard in that upper room, of " llall(j ! within there ! Open the door — will you ? — and don't keep a fellow here in the sto:-m all nii:;ht !'' ^ "Oh,_it's Frank Do Vere— it's Frank De^^ere!" said Orrie, sprini^inu^ forward with a joyful cry. " That's him, 1 know. Noinxly else ever makes such a noise as he does. Oli, you're all safe novr — just as safe as can be! They won't touch you while Frank De Yere ;'tays!" " ^■v"ell, it's pleasant to know even that. But who is Frank iJe Vere l Kut one of the De Yercs of Fon- tellcr'^ " Yes; he comes from Fontelle — a beautiful place. Oh, V\\\ so glad !" exclaimed Orrle. " Upon my life, 1 have bad a night of it!" said the young man, ilingii'g himself into a chair, and pushing back carelessly his fair l)rown hair. " First horse- whipping an insolent Yankee, and encountering a real fairy prince for beauty; and then falling into the hands of the Philistines; and lirst meeting a witch, and then this little kelpie; and, when about to be assassinated in cold blooU, Mr. Fraidc De Yere thinks proper to come along at the eleventh hour and save my life. 'Pon my hcuior, it's exactly like a scene in a ])lay, where everyboily is saved in the most unexpected way. just wluMi the knife is at their throat, by everybody else. Well, luck's everything — no mistake about it, as 1 have abvmdantly proved by all my narrow 'scapes by ilood and lield for the last four-aiul-twenty years. What, Flibbertigibbet! olf, are you ^ Where away now f " I'm going down to see Frank," said Oriole. " I like him." *' Oh, you do — do you ? What a beautiful virtue AN ESCAPE. 45 m instant "wayfarer uiiied to pi'oariou;, be uveii yon 1 ii^lit!'' I'lil cry. .'s such a t as safe uiik JJe fc wlio is of Fon- 1 i^liice. said tlie ^iiishiiicr Jiorsc- J^ a I'cal i hands id th'jn sinalcd >pcr to ly life. wlierc y. j'nst y else. I liav'o ' Hood Wliat, * "I virtue frankness is, to be snrc, and how nicely <^irlri get over it, once they are emancipated from pantalettes. I don't know biit what it would be right for me to^-o and see Frank, too. Solitude is a very line tiling in its way ; hut there is such a possibility as having too much of a o-ood thing ; and this is not exactly the place where one Avould fancy their own thoughts for companions cither, riiiht over the grave of a nmrdered man. AVho knows laVt I may discover in Frank a cousin of mine, too ? Il's worth going to see about, at all events. So here (" goes : lie rose, as he spoke, and passed from the room — Orrie having already gone. As he descended the stairs, he heard somebody blustering in like the god of the wind ; and then a cheery, boyisli voice exclaiming, as its owner stamped and shook the rain off himself: "Blow, ye wmds, and crack your cheeks! Poor Frank's a-cold ! I say. Mother Grizzle, why didn't you let me in when I knocked first, and not keep me here in the rain till I'm a sight to see, not to hear of? AVhat with mud and rain, I'm a picture to look at — ain't I ? Talk about drowned rats ! If you want to see one, just cast your eyes on me, my friends! Hallo, little black- eyes ! llow d'ye do i No ; don't come near me ! I'm a living cataract — worse than Undsnc's uncle, and he was a cross between a num and a river ! l>ut I forgot ; you don't know Gernum; so it's not likely you ever heard of the gent. Get us something to eat. Grizzle. Haven't had a blessed mouthful since early nujrning, as I'm a sinner! Where's Kit, and Hlaize, and Old Till, these times ? V i% Tl le am t h lome," sau d the voice o f tl ic woman Grizzle, in surly tones, as she stillly moved through the room. '' Orrie, wt out of that, and mj to bed. You 5 r> ouirht to have been there loiii aii'o. " I'd rather sit 7) up, sanl Urrie, s diarply " Oh, lot little bright-eyes stay," said the new- 46 AN ESCAPE. 1 m- m i Hi: ,( 1^ . )t't comer. " I like to look ;it lier. Muify customers stop- pad here lately, (irizzle^" "^'o," .Slid (Irizzhs curtly. " WlioVl stop lierc when they could v:o on V " Ah, that's true euouij^h!" said the boy ; "it's not the most cnchantinijj-lookiiiuf bower of n'j^ose [ ever saw, and the ]iul)lic <»;enerally arc not likely to be ea])tivated by it. Ihit a scormstayed traveler iiiiii;ht drop in now and then — on :ho principle of half a loaf being better than no bread." " How di'.l you come to be caught in the storm at this hour of the ni!j;ht, Master Frank '^" said the woman, rattlinir dishes on the table. " Well, I'm on my way home from New York; and as I was in a hurry, I tliou'j:;ht the storm wouldn't amount to much, and that I could ride throu«j:;h it until I got to I'ontelle; but I found my mistake before long, and would have stopped at the j\leruiaid all night, only 1 knew it would be impossible to awake old I>ob Row- lie ; so I just rode on till I came here. And hero lam — what's left of me, I mean ; for I got more than half- washed away by the r.un !" "What took y(Ui to New York now?" said the woman. " There, sit up, and take your supper, if you want it." " Oh, Jack sent me, of course. I'm ordered about, up there, as if I wasn't of the slightest consequence to anybody. Deuce take .Faek, I say !" (exclaimed ]\Iastcr Frank, with his nioulh full. '' Amen !" said a voice that nuido the woman start, and the youth jump up from his chair. And the next moment the young stranger pushed open the door at the foot of the stairs, and coolly walked in. The keen, piercing, hawk-liko eye of the woman was bent upon him fv)r an instant; but his face ex- pressed nothing but its usual careless mnq froUl as he met her gaze, and then glanced, with easy indiiference, i. AN ESCAPE. 47 lers stop- top Jicro " it's not 3V(.'i' saw, il)tivate(l ;> ill ]i()w li,^ better storm at woman, )r]v ; and von kin 't it until 'I'e loni^, lit, only >I) Row- ro I am HI iialf' uM the if you a I tout, Mice to i\ faster 1 start, )nslie(l valkecl romau ee ex- ' as lie reuce. at Master Frank — a brii^^lit-cyed, fair-baired, frcsli-faced lad of f-ixteen or eiicbiocn. " Tlio noise at llio door ai'oused me," lie said, as if in (•xj)hination, "and not feelin-^ like sleeping":, and my tire baviii^ c;one out, I thought I would come down here. I hope I have not startled you." " Startled me !" said the y(juth, slowly returninii' to bis former oeeupation, " you've scared me out of a year's growth — shattered my nervous system all to smash !" " Very sorry to hear it," said the stranger, in Iiis careless way ; *' but your prayer for Jack, whoever ho may be, seemed so heiu'tfelt that, as a pious Christian — wlii<'h 1 Hatter myself 1 am — 1 could not help respond- ing to it. 1 think 1 heard you mention Fontelle as I came down stairs. Do you know the family there i" " Well, I should think I did— rather!" said Frank, with emphasis ; " more especially as I generally pitch my tent there myself when Fm at home." " What, are you a De Vere ';" "Well, Fm connnonly called that, for want of a better name, 1 suppose. But, what do you know about the De Veres!!" continued Master Frank. " Well, I believe I claim kindred with the family," said the careless stranger. " My name is Disbrowe, tho Honorable AHVcmI Disbrowe, more connnonly known as Captahi Disbrowe, of ILis Most Gracious Majesty's Horse Guards." "lley!" said Master Frank, dropping his knife and fork, and starting at tho young and handsome guards- man, "it ain't ])ossib]e, is it^" The stranger smiled, and l)owed slightly. "And you're the Honorable Alfred Disbrow^c, brother of Lord Farneclilfe f ' exclaimed the boy. " And nei)hew of Robert De Vere, Es(]., of Fon- telle. Yes, 1 have that honor," said the stranger. lip sj)rang Frank from his seat; and darting over, he caught the young Englishman's hand and shook it heartily, saying, with a delighted shout : 48 AN ESCAPE. I i ; " Hooray ! if tliis ain't an uncommon streak of good luck, my name's not Frank ! Good gracious, just to think of it ! Why, it's the most unexpected and knock-down rencontre that ever anybody heard of since they were born !'' said Frank, shaking the Honorable Alfred's hand as if it had been a pump-handle, in liia surprise and delight. ! I ! I'li It iff if II 11 >'" c of good s, just to ted and 1 of since onorable le, in Ilia 'il $ FONTELLE. CHAPTER IV. 40 FONTELLE. " It was a sandy level wherein stood This old and lonesome house. Far as the eye Could measure, on the green back of the wood The smoke lay always low and lazily. ** But from the rock, rough-grained and icy-crowned, Some little flowers from out some cleft will rise, And in tliis quiet land my love I found, With all their soft; light sleeping in her eyes." Alice Gary. HE young Englishman glanced toward his slightly uncourteous hostess, to see what elfect this announcement liad on her : and saw tire, her statiding looking steadily into the with the stranu'est expression of strangest expression mingled triiunph, delight, and exultation, added to an- other inexplicable look — as if a demoniacal prospect of some sort had suddenly been opened before her. Her evil face had so strange a fascination for him at that moment, that, unheeding Frank De Vere's boisterous greeting, he kept his ey«3s on her, and asked : " What picture do you see in the lire, my worthy liostess, that seems so strongly to rivet your attention? She looked up, and met his gaze with a dark and most sinister smile. '' One that you will see, I hope — I helleve^ some day, in real life, young sir," she replied, transtixing him with her basilisk eyes. "• Indeed ! and what may it be, pray f "I saw," said the wo!nan, pointing to the glowing coals, " a pit there so black, so bottomless, that, if it 8 50 FONTELLE. i! n f>* m opened visibly before you now, you would shrink and recoil from it in lioi-ror." "Pos.sil)lo !"' said tlic young mun, in his careless tone. "Well, and what of it'^ Did you sec nothing else r " You — you were at the 1)ottoin of it !" " Oh, was I ? And you hope that it may come true, some daj' — do you ? Of course, I am mightily obliged to you ; but at the same time, I'd rather be excused." " IJut you were not alone," persisted the woman, as if he had not spoken. " Indeed ? Well, it is pleasant to know even that. Who had the atrocious taste to accompany me there, my dear madam V "I saw," said the old woman, folding her arms, and looking full in his careless, handsome face with her sinister smile, " I saw some one falling down, and down, and down into that dark and loathsome gulf; and lie, fallen and degraded in their scornful pride, in the very slime at your feet, spurned alike by God and man, and that one was — " " Well V said the young man, startled a little from his nonchalant manner by the suppressed passion that throbbed like a risin^• tide in her luce and voice. " Jack De Vere P'' she said, i-ai>ing her voice almost to a shriek, as with a last malignant glance she turned to leave the room. " Don't mind her. Captain Disbrowe !" exclaimed Frank, indignantly; "she's crazy one-half her time, and not very sensible the rest. Nobody minds what old Grizzle Ilowlet says." " Who is this J ack De Vere, on whose destiny I am to have so dismal an elfect C^ incpiired the soldier, resuming his indifferent manner. " Oh, a cousin of ours, of course ; one of the De Veres of Fontelle." " Is he at Fontelle now ?" Frank nodded and laughed, and the laugh was 4 m 1 I FONTELLE. 61 that. man, slirilly eclioed l\y tlic elfish sprite, Orrie, who still crouc'lied in the chiiiinev corner. "Then I .laize — a prc^ji'^us pair of hang-dog scoundrels, both of 'em! and neither of them are mar- ried nor likely to be. I don't know what Orrie is to FONTELLF. 53 retire to time all it don't lantly. on the urd, she Frank, iMvonld t jiidii^e oil h;ive lookiiii^ hen we ndsome f green - un- ver see it feel- if Old 1 ^'" ly, our as two iig-dog e mar- i ie is to 1 her; but she harf always lived with old Mother Ghast- ly as loiiij; as 1 can remember, and always was the s;inie queer little wasp she is to this day. 1 L'X])eer slie tuiind lier under a toad-stool, or riding on a rush-blade over from Scotland, or dancing in a fairy ring some bright Hallow Eve night, and ca})tured her." " Shouldn't wonder. I she Id like to know some- thing more of her, though." " Why, you haven't fallen in lov^ with her, have you ?" said Frank. " Not exactly," said Captain Disbrowe, with a slight laugh. " I feel an interest in the child, though, on account of a little service she did me this evening, and because I think something might be made of her, yet. AVell, let her go. And now, about Fontelle. I suppose they received Earneclitfe's letter V "Saying you were coming to pay us a visit — yes," said the boy. " 1 heard Jack and Gus talking about it, and wondering what sort of an individual you would turn out to be." " Gus !" " Why, yes — . Oh, I forgot you didn't know. I mean cousin Augusta — Lady Augusta De Yere, if you please." " Lady Augusta ? I thought you had no titles over here." " Haven't we ? That's all you know about it, then. Why, every second man you meet is a colonel, and a general, and a squire, and lots of other things. Uncle liob's a squire — Squire De Vere, you know. But they used to call her Lady Augusta when she was a little girl — she was such a proud, haughty little duchess ; and so the name's stuck to her ever since." " She wouldn't be a De Vere if she was not proud," said Disbrowe, quietly. " Oh, wonhln't slie ! AVell, they call me a De Vere, and anybody that says Fm j)roud — why, I say they're mistaken, to draw it mild. To be sure, it's not I' 1i fc I li (? ;i II li ill HI {I 64 FONTELLE. my name; but tliat's neither here, nor there, nor any- where else, lor that matter.'' "Not your name i" said Disbrowe, with a stare. " No, sir !" said Master Fnink, emphatically. " My name's Stiibbs — but tell it not in Gatli. You see, the way of it was, my mother and S([uire I)e Vei'e's wife were sisters; and when father and mother died, and I went to live at Funtelle, everybody took to calling me De Vere. I was a little shav"! S I.. w if sr I p: I i \ 1 ii i II 1 60 FONTELLE. strongly resembling the old manors so common in Eng- land. " As he named it after Fontelle Park, in England," said Frank, " he had it built, you see, to resemble it as much as possible. Does it really look like the old Eng- lish house of the De Veres ?" " Very much," said Captain Disbrowe, in evident pleasure ; " very much, indeed. It only wants the broad lawns, and glades, and the great park, and the deer, and the ' silver star ' above the gate, and the gate- keeper's lodge. Do you know the ' silver star,' Master Frank ?" " Don't I ?" said Frank. " Is there a day of my life I don't hear of the ' silver star ' of the De Veres ? Hasn't imcle Rob the family arms emblazoned in the drawing-room ? — and doesn't the ' silver star ' shine there from year's end to year's end, and never set ? But look here ! if that ain't the very Jack you want to see ! Jack ! Jack ! I say !" he called, raising his voice. He galloped on, followed by Disbrowe, until, sud- denly reining up, he exclaimed, in a voice full of quiet malice and delight : "Jack, this is our English cousin. Captain Dis- browe, allowed me to make you acquainted with Jack De Vere." Captain Disbrowe looked up, and sat for a moment stock-still with surprise. Well he might ! he was not the first who had been electrified by Jack De Vere I JACK DE YE RE. 61 CHAPTER V. JACK DE VERB. " A thing all lightness. 'Ife, and glee — One of the &liaj.'es we seem To see in visions of the night, And shouU they greet our waking sight Imagine that wc dream." — Hill. APT A IN ALFRED DISBROWE had raised his handsome eyes, expecting to see a tall, dashing, whiskered, devil-may-care six- footer; but looking up he saw nothing, until he lowered his eyes, and lowered them again, and at last they alighted on a coquettish little riding-hat, perched jauntily on one side of a little head, some four feet or so from the ground. Captain Disbrowe started and stared ; and his stare was returned by the brightest and clearest pair of eyes that ever were set in a human head — returned with com- pound interest, too. Jack De Yere was fl girl — a small, slight, delicate-looking girl, of seemingly not more than sixteen, and most elegantly and becomingly dressed, who, after lier iirst brief scrutiny, bowed and smiled, and held out her hand, and gracefully welcomed her English cousin to Fontelle Hall. It was seldom the self-possessed, courteous Captain Disbrowe was at a loss ; but for a moment he was really so now, and as he mechanicallv took the hand she offered, ho gazed Iirst at her and then at Frank, 80 evidently nonplussed, that Frank, who happened to be blessed with a lively eense of the ludicrous, laughed uproariously. I. 62 JACK DE VERE. " Jack Dc Verc," lie repeated, like one in a dream. Tlie young lady witlidi-ew her ]i:ni(l and smiled. "This is some of your work, Master Frank, with your Jaf'k I)e Vere ! My name is Jacquetta," said she, turning to Disbrowe, " whiel) they have the barI)arous taste to transform into Jaek — thinking, I suppose, a boy's name suits me best. -Whether they are right or not, I must leave it to time and your good sense to de- cide." " Oil ! beg pardon ! I see it all now," said Dis- brow-e ; and the next instant he had sprung from his horse, and stood with his hat off before her ; "I fear I have appeared rather rude ; but I was so surprised ! Allows me to redeem my error, and salute my fair cousin now." And taking her hand he would liave suited the action of the word ; but Miss Jack drew back, and interposed the other hand as a shield. " i^dm to })alm is holy ])almer''s kiss," she said, coolly. " And 1, as a stanch Yankee girl and patriot, have ' vowed a vow,' ever since the war, of eternal en- mity against all Englishmen. So, my very dear cousin, you will have to admire me at a distance, until better acquainted." " Then permit me." And he raised her hand gal- lantly to his lips. " 1 shall try to induce you to break that cruel vow before we part. The sins of a whole nation should not be visited on one iiidivitiual head." Though he had bent over the hand he held whilst speaking, he luid l)een looking intently in her face, and trying to decide, strange as it may seem, whether she were pretty or plain. It w^as a (juestion that had puzzled others before him, and countless were the dilferent decisions that had been pronounced on the matter. Jle saw a small, bright, aniniiited face, full of energy, daring, and de- termination, yet fair and delicate as a tinted rose-leaf in complexion. iler eyes were large and intensely bright and of the deepest, darkest gray, sparkling and JACK DE VERB. 63 flasliing when she M'as excited, until they seemed of nii(hiiii;ht bliiekness. ller round, wliite, ]')olished forc- lieud, iind small, erect head, were beautifully shaped, and bespoke a strong, energetic, far-seeing brain with- in. Iler small, rosy mouth would liave been perfect, but for the half-mocking, half-sarcastic curl of the short n]iper lip, whose haughty curve bespoke a pride as high and strong as liis own — in a different way. But til look of half-nH)ckery seemed the prevailing ex- pression of the piquant, sparkling little face, whose irregular features owed their chief beauty to their con- stant' animation. Iler look of miniijled seriousness and ino(;kery it was that so puzzled and half annoyed Dis- browe, and left him, as it did every one else, at a loss to tell whether she was in jest or earnest, Iler hair was soft, silky, and beautiful, and hung in clustering, dancing curls around her bewitching little face; but — it was red, unconipromising, deliant red, and no fiction of friends or lovers could make it auburn. A.nd now it flashed and scintillated like wings of flame in the radiant sunshine. There was something else about Jack De Vere that puzzled and perplexed Disbrowe not a little ; and that was, her strong and undetinable resemblance to some one he had met before — who at that moment he could not remember. There she stood before him, cool, bright, breezy, airy, and nnmistaka1)ly fair, reminding liim of a saucy boy — a very saucy boy — yet with the air and grace of a lady withal. From all he liad heard of her. Captain Disbrowo judged she must be an Amazon, a romp, a hoyden — the horror antl abomination of the I'elined, fastidious Englishman. Accustomed to the cold hauteur and high-bred elegance of the ladies and peeresses of his native land, he shrank in horror from anything like hoydcnism ; and an Amazon would have been looked n])on by him in about the same way as he would havo looked upon a grizzly bear or the gi'eat sea-serpent — as 64 JACK 1)E VEUE. soinethin^ to jjjaze and sliudder at, at ii distance. Tho light, fragile ligure, and fair, delicate face of this young girl, seemed, though, to contradict the idea that she could be one of these monsters; hut from all lie had heard of her from I'Vank, it left him to infer that she was, and that he must not judge by appearances. Then, too, she had red hair, which he detested as betokening vulgarity and a fiery temper — two revolting things, according to his high and spirituelle notions of the adorable sex ; and she bore a boy's name, which was another shock to his particular and fastidious taste. And so altogether, in the very few minutes that he stood watching her, he made up his mind, quite to his own satisfaction, to dislike Jack De Vere, and only think of her as something to smile at and pity. But if he thought to mortify the young girl before him by such a course, never was self-complacent man more wofully doomed to disappointment. Cool as a Lapland icicle, self-possessed and self-conscious as a crowned queen on her throne, indifferent and careless as the breeze that toyed with her fair clustering hair, she stood before him, with a pride and case of numner that, in its very depth of quietude, arose and over- topped his own, and gave the Honorable Alfred Dis- browe, brother of an earl and a peer in prospective, to understand that, if he intended to despise her he must do it at a remarkably safe distance. And he, the flat- tered, courted, and caressed in all the gilded salons of brilliant London, who had danced with princesses, flirted with regal duchesses, and made love to Lady Georgianas without number — at whose coming cheeks had flushed, and bright eyes had fallen, and hearts had beat faster — under the cool gaze of whose handsome eyes many a pidse under a diamond bracelet had bounded, found himself now calmly waved back, and told to kcej) his i)lace ; and by the bright clear glance of those gray eyes made to understand ho must remem- ber it, too, until she chose to descend from her pin- nacle. For once in his life, the dashing Guardsman JACK DE VEIiE. 05 •I was made to understand that a handsome face, and fine figure, and gallant bearing, and aristocratic name, were not perfectly irresistible. " Well, sir," said a quick, imperative voice, in tones of mingled amusement and sarcasm, " what is the decis- ion ? I see you have come to one. I have undergone a keen scrutiny for the last two or three minutes ; and now for your verdict, my lord judge ?" She had faced round so 8ud Jenly and unexpectedly, and looked up in his face so keenly, with her peculiar mocking smile, that a slight flush tinged, for an instant, the fine face of Disbrowe in his conscious guilt. "Ah, you needn't speak. I can read my sentence in that guilty look ; and you have pronounced me a second edition of the bottle-imp — a natural curiosity like the ourang-outang, or any other outlandish animal, and you are just thinking what a fortune some enterpris- ing showman might make by putting me into a cage, and taking me over to London, and exhibiting me as a real live specimen of that terrific creature — the Ameri- can female. Come, confess — isn't that sof '' Is it possible you can wrong me by such a thought, my dear cousin?" he said, recovering himself. '* w hat can I think of you but that you are the most charming little fairy in existence, and the most enchanting of cousins." " Do you really ?" said the young lady, casting a critical eye to where one of the servants was about to lead off the horses, " I say, AVilliam, mind what you're at there ! Would you take those horses, reeking hot, into the stables? Walk them gently up and down for a while, can't you ? And so that's your opinion, is it ? hum!" she said, with her provoking smile. "Well, what else do you tliink about me ? It didn't take y(ju all that time to conclude I was charming, and wliat else was it ? — oh, enciianting ! did it ?" " By no means, how could I help thinking you were very beautiful ?" "Dazzlingly beautiful is the term my admirers 66 JACK I)E VERB. generally use, and 1 like it better," amended the young "Dazzlingly beautiful, then be it ; the term is most upproj)riate, and shows the good taste of your admirers, Miss De Vere." A sudden, hot flush, like a rising flame, leaped into the eheeks of the young girl at the words. " Miss De Vere/' she said, vehemently, " don't call me that ! I hate the name ! I do hate it !" she said, almost passionately. lie looked at her in amazement, to see her cheeks hot, and her eyes flashing for an instant; and then, the next, as she met his gaze, as if by magic her face cleared again, and she looked up at him and laughed. "Don't be sho(dved ! I hate formality, I mean; and it rather startles me to be called anything so stately as ' Miss Do Vere,' " and she mimicked his tone to per- fection. "■ I'm not used to it, you see ; and it doesn't agree with my constitution and by-laws, either. Call me Jacquetta, or Jack, or I'll come without calling at all, if you prefer it. 'Just whistle, and I'll come to yuu, my lad,' rather that style of thing, you know." " With all my heart, Miss Jacquetta, and may I also hope to hear my Christian name in music from your lips." " To be sure — yon didn't expect I intended calling you anything else — did you 'i and you my own cousin, too," and she laughed, and gave him a glance so full of hidden, mocking meaning, that he was more puzzled what to make of her than ever. " And pray what is it^ John, Peter, Barnabas, Tom, Dick, or Harry, or what ?" " Neither ; it happens to be Alfred De Vere Dis- browe." '' Phew ! All that for a name. Suppose we make it Alt', for short, eh i Aj)/'opos of long names, there is an old Puritan womar. who has lived at Fontelle, as a sort of privileged servant, ever since I can remember, JACK DE VElti:. vt and her name is Tribulation Fear the Lord Rawbones — there's a name for you !" Disbrowe hiuii-hed. CD '' Yes ; rather an inconvenient name for every-day use, isn't it?" " Oh, we call her Tribby, except on festivals, and then she gets her name in full. JJut now. Cousin Al- fred, are we to go up to the house ; c", rs you have ex- hausted the subject of my innumerable ; ^rfections, am I to begin and say pretty things to you i — which !■" " J. propose that we adjourn to the house, and I will take all the pretty things for granted. I wish to see my uncle and my other cousins, as soon as possible." " Well, come along then ; Iney are l)oth in, as it hap- pens, and will be delighted to see you, of course." Both walked aloni:: together, and ascended a broad flight of marble steps thftt led U]) to the massive hall- door, in the center part of the building. This opened into a vast hall, high, dark, and silent, and flanked on cither side by doors, and with a staircase of pohshed oak at the farthei* end, leading to the upper rooms. Opening a door to the right, Jacquetta ushered him in- to a spacious drawing-room, very high, very dark, very grand, and silent, and bearing over the high marble mantel the escutcheon of the house of De Vere, with its brilliant silver star. The furniture was carved and massive, and evidently belonged to a former genera- tion ; and a few rare old pictures, masterpieces of master jDainters, hung around the walls. The immense windows, reaching almost from floor to ceiling, were hung with dark purple damask, lined with corn-colored silk ; and the thick, dark carpet was no dainty Brussels or Turkey alfaii*, but one that had evidently been used for half a century, and was likely to stand half a cen- tury more. The chairs, and tables, and sofas, were all of the .-ame nui&sivo, carved, antique pattern ; and the eyes of the young Englishman lit up witii pleasure, as he looked around and half-audibly murmured : " A flt G8 JACK 1)E VEUE. li.i ' <\ \ liorae for a (Icscoiuliint of the old l)c Ycrcs. I Late now furniture and new lioubcs.'' Jacquetta had left liini upon his entrance ; and for a time lie was left alone to wonder a little at the profound silence of the house, and wonder more what maimer of girl this odd cousin of his might be. Before he could come to any satisfactory conclusion, the massive oaken door swung open, and a tall, hale old man, of stately presence and digniHed mien, "kindly but frosty," stood on the threshold, with a lady on his arm. " ]\ly dear boy, I'm delighted to sec you," he ex- claimed in a voice of cordial welcome, as he came for- ward, aiid grasping both JJisbrovre's hands, shook them heartily. " AV' hat an unexi)ected pleasure this is, to bo sure ! Jjless me ! how like you are to your mother, my poor sister Clara, my dear boy ! You look like a Do Vcre, every inch of you. Allow me to make you ac- quainted with your cousins — this is my daughter Augusta, and this is my daughter Jacquetta, hut you know her already, it appears.'^ "I have that pleasure, sir," said Disbrowe, bowing to " my daughter Augusta," a tall, haughty, dark-e^'cd, dark-haired, pale-faced beauty, cold and stately as a duchess, with the tine, proud, aristocratic face of the De Veres — as dillerent from her sister as day IVom uigh.t. "Ah, is it a pleasure?" said Miss Jacquetta, airily, " I didn't know. Perhaps, before you are acquainted with ni«3 long, you will have another notion about that." " Tut, tut, sauce-box !" said her father, chucking her uiuler the chin. " Little girls should be seen and not heard, my dear. You musn'tmind our little Jacky, my boy ; she's a s[)oiled ciiild, and nothing else, and thinks herself i)rivileged to say whatever she thiidvs." " A rare virtue in this insincere world," said Dis- browe, politely. " Is it always a virtue?" said Ihe fair, proud Augus- ta, lying languidly back in her chair, and lifting her JACK BE VERE. 09 eyes slowl3', as though it was too much trouble to raise their lieavy Hds. " In Miss Jacquetta it doubtless is, and cannot be sufficiently admired, more particularly, as the charming grace with which — " " Tiicre, Cousin Alf !*' broke in Jacquetta, Hinging herself into a chair, and holding up one tiny foot, and looking at it critically, '' don't \n\i yourself out to turn a compliment. I'll inuigine the rest, as you did a while ago, you know. As to his not minding me, papa, I wouldn't advise him, as a friend, to try it, for — did you ever see an enraged American female, Captain IJisbrowe i" *' Kot as I am aware of." " "Well, then, don't — as long as you can help it ; for the forty horse-power essence of wild-cats is nothing to it ! It's something terriiic, I tell you, and lias to be seen to be aj^preciated. You cold-blooded English, over there, can't begin to have the first idea of what it's like." "Come, Jacquetta, come! this won't do," said " papa," fidgeting, and taking a juncli of snulf. '• Why, 1 hope you consider yourself English, Miss Jacquetta," t^aid Di.})posite the door, and the large oriel windows were dra])ed \vith curtains of the same, la the immense llr(!-])lace roai d and iilazed a huge wood-llro, that warmed ujid lit up the whole room, and si;emed to make the starry car])et on the floor literally sparkle. An immense mirror, reaching to the coiling, rellected back the room; and on a large oak table beside it lay books and drawings, and numer- ous elegant toilet tritlch iJut none of these 'jbjects at- tracted the eye of Disl)rowe- -something else had (laught his attention the moment he entered, and held it chained still. Over the bronze mantel hung a picture in an oval frame, heavily carved ; a portrait of a small, mock- ing, tantalizing, Ixiwitching face, with short, waving curls, and sj)arkling. Hashing, gray eyes, scintill.ttiiig with mirth and mischief, and hidden powei". It Wu*< a, portrait of dacquetta De Verc ; ajid the red lips seemed wreathed inb) a mocking smile, and thf^ flashing -'yes seemed to di>ride him, as they met his own. 'J'he hnad was half turned, as if she were looking back — justasiie had seen her when siie left the room a nioii*ent b«'f<>r»", with the same wicked, half-deliant, half luug:-H>"- niMcr. Leaning his arm on the mantel, ani. qnilL . 'rgetful ei JACJK DE VERE, 71 of the flight of time, he stood there and looked at it. What thoughts were thronging througli In's iiiind at that moment? Did he think of the prediction of the weird witch of the lone inn~uf the dark, loathgome pit, at the bottom of which, her iiigh pride laid low, she was to lie at his feet? Did he think of it aft-rward in the dark days that were to come, when he knew a doom worse than death was hers— that fair, high-spirited young girl, whose bright face smiled on him from the wall now. i %■ 72 THE SECRET. CHAPTER VI. THE SECRET. h^ '* She said, aud raised her skinny iiand, As in defiance, to high heaven. And stretched her long, lean linger forth, Aud sjioke aloud the words of power." — TnALABA. HE dinner bell had run«i^, and a long interval had succeeded, but still tlie Honorable Al- fred Disbrowe stirred not ; still he stood gazing on that j)icture, charmed, fascinated, as a bird is charniod nnd fascinated by a serpent. Not that the knowinjr, dashing, young Guardsman, the gay nuni of fashion, had much of the innocence and simplicity of a bird about him, and neitlier would I insinuate that Miss Jacquetta Do Vere had anything of the dark and dreadful subtlety of a 6er])ent ; but certainly it was some sensation akin to snake-charming that invited his eyes to that ])i(j[uant, entrancing, yet anything but beaulil'ul face. It was not love — on the contrary, it was more like positive dis- like; but still he stood and gazed, quite forgetful that he was to arrange his dress, and that the bell had rung ten minutes before, and that, in all jirobability, the original was waiting down stairs, and in no very sweet humor at that sanu^ wailing. A sharp knock at the door startku] him at last from his reverie, and in answer b> his '' Come in,'' the door oi)ened, and hVaiik entered. " What ! not ready yet, and the dinner waiting for the last ten minutes, and Uncle liob the most ])articular old gentleman that ever wore a wig! Whew !" said I f- THE SECRET. 73 Master Fr.ink, thrusting his hands into liis pockets, and beginning to whistle. "Js it possible?" said Disbrowc, starting uj), shocked at his want of thought. " I deserve the bas- tinado I'or my neglect, I can't tell what I was think- ing of, to forget myself so," he said, as he hurriedly bci^au to arrange his toilet. " Well, hurry up, and I'll wait for you," said Frank, seating himself. " Jack advised uncle to send up one of the kitchen-maids to help you to make yourself fas- cinating — it took you so long. So they've put you in the Star Chamber, have they I There's Jack's picture. J remember the day she Jiung it there, and called it the brightest star of the lot. Do you think her good-look- iiif,' V " Certainly — you know there is no such thing as a bad-looking woman," said Disbrowe, politely. "Oh, isn't there? — what a blessed beaut}' Mother Grizzle is, for instance ! Gusty's good-looking though — ain't she ?" " Very beautiful," said Disbrowe, in all sincerity this time ; " she is a true De Yore." " "Which would you take to bo the oldest now — Jack or Gus?" said Frank. "• Miss Augusta, of course," said Disbrowe, sur- jirised at such a cpiestion. " 1 knew it," said Frank, with a chuckle, " but she ain't, though. Jack's two or three ycms older." '^ Is it possible?" exclaimed Disbrowe, in astonish- ment. " 1 can scarcely credit it !" " Well, you may, then. Gusty's only eighteen, and Jack's twenty, and more, for all I know. She looks younger — don't she? Dut that's because ^-h '\s so small and fair — fair people always look younger than they i\!ally are, you know." " Younger I 1 hardly took her to be sixteen," said Disbrowe, "she certainly does not look that." " She is, then, and she makes no bones of telling it, cither ; and then it makes her look like a I'ttU^ girl, % m ' i 31 m I Mi,' 4'' 74 THE SECRET. I J 1 wearing her hair flying about her face in curls, instead of braiding it, and lixing it up like Gusty does. Do you like red hair ?" " No ; but then Mks Jacquetta's is aubura, is it not?" said Disbrowe, with another polite fiction. " Auburn !" said Frank, contemptuously, " it won't be well for you to tell Jack that, anyway ! She's proud of her leonine locks, I can tell you, and calls it her crowning glory, and wouldn't change it, she says, for any other color under the sun. I remember Will lled- fern called her a young lioness once, with her red mane, after she horsewdiipped him, one day, in the street." Disbrowe shuddered. " Ilorsewhipped him ! Good heavens ! what did she do that for i It can't be possible, surely." " Yes, it is i)ossible, and served him just right, I say ; and what's more, she wouldn't mind doing it over again. lie insulted a girl, and she told Jacquetta, and as tlie girl had no father or brother to take her part. Jack gave him particular fits with her horsewhip the next time she met him. Oh ! she's a spunky, 1 promise you! Take care you don't anger her some day," said Frank, laughing, "or she'll be after you with a sharp stick." " Heaven forbid !" exclaimed Disbrowe, in horror. " AVhat an Amazon she is I Who would ever think a Do Vere could do such an atrocious thing !" " I know another De Yere who did such an atro- cious thing, and it wasn't to avenge distressed inno- cence, either," said Fmnk, maiicdously. " You mean me, I suppose," said Disbrowe, laugh- ing, "but I'm not a girl. Perhaps, though, it's the fashion for young girls to act so here, in America." " Oh, every one's independent here — do just as they like, and don't care a snap for their neighbors ; and our Jack's the pluckiest one of tiie lot. ' Although she's Ijut little, she's made of good mettle,' as the old song says." "Do you know," said Disbrowe, brushing his tan- gled locks, "she reminds me so much of some one else THE SECRET. 75 1? n- I have seen, I can't think who — a shadowy resembhmce in every iiiotioji." *' 1 think she looks like little Orrio Ilowlet, at the inn, if that's what yoa mean," said Frank, " ahhongli Orrie's a regular little sqiiaw for darkness, and Jack's fair as she well can be. I know they always remind me of one another ; and others say so, too." " Yes, now I think of it, she does," said Disbrowe, meditatively, " but somehow she's not the one I mean. 13y Jove ! 1 have it, now," he cried, with a start, " she looks like the fellow I horsewhipped — a pocket-edition of that same old coon, revised and improved, with tlio very same inso — the very same look iu her eyes that he iias." " Good gracious !" said Frank, laughing, " here's a discovery! Our Jack like old ISlick Tempest ! Wiiat would Jack say if she hoard that. X(jt but what I 1)0- lieve she would take it as a compliment ; for she faii-ly dotes on dare-devils like him, and would make a tip-top wife for a salt-sea rover or an Italian bi-igand." " Speaking of brigands," said Disbrowe, " reminds me that I saw with old Nick Tempest, as you call him, a most enchanting little specimen of that article, in a real brigandish rig. Now, then," he added, giving a few finishing touches, " I am at your service." Both descended to the dining-room, where they found Mr. De Vere and his two daughters awaiting them. Disbrowe's apology for detaining them was smilingly accej)te(l, and all were soon seated round the ample board of the master of Fontelle Ilall. During the meal, Disbrowe made some iufjuiries about the society of tlic neighborhood and the gi^ntry. ''(gentry," said Lady Augusta, with her languid smile, " we have no such thing here, captain. ' All nu3ii are born free and equal,' isn't that what the Declaration of Independence says, papa?" " How do you, iliss Do Y* re, believe in such hum- bug as that?" said Disbrowe, with a curling lip. " I think," said the young lady, steadily, and with \ 1 75 THE SECRET. uTlV i I ill it a rising flush tinging, for a moment, her pale cheek, " tliat })ri(le of birth is carried to an absurd excess in England. Will it redeem a mean or dishonorable character that lie can boast his forefathers entered with the Conquest, and can display a coat-of-arms that readies back for a score of generations. 1 think," she said, with increasing warmth, and an unusual light in her dark eye, and an unusual ilush on her pale (jlieek, " that a man of the people, who rises by his own unaid- ed elfcjrts in the battle ot" Jit'e, to power and distinction, deserves a thousand-fold more esteem and respect, and should be a prouder man, than he avIio can trace his descent back to the days of William theOonrpieror, and can boast of nothing else. The great Earl of Oxford, from whom we Do Veres boast we have descended, was a great man, doui)tless, in his day, and would hav^e ppurned the people, as the dust under his feet; but whether will ho or Washington, the Man of the People, be lonixest j'cmembered? Which is the i^reater, let posterity decide. (,)ne was forgotten many and many a year ago; but while the world lasts, will the other ever cease to be remembered and revered." " Ih'avo ! encore ! I say," shouted Frank, de- lighted. " Keally, Augusta," said her father, laying down his knife and fork, and looking at her, " a change has come o'er the spirit of your dream lately. Two years ago, my dear Alfred, there never was a greater aris- tocrat than the young lady Vvho has just made that republican speech ; she would have trodden on the necks of the people as remorselessly as your haughty brother, Eaiaeclilfe, himself, and thought them honored by the condescension ; when, lo and behold ! she sud- denly faces about, and becomes a red-hot rebel and republican — staiuls up for the people, aiul advocates c(pial I'ights, and liberty, fraternity, and equality, and all the rest of it, as furiously as if she were one of a French mob. What has changed her tactics, [ don't know ; but changed they are, with a vengeance, and I TUE SECRET. 77 expect her to crown it all by marrying a Smith, Jones, or Robinson, one day shortly ! I shan't be at all sur- prised, if she docs." lie laughed, as , he spoke; but at the last words a di.-adly paleness swept over the beautiful face of his daughter, leaving her, even to her lips, cold and white as marble. Disbrowe lifted his eyes, and looked at her, as if a sndden light had dawned npon him, and slightly smiled. '' Miss Augusta is too siaunch a De Yere ever to marry beneath her,*' he said, significantly. '* Be assui'ed of that, sir I'' she said, haughtily. " I never shall 1" " That's my proud Lady Augusta !" said her father, laughing. " But what's got into my little Jack-o'- lantern here, that she sits so still ?" " It's so seldom I hear sensible people talk, papa," said Jacquetta, demurely, "that 1 like to listen in silent awe, when they do — that's all." "1 am afraid Miss Jacquetta is inclined to be scar- castic," said Disbrowe, coloring slightly at her covert smile. " Me !" said Jacquetta, raising her eye brows in in- nocent surprise. " Oh, no ! 1 hope you don't suspect me of anything so L^hocking." " Tell him about our gentry, puss," said Mr. De Vere, \vith a sly chuckle. " You know every one with- in forty miles rouiid." " Yes ; and farther, too," said Jacquetta. " And I shall be only too happy to take Cousin Alfred around and introduce him. First, there's the Brontes — their real name is Brown, but that's no matter — and there are six girls, the oldest of whom has been eighteen for the last live years, and intends to be for live more; and the rest of whom, likewise, have come to a stand-still, and are Hrmly resolved to set Time at deliance, and not grow a day older until Seraphina Clementina is married. Their father will give theiutivc hundred dollars apiece I • 1 Ill 78 THE SECRET. fortune, and tlieir husbands a share in the pork and tallow business; and it would be an excellent thini; for Cousin Alfred, if he was to ^"et one of them. Then there\s Miss Arethusa Desmond, a limp young lady, on the bean-pole pattern, with white hair and eyes, who never pronounces the letter ' r,' and who informed me the other day she had ' just wead Kin*^ Leali, a play by one Mistah Shakspeah, and she liked it so vewy much that she intended making her pu buy her the vewy next he wrote.' Then there's Mrs. Flartie, a 'fuiTinner,' whose name in the original Greek is O'Flaherty, and who snubs her husband — worthy little soul ! — till ho dar'n't sneeze in her presence, without asking permis- sion first, and who is madly jealous of me because I pet the poor, dear, innocent little man, and look after him generally, and who calls mo an ' irapident little red- headed rip,' when I'm not listening. Then there is Miss Betsy Boggs and her two sisters, all of whom will make a dead set at our handsome cousin " — and Jac- quetta bowed and smiled across the table, in the old malicious way — "'and capture him or die in the at- tempt. Think how it would look when Lord Earne- clilie would read it in the papers : Married — By the Reverend Jedi'diah Spinitout, Captain Alfred JJe Vere, late of Her Majesty's Guards, to Miss Betsy Boggs, eldest daughter of Simon Peter Boggs, of Boggs' llole, Jersey." Here a roar of laughter from ITrank interrupted Jacfpictta. '• What a malicious little imp !" thought Disbrowe, inwardly wishing the wicked fairy ten feet deep in Thames' nmd at that minute. '' That's all, I think," said Jaequetta, I'cflectively. " Oh, no ! there's Mrs. Grizzle llowlet, an estimable old lady, and mighty pretty to look at, who lives over there among the frogs in the swamps somewhere. It's not likely you would fall in love with her, though, as she's a widow, and you might object to a second-hand wife." TIIE SECRET. 7ft " Oil, T am not particuliir !" said Disbrowc, careless- ly : " hut I have seen the lady in question, and I rather tliink, if J did, she would soon he a widow a^ain. As it is, she (!anie pretty near hringing my earthly career to an end ; and only for the providential interposition of my young friend, Frank there, you would hardly have seen me at Fontelle to-day, I fancy." Ail looked at him in curiosity, and the young Guardsman promptly related iiis nocturnal adventure at the old house. ]\Ir. De Vere and Augusta listened in silent horror, Frank uttered an ejaculation of dismay, and Jacquetta puckered up her rosy mouth and — whistled ! "The atrocious old hag!" exclaimed Mr. De Vere. " Good lieavens ! that such a den should so long have existed in a peaceable connnunity! I renjember, now, that about eight months ago there was a rumor of a missing Frenchman — a stranger here — and of whom no tidings could ever be discovered. lie must have been the one the little girl spoke to you of. 1 shall have the old witch and her two rascally sons arrested before another sun sets." " I often did hear," said Jacquetta, " that any one born to be hanged will never be drowned; and now I shall rhink it applies to other cases besides drowning." " AVhich implies, you think, an elevated destiny for me," said Disbrowe. " What do you say to riding over with me to-mor- 60W, Alfred V said Mr. De Vere. " We will go to Green Creek, a town about a ; violently open, and (irizzle lloulet her- self stood beloro *heni. All s])riing to (heir feet in amazement. A frightened servant eamc behind her and said, in alarm, to J\Ir. De Vcre : "If you please, sir, 1 couldn't stop her! — she would come. 1 didn't intend to let her in — "' " Leave the room !" interrupted Mr. De Vere, wav- ing his hand. The man vanished, glad to get the door between him and the fierce intruder; and Grizzle, folding her arms over her breast, regarded them with her dark, evil sneer. " ' Well, most potent, grave and reverend seignors,' and ladies, too," she said ; " so you had it all settled to arrest old Grizzle Ilowlet and her sons, and clap them into prison, and then hang them for robbery and mur- der? What a pity so elaborate a scheme should end in smoke, as so many other scheme-^ have done before !" " Is the woman mad i" said Mr. De Vei*e, astounded, " to come here like this, knowing her guilt ; for such an act is certainly the very climax of madness !" *' ' No ; I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of sober reason,' as you shall soon 11 nd to your cost. What would you say to me, if 1 were to tell you that you will not only let me go forth free, but safe from your interference from henceforth^'" " You will soon luive my ansu'er,'' said Mr. De Vere, seizing the bell-ro])e and ringing a violent peal, " Call your servants as fast as you like," said the woman, with a look of contempt ; " l)ut before they, or you, lay a iinger on me, I must and will have a word with that young lady there !" And she jwinted to Au- mista, who stood remirdiuff her with minii;led horror and loathing. " We will see about that," said Mr. Vere, calmly. "I tell you," said the woman, raising her arm and speaknigwith a sort of passionate earnestness, "it will TUE SECRET. 81 be better for yoii if yon do! — until the very Hay of your death you, and all who bear your])roud name, will rue it if you do not! Listen to nie,la(ly — you who stand thei'e so queenly in your haui:;hiy pride and 8i oru — it will be better for you to hear what I have to say ; for I have your secret and another besides, that you ought to have known long before this." A frightl'ul paleness overspread the haughty face of Augusta, and, with a faint cry, she caught and steadied herself by a chair. As she did so, the door opened and a servant a})peared. " Papa, let me hear her ! Send the man away ! I must hear her, papa 1" she said, wildly, taking a step to- wards her. "Nonsense, Augusta!" said her father, sharply. " Hear her, indeed ! the old inij)ostor! Keyuolds, go and bring William and James here." The servant disai)i)eared, and old Grizzle, folding her cloak closer about her, sat down, with lier evil, sneering smile. "Very well — be it so, then. I will go to prison; and the very day 1 do, your secret, Augusta Do Vere, shall be blown by the four winds of lleaven over all the land! — and, what's more, another secret that 1 came here to-day to tell you — one that you would give the broad lands of Fontelle to hear. Itememberthat!" "Oh, I must hear her! 1 must, papa!" cried Augusta, gasping for breath, and looking ready to faint. It was strange to see the calm, the stately, the liaughty Augusta Dc Vere moved like this. In all liis lite her father had never seen anything like it before ; and now he gazed upon her thunderstruck. " In Heaven's name what is the meaning of this, Augusta? What secret id this wretched old woman talking about ?" "Oh, I cannot tell you! I dare not tell you! but I must hear her!" exclaimed Augusta, distractedly, as she went over and stood close beside the woman. ■1 J : J 'i 82 TUE SECRET. li\ l.'i'K %, " I must tell you in private," said (xrizzle, looking around. '' You nnisf not leave the room !" said Mr. De Verc, sternly. '' Jaetjuel ta, tell the servants to wait, and turn the key in the door and let this farce end !"' JacMjuetta, looking astonished and bewildered, obeyed. "Don't listen, then! Stand oft'!"' said Grizzle, with an ani;;ry wave of her hand. " A De Vere shoidd not be an eavesdropper. (.'onie over here, young lady," she said, taking Augusta by the arm, and leadiiig her over to the remotest corner. Captain Disbrowe walked to the window and looked out. Jac(]uett:i bent over the table, with her back toward thijm, and Mr. De Vere, looking iingry, astonished, and Iialf-alarmed, stood, with a frowning brow, regarding them. So nearly ten minutes passed — dnring which (Irizzlc talked in a lierce, rajiid, hissing whisper, without once stopping, and grasping Lady Augusta's arm in a vise- like gri]>. As she went on a frightful change |iassed over t'le young girl. One arm was half-raised, her l>lanc]ied lips sprung, quivering, apart, her eyes strained and staring, an awful darknijss, as if she were stran- gling, setthng on her face, and witli it a look of horror — of wildest, most unspeakable horror — fcH. Suddenly there was the souuil of a heavy fall, fol- lowed by a cry from (irizzle — a sharp, assionate solemnity in her tones; and there was something awe-ins})iring and ter- riiiein the weird gesture with which she raised her arm and ])ointed ui)ward, as if calling Jlim she had named to witness the truth cd" her words. JMr. Do Vere reeled as if he had been struck a blow, for an instant ; then, as his eyes fell on the high, noble face (»f his j)ror(l daugh- ter — on the pure, stainless, marble-like brow, and sweet, beautiful li])s, the conviction that she was merely l)h>y- ing uiH)n his fears returned; for the idea of any crime in connection with that noble-minded, staiidess girl, was an utter and most revolting im[)ossibility. " It is false, you miserable hag! — you second Jeze- ltd!" he s;iid, furi(Hisly. " Dare to mention my d;iii;.';Ii- tor's name in absociaiiou wilh any crime again, and by —IP wtfRHwHimi^. THE MrDNWIlT MUSIC. 85 all tlic naints! I will bo tempted to forget you are a woman, and stranpjle you on the spot !'' '' That is casior said than done," said Grizzle, fold- ing l»er arms, with a short laugh. "Two could play at that game ; and, as a friend, i wouldn't advise you to try it with me." "My dear sir,'' interposed Dishrowe, laying his hand on his arm, as he saw the storm of })assion rising in his uncle's face, " I e calm. J)o not heed her words. Let nothing be done until Augusta recovers, and then let lis learn from her what mysterious j)ower this \voiuau lias over her, and act accordingly."' " FI'i ha !'' said (Jrizzle, mockingly. "You think she will tell 'fou — don't you i Don't you hopt; she nuiy i Yes, I will wait till she recovers. I have no other in- tention, my handsome young friend, and you will 'act accordingly.* ( )li, no doubt of it !" And she sat down, with a short lauij:h. "Shan't f g(? for a doctor, uiuile?" said Frank, look- ing daggers at Grizzle. " And I can bring a constable up from Green (hvek, at the same time, and fix this old witch's Hint for her." " No, wait, Frank ; don't go," said the voice of Jac- quetta. " Don't go yet. Augusta is recovering. Wo must hear what she says before you go for any one." Her words banished everything from the minds of all but anxiety for Augusta. All gathered around her sofa as she slowly opened her hea\y, dark eyes, and looked dindy around. " Augusta, darling— -my precious child ! are you bet- ter?" said her father, in a (ihoking voice, as he knelt down beside her and took her hand. She passed her hand in a vague, lost sort of way across her forehead, as if trying to recall something that had escaped her memory. " I thought — I thought — something happened, papa, didn't it^" she said, confusedly, "Do not talk— lie still. You have hurt yourbelf, i ., ' •ii: < ( ■i fl > r>» 86 TUE MWNiailT MUSIC. (le;irest. Sliall wv hi-ikI lor Ji doctor if'' said Juequetta, solrly kissinji; tlu' palo lips. Tiio wandt'iiiii:: eyes still roved confusedly around, and the ])ale iinL;;ers still passed wistfully over the pale brow. Grizzle llowlet arose noiselessly from her seat, and her tall form lowerinL^ upward like a ^rini, gray, stoiu! statue, at last arrested the lost, vacant gaze. Slowly over ihe beautiful face again settled that look of utter, voiceless, awful horror. The small hands closed anale lingers, while the others seemed unable to speak, ''what is this^ O Augusta! what does this mean r "What it would strike vou dead with horror to hear! What I would soonei' be burnetl at the stake than ri'veal ! ^Vhat will blight my life, lose my soul, consume my heart, make every moment of my life a torture such as you cannot even conceive of ! May God grant me a speedy death !'' she cried, passionately ; and then, dropping her upraised arms, she saidc back, death-like and collapsed. "Oh, Heaven helj) u^ ! she has gone crazy!" said Jacale fingers in the first paroxysm of her tei-ror and alarm; while her father knelt, with his face hidden in hi;- hands, ill speechless iV' * THE MIDNIGHT MUSIC. 87 Ml rrricf ; and Disbrowc and Frank looked on in con- sternation. " ISho is not crazy," interrni)tcd tlio liarsli, im- ]>aticnt voice of Gri/zle ; ''she is as sane as yon, and speaks the truth. Peace !'' slie said, impetuously, as they would have interru])ted her. ''I laill speak to lier, and end this scene. Miss Auijjusta De Vcre, listen tome! Ah! I see yoi.' are doini;' it,'- she said, with her customary sneer, as she hchehl the wild, dark eves riveted, with a straniije, stony j^lare, to her face. " Your father wants to ini]U'ison me on suspicion of robhery and murder, aiid if he does, f/oit, Inoio the alternative ! One word from yt)U will ellect my release — and — I await that woi'd !" 8he folded lier mantle closer around her tall, ejannt form, annssi()nately cried, Hinging herself on the sofa and then starting up agai!i, 08 if deranged hy sonu^ inward, gnawing, un- utterable pain. " O saints in Heaven ! wliat will be- f'An f] <1 i' I; » 1? ' it 88 THE MIDNIGHT MU8IC. If t ,(1 ' come of me? Papa! papa! let her go, if you would nut see me de;ul at your feet !" She was terrilb to look at, as she ];ca<" her clciiehed hand on her l)reast, and tore at it as if she would have plucked out the unendurahle agony i!;nawing there ; her eyes starting from their very sockets ; her face as aw- fully wdiite as that of a galvanized corpse. Even Jacquetta shrank a step or two from her, in momentary horror. "Mr. De Yere, and you all," cried Grizzle, with one of her slow, majestic waves of the arm, and in the measured, commanding tones she had formerly nsed on the stage, " listen to me. You see the ])ower I have over this haughty girl — ^ real powcv, for, mark you, it is no imaginary crime she a(!cuses herself of, hut one Jiat would curdle your heart's hlood witli horror to hear — one so awful tiiat it is nameless! Yes; so sel- dom is it heard of, that no name has ever heen given to it. And now, Kobeft De V^ei'c, ])r(>ud son of a proud sire, as sure as heaven is ahove us, if you do not let me go forth free, this secivt sin shall he blown over the length and breadth of llie land, to your everlasting disgrace, and that of all who bear your name. Jiefuse, and vour daughter will either go mad or die at your feet ! Look at her, and sec if she is not on the verge of madness now 1 Consent, and I will give you my word — and, what is more, will keep it too — never to molest any traveler or wayfarer who may stop at my liouse again — never! I confess tJiere was one — but only one — we robbed and — silenced: and it is true that this nephew of yours might have shared the same fate, but for something like a ])rovidential interposition — if one believed in such, things. But let me go free, and 1 faithfully promise to keep your daughter's secret, and never to molest any one again. Refuse me, and it will bo at your i)erii !'' *' Let her go, for heaven's sake !" exclaimed Dis- browe, " before you drive your daughter insane. What ,!' I THE MIDNIGHT MUSIC. 80 is her life, or tliat of a dozen miserable wretelics like lier, compared to tluit of my cousin ?" Grizzle turned her eyes on him with lier sneerinej smile, and seemed about to reply, but, whether intimi- dated by the bright, iieree lii^ht ni the young soldii'rs eye, or unwilling to irritate them farther, she prudently thought better of it, ami discreetly held her tongue. " Go, then," said Mr. Do Verc, trembling with rage and anguish ; " and may Heaven's worst curses go with yon !" ^ Grizzle smiled slightly and bowed, and met Jac- ?uetta''s Hashing eye with a look of exultant triumph. Returning it with one of nn"ngled d'jtiance and disgust, the young girl made her a stern motion to go, and, un- locking the door, held it open for her to pass. '' 1 ou wear you?' chains so gracefully, niy pretty little dear," said Grizzle, as she went out, '4hat I don't know any one better qualilied to teach your sister the virtue ot" resignation. Whoever would imagine you to be — ichat ymi are /" '^ liegoue !" exclaimed Jacquetta, stamping her foot passionately. AVith one of her short, scornful laughs, so galling to listen to, the woman passed out; and Jac(|uetta, turning suddenly round, nu^t the eyes of Disbrowo Hxed full upon her, as if in wonder at the last words. To his surprise, her bold, bright glance fell, and her face, a moment before deadly pale, grew deepest ci-Im- son — crimson to the verv I'dues ot" her hair — as sho turned away and avertevl her head. Augusta had thrown iierself on her face, on the sofa, as the woman went out ; and now lay as still as if the speedy death she had prayed for had already niei'ci- fully settled her agonized hciirt-throbs. Tenderly Jacquetta bent over her, and essayed to raise her up. " Augusta, dearest, what is it? Oh, tell me — tell your father ! Do not look so dreadfully I" she said, im- ploringly. I; [.: ii J: ^\A •'. .' «i f ! 'I 1 1"-" ?t go THE MIDNIGHT MUSIC. \' ■'ff,/ ■, ' " Oh, let mc go to my room ! Do not speak to me, or I sliiill die !'' she cried out, rising up, and holding out her hands before her, like one blind. " Come, then ; let me help you," said Jacquetta, passing her arm round her waist. As she turned to obey, lier eye fell on her father, sitting bowed down in a chair, his face hidden in his liands. Tlie next instant, she was kneeling at his feet, clas])ing his knees. "Papa, dearest papa, speak to me, your own Au- gusta ! Oh, papa, do not say you curse mo for what I have done !" " Curse you, my darling child ?" lie said, looking sorrowfully up. Oh, Augusta, what have you done ? What is this you have done '^" "Oh, papa, do not ask me!" she exclaimed, in a dying, despairing voice. " It would kill you to know ! Only say that, if ever you do hear, if ever it is known, you will not curse the memory of your miserable child, who will not live long to grieve you now." " Oh, Augusta, hush ! What are you saying !" whis])ered Jacquetta, raising her up. " Conic with me — come to your room." " Only say that, papa ! dearest, kindest papa ! only say that you will never curse the memory of your wretched daughter!" pleaded Augusta, sinking lower and lower at his feet. "My dear child, I never will. God bless you! Go," he said, putting one trembling hand up before his face. Slie arose, slowly and heavily, and suffered Jac- quetta to lead her from the room. And Mr. De Yere, with his face averted and hidden by his hand, sat perfectly still, his drooping head and the heaving of his strong chest alone betokening his emotion. Disbrowe, lost in wonder, stood looking out of the window on the deepening night; and Frank, though he would have been inclined to knock any one down who would have ventured to insinuate sucli a THE MIDHIGHT MUSIC. 91 tiling, stood winking both eyes at onee, very hard, and tlie trees before the window looked crooked, as if seen thronu::!! tears. Presently Jaoquctta returned, and coming over to Disbrowe, touched him lightly on the arm. lie looked down in her pale, grave face — so diHerent from the sparkling, animated countenance of the morning — and waited to hear what she had to say. " You will pardon me, 1 am sure. Captain Dis- browe," she said, hurriedly, '' after what you have seen and heard, if I suggest the propriety of your retiring at once. You will not Und any of ns, I am afraid, very entertaining companions to-night ; and, besides, you must be tired after your journey." " Most certainly," said iDisbrowe, cordially. " I was about to ask permission to retire, as a favor. T hope Miss Augusta will be better tomorrow. No ; don't ring. I can lind my room myself. Good-night." And lie was gone. Very cheerful did his pleasant room, with its bright fire, look that evening, chill with the raw, wintry Ijlasts of early April. The dark, oaken wainscotting sparkled and shone in the ruddy light of the lire, and the stars O'l the walls and ceiling were fairly blinding in their glancing brightness. Ihit, brightest of all still, was the pictured face that smiled down on him from over the mantel — that bright, piquant, coquettish little face, so dilTerent from tlie dark, grave one he had seen it a moment before. He drew an arm-chair close up to the fire, and sat down ; and, with his boots elevated on the fender, a cigar between his lips, his handsome head leaning against the cushions, and his lu'ight, bold, dark eyes fixed intently ujioii it, he Vvj and watched. Fittully that witching little face smiletl u])on him from betwee!i the blue curling wreaths of scented vapor, and, as ho watched it, a curious sinde broke over his face, as if in answer. A curious, musing smile, that seemed to say : *' 1 wonder if I could make the original smile on mo ■ u * 1 1 ' . 1 1 u 1 ^ M I f ' 1 I I" 93 THE MlDNIGJir MUSTC. liko tliat, if I were to try.'" lie i^lanced with tliat same inexplicable look in the full-length mirror, and the tall, graeefiil ligure, the bold, liandsome face, with its cluster- ing locks of rich brown hair, and dark, bright, hand- some eyes, were certainly not likely to contradict the idea. There was nothing of the fop in that look, how- ever ; and the next moment the smile was gone, the cigar in the lire, and, with his hands in his pockets, he was pacing up and down the room, and whistling '* Hear me, Norma." Then he thought of this other proud, stately cousin of liis, this haughty Lady Augusta, this " true l)e Vere," and ev^ry other i'eeling was merged and lost in wonder ; and the Honorable Alfred Disbrowe began to cogitate whether he had not got among a lot of escaped lunatics by s(jme mistake or other. Then he thought of old Grizzle ilowlet, and her strange power ; and of this mysterious secret and hidden crime; and became shocked, and revolted, and unbelieving at the thought of crime with this ju-oud, noble-looking girl. Then ho thought of the singularly beautiful Spanish boy he had seen, the "little brigand," as he inwardly termed him, and became puzzled once more — for something about him was strangely yet unaccountably familiar. Then he tliought ot Captain Nick Tempest, and of his singu- lar and undetinable resemblance to Jacquetta ; and that brought his thoughts ba(;k to where they had started from. And resuming his seat and his former position, he lit another cigar, leaned backhand, for over an hour, Si'tthere and watched that portrait without once remov- ing his eyes. At last he awoke to the consciousness that it was beginning to grow late, and that he was both tired and sleepy ; and rising with a yawn, he bade a sort of men- tal good-night to his silent companion, prepared for bed, protested in confidence to himself that the said bed was like some old tomb, threw himself upon it, and in ten iTiinutes was sound asleep. Hours passed ; the night wore on ; the lire flickered THE MIDNIGUT MUSIC. 03 and smoldered fitfully ; and still he slept. All was silent as the ^rave through the vast iiiansiuii, when suon my word and honor, 1 can't decide." ' «o saying, the Honorable Alfred left his room* and, lininmmg the fag-end of a tune, ran down stairs' passed through the hall, and out of the front-door which lay open to admit the breezy morning air and bright Bunshine. 96 THE VENDETTA. WW ii,. ^' n % It was a pleasant prospect wliieli met liis eye tliat jocund spriniij morning. Away out before liini spread the broad, windini^ av(?nne of shadowy maples, jnst bci^inniiig to don their bright spring dress ; and, fartlier still, lay the road, with a dense primeval pine forest bovmding tlic view. On either side lay the broad lields and smooth meadows of Fontelle, and away behind stretched out the faint outline of blue, shadowy hills, dying out in the bluer sky. The air was balmy with the faint odor fioni the pine-forest, and rang and re- sounded with the blithe voices of numberless birds, up and hard at work for the day. AVhile the young guardsman stood leaning negli- gently against the vast stuccoed pillars that supported the massive doorway, he heard a footstep behind him, and the next moment Frank a])peared, bright and cheery. "llallo! Up already ?" was his salutation. "Nice morning, ain't it'^" Captain Disbrowe glanced at the bright sky and brighter sun ; and not being able, consistently with truth, to deny the fact, admitted that it was rather a nice morning. "IJeats your English climate slightly — don't it?" Baid Frank. " Kain, and drizzle, and mud ; and then mud, and drizzle, and rain, by way of a change. Ugh ! 1 wouldn't be paid to live in such a place at any price!" " Which is England's loss, if she only knew it," said Disbrowe, lazily; " but we have a glimpse of sun- shine there occasionally, my young friend — on the kin*»:'s birthdav, and the festival of ISt. Geortj-e and the JJragon, and other national feasts; so it's not altogether so overwheh.ninij: and knock-down a siii"ht t^:- me to see the sun as you might supj)ose. Where arc the rest? Everything was so still, 1 thought none of you were up." "Up!" said Frank, like an echo. "Doesn't Jack always beat the sun, and be up and doing an hour be- fore he has the faintest idea of ronsiuff himself for his THE VEXDETTA. 97 day's labor i I guess so ! And now slic's ofT over tlie hills on horseback, and has most likely cljarcd fomic dozen miles bel'ore this. As I'or jndging l)y the still- ness, this house always goes considerably ahead of the Palace of Silence, or the iJead ISca, or any other mnto and solemn old tonib, J Ihitter myself, in that arti(;le." "Indeed! By the way,"' said iJisbrowc, carelessly, "is all the building inhabited — I mean do the family occupy the whole of it C "Oh, no I — not near. That old north wing over there — isn't it dismaldooking^ — hasn't been ocicupied for the last twenty years or more. You see, it was built us near like iM^ntelle Park iss possible, but it wasn't convenient in the old style; and though it suited J'^ng- land well en'jugh, it didn't pay in America, 'i'he swallows built their nests in the chimneys, and they smoked like fury, and the roof leaked in wet weather, and the windows were small and dark, and the rooms were large and gloomy, with oak wainscottings ; and, altogether, it was a dismal old l)arn as ever was. So Uncle Jiob had the southern wing l)uilt ; and that, with the right half of this middle part, is all we occupy." "Ah ! " said Disbrowe, thoughtiully, " and you are quite sure — " " I'm quite sure that's Jack," cut in Fraidv suddenly. "There she goes ! Ain't she a ti[)-top rider ^ J^ook at that — now watch her clear that fence I" A high fence, with a sharp, spiked top, was right in the way of the lider, as she came sweeping down, mounted on a splendivl black Arabian — a Iciice that would have made even the hnished rider, Captain Dis- browe, mounted on his su[)erb Saladin, pause ; but it stopped not the course of the spirited little equestrian, who came dashing" alonu-. iJackinu' her horse for the leap, over it she dashed, in splenditl style;; and then rela.xing into a trot, she and)led up, and lifting her eyes, saw the two spectators. "Good morning, Ca])tain Disbrowe," she said, touching her plumed riding-hat, gallantly. "Why uf .1! ill 1-1 itf I H i 98 THE VENDETTA didn't you get up and take a gallop witli^ me over the liills this bright morning for the heneiit of jour health and appetite, instead of lying lazily in bed ^ Oli, I forgot !'' she added, ^vith a chancy glance and a light, breezy laugh, as she sprang olf. '' Vou are a true- born Englishman, and fond of ereature-eomforts and taking your ease. Here, Williaui, lake my horse." " Not so fond of either, j\lis3 Jacrpietta,'' he said, piqued at her look and tone, '' but that J would gladly have given both up for a ride with my charming little cousin, if 1 had known it in time." " Well, mind for the future ; for I don't intend to take compliments, or any small coin of the sort, in return for a want of gallantry. 1 hope you're a })retty good rider, Cousin Alfred, and won't mind risking your neck now and then over the mountains — or else it will never do for you to ride with me," " Who would not I'isk his neck, my fairy s})rite, for the sake of attendini!; you ^ NVho could wish for a fairer death than meetino: it in the sei-vice of so bewitch- ing a mountain queen 'i Ah I wouldn't i risk my neck joyfully, it 1 thought it would draw one tear from you," said Disbrowe, in a tnock-heroic strain. " Upon my word, then, 1 don't think it would," said Jaccpietta, conq)osedly. '* I'm not given to crying much myself, as a genei'al thing ; and when 1 do, it's only for sensible ])e(>})le ; and 1 consider that any one who would 'risk liis neck joyfully' just to make one drop a tear would be (to draw it mild) an unmitigated donkey. Islow, there !" !She sprang up beside him as she spoke ; and snatch- ing olf her iiat, began swinging it by the strings. D'ib- browe met her briglit, saucy, deliant glance, and at last decided that she was pretty. Ves, Jac(pietta De Vere was undeniahly pretty, and looked her very best at that moment. The snudi, .straight, lithe tiguro was set otf to perfection by the close-litting, dark- blue riding-habit: the gray eyes were Hashing and sparkling like twin Btars ; the Bliort, red, silky curls danced and glittered ?r' THE VEX [) ETTA. 90 in spiral riii»ys around the wliito, polii^lietl, ])oyisli fore- head ; tlie elieeks were like spritii; roses, and the iiiirth- fnl ghmce and nioeking smile were the livin/i; reality (»f tlic picture. Ureezj' and brio;ht she stood there, every saucy, pieplant feature of her piquant little face spark- ling with youth, life, beauty, and an exultant sense of freedom, reminding him of some half-tamed thing — some shy, wild, tierce, young (\iglet. dangerous to touch too closely; the least-dignilieii De \'ere he had ever seen, perhaps; but cei'talnly the most bewitching. Not a trace of last night's grave trouble remained ; and Disbrowe scarcely knew whether the whole thing was not part of a di*eam. " ]^y the way," said Jaccpietta, slapping her gaiter with her riding-whip, and giving him a merry glance. " I made a conquest this morning." " Well, that is nothing wonderful — is it," said Dis- browe, " for you, who have only to see to conquer?" "Ah, to be sure ! 1 never thought of that. See what it is to have a long head. l>ut this was something unusual — something to be proud of. Oh, gracious! wasn't he a darling !" " AVhat was it V said Disbrowe. " A grizzly bear, or a catamount, or a man-monkey 'i 1 don't see what else you could very well meet in these savage regions." " No, sir," said Jacquetta, indignantly. " J t was the most splendid-looking little foreigner— oh my ! ())i ! such eyes, such features, such a superb little form, such dainty hands and feet, such linir!" — and Jacquetta shook her own curly head till its red I'inglets glanced again — "and such a dress ! Good gracious ! And then the way he dotfed his plumed cap and made mc such a courtly bow, was a sight to see, not to hear of. Oh, the little darling !" said Jacquetta, going oil into a small rapture. " Why, it must have been the little brigandish for- eigner 1 met at the ]\lermaid inn," said" Disbrowe. "Where did you see him C "Taking a stroll over the hills, and I have not the ^\u :i .1 • i fi' -,. I 100 rilK VENDETTA. M T fiiintcst symptom of a lioart loft ever since," said Jac- qiictta. '• How I wish 1 were liim !" said Di^•browe, siirliinjij. '• Well, you're not him, you see! Oh! 1 forgot to ask you how did you rest last night — pretty liostess, ain't' ir " Very," said DIsbrowe, emphatically, and looking unutterable things; but Jacquetta only laughed; '"and 1 rested very well, thank you ; but there was rather a singular thing happened about midnight." '^' Indeed ! what was it i" said Jacquetta, with a start, and fixing her bright eyes full npon him. "A very pleasant incident, but rather unaccount- able — the sou^d of music, the strangest, sweetest, wildest strains 1 ever heard, and seemingly issuing from yonder deserted part of the building. What! good heavens ! have I frightened you, my dear cousin i Vou arc fainting." " JS'o, 1 am not ; it is nothing,'' she gasped ; but, as if by magic, the light had been stricken from lier eye, the rose from her cheek, the brightness from her face, and a look, so white, so haggard, so shuddering, c;une over her, that faint and sick she grasj)ed the pillar for support, and pressed her hand hard on her heart, whos^e tunniltuous throbbing could almost be iieard. (So appalling, so ten'ifying, so instantaneous was the change, that JJisbrowe was thunderstruck. Then, as she still stood holding on to the pillar, deathly white, and shivering thi'ough all her frame, he caught her in his arms, fearing she would faint and fall. The action seemed to galvani;:o her into spasmodic life. With a wild, jarring ci-y, that awoke the erhoes, she sprang from his restraining arms, and held out her own blindly, as if to keep him olf. " Oil', oil" !" she cried passionately. " Touch i.ie not I" " Why, Jack ! Good gracious, Jack ! what sets you oH iu this gale V' said Frank, in astonishmer t, as he re- turned after a moment's absence. THE VENDETTA. 101 " Nothing ! Hush !" Slie grasped Disl)i-o\vc's arm with a convulsive pressure, and made a motion for him not to speak. At tiiat instant he saw lier face white, and terrilied ; tlie next, as she turned it to Frank, it was, though pale, perfectly calm and composed. '• I. wisli jou v.'ould go to the stable, Frank, and see that AVilliam attends properly to Lightning. lie has had a hiird ride this morning, and needs looking after. Tliat's a good boy." Frank darted oil, and Jacquetta's face was averted for a moment, as she gazed after him. When she turned it again to Disbrowe, it was, though slightly pale, cool and composed as ever; and as she met his astonished glance, she laughed in his face. " I rather think tlie case is reversed, and I have frightened you, my good cousin. AVhy, Captain Dis- browe, I would not liave Frank hear the story of that ghostly music for any earthly consideration. It would be all over the country, in a jiify, that the house is haunted. Are you quite sure you were not dreaming, Cousin Alf V " Quite," said Disbrowe, brusquely. " Ah ! well, it may have been an ^olian harp, or eomething — most likely it was. And then the wind blew pretty hard last night. Or it may have been cats — our Tliomas is musically given, and entertains a select party of friends every night in the corridors of the noi'th wing. Are you sure it was not the cats, cousin ?" said Jacquetta, cutting the air with her whip, and again laughing. " Perfectly sure. Miss Jacquetta. Neither my hear- ing nor ray eyesight deceive me often," he replied, pointedly. " Oh ! don't they ? Then you are wider awake, then, than the generality of your countrymen. Perhaps there are ghosts there, then, and you heard the music of the Dance of Death. Ugh ! it's enough to give one the horrors to think of it ! This ctjnies of building houses in the old EngUsh style, instead of any decent li ; I ,1 102 THE VENDETTA. ■l\ If r 111 IT Christian fasliion. I always heard that ghosts and rats were particularly fond of old houses ; but 1 never knew of my own knowledn^e before. It's lucky you told mo, instead of any weak-minded person with a belief in the HU[)ernaturaL I>e siu'e you don't mention it to any out else — above all, to uncle or Frank!'' The last words were accompanied by a brief, briicht flash of her eye, that stiid, as plain as words : '"'If you do tell, it won't be well for you." Captain Disbrowe understood it, and re))lied l)y a slight bow and sli^'hter smile ; and then said, to turn the conversation, which annoyed him somehow, though he could scarcely tell why : ''How is jVIiss Aumista this morning '^" o en "Better, 1 believe. I am going to see her now; and aurevo'd' i\\\ breakfast-time," and humming a Venetian barcarole, and still sudnging her jaunty ridingdiat by the strings, she tripped lightly away. Disbrowe stood and watched the light, small, fairy figure until it disa])i)eared, more thoroughly puzzled than he had ever been before in his life. " Strange, inexplicable girl I" he mused ; " who can understand her ^ She is an enigma, a riddle, a puzzle, a Gordian knot of tangles and inconsistencies. I wonder if it would be worth the time and trouble unraveling said knot, or if it would be altogether safe V The same curious smile that had dawned on his face the m'ght before, whilst watching her picture, broke over ir again, and once more ho began whistling the air of " Hear me, Norma," as on that occasion, with the look of one who would give himself a reminder. To the surprise of Disl)rowe, Lady Augusta ap- peared at breakfast ; and save that her face was cold and lifeless as marble, and her eves had a dead, iixed, set- tied look of hopeless desj)air, no trace remained of the preceding evening's terrible agitation. Mr. De Vero looked i)ale, and grave, and troubled ; but Jacquetta appeared, thongh a little- subdued, in excellent spirits, and kept up an unllagging How of words. THE VEyVL'TTA. 103 After breakfast, acoinpaiiied by jNIr. De Vere, ho went over the grounds admired the scenery and the houses, though inwardly chaiing at the occupation, when lie would much rather have been in the parlor with Jacquetta. Jjiit he was not doomed to see much of that young lady that day ; for, immediately after dinner, Frank informed him that she had ridden olf somewhere alone, to visit a sick widow who lived in a cottage among the hills. And he furtheriiujre leai-ned that Miss Jacxpietta had quite a long list of protafafi of one kind and another, from ill-used dogs up to (with reverence be it said) sick widows and friendless or- phans. For some canse or another, the Honorable Alfred Disbrowe felt extremely dissatisiied about something. This was a pretty way to entertain him after coming all the way from England, riding oif and leaving him alone, as if he was of no more conse(]uence than Wil- liam the hostler. He felt irritated and chagrined; and if the truth must be told, his vanity was more than slightly wounded by her high supreme indiiference to the handsome ladydviller who hitherto had found him- self so irresistible. Having worked himself into a pretty severe state of misanthropy, he took advantage of a short absence on the part of Frank, and resolved to have a ride over the hills on his own account. There was a remote possi- bility — ^judging from all he had heard — that he might break his neck ; but in his present humor the idea rather pleased him than otherwise, as it would leave Jaccpietta a victim to remorse and black bombazine all the rest of her days ; so off he rode, halfdioping ho might meet v/ith some direful accident that would awaken that liintydiearted piece of femininity to the error of her ways. Gradually, as he rode on, lie fell into dee]) thought, and suilered his horse to go as he pleased. The events of the last few days gave him enough to think about ; but in all his dreams and cogitations, the image of ]'' I w 104 THE yiJMJL'TTA. •■'.!■ Uk <■ n!!l Jacqiiettiv ever rose u})peiTnost, liaunting liim like a wakin^jj Jiiu^litinare. ISometiines ho saw the little face in its chisterii g red curls; and the more he thou^-ht of lier red hair, tluMiiore he dc^tcsted it — niockinu^, tannt- inp^, spai-kllnij, detiant : sonu'tinies he Faw it pale, grave, and trouMed ; and now he beheld it white, shuddering, and wild, as when lie had told her of the mysterious inusic. Hut in whatever mood, it was the same face, franuMl in red hair ; and it blotted out everything else. Suddenly he was aroused from his dreams and visions in a startling way. A hand clutehed his bridle- rein, and the cold muzzle ol' a pistol pointed directly at his head. llii looked up, as well he mi_;ht, and found himself in a lonely valley, lying between two high hills — a wild, desolatedooking s[)ot, without a single human habitation, save one little hut on the brow of the far- thest hill. The man who clutched his bridle-rein was Capt:ain JS'ick Tempest, and his upturned face was the face of a demon. " So we have met again, my voung friend," said the captain. "And this time 1 may show you tlie way — mayn't I ? And by the Lord Harry ! I will, too, show you the way to the infernal regions in double-quick time !" The young Englishman was unarmed, and the full danger of his situation rushed upon him at once. Alone in this lonely place, unarmed, and in the power of this savage cut-throat, whom lie had made his mortal enemy ! Yet it only had the effect of doing, what it once did be- fore, making his handsouie face set and stern, and his nerves like steel. " Do you know what the Corsican vendetta means, my haughty English friend C said the captain, with a dia- cal sneer. "If you do, then learn that no Corsican ever vowed a more deadly cendetia than did I when you struck me, or will keep it in a more deadly way. Look at that !" — he almost shrieked, while his face grew livid and distorted with passion, as he pointed to a raw, THE VEND ETTA. 105 red, quivering cut across his face—"' that is your handi- work, and if 1 was dyiiif]^, and could win Heaven by doing it, I would never forgive you ! Never ! by — '' And he uttered a fearful oath. " I have not asked you to," said Disbrowe, meeting his ferocious glare steadily. '' No !" lie shouted ; '' for it would be useless ! Out of this you will never stir alive! You are here, be- yond all human help, completely in my power, and your doom is sealed !'' He raised the pistol as he spoke, but dropped it again at a sound that startled both him and the young Englislmian : and both turned to behold an unlooked- for apparition. 5* ^^ 4 1. ) s rut 106 JA t'INTO. \\ » M if. CHAPTER IX. JACINTO. '* By night the hcivvy floors ure drawn, The castle stands alone; But in the chanibeis, till tlie dawn, Unquiet spirits move." T was a wild crv — a woman's shrill shriek, tiiat had startled them ; but looking round they saw no wumiui — only the y})anish boy ^^ I Jacinto, who came Hying toward them, ut- tering cry alter cry, as no boy ever did be- fore. It was an apparition so unlooked-for, so unex- pected, that both forgot, for an instant, what was to fol- low — tlie one, his imminent danger, and the other, his demoniac veniieance ; and before either had recoN'ered. tlie boy was standing bchide Disbrowe, liolding out lu's arms before liini, as it' he would have interposed that frail bai'rier to siiield his life. '' Spare him — spare him !" cried the boy, in pierc- ing accents. "Oli, Captain Tempest 1 for the love of Heaven, spare his life!" The young Englishman, taking adv\'mtagc of the momentary confusion, made an attempt to wrest the pistol from his enemy's grasp ; but the hawk-like eye of Captain Tempest detected the motion, and quick as lightning he sprang back, took deliberate aim, and fired. With a mighty shriek of more than mortal anguish, Jacinto had ilimg his ai'ms around the young Guards- man ; and witli the momentary start the cry gave tb.e rulKau, the bull sped from its aim. and the uext instant JACINTO. 107 the right arm of the young Spaniard dropped lifeless by his side, and with a groan lie sank senseless on the ground. " Villain ! demon !" shouted the young man, mad- dened by the sight. " You have killed him !" And in an instant he had sprung oft' his horse, and grasped CajDtain Niek by the throat ere he could draw a second, pistol from his l)clt. With a fearful oath of mingled rage and disappoint- ment at missing his aim, the captain closed with his advei*sary, and a deadly struggle ensued. It was a struggle that w^ould not have lasted long, for — though Disbrowe had the advantage of youth and agility — Captain Tempest was a perfe<.'t giant in strength, and he had grasped the young man in an iron grasj) with one hand, whilst with the other he tugged at a huge glisten- ing knife, when he unexpect-edly found hiiiiself seized from behind l)y some huge monster, that held him as if he was in a vise, and obliged him to relax his hold. "Hold him, Lion! hold him, my boy I"" exclaimed a spirited voice at the san,ic njoment. " That's a good dog! Now, then — what's all this about T' Disbrowe I(X)ked up, and saw, to his astoni.shment, no other tlian JMi.ss Jacquetta De Vere sitting on her liorse, and looking on the scene as coolly and com- posedJy as though it w'cre a little tableau got up for lier express amusement. Her horse's hoofs on the soft turf had been noiseless; so they had not heard her approach.. Stepping back, Disbrowe took olf his hat, and shook back his clustei-inij;: hair oft his ftushed face, and glanced around before speaking- iSaladin stood snorting and })awing the ground with terror, at a little distance; Jacinto lay on his face senseless at his feet, ]iis coat-sleeve saturated with blood; and f -1 M ■\\ ' f>f 'M • i' 1'f 1 I 108 JA CTNTO. w '.1 m 15 ■»: M mi rs lier eye liad followed Disbrowe's, "• you've been getting yourself into a senipe, 1 see, my j^^ood cousin. You bhould not liave ridden out, you perceive, until I was ready to go along and take care ot you. Gussie, easy, my dear sir" — to Captain }\\(:k Tempest, who was writliinij and cursinc: at an awful rate — "'don't swear 60, and don't struggle in that way ; for if the broad- cloth gives way, j>erliaps you won't lind Lion's teeth very comfortable, and perhaps I shan't be able to keep him from cheating the hangman, and perha])s I won't try, either! What is the matter. Cousin Alfred, and who is this lying on the ground '( Why, he's wounded ! Good heavens ! has he l)een shot i" She leaped oil" her horse as she spoke, and bent over Jacinto, as IHsbr-'we knelt down and raised hini in his v.rms. The l)eautiful face was cold and still as marble, and the lips were blanched to a deadly white- ness. The wounded arm hung heavy and lifeless by liis side, and his head fell over Disbrowe's arm as though he were in reality dead. '' Oh, cousin ! is he dead ^'' cried elacquetta, falling on her knees beside him. "iS'ot dead," said Disbrowe, laying his hand on his head, which still lluttered faintly ; '' not dead, but in a Bwoon ; and his arm is shattered, 1 greatly fear." " Oh, poor boy — poor boy !" said Jaccpietta, sorrow- fully. '' Oh, cousin ! who had the heart to do thisf '* That monster there ! May Heaven's worst curses lighten him!" exclaimed Disbrowe, tiercely. "Where oral Ave bring xiim, Jac(pietta'^ Something must be done innnediately." "Bring him to Fontelle — there is no other place where he can be brought, and it is not more than two miles from this. J^il't him before you on your horse, and ride fast. Bur tell me how it hap])ened. Did this man intend nnirdering him i" " No — no. lie intended to murder me ; and this poor boy, in his eil'ort to save my life, received the J A ciyro. 109 ball meant for me," said Dishi'owc, as lie raised the almost lifeless and litril)er form in his arms. "What a beautiful face!" exclaimed Jacquetta, involuntarily — forgetting:, lor an instant, everything but the wondrous beauty of the hid. As she spoke, the boy opened his eyes, and they fell full upon tlie liandsome, troubled face bendini' over him, and, with a faint exclamation, he attempted to rise; but at the motion a spasm of intense pain shot across his pale face, and shuddering through all his frame, his head dropped heavily on Disbrowe's breast. "My poor boy!" said Disbrowe, C()mi)assionately, " do not attempt to rise. Your arm is broken, I fear; but I will take you where you will be carefully nursed." "No. Let me go; put me down — 1 must go," said the boy, wildly, making another attenij)t to free him, self; but his voice was faint and sharp with agony, and his face twitclied convulsively with the almost un- endurable xiin, and once more he sank back, white and fainting. Disbrow ^'s only reply was to place him upon his horse, and then leap into the saddle ; while, with a oth spirited horses darted off simultaneously, and in less than fifteen minutes the peaked gables and quaint turrets of Fontelle came in sight. " Don't alarm the house, but bring him up here," said Jaccjuctta, as she entered the hall, followed by Dis- browe carrying his insensible burden, " into the room next mine— in hero." I ■ ,Li CINTO. Ill She led tlie way down the long hall, up a ilight of stairs, and throuu-h another hall leading to tjie south M'ing of the building ; and throwing open a door, ushered Disbrowe into a pleasant little room, elegantly furnished in tasteful, modern style. Disbrowe laid Jacitito on a low Frencli bed Jiung with white, scarcely whiter now than his death-like face. Again, as he looked at him, that same unac- countable conviction that he had seen him somewhere before, flashed across his mind. But Jacquetta, with her usual energetic prompti- tude, left him little time to ruminate, for no sooner had he laid him down, than she said : " There ! go now and hunt up Frank, and send him off to Green Creek for a doctor. Tell him to be quick, for the sooner this arm is set, the better. Go !'' In spite of himself, Disbrowe could not re])ress a smile at the young lady's prompt, off-liand, decided way of doing business, but without waiting even to re- ply, he darted oil", leaving Jack De Vere alone with her patient. He found Fraidc yawning dreamily over a novel in the parlor; and in a fev/ words told him wliat had happened, and dispatched him for a physician. Frank's astonishment was unbounded, but he took ]xu!is to re- press it, and beyond the ejaculation " Whew!" jerked out of him by the exigency of the case, he said nothing, but clapping his hat on his head, disappeared instanter. Just as Disbrowe was about to return to the room where he had left Jacinto and his pretty, spirited, little nurse, Mr. De Vere came along the hall, and to the great chagrin of his dutiful nej)liew, called hitn oil" to see some im])rovements he was about to make in the grounds. He made desperate clforts to listen to the questions asked him by his uncle, but answered so much at random, that Mr. JJe Vere |>ushed up his s]iectacles, and looked at him, to see if he had taken leave of his senses. In a few moments the clatter of horses' hoofs, coining up the avenue in front, warned him tliat Frank '■: -If! ■I .1 ITt'. f I •II i mm 113 JACINTO. ]r>- ■was returning, and Disbrowo, iiiuil)lo to roinain longer, abruptly turned and walked oil", to the utter amazement of Mr. l)e Vere. Frank was not alone ; a little pauneliy old gentle- man, with a bald head and a jolly I'aee, accompanied him, whom Frank introduced as Doctor Simonds. " Bad case this broken arm," said the little doctor, rubbing his hands joyfully, ''rather unpleasant thing. Go ahead, my son, and show me the way. Have a pinch, sir^" said the little man, taking a huge pinch of snulf himself, and handing the box to Disbrowe. ''No, thank you," said Disbrowe, politely. "I'll guide you, doc^tor." " Ilow did this mishap occur?" said the doctor. " Frank couldn't tell me." " An accident," said Disbrowe, briefly, as he knocked at the door. It was opened i)y Jacquetta, looking strangely pale and aii-itatcd. " (Jh, walk in, Doctor Simonds," she said hurriedly ; "but 3"ou must not enter. Captain Disbrowe, at least, not yet." " I may v;ant some one to help me," said the doctor. " Then I will help you," she said, still keeping her hand on Disbrowe's arm, as if to keep him out. '• My dear cousin, oblige me by not coming in just at pres- ent." Disbrowe bowed, and walked olT, scarcely knowing whether to be irritated or not at this cavalier mode of treatment, lie flung himself into a chair in the front hall, and determined to rejiiain there and waylay the doctor as he came out, and learn from him at least something conceriung the patient. Gradually, as he thought of her brusque, independent ways and tones, and cool, determined manner, a smile broke over his handsome face ; and he could not help owning that this resolute, careless iudependence, and the easy grace wm JACINTO. 113 with which she invested it, became her w^onderfully well, as nothing else could have done. " What a queen she would make!" he thoug'.it, as he leaned his head on his hand, and fell into thought. " She would be a second Elizabeth, in all but "the cruelty. What a gii'l it is, to be sure! I wish she were a duchess, I would then be tempted to fall in love with her ! If she ha(hi't red hair — ah, there's the rub ! as JIandet says. I detest red liair, yet it is not abso- lutely hidf'ous in her, it is soft and glossy as lioss silk, and would be beautiful only for th'.; confounded eolor. I wonder what Earueclilfe and Lady Margjiret would think of her. By Jove! iiow- she would horrify her ladyship." And Disbrowe laughed at the thoui2:ht. " A penny tor your thoughts, monsieur," said a musical voice at his ell)OW, and looking up he saw Jacquetta herself with her piercing eyes lixed on his face, and the strangest smile on her lips. "Are they worth it ?" " Yes, ma heUe., for they were of — you !" " Oh, then they nuist have been invaluable. But I tell you what, Cousin All"," said the young lady, ad- justing her bracelet, and then holding'out lier arm to look at the ell'ect, '■ it's all a waste of ammunition think- ing of me, and I wouldn't advise you to continue it! Why don't you ask about our handsome patient V " I fancied, perhaps, his exacting mn-so would not allow it," said Disbrowe, in a tone of slight picpie. "Oh, I don't mind your inquiring after him, as long as you oidy do that," said Jacquetta, smiling provokingly, "so I will relieve your mind at once, by saying liis arm is safely set, and Doctor Simonds says he will do nicely." " Where is the doctor?" " i I'^h him out by a side-door, for I knew you wanted to lay violent hands on him, and would drive the worthy little soul to the verge of distraction with all your questions." 'f m ^E 'J. r i-f 114 JACINTO. Well, can I see " How very thoughtful of you ! yoar patient V "Most certainly not! I wonder at your askinj^ Buch a question, Cousin Alfred," said Jacquetta, arch- ing her eyebrows, and givini^ her bracelet a twist. " But 1 wa7it to thank him for saving my life." " Well, so you can, when l)e gets better. The doc- tor commands quiet for him." "Wlien can I see him, tiien ? " " Well, I'll think about it, and it may be soon, and then again, it mightn't, as old Kowlie of the Mermaid says. You must have patience, my dear cousin." "And what will he think of me," said Disbrowe, pacing up and down vehemently, " after saving my life, if I do not even give him the poor reward of thanks. I tell you 1 must see him !" " Patience, Cousin Alfred ! it's a beautiful virtue, and I would reconnnend it to you while you are young and — innocent !" said Jacquetta, after a ])ause, drawing down the corners of her rosy mouth. Disbrowe snatched up his hat, in a lit of angry im- patience, and was about to leave her, when Jacquetta laughingly caught him and held him back. " There now ! Don't be vexed. Where's the use of getting cross," she said in a soothing tone, as if speaking to a spoiled child. " I give you my word of honor, as a lady and a De Vere, that you. will see him as Boon as it is prudent, and you may then go down on your knees, and thank him till all's blue. Meantime, I'll faithfully report to him the terrihc pitch of grati- tudie you've worked yourself up to. There's my hand on it ! And now sit down and behave yourself. That pleasant-spoken gentleman who tried to send you to a better world is Captain Nick Tempest — is it not ? ' Old ]Nick,' as they call him f " Yes," said Disbrowe, taking a seat beside her. " AVell, who do you think he reminded me of." " Can't say — but I know who he reminds me of." " Well r JACINTO. 115 " lie reminds me of — inyselt'!" " By Jove ! my idea to a fraction," said Disbrowe, delightedly ; ''not that vou look alike, but somehow — " " Yes, but we do look alike, thoiiii^h — I'm certain of it — except that I'm rather better looking, I Hatter myself. JLiven't we got hair alike, now?" " Oh ! but his is red," said Disbrowe, hesitatingly, '' and yours — " " Is red, too," said Jaequetta. " Indeed ! I thought it was auburn — beautiful au- burn," said Disl)rowe, in the lazy tone in which he was accustomed to issue little ords'of fiction. " Oh, von did! did you ;" said Jacquetta ; "but then youh-e only an Englishman, and can't bo expected to sec till it's "far in the day, and then you're not half wide-awake. Why, I wouldn't have my hair any other color, on any account. It's a good, high-mettled, spir- ited color, and shows people have a decided will of their ov/n ; and then it's nice and showy — none of your dis- nial blacks, nor fady, sickly yellows, iKjr neutral" browns. Xo, sir, my hair's i-ed, and I'm proud of it I" said Jac- quetta, shaking her Hashing curls from her eyes. " Well, one thing is ceri:ain,"' said Disbrowe, "you are the lirst I)e Vere that ever had red hair, witliin the memory of man." " And that's another reason why I'm ])roud of it. It's time there was a change in the family — they have been going on in the old way long enough, goodness knows ! The followers of the Silver Star have been keeping u]) their obsolete notions long enough, and need ti little variety." " And a more bewitching variety they could not have than Miss Jacquetta i)e Vere," said Disbrowe, softly. "Humph!" said Jacquetta, with a peculiar smile. "Let's change the subje(;t. Are you fond of singing. Cousin Alfred I I wish you would sing ' Hear me, Norma.' It is a pretty song." He half sprang from his seat, and fixed his eyes on 118 JACINTO. I- K '•■ 1* I Til her, as if lie would read her very heart. She met his gaze unllinehingly, and a^aiu her hmghinf^ S^'^y <^JG3 reminded liini ut' the picture, there wai sucJi an iin- ineasural)le depth of mockery shining tlu'ough, and baiilinn; liim. '' I heard you whistling it yesterday," she said, care- lessly ; '• and as it is a favorite of mine, I thought per- haps you might favor me now." "iS^:»; I never sing," he said, half curtly, as he arose a/i^ain, an.l began walking up and down. '' Well, 1 must leave you, then, and return to my patient," she said, rising. '* I will see you at the tea- table, and report ]M*ogress." And, with a smiling wave of her hand, she was gone. Disbrowe paced up and down the long hall in deep thought, until the bell rang for the evening meal. There was a half -puzzled, half -angry look on his face ; yet now and then, as if in spite of him, his features would relax into a smile, and his last word;: were, as ho turned to join the family : " It's of no use, I cannot read the riddle." " 1 have a message for you, cousin," said Jacquetta, in a low voice, approaching him when supper was over. " Well ; I am all attention," said Disbrowe. " It is from him — you know. lie says, 7iot to dis- tress yourself over-much with gratitude, as he merely acted as he would have done for any one ; and as for your thanks, they will keep, and, like gooseberry wine, be all the better for keeping. So make yourself easy, cousin mine." " I intend to," said Disbruwe, throwing himself into a chair. " Capital advice, that, and I intend to follow it. Do you know, when I marry I expect to repose on a couch of rose-leaves all It '^^y 'O' ^y fan me and sing- " Hear nie, Xorma !" broke in Jacquetta, with a wicked laugh ; and Disbrowe colored, and instantly gl- ow SI lent. That evening he heard Jacquetta sing for the first JACINTO. Ml time, and a superb vc»ieo she had. Aiij:^usta, too, swept over tlie keys of the piano witii :i iiiustLa'-haiid, at her father's desire ; but aa autoinatoii would Jiave done it with as much life. If she had been made of marhle she could not have sat more white, and cold, and Blill, than she sat before them there. Later that evening, Jaequetta sang an old English ballad, at the earnest solicitation of JDisbrowe — an old song with a sweet, plaintive air — and, lying lazily back, he w^atclied her with half -closed eyes, and listened to the words : I' % i-i! m »';, ** Atul wlien the Christmas talc goes round, By many a peat jirosidc, Tlie children list and shrink to hear IIow Childe of Phymstoke died." And then the song goes on to say how the " Old Tor " went a hunting, and how he lost his w\ay on the moor, and of his despair. "For far and wide the highland lay One pathless waste of snow. He paused — the angry lieavens above, The faithless bog below, " lie paused, and soon through all Ms veins Life's current feebly ran ; ■ And heavily a mortal sleep Came o'er the dying man. "Yet one dear wish, one tender thought Came o'er that hunter brave " — Jaequetta paused, and rose w^lh a laugh. "Well, that's very pretty ! Vv^hy don't you go on, and let us know what that ' tender thought' was^" said Disbrowe. " I w^as just thinking of your getting lost," she replied ; " and was afraid y»>u might think the song 118 JACINTO. personal — ])e>iiles, you have lieard enough of old songs, without mo Bingiiig them to you." " Tiicre are no songs like them," said Disbrowe. "I would rather hear one old ballad than all the Italian songs that ever a i)ruiia donna trilled and quavered." "You thiidv too much of old things !" said Jac- quetta, half-ix'ttishly. '"Old names, and old families, and old houses, and old songs, all alike. For my part, I believe in modern improvements and new sensations, altogether." " And yet I am certain you would rather bear the old name of I)e Vere than any otlun* under the sun," said Disbrowe. With a gesture that was abiiost fierce in its passionate impatience, Jacquetta arose and moved to the other side of the room. " You are a De Yei'e, my dear boy, if there ever was one," said his uncle, with a smile ; " and will marry a countess, I'll l)e bound !" " I don't believe there is a countess living I would marry," said Disbrowe, carelessly. " And why not, pray % A duchess, then," laughed Mr. De V^ere. " Nor a duchess — unless I was in love with her, and she would have me." " Two very important considerations," said his uncle. ''Then you mean to marry for love?" '• I hope so; if 1 ever do come to that." "It's an old-fashioned notion. Is that tlie reason?" said Jacquetta, with a curling lip. "Partly. If ever I sec a woman, my equal in every way, and we hap])en to love one another in a decent, quiet, gentlemanly and lady-like sort of fashion, it is prol)ab!e we will get married, as well as the rest of the world." " What a fortunate woman she will be!" said Jac- quetta, sarcastically. " Have you ever seen her yet. Captain Disbrowe "Can't say, positively," he said, carelessly. a \ JACINTO. 119 may, and tlieii apjaiii I mayn't, to quote the authority you ineutioiied some time au^o/' " Kather an nn?ati.-;t'ac'toiy answer," said Mr. De Yere. ''Now snpj^ose, my dear Alfred, you fell in love with a girl — handsome, accom})lislied, and lady- like — and the danghterot" a i)eddler, or tailor — and that she loved vou : would you marrv her f '* No, sir !" said Disbrowe — and his tine face looked cold and proud in tlie clear light — "no, sir; I never would." " yimply because she was not your ecpial in birth V " Yes; for that reason alon.e, even if 1 did not fear the scoffs and jeers of the world, or the just indignation of Earneclilfe, the proudest peer in England. No, sir," said the young man, resuming his customary cai-e- less tone ; " I never would nuu'ry any one below me in birth, for any consideration." " Oh, bother your loftiness !" muttered Frank, in- dignantly. " I wish you had been born in a barn !" Jacquetta arose, suddenly ; and, with a fierce, flash- ing fire in her eyes, lifted up one arm as if to speak, but a cold, white hand was laid beseechingly on it, and the marble-like face of Lady Augusta interposed : "Not now, Jacquetta! Oh, Jacquetta, dearest, not now !" Jacquetta stooped and kissed her, with a softening brow ; but the fire was in her eye, and a hot, crimson spot on either cheek, as, with the tread and step of an empress, she passed from the room. Disbrowe sat confoun'*(>d. VvHiat had he said ?— what had he done 1 A sudden gravity had fallen on all. Augusta sat like a figure of ice, Mr. De Vere looked serious, and Frank was scowling indignantly at him from under his brows. " My dear uncle," he said, after a ])ause, " 1 hope I have not offended Miss De V^ere. 1 most certainly had not the remotest intention of doing so, and am yet ignorant of my fault ; for, assuredly, nothing 1 said i 120 JA CINTO. '.k\- \rA can, iu tlie most distant way, apply to lier — my equal ill every sense of tlie word." " You forij::ot that yon will he a peer of tlie realm one of these days, when the })resent Lord Earnecliife kicks the bncket,'' sneered Frank, " and she will only be Jack De Vere, and ' our American cousin,' and a poor relation." "Silence, sir!" ^aid ]\rr. I)e Yere, sternly, as Dis- biowe's face flashed indiii;nant scarlet. '" Do not mind Frank, my dear boy; be has caunht J acquetta's fashion of saying whatever he ])]eases, and consequently thinks a little too loud, sometimes." "A fashion, it seems, no one else is to have," thought Disbrowe. Then, aloud: " And is it really possible my cousin is so red-hot a republican as to be ollended at my thoughtless words 'i 1 imagined she would have syni])athized with me." "Jacquetta does not believe in true merit being overlooked, because it happened to be born in a hovel ; and she has a quick temper, and takes no jiains to con- ceal her feelings on any subject," said ]\Ir. De Vere. " Dut as for her momentary irritation, she will quickly get over that, and meet you to-morrow as blithely as ever. One thing, though, I wish you to remember," added the speaker, with a slight smile: " avoid this subject in her ])rescnce. It is like applying a match to a ])(>wder-niagazine. Augusta, my love, you are not looking well ; perhaps you had better retire." Augusta arose in her slow, lifeless way, and with a slight bend of the head, left the room, followed by Frank. And the Honorable Alfred Disbrowe, dissatis- fied with himself and Jaccpietta, soon after did the same thing, and felt half-inclined to wish Miss Jac- (pu'tta was liku her picture, and that the same old smiling look would never change. "It is such a vulgar thing to see a young girl in a passion! \'iilgar— revolting — hiileous!" he said, testily, " and for nothing, too. I believe in my soul f the girl is not a De Vere at all. Got changed in the Ul JACINTO. 121 ■It ^ \ \ cradle, or sometliinnj ; only I'm perfectly sure, as it happens, that neither nncle llobert, nor my lady consiii Aii^^n.sta, are the sort ol' folks who believe in adoptiiiui: other ])eople's children. To he sure, there is tlu^t flippant Frank; hut then luj's one of the family, an-l lias the De Yero face, sllt^htly modified with that oi Stul)hs — bless the nnirki — but Miss Jaccpietta — riu^htly named Jack — has not a sin_i>:le iota of resemblance t;» any De Yero ever I saw. She is an oriLnual — a little Hash of li^^htnini]; in gaiters — a snapdragon — a liule llame of fire, remarkably apt to burn the lingers of any one who attempts to handle her. "Well, peace to her memory ! J must g<:» to sleep." Ihit Captain Disbrowe did not fall asleep as soon as he thought, but lay awake, tossing restk'ssly, looking at the picture, thinking of Jacquetta, of his evening adventure, and of last night's mysteri(»us nnisie. "Would it be repeated to-night ?" lie halfdioped it might, for never did mortal listen to such delicious strains as had then greeted his ear. lie slept at last, and sleeping he dreamed. Again he was in the lonesome gorge between the hills, and again Captain Kick Tempest and Jacquetta were there. Gradually, the air became tilled with softest, sweuti.'st melody ; from what quarter no man could tell ; and as it rose and fell in ravishing cadences, he saw, and saw without surprise, too (he rememi)ered Hidt wIkmi he awoke), the fair face and graceful form of riacquetta undergo a fnghtful transformation. She dro])ped on her hands, long black hair waved around her, and, in a moment, she stood changed into the dotj J Jon ! And, at the same inst^mt, Captain Kick Tenq)est was trans- formed into the image of a lovely lady ; and stretching out his arms, with a great cry of "Korma!'' he awoke • — awoke to find it not all a dream! The night was far advanced; and the air was tilled, as in his dream, M'ith divinest nuisic. Such celestial harmony, that it held bin) entranced, spell-bound, charmed beyond the power of motion, for a time. Then, as it changed and ,% K 123 JACINTO. m m '. broke into wild, weird, qiiiverini^ strains, like cries of pain from liniuan lips, lie spraiii!; out of bed, dressed rapidly, and, with a desperate impulse upon him to find out whence it came, he descended the stairs and crossed the hall. The massive hall-door was locked, but the key was inside; and tnrninjjj it, he stood, the next instant, alone in the solenni beauty of the starlit ni«i;ht. There was a faint youni;- moon that shone in the sky like a broken rinii; of silver, and by its lii;-ht, and by tliat of the hi^h, l)ri<2;ht, solemn st;u's, he rapidly took his way toward the deserted north wini^ of tne buildin<2;. A dark, gloomy, dismal ]>ile it looked, as if it wore, in very truth, as [)oor Hood has since sung : " lliulcr somu pro(liarlor, he looked eagerly around, but no Jacquetta was to be seen. Mr. Do >w I A MYSTERY. 127 'I Vcre was there, reading some English papers , and Frank sat pulling the ears of his favorite terrier tlirongli liis lingers. Augusta entered, pale, and cold, and stately, as ever, a lew moments alter, and ac- knowledged their sahitations hy a slight bend of her haughty head, and silently took her place at the head of the table. ''Is Jacquetta not coming down!" said Mr. De Vere, as he took his seat ; and, strange to say, ])is- browe's heart gave a sudden bound at the mention of her name. "No," said Frank, sipping his coffee; "I don't think she will be down at all, to-day. She and that good-looking chap with the broken arm are keeping each other company. She let me in the room yester- day, and I was surprised to see how happy they were together." A sickening feeling of disappointment came over Disbrowe. Had he seen Jacquetta every day, and every time he chose, it is proba!)le he would liave felt l)erfectly indifferent about it — careless when she came, and whither she went ; but now she had spirited her- self away, totally neglected him, and devoted herself assiduously to this provokingly handsome stranger. Captain Disbrowe's vanity was wounded ; he felt irritated to liear she could laugh and enjoy herself while he was wandering about so lonely and ennuled ; and more irritated still that she admitted Frank, and kept him out ; and so, a little angrv, and a good deal jealous, he arose in a decidedly ferocious mood, and lialf resolved to leave his ungrateful little cousin to her own devices and Spanish lovers, and post back full speed to England again, where young ladies know how to treat their guests in a Christian fashion. There is many a Disbrowe in the world, quite as inconsistent as he. He thought better of going to England, however, and ordered his horse, instead, for a gallop across the country, to exorcise the demons of ennui and chagrin. 128 A MYSTERY. ■AM ms This tiiriG liG did not fail to take his pistole, and keep liis eye about liiiii, and felt, in liis present tierce mood, as if would l)e i-ather a relief ^'Iian otherwise to have a fracas with " Old jS^ick," to put his stai^natiii*^ blood in circulation, if for nothing else; and indeed, in his state of mind at that moment, he would have fou>id it rather pleasant than otherwise to shoot somebody. So he rode on, at an exceedingly leisurely pace, looking around him now and then, and trying to make up his mind to hate, detest, and abhor this uncivilized cousin of his, and contrasting her in his own mind with the dijg^nilied, languid, high-bred Lady Gertrudes and Lady Margai-ets of his acfpiaintance, and drawing con- clusions anything but Mattering to her by the contrast, wdien the thunderinijc sound of horses' hoofs dashing down the rocks behind him made him turn round, and he beheld the object of his thoughts, mounted on her spirited little black Arabian, sweeping on toward him. How bright, how charming, how ahnost beautiful she looked at that moment, all alire with life and health, and bounding spirits. It Hashed across him in an in- stant, and cwQYy pulse gave an electric throb and leap at the sight, as though she had imparted some of her own exultant, joyous life to his languid self. " A race ! a race ! a steeplechase ! Come on, cousin Alfred!" she shouted; and as she swept thundering past she raised her whip and gave his mettled horse a cut that sent him oif like an arrow from a bow. With the ringing '' Taily-ho V of a fox-hunter she urged both horses .on, a!i»i^ Oil, well, I don't know. [ luivon't taU.Mi tlio trouble to {lii-.ik al);»ut it yot," said Jacqiiotta, in :i tone of prov(;kinL!; in(.iiilvrcn('o. '' It i.s probable that \i ever 1 do, such will bo iny decision. l>iit look tlien;'' — and she pointed with her whip — "there is the very Qaeart of Augusta I)e Vere might bleed and break, ])ut it could do both alone. She turned away, and passed on to the room of her patient, where she found that handsome youth fast asleep; and, seeing her presence was not required theio cither, she iinally sought her own room. It was rather dull down stairs that evening, for neither Augusta nor Jacquetta appeared at all, J\lr. Do Vere and Frank both retired early ; and so Captain Disbrowe was left alone, in no very angelic frame of mind, to wander throunjh the lower rooms and amuse himself as l)est he might, and wish Jacquetta would join him ; but no Jacciuetta came. At length, putting on '•'- hat, he set olf for a stroll, with his own thouglus for company. It was a clear, starlit night, mild and warm as June ; and tempted by its quiet beauty, he walked on and on, returning, at last, by the north wing, that, in its gloomy silencA', liad a stranim fascination for him. While ho stood leaning against a broken pillar, hxtking up at it, ho became conscious of voices near him ; and a moment I I' I "•IP 138 A MYSTERY. ! I' i:hi after two dai-k forms appeared from within the shelter of a low, ruined wall, overrun with ivy. One was tho tall form of a man, muffled in a eloak, and wearing a slouched hat drawn down over his face,completelj hiding it from view, and the other was — could lie believe his ejes ? — the stately form of his proud Cousin Augusta ! Even in his surprise — and it was intense — he saw that they seemed to shrink from each other with a sort of dread, or horror, or fear ; and that both were ex- tremely agitated. Once he saw his cousin stop and make a frantic, passionate gesture, as if she would have hurled herself madly ujjon the stones at her feet, and the man put out his arm as if to catch her, and then draw it back, and recoil still farther from her. Then they turned an angle of the wall, and disappeared ; and he was alone in the light of the bright, beautiful stars, that looked serenely down on that stra.ige meeting, as they have looked upon many others since the world be- gun. With an irresistible impulse, he turned to follow them ; but both were gone — vanislied like phantoms of the night ; and he turned to retrace his steps, wonder- ing inwardly whe^e the secrets of this strange old house were to end. A DI6C0VEUT. 139 CHAPTER XL CAPTAIN DISBROAVE MAKES A DISCOVERY. . f -I. ** All ! did we take for Heaven above I>ut li!ilf sucli pains as we Take, day and night, for woman's love, What angels we should be." — MooitE. •1^ TIE top of the morniu' to yc, captain, dar- liii' !" said II voice, in ii sliij^litly foreign accent. And the next nionicnt, Master Frank, with a wlioop that spoke well for the strength of his hmgs, sprung up tlie front steps, and stood beside Disbrowe, wlio was loung- ing indolently against one of the quaint okl pillars sup- porting the doorway, looking at the north wing, and thinking of the little incident of the previous night. " The same to yourself, my sprig of shillelah," said Disbrowe, lifting his eyes, but without moving from his lazy position. " I say, Frank," he added suddenly, " do you know anything about that mysterious old tower or wing over there? I think there's something wrong about it." "Why?" asked Frank, casting an uneasy look, first on the speaker, and then on the place indicated. " Well, from nothing that 1 know of my own knowl- edge, of course," replied Disl)r()we ; " but it has a con- foundedly suspicious ghostly look about it for one thing, and I saw something strange there a few nights ago." "You did!" said Frank, with a start. "What was it ?" " A light!" — said Disbrowe, taking out a cigar, aiul biting the end off—" a light passing the front window, '1|| .1 •' ■'i 140 CAPTAIN DISBROWE ;! >< ; I and sliiniiifi^ tliroiii^li the ivy leaves. It was late — about niltlni^.;ht, 1 think — and, not feeling sleepy, I had turned out to admire the l)eauties of Nature, and look at the moon, and all that sort of thing, when, to my sur})rise, I saw a light Hashing through the windows, and then disappe;iring." "(Jh, ])ooh !— a will-o'-the-Av'isp — an ignis fatuus — a jaek-o'-lantern," said Frauk, giving himself an uneasy twist. "It was a jaek-o'-lantcru with a vengeance !" said Dishrowe, laughing. '' Kh f said Trunk, lookii.g sharply up. "My dear young friend," said Captain Disl)rowe, lighting his cigar, and drawing a few whilfs, " allow me to say that hreaking yo'jrself of that nasty habit of speaking in abrupt jjrks would be a good thing to do. Ir gives me a sensation akin to a galvanic shock, or a twinge of toothache, to listen to you, \ was informing you, 1 believe, that I saw a light in that old deserted place there, if 1 don't mistake, which piece of informa- tion allow me to repeat now, if yon did not clearly com- jrehend it the lirst time." " It must have been one of the servants," said Frank, taking out a knil'e, and comniencnig to whittle. " Perha[)S," said Captain Disljrowe, with a dubious smile, as he meditatively watched the wreaths of smoke curling upward. " Yon don't believe nie V said Frank, looking at him. " i\ly dear boy," said the young officer, in his cool, careless way, "■ you don't suppose 1 could possibly be BO impolite as to doubt your word? At the same time, my amiable young friend, allow me to ask you if your servants are in the habit of taking nocturnal excursions through those deserted rooms, or what possible reason — since they have been deserted for the last twenty years — they can have at all for going there '^" Frank looked cautiously over his shoulder for a moment, to see that do one was listening, and then MAKES A DISCOVERY. 141 comini^ clopor to DisTjrowc, and sinking liis voice to a' cautious wliispcr, ho said : "'I tell jou what. Cousin Alfn^d, tlierc vi something queer about tliat old ])lace. I've always thought so, and I've seen lots of little things, now and then, to conlirni the belief. I doi/h know what it is; and what's mon^, they all take precious good eare I shan't know either ; but Til find out one of these days, as sure as my name's Frank I)e Vere — wliicli it ain'r, for that matter. Jack's j)osted, I know, and I'm sure she Las something to do with it. Did you ever hear strange sort of nnisic there of nights^*' "Why?" said Disbrowe evasively, remembering his promise to Jacquetta. "Because I have, and more than once. "VVlien I get into bed I flatter myself I can beat any one to death in the sleeping line; Ijut there have been times when I ^oke up. and J have heard the queerest, solcmnest sort of far-off music at the dead of night, and 1 am quite sure it came from some place around here. I asked uncle about it tlie first time I heard it, and I wish you had seen the look he gave me, and the terrific way lie thundered : ' I]egone, sir! and hold your tongue, and never speak of such a thing again at youi" peril !' It beat a stern father in a melodrama all to nothing; so I bothered him no more after that." " I wonder you never asked Jack." "Well, I don't know; there's a sort of touch-me- not flash in Jack's eyes now and then when you tread on forbidden ground, and somehow I've always felt that she's more concerned in this affair than any of tho rest. Of course, I don't know — I only guess; and, as it happens, I generally guess pretty accurately. ' 'Tis the evening of life gives me mystical ^ore.' " "And coming events cast their shadows before," said Disbrowe, pointing to an approachitig sluidow ; and, even as 1 5pok •que steps, and stood bright and smiling before the m. ••1 ;fli Bon matin, messieurs! Hope I don't intrude 1" 142 CAPTAm DISBROWE vl, ,.'• il' I if . ' » "Angels can never be intruders !" snid Dlsbrowe, ilinij^ini^ Jiway liis ciu'ar, and tonehiii!^ his hat. " A tliousaTid welcomes, my bright Aurora!" "Now don't!"' said Jac(]U(!tta, with a sHght grimace. "1 can't stand too umch of that, you know. It's like burnt brandy — a very little of it goes along way, and is very Hlling at the ])rice. What momentous aifairs were you discussing so learnedly just now, as I came up f " We were discussing JMiss Jacquetta \)ii Verel" "Well, I don't know as you could have found a better subject, at once edifying and instructive. But what say you to breakfast now. as a change of sub- ject V " A most agreeable change," said Disbrowe ; "and though, perhaps, not so delightful as the other, a good deal more substantial. 1 move an inmiediate adjourn- ment." " I second the motion," said Frank, shutting up his knife, and putting it in his pocket. " AVhat is the programme for to-day ?" said Jac- quetta, as they uioved toward the breakfast-parlor. " Haven't* decided yet," said Disbrowe. "Must likciy you will devote yourself solely to our haiulsome patient, in which case, by the time evening comes, you will very probably lind my melancholy remains sus- pended from the nearest tree — a victim to the blue- devils and the most hard-hearted of cousins." "A consummati<.)n devoutly to l)e wished!" said Jacquetta, with a laugh. " JUit, having some regard for the feelings of the family, allow me to suggest an alternative to so direful a catastrophe. I am going to visit one of my pensioners this afternoon, about a mile from this ; and, if you will promise to be good, and not pay me too many compliments, you uuiy come. I have spoken." " A hundred thousand thanks, most angelic of thy sex 1" said Disbrowe, laying his hand on his heart, and bowing after the manner of gentlemen on the stage, who go down head foremost, until nothing is to be seen but A and MAKf:S A DISCOVFAIY, 143 the tails of tlieir coat. " I am ready to swear by ' all the vows tiiat ever men have broke,' as my friend Shaks- pere has it, to talk ti) order on any snl)jeet, from love and murder down to tlie latest style of ' i^'eut's superior vests,' for so delectable a prlvilei^e. I'm ready to vow the severest obedience to all and every command that issue m; ly from lips so beautiful ; and what's more, as my friend Shakspere further ri'm;irks, am ready to 'seal the bar:i;;iin with a holy kiss.' " " And I'll witness the transaction," said Frank, with a chuckle. " But here comes Gusty." As he spoke, Augusta swept i)ast, with one of her slight, haughty courtesies, and took her place at the table, followed by the others. Disbrowe thought of the mysterious interview of the night before, and looked at her curiously ; but the cold, pale face was high and immovable, and marble-like in its lofty pride and re- pelling hauteur, ^'ot the faintest trace of emotion was visible in that coldlyd)eautiful face; the long, dark lashes swept the white cheeks, and vailed the dusky, brooding ciyes ; the pale li[)S were compressed — scorn- ing, in tlieir curved pride, all help and sympathy ; the shiny, jetty hair was combed down either side of the high, noble, queenly brow — like alabaster in its i)urity — and simply knotted behind the haughty head. Had she been of steel or stone, she would have looked iis human as she did then ; and yet this was the girl he had seen ready to dash herself on the pitiless rocks the night before, in her intolerable agony of woe and despair. She scarcely spoke, or moved, or lifted her eyes wdiile she sat with them — there in body, but oh, so immeasurably distant in spirit! Uut once, in an- swering some cpiestion of his, she had for a second or two looked up, and then he saw the dark, settled night of anguish in those large, melancholy eyes. Jacquetta was, as usual, the life and soul of thein all — keeping up a constant war of woi'ds, and a steady fire of short, sharp, stinging repartees o itli the company generally — sometimes ])r(jvoki ng Disbrowe to laughter, M, », ■ . I I Ui C^l P 7V1AY DISBR WE and sometimes to ann;er, and appean'nu^ most dcliglit- fully indilierent to both. Tlicu she undertook to give an account of his escapade with Captain Nick Temjiest to his nnclo, brirlesquin<:^ tlie wliolc; affair, and hold in^^ him especially np in so ridicnlous a h\^ht, that she had the old cjentlenian and I'rank lauirhinic most heartily, and hiid Dis])ro\ve su indignant and niortilied, that he conld have shakciii her then and there with a right good will. But thinking it beneath his dignity as a man, he joined in the laugh against himself. After breakfast, the young lady went off to see Jacinto — as she took the ti'ouble of informing our gal- lant young officer before starting; and he, with Frank, sauntered out to a trout-stream the latter knew of, where they could pass the morning. As usual, their theme was Jack ; and an inexliaustible theme they found it, and miglity interesting to both. " 8he spoke of going to see one of her pensioners," said Disbrowe. '" ILrw many has she got ?" " Oh, lots ! And a precious lot, too. There's one of them, now," said Frank, pointing to a hump-backed, idioticdooking boy who aj^proached them, holding a brace of partridges. " Hallo, Dickie ! Where are you bound for ^" "• There," said the lad, pointing with a nod and a grin toward Fontclle. " AVho are the birds for ?" said Frank, attempting to look at them. " You let 'cm alone !" said Dickie, dodging back and assuming a belligerent attitude. " They're for her — Miss Jack ; you let them alone— will you ?" " All right !" said Frank, laughing. " Go on, Dickie. Give my compliments to the town-pump the next time you see it." " And that's one of her proiorjeei^ .^" said Disbrowe, glancing carelessly after him. " /Vn interesting one, upon my word ! If ever I do that sort of a thing, I shall only adopt pretty little girls." " And marry them when they grow up ; not a bad rht- M and a ^g MAKES A DISCOVERT. 145 notion tliat," langliod Frank. " And as pretty little girls are to be liad for tlie asking, you will soon have a liouset'ul. Suppose you begin with little Orrie How- let f' " Faith, 1 shouldn't mind. She came next door to jiroposing the last time I saw her. But how came Miss Jack to adopt that picture of ugliness'^" ■^' '' Well, ' thereby hangs a tale.' It was one day, about two years ago, Jack was down to Green Creek ; and passing by a tavern, she saw a lot of rowdies and loaiers crowding round poor, silly Dickie, laughing, taunting, jeering, and kicking, and pulling, and haul- ing the poor fellow until they iiad him half maddened. A sit»;ht like that was enough to make Jack's hot blood blaze : and in a moment she had darted nerceiv through them, and stood defending Dick, stamping her foot, and blowing them up right and left as only she can — calling them a set of cowards and rascals, the whole of them. I expect they were rather startled to see such a little fury, for all fell back but one half- tipsy fellow, who seized her by the arm in a threaten- ing manner. With a perfect shriek of passion. Jack spi'ang back, and dashed her hand in his face with such force, that, big as he was, he reeled back and saw more stars, 1 reckon, than he ever saw before. Dick liad taken to his heels the moment he found himself free ; so Jacquetta, having stopped to assure them on(;e more that they were a set of low, mean, cowardly knave sto so abuse Dickie, took her departure, while the rest forcibly held back the drunken scoundrel, who seemed very anxious to pommel her." " And has he never attempted to injure her since?" said Disbrowe. "No," said Frank. " A very remarkable circum- stance caused him to change his mind. Shortly after the adventure I have just related, news came that Goose Creek was rising, and was likely to carry away the bridge. Jack mounted Liditning and rode down ; and tliere, sure enough, an immense crowd was gathered I, 146 CAPTAIN DISBROWE li' \ on the banks, watching tlie creek roaring, and foaming, and dashing along ; and there was the Ijridge all broken — and shaking planks that every second might be carried away. Just as Jack reached the place, there was a great cry that a man had been carried olf the bank, and directly they heard his screams for help, and there he was clini'in'i: to a hirge rock in the middle uf the creek, and shrieking out to them for God s sake not to let him drown. " A lot of men got a rope ?nd tried to throw it to him, but it was impossible for him to reach it, unless some one ventured out on the plank and risked their own lives for him. No one would, however, for he was a miserable, drunken wretch ; and in another min- ute he would have been swept away, if Jacquetta had not sprung oU her horse, seized the rope, and while the crowd stood speechless with horror, darted out on the plank. I tell you, cousin Alfred, as they saw her stand- ing there, that young girl, on that frail plank, over that foaming torrent, so bravely risking her life to save Jin- other's, every man, woman, and child there dropped on their knees, and the silence of death reigned. Shov reached the middle of the plank, she flung him the rope ; but before she could turn, tlie plank was swept from under her, and she was hurled headlong into the foaming torrent." " Heavens !" gasped Disbrowe, with a paling cheek, as though he saw it before him. " There was a cry as of one miglity voice from that crowd," contimied Frank, "as they saw her fall; but clear and high above all arose her ringing voice : ' Pull, men — pull ! Don't let me drown !' She held on tirmly, and the next minute the i>air of them stood high — and drij I was going to say, only it wouldn't be true —on dry land. And a hearty cheer from the specta- tors greeted them." Il rank's cheeks were flushed, and his eyes were glisteninij at the recollection. "And there she stood — God bless her! — dripping MAKES A DISCOVERY. 147 nng, ) all liglit :here ; the help, liddle sake T it to unless their for ho r min- ta had ilethe on the stand- er that tive an- ped oil She^ Hin the swept uto the : cheek, om that all; but ; ' ruii, icld ou )od higli be true 3 specta- res were dripping like a water-goddess, and listening to their shouts as coolly and composedly as tliougli they were so many French dulls. 1 stood there, hugging her, I believe, and crying, and laughing, and shouting all together — to all of which her sole rejily was, as siie jerked herself away : ' Frank, don't squeeze me so ; don't you see my wet clothes are spoiling your new pants?'" This winding up was so characteristic of Jacquetta, that Disbrowc beii-an to lani::li. " And the man — what of him ?" " Oh, he was the same fellow that she struck for taking hold of her when she interfered in behalf of Dick — and a worthless scamp he was ; but from that day he reformed ; got sober and industrious, and is a lirst-rate old fellow now; and would die gladly, I be- lieve in my soul, for Jack. So, there's the history of two of hor 2n'ote(/ee-'i" It was strange the effect these and similar stoi-ies of Jacquetta's daring and kindness of heart had on Dis- browe. Softened and tender his thoughts of her grew, until his cheek flushed, and his eyelired, and his pulses bounded, and he drew a long, quivering breath, and wished from the very depths of liis soul she were a!i heiress, with a rent-roll of twenty thousand a year, thtit be might dare to love her. As it was, he might as well venture to fall in love with the moon, for all hope he ever could have of marryino- her. " That's the worst of it with poor devils of younger brothers like me, without a rap to bless themselves with ! They can't fall in love like decent Christians, and marry whom they please ; but whew! Alfred Dis- bi'owe, my boy, do you know what yuu are talking about ? What have yoio to do with falling in love — you who are signed, sealed, and delivered, as good as mar- ried, already ? I wish I had never seen Jack De V'^ere !" he exclaimed, almost passionately. " That girl can be- devil with her wild, witching ways whoever t^lm j)leases ; and I'll be sure to go and make a fool of myself before I have done ! Oh, Jack De Vere ! you compound of •'!, 148 CAPTAIN DISDROWE »,-v. ID I inoonsistcncics ! was there ever one like you before in tJie world r' 8ittin«i: there, lie tlionii'lit of her in all her chann^inf]: moods, until the momentary f^loom that had overspread his lin(>. face passed away, and ai^ain he lanij;lied. " What a sensation she would make among the titled dames who crowd l^ontelle Park, to he sure— this wild Yankee i-irl ! I think I see l-^ady JMaru^aret's look of horror and consternation, KarneclillVs hau_ii;hty dismay, and the wonder and amazement, not to say terror, of the rest. Ilow Tom Vane, and Lord Austrey, and all the rest of the fast bloods, would rave about her; and liow she would be toasted and talked of — the lionnc of the day ! Ilei^■ho ! what a ])ity it is a man dare not do as he ])leases! It some kind fairy would ,i!;ive me tifty thousand pounds ' liis moment, J believe in my soul I M'ould mnrry the L-irl, if she would have me, in spite of fate and — Norma Macdonald !'' In a more! thonu'litful nu)od than was customarv with the _i:;;iy. can'less, ?io/?r/!^^A/;//youn:in;et hold of her — to shake her — to pull her ears — and then love her a thouand-fold more than ever. Captain Disbrowe was just in the mood to do both. Jle could have boxed her ears with all his heart, and yet never had that heart thrilled in all his life as it was thrilling at that moment to the sound of her name. How his pulses le;ipcd, and his blood bounded at the recollection ot" Ikm' small, iuvoluutary, cousinly caress. O Jacijiietta! Jaciptetta! 7* '\. 154 A STRANGE MEETfNG. — you littlo inflammiition of tlic heart I — you little thunderclap! how much you had to answer for, for throwing:: the indolent, nonchalant, careless Captain Alfred Dishrowc into such a state of mind as that ! lie reached home, at last — half-hoping, half-dread- inf^, to meet Jacquetta. The drawing-room door lay open, and a clear, sweet voice he knew only too well. was smgmg : " Oh, the Laird o' Cockpen, he's proud and he's great, His mind's tiilceu up \vi' iiio things o' the state." !i y Hif'i ' " There ! there is a hole in the ballad ! Where's papa, Frank?" " Up stairs, in the liljrary," said Frank, sauntering out, encountering Disbrowe in the hall. Disbrowe went in — half-afraid to do it, too, for he could not tell how Jacquetta would meet him. She was lying back, lialf-buried in the downy cushion of a lounge, caressing lier huge, savage dog, Lion, who crouched at her feet, licking her hand and watching her with his eyes of llame. As Disbrowe entered, he started up, with a growl like distant thunder. " Now, Lion, be quiet! — have manners, can't you? It's only your Cousin Alfred, you know. Come in, my dear sir; I'm alone here, and feel awfully blue." And a dreary yawn attested the truth of her words. As Captain Disbrowe, angry and provoked at this unlooked-for sort of greeting, obeyed, and Hung himself, half-sullenly, into an arm-chair, her eyes fell on the dearly-bought flowers which, almost unknown to hini- solf, he still carried in his hand. " Oh, what pretty flowers ! Hand them here, Cousin Alfred. Lion, go after them." Lion dutifully got up and trotted over, took the flowers in his mouth and brouo-ht them to his mistress. " How sweet they are — how ])retty — almost as deli- cious as the giver !" And the wicked fairy looked up, and laughed in his face. A STRANGE MEETING. 155 Wlien a suppressed oath, Captain Disbrowe sprang to his feet aud bcii^aii paciiiLT, with passionate strides, up and down. Of all her vvillful moods, he had not sup- posed she would meet him like this: seorn and anger — blushing and avoidance — silence and hauteur, he could have borne and managed ; l)ut this — this sublime forgetfulness of the whole thing — this audacious cool- ness and unconcern ! Had she been trying for years, she could not have hit on a way so likely to enrage him ; and I am afraid, as he ground his teeth, more than^ne naughty word escaped. Jacquetta arched her eyebrows, and pursed up her lips. " Why, Cousin Alfred ! Good gracious ! I wonder you ain't ashamed ! Do you know what you said, sir?" "Jacquetta, you will drive me mad!" he exclaimed, passionately. " Dear me ! you said it a^^ain ! Now, Lion, behave yourself! Don't eat all my flowers that way !" " Jacquetta, will you listen to me?" he cried, step- ping before lier in his excited walk. " Well — proceed." " Jacquetta, I love you." " Well, I'm glad to hear it, I'm sure. It shows a good deal of good sense on your part. Now, Lion, will you stop eating my flowers ?" " Oh, saints and angels, grant me patience ! Jac- quetta, you will drive me mad !" " Well, you told me that before, if I don't mistake. What's the good of repeating it 'i (to on." With a tierce imprecation, he was up again, striding up and down as if he really was mad. Jacquetta rose on her elbow, adjusted her pillow, so that she could lie and watch him comfortably. "Cruel ! — heartless! — unwomanly!" burst passion- ately from his lips, as he strode on without heedmg her. She looked at him with a strange, mocking smile on her face, and drew the ears of her savage pet through her Angers. tl i'lr . il M ' 1 1 1 >«. fi If' 1 I K : 1 I' I! t'l 1 t r |i * I 111 I 'I ., '4 '"■ I. M fir i\ r il^' L j, f,. ' ■i ii i!< !i 156 A STRANGE MEETING. " Not tired yet," she Scaid, when he ce:i8ed. " Per- haps you are going into training for a pedestrian V " Insulting ! — unfeeling coquette !" he bitterly cried. Slie arose, liauglitily. " You forget yourself, sir ! Another word like that, and I leave the room !" " Oh, Jacquetta ! you are enough to drive a man crazy ! but forgive me, I hardly knew what 1 was say- mg." " So I think. Captain Disbrowe ! Had you not bet- ter come to your senses as soon as }>ossible ?" " Jacquetta, are you merciless 'i I have asked for bread — shall I get a stone ?" " You deserve a vi])er, sir ! Sit down, I tell you !" she said, imperiously. He obeyed, with something like a groan. " Now, then, Captain Disbrowe, wduit do you want?" " You, Jacquetta ! — my love ! my darling !" Oh, the infinite depth of mockery in her eyes and smile ! " Indeed ! And what do you ^vant of me, pray ?" " Oh, Jacquetta ! what a question !" " Is it ! I see nothing extraordinary in it. If you came and asked me for Lion, here, I should probably ask you what you wanted of him, as well. And I rather fancy you would find it an easier question to answer than tiiis." He was silent, and bit his lip. The look of intense mockery on Jacquetta's face was mingled now with un- utterable scorn. " Oh, the wisdom of these men ! Oh, this wonder- ful love of theirs ! Oh, this unspeakable depth of re- linement and delicacy ! Lion, my boy, thank God you love me, and have not a man's heart !" " Jacquetta !" he said with a haughty flush, " what do you mean ?" " Oh, to be sure !" siie said, " you do not know. If I had been one of your Lady Marys, or Lady Junes, A STRANGE MEETING. 157 would yoii have dared to t;dk tome like this? lleeansc vol! found me u wild Yankee ^nrl, who rode steej)le- chases, ])la}'ed with d(>a:s instead of iJerlin wool and French novels, you thought you were free to insult nie, and to talk io me as you would to a eoal-hcaver's daui;-hter in Eni^land. Don't interrupt me, sir, and don't attempt to deny it ; for, knowin<^ what we both know, such a declaration from you is nothing more nor less than an insult !"' He ^aced round, and the light of his dark, bright, handsome eyes shone full upoji her face. " What wo both know," he said, slowly. "May I ask what you mean hy that. Miss Ja('(pietta?" Her face flushed to the very temples, and for a second or two, her eyes fell. " I won't tell you !" she said, defiantly. " But I know more than I ever learned from you !" Her tone, hot at Urst, fell into its customary saucy cadence as she went on ; and she broke into a short laugh, and fell to caressing Lion ngain as she ceased. " And this is my answer i" he said, bitterly. "Your answer? Yes, sir! I hope it pleases you !" " And this is Jacquetta ?" " At your service, sir. How do you like her ?" " Have you a woman's heart, Jacquetta, or is there a stone in its place." " Perhaps there is." And she laughed wickedly. " If so, you ought to be satislied ; for you said, away back there in your first chapter, tliat I had given you a stone." " Have you no mercy ?" " None for my foes. The motto of a true De Yero 18, * War to the knife !' " " tigerdicart !" cried Disbrowe. " Am I to get no reply but this '^" " Hcply to what ? Begin at the beginning of the catechism again, and see how I will answer you. Ask away, and never fear but you will get your auswer." " I told you I loved you." 158 A STRANG/': MF.ETING. V m m " Yes — I ]i;ivo :i faint recollection of the fact. But you don't call that a question, 1 hope?" "Nevertheless, I expected an answer." " Ah ! What was it to be ?" '* That you loved me in return." Jacquetta laughed ; and springing up, began de- claiming, stage fashion : ■" ' Wlion in tlmt moment, so it came to pass, Titauia wukcd, and straightway loved an — ass.' " You see, I can quote Shakspere as well as you, Cousin Alfred." He ground his teeth with rage. " Oh, Heavens above ! And this is what 1 have loved ?" " Don't get excited, my good Alfred — my dear Alfred ! ICeep cool ; and if you find the air of this room heating, would you mind my insinuating a walk up and down the maple avenue, out there? The air, this cool spring day, will be a good thing to take." "Heart of Hint! — heart of steel! A tigress would have more pity than you !" "Pity!" she said, in a tone that made him start. She had arisen to her feet, with one arm upraised, with her cheek's aiire, and her eyes aflame. " Pity ! Yes ; I pity myself from the very depths of my soul, that I should ever have fallen low enough to listen to this!" She swept across the room like a tragic queen, with the ringing tread of an outraged empress. That light in her eye, that fire in her cheek — all unusual there — what did it forbode ? " What have I said — what have I done, that you should dare to utter words like these? I am a wild, willful, thoughtless girl, too fearless and masculine, it may be, for my sex ; but is it my fault that God gave me a man's heart, to do, aiid dare, and brave? I was frank and open with you, because I thought you an honorable man — because I thought you would under- A STRANGE MEETING. 159 stand mc ; and I could liavc lovod yon as a brotlior. And you have returned it like this ! (.)h, Ca|)taiii Dis- browe ! it is v/or so. than ''AY iu, Unite f You know, and I know, now that the scales Jiave fallen from my eyes, how you rc^^ard me. Would you marry me i would you take me to Enj^land'^ would you show me to y(nir friends — me, the mad, uncivilized, North American savaijje — as your honored wife, and the future Lady Earneclille, of Disbrowo Park? No, sir! You never would! Y'ou never intended to! And even if you would, could you, as a man of honor, have done so? Ask your own heart — if you have one — and let it reply." It was her turn to pace up and down now, and she was doino; it with a venn^eance. lie had leaned his elbow on the table and dropped his forehead on it, and his face v/as white and cold as marble. "The name I bore miijjht have saved me from insult; but it has not done so. Never, in .ill my life, have I fallen so low in my own eyes, as I have done this day! It may 1)0 that I hnve deserved it; but coming from you — Oh, Cousin Alfred! iv/iat have I done tliat you should liave shai'pened this arrow f(jr my heart?" There was such ]xissionate sorrow in her voice, that it moved him as nothing else had ever done ; and lift- ing his head, he would have spoken, but she motioned him to silence with a wave of her hand. " No — say nothing. It is too late ! If I were the only one injured to-day, you might be foi'given ; but that other — that other, to whom you are bound by vows death alone can ever break. O Alfred Disbrowe ! who shall forojive you for the wrong vou have done her ?" Impetuously he started to his feet, and dashed back the clustering locks of his fair, brown hair. " Jacquetta, this is not the first time you have in- sinuated something which must be explained — I repeat it, must be ! What do you mean ?" She paused before him, and met his excited gaze, H! I, smim l:i 160 .1 ST RAN UK MEETING. il- t $^ 'ii k ' -i I'' i!i II .11' :"■! iifi j.f ' t. ■|t I witli eyes from wliicli the fierce, anpy Uglit liad died out ; and u fuhit, a scarcely perceptible smile, llickered around her mouth. '•IShall 1 really tell you ?" " Yes." " And you mean to say you do not understand rae ?" " I say notliin^\ 1 want you to explain." " Then," she said, with a trium])liant flash of her eye, "you shall have it ! What of jVo?'i/ia ?" " JacMpietta !" " Alfred !" she said, with a mocking smile. " Who told you ? — how came you — " "There, that is enough ! Go — leave me!" And she opened the door and pointed out. " First tell nie— " " I will not I — leave me !" slie said, with an imperi- ous stamp of her foot. " And take this parting piece of advice with you. Forget what has passed this evening, as I will endeavor, also, to do. Forget there is such a person as the girl Jaccpietta, and think of me only as the boy Jack Ue Vere. There — go!" She held out her arm toward the door, and kept it in that position until he was gone, angrily and haugh- tily. And for an hour after that, she paced to and fro, up and down the room, without stopping once, with eyes so full of dark, bitter gloom, that you would hardly have known her for the gay, laughing fairy of Fontelle Hall. kSho went over, at last, and leaned wearily against the mantel, and looked in the Are burning on the marble hearth. Long and intently she gazed in the glowing coals, as though some dark picture had arisen tliere before her. Was that vision anything like that of old Grizzle Ilowlet's of the inn ? Did she see the foul gulf and the prostrate form lying in the slime at the bottom — lying at his feet too 'i Something dark it must have been, for she drew a long, shivering breath, as she turned away, with a weary step and a paling cheek. The sound of pleasant voices and gay laughter A STUANOE MEETING. IGl it greeted the ears of Disbrowc an hour or so later when he ascended to the parhjr for the eveiiinii^ meal, and fell on liis angry lieart like vinegar npon niter. All the family were assembled there. Mr. De Vere sat in his arm-chair beside a couch, on which reclined the boy Jacinto, with whom lie was gayly chatting. Somewl:;it l)aler and thinner than when he had ?-iivn him last was .laeinto, but as handsome as ever, and looking wonder- fully interesting, with his arm in a sling. On the hearth-rug beside him sat Jacqiietta, laughing as mer- rily as though care or anger were to her wortls without meaning. Frank was leaning over the back of the couch, enjoying the fun, and Lady Augusta — the very image of a marble Niobe — sat near, with her pale face bent on her hand. Bisbrowe at once advanced to where the boy lay, and hurriedly began some words oi thanks tor what he termed his '' brave conduct " and " generous heroism " in risking his life for a stranger, until the boy's full face Hushed with endjarrassment, and he sln-ank away, as if in avoidance of the subject. Jacquetta saw his natural confusion, and came to his relief. " There, thera. Cousin Alfred! that will do; he'll imagine the rest, and it will s])are your eloquence and his blushes. Here comes Tribula with the tea-U'^i; so come, Master Jacinto, and sit here beside me, and if you are as hungry as 1 am, you will do justice to those delic-ious rice-waiHes and oyster patties 1 see there." Disbrowe bowed coldly, and took his place. All the evening Jacquetta was in the highest possible spirits, and best possible looks. There was a streaming brilliancy in her eyes, a feverish liusli on her cheeks, and her round, white, polished forehead looked pure and marble-like by the contrast. Her short, red curls Hashed and shone like rings of flame, and there was a buoyant lightness in her step, a clear, joyous ring in her voice, that angered one there present, until for the moment he felt as if he hated her for it. A^ever had her hands flown so easily or so brilliantly over the pol- ■Ji I" i \* 't( .:iiii A STRANGE MEETING. i.-licd keys of the piano, cntraaciiii^ one and all ; and ni.'ver had her voice rani^ out so eiear and sweet as it (lid tliat ni^'ht. Soniij after sonpj ilowed from her lips as tliou^h she was ins])ii'ed. And, willful, wayward, unaccountable girl that she was, she Rang, without be- ing aoked, all the old English songs she knew Disbrowe liked, as he had never heard them sung before. There was a depth of ])athos and a passionate tenderness in her voice, as she sai.g " Come back to me Douglas, tend^-F and true," that made the song a very wail of despair — a cry of anguish from a broken heart, so full of hope- less love, strong as death ; and Disbrowe sat with his face averted, still, dark, voiceless and motionless. A 8ob l)roke the deep silence before she ceased, from the Spanish boy Jacinto. " What I has that old Scotch sonir brought tears to your eyes ^" said Jaccpietta, with a laugh. "What a thing it is to have a tender heart ! JMo doubt the Scotch lassie forgot her darling Dougl.is a week after, and took up with the iirst Sandie that came along!" " What an opinion you have of your sex, Flibberti- gibbet," said Hv. De Vere. " Wait until you get a ' Dougla:j ' of your own, and see if you will not he as silly and love-sick as any Scotch hissie that ever tripped the heather." " How do you know I have not got one now, papa?" said J acqnetta, with a careless laugh. "There never yet was a girl who reached the age of twenty without losing her heart a score of times." " Well, whoever got yours, Jack, I wish him joy of it," said Frank, with a shrug. " So you may ! lle'il need all your good wishes, poor fellow 1 It's a sort of a bottle-imp, dangerous alike to buyer and owner. Why, what on earth is that V The sound of an altercation in the hall reached their ears, and then a shrill, childish, imperious voice was heard : " I will go in — T tell you ! I'll go in, in spite of you. Let go — will you ?" A STRANGE MEETING. 163 of of Jaequctta ilnng open the door ; and, to the amaze- ment of ail, the Uttlc elf, Orric llowlet, ran in — lier black hair streaming abont her — lier black eyes bright with an angry light. She gave a quick glance round the room, until she beheld Disbrowe, and then, with a cry of delight, she darted over and sprang into his arms. " I knew vou were lierc : hut that liorridokl woman didn't want to let me in. Don't you let her get me." '• If jou please, 'm," said Tribulation, a hard-visaged, stern-looking, elderly woman, " she would come in, yon know." '• There ! never mind. It's all right, Tribulation," said Jacquetta, closing the door. " Who, in the name of all the kelpies, is this?" ex- claimed Mr. De Vere, while Augusta and Jacinto looked the wonder they did not speak. The child, who had clasped Disbrowe round the neck, glanced over her shoulder, and composedly said : " Oh, Orrie llowlet ! you know ! Old Grizzle's little girl. You needn't be scared !" Jacquetta and Disbrowe laughed, partly at the little one's impertnrbable gravity, and partly at Mr. Do Vere's consternation. "What in the world brought you here to-night, 0]Tic V said Disbrowe, who was half-amused and half- allectcd by the little one's strange love for himself. " Why, to see you ! I said I would come, you know ! You won't send me away — will you V she said, looking up earnestly in his handsome, smiling face. " Not if Mr. Do Yere will let you stay. And so you came all the way from the inn to see me — did you, "Orrie ?" "Oh, yef]!" said Orrie, clinging closer to him. " Docs old Grizzle know ?" "No; I guess slie don't," said Orrie, with one of her sh(M't, shrill laughs. " Oh ! won't she bo mad when she linds out ^" " Will she beat you ?" r:p^'=^^^="'^B^^^^sm^^mBStsm m 164 A STRANGE MI':ETING. " Bg sure she will !" said Orrie, coniplaoently. " Oil I won't slio, tliOiii:^li ! J>iit I don't care. I liavu seon you, you Icnow, and she can't I)c;at that away i " " My dear ciiihl," said Di^browe, touched l>y her look and tone, "if I had known you cared so much for seein<^ inc, 1 sliould iiave ridden over to the inn. I wouhi not iiave you get punished for nie." " Would you be sorry V said the little one, opening her eyes. " Yes, very." *' And you like mc, too?" " Very much, my dear little girl. It is something to be k)ved in this world as you love me !" There was such sorr(.)wful bitterness in his tone, that Orrie's black eyes oj)ened wider ihan ever. A small, white hand fell softly ou his, and with it fell a bright droj). " Why, I declare," said Orrie, in the utmost sur- prise, ''if Miss Jack ain't a cryin' !" Jac(iuetta stooped down, and impulsively touched her lips to those that had so lately kisssed Disbrowe, with the involuntary cry : " O Orrie ! love me, too ! Dear little Orrie, love rae, too !" Orrie gave her one of her impulsive hugs and kisses, scanning her curiously meanwhile, and then she asked : " But you were cry in', weren't you ? What ma4e you cry T' "Me! iS'onsensc, Oi'rie ! 1 wasn't crying!" said Jac(pietta, with a gay laugh. " Oh, I thought you were,'' tfai<3 Orrie, ap])arently relieved. "1 hate to sec })i'oi)l»' cry (Hi! .here's Frank! — [ must go and see him."' said the elf, spriug- iiig from Disbrowe's arms, and naming over to iM'ank. Looking down at the same moment, flaccjuetUi caught the dark, bright, handsome eyes of Di*(l>roWft fixed full upon her, and colored to the temples. With A STRANGE MEETING.' 165 an impatont