iiit ttiiiitf t iii Stiff i
FRANK M OR TIME R, 1
Editor and Proprietor,
Vol. I V.
pe Jl00mfkIir ittus.
Js Published Weekly,
At New Bloomficld, Fenn'a.
BY
FRANK MORTIMER.
8UBSCKIPTI0N TEItMS.
f ONE DOLLAR PER YEAR!
IIS ADVANCE.
The India Shawl.
BY M. T. CALDOH.
CONCLUDED.
STILL moro inquiring my eyes turned to
Lady Waldegrave. There was a look
of ennui on her face ; Gerald was not deep,
not intellectual enough to chain her inter
est, after all: I gave furtive glances at the
mirror reflecting the sofa, and Mary's bright
busy figure and my dull quiet form. I
might have looked -worse than I did. A
little more "fixing up" about my dress,
considerable more effort to please and en
tertain, and who knows but I might rival
Gerald? oust him from his position as fa
vorite, and show him the folly of his infat
ution, so that, knowing the diamond be
yond his reach, he might gratefully accept
the pearl lying at his feet? I had the ad
vantage of a large experience with the
world, and a keen insight into character.
It was worth trying. So ran my thoughts.
And I did try.
As soon as the unsocial game of chess
was over, I took a portfolio of engravings,
and quietly ensconced myself in the chair
by Lady Waldegrave's side, left vacant a
moment by Gerald's leaving the room. I
was amused to see his injured look, when
he returned and found her listening, with
evident interest, to the story I was relating
belonging to the engraving she held in her
hand. I kept on quietly, although he stood
behind me waiting for me to rise. Fortu
nately I chanced upon the right subject.
I was telling her of my visit, a long time
before, to a little Sicilliau town, looking out
upon the blue Mediterranean, and under
the red eye of Vesuvious. I saw her eye
kindle and her bosom heave, as I went on
describing my admiration for its scenery,
then a tear gathered like a diamond drop
on the black iris of her eye, and the beau
tiful face flushed with a glow of some long
repressed emotion.
" Again tell it again 1" she murmured,
dreamily, as I pause; "of those pleasant
walks by the sea of seas my dear old Med
iterranean I"
I looked up in surprise.
" Then you have visited the town your
self? it is a familiar scene I have been do
scribing ?"
She hesitated a moment, then in the soft
melodious tones only a native can use, an
swered, lingoringly fondly over the words,
as if they had long been silent and forgot
ten :
" Chi tace confesia!" And ia a moment
he added sadly, "It is the town whore I
was born 1"
" Indeed 1 I was told you were En
glish." "True ; one is English whose parents are
born and reside in England, but my heart
has its country with the old Italian birth
place." From that time I had a claim on her no
tice wken I chose, and Gerald grew morose
and threatening toward me, and little Allie
occasionally laid her soft cheek against
mine, in the old childish way, expressing
thereby a mute but most eloquont vote of
thanks.
However, the scales were evenly balan
AN INDEPENDENT FAMILY
Ncw IBlooiufiold, rsx September 13, 1870.
ccd. If I could command her interest and
attention, and hold her spellbound by the
efforts of my intellect and superior tact,
Gerald's handsome face and youthful en
thusiasm obtained smiles tar moro captiva
ting, since they were freely bestowed, and
not won away from her by a superior will.
Moreover, Geiald was thoroughly in ear
nest, and as for myself, I think she detect
ed my lack of sincerity. Sho had a won
derful genius, and a quick, keon intellect,
and must have divined, intuitively, how
little heart was in my efforts to please her.
Nevertheless, to tell the truth, it was get
ting rather dangerous for me. I grow more
and moro fascinated with her beauty, and
so interested in a character, at one time
so open and ingenuous,' and at another so
complex and shrouded, and full of mys
tery. Sometimes I would grow startled and be
lieve I had como to love her madly, and
I would shrink away from her with a shiv
er of hoiTor and aversion, unaccountablo
even to myself. One day, as our party
were setting out for the beach, wo discov
ered a tall stout man, with shaggy black
whiskers and a fierce mustache, . loitering
about our boarding-house.
" There's that Whiskcrando," said Bell,
lightly laughing. " Which of us has he
fallen in lovo with, that he haunts our path
so frequently?"
The question was not debatable in my
mind, for I saw his bold eyes fixed steadily
on Lady Waldegrave, and was confident
that a telegraphic signal, or dumb lan
guage of the fine fingers, accompanied the
gaze. At all events, she grew deadly pale,
and pleading a headache, excused herself
from the party and returned to her room.
Two hours after, as accident would have
it, whom should I meet on a sequestered
by-road, where I was riding on horseback,
but this same Whiskerando, as Boll aptly
christened him, riding in a chaise, with a
closely-veiled lady by his side, and on the
fair hand resting upon the side of the chaise
glittered a diamond and ruby ring I had
noticed a hundred times on Lady Walde
grave's slender fingers. " Perhaps sho has
found her friend," said I, and gave no moro
thought of it. Yet that evening she was
unusually sad and depressed. One other
circumstance made that evening remarka
able. We were sitting upon the rocks in
the moonlight, at full tide, with the rolling
waves at our very feet.
"Take care, Allie," said I, as my niece
bent forward toying with the waves, and
allowing the briny waters, to gurglo through
her fingers, "take care who knows but
the Sea King may reach up and clasp your
hand, and bear you away bofore our eyes ?"
A soft sigh was my answer, and the
words, "It wore no great matter. My
hand is not worth much."
"Not worth much !" said I, drawing her
to my side and spreading out on my palm
the rosy dripping fingers. " I wish all the
hands in this wave-washed town to-night
were as clean and pure as my littlo Allie's,
stained by no deed of guilt or shame."
" Here's another like it," said Gerald,
touching reverentially the soft hand lying
on the rock, blazing, even in tho moon
light, with the gems that 'circled it.
Lady Waldcgrave raised the hand he
touched and looked at it askanco, as one
might do with a treacherous, dangorous
serpent, and then I saw it clasp its fellow
with awoful despairing gesture that alarm
ed me.
Quiet Ncllio Barrett was tho next to
speak, with a solemn, thrilling cadence in
her pure soprano voice. "Yes, on such a
night as this, with tho enduring sky, and
the mighty eternal sea before us, it is well
to remember stainless hands hand and un
burdened hearts. How terribly such a
scone must jar upon a guilty conscience!
The very waves wouldshriek aloud the hid
den crime, and the stars point down like
accusing fingers from above."
The quiet homoly face of the speaker
bad caught the highest beauty, the gleam
from within, and wo all crazed in respectful
sympathy. Was I the only one that saw
Lady Waldegrave's eyes turn with a terri
fied glaro upon tho heaving sea and the
sparkling sky ?
"How sombre you are all becominir 1"
she said. "Pray, Mr. Wayne, let us take
a stron to snake off tho shadows."
I do not think tho shadows wcro shaken
off, for in tho middle of tho night I heard
L,ady Waldegrave's maid at tho landlady's
door, adjoining mine, asking for an opiate,
as her ladyship could not sleep.
The last week of our stay arrived, the
chief event of which was a great ball at
the House, for which extensive prep
arations had been made. Of course our
party were all to bo present at the distin
guished assembly. Just as wo left the tea
table that evening, I saw Gerald Wayne
present an elegant boquet of white camel
lia buds to Lady Waldejrrave, and caucht
her low reply, "You shall have my answer
to-night."
My pride was considerably piqued at this.
For Allie's sake and Gerald's own future
peace of mind, I had hoped to prevent .any
declaration on his part. There could bo
little doubt as to the nature of the qu ca
tion, and now I was not so sure of tho kind
of answer it would receive. So I had
thrown myself before the cannon's mouth
to little purpose. My own sensations were
difficult to analyze. I felt angry, aggrieved,
scornful, and reckless, all at once, despising
myself, and singularly enough, fueling a
lofty contempt for their foolishness.
But all feelings were merged in an exul
tant sort of pride, when our party entered
tho fairy -like ball-room, ' and I caught the
low murmur of admiration that greeted
the appearance of the ladies. Alice and
Boll, in their gossamer robes of tullo and
lace, were charming, and the personal ap
pearance of all tho others advanced sever
al degrees nearer perfection by the becom
ing toilet and brilliant lights. But Lady
Waldcgrave what pen shall describe her,
as a spontaneous burst of delight greeted
her appearance? Tho queenly form was
robed in glistening amber satin, softened
by flounces of aerial lace, and looped up by
what seemed flakes of sparkling light, bo
vivid were tho rays of diamonds and sap
phires glittering here and there, around the
snowy arms and swan-like throat, and col
lecting in a tangled spray, like tho flash of
a summer fountain, amid the masses of
ebon hair. She complained of chilliness,
and Gerald flow to ' the drawing-room for
her shawl. I heard a whispered comment
behind mo, as tho superb folds of the India
shawl were laid gently around the ivory
shoulders.
"A real camol's hair. It must have cost
seven or eight hundred dollars ; and those
jewels are genuine diamonds and sapphires.
I should think sho ought to bo a ladyship
indeed I" So said a gossij) behind me to
her neighbor.
The words were like the stroke of magi
cian's wand, only instead of creating splen
did visions, it dashod asido a living, breath
ing embodiment of grace and beauty, and
left a whited wall a foul, revolting,
Bin.
"Camel's hair shawl I Diamond and
sapphire jewelry ! Ladyship4! Aha, Ger
ald Wayne and Lady Waldcgrave, enjoy
the danco while yet you may I"
And yot tho discovery shocked and pain
ed mo. ' I gazed upon the radiant vision.
I had almost loved that woman. Heavens,
what a superb actress she was ! I did not
wish it to be my hand that should dash her
down to infamy and disgrace. Such a face
such an angel's aspect ! I gasped ; and
so scheming, and traitorous, and wicked
within t Now I could comprehend the
nameless antipathy that had chilled my
warmest admiration. A hand on my shoul
der startled me. I turned round to con
front Richard Ellis's excited face. I know
what was coining before he spoke.
" How are you, C. ! I didn't know you
NEWSPAPER.
were down here. Camo with mv wif vna-
terday. But look here, here's a prettv sro !
Do you see that lovely creature in the am
ber satin over yondor ?"
"Yes," I groaned.
"Well, do you see mv diamond and nun.
phire jewelry? It is the very identical beauty
cucateo so many of us at home. That
bracelet I had already marked, am! if thn
initials G. L. W. are underneath a thin
scroll of gold I fastened over them to hide
them from any purchaser, then thm ia
evidonce enough to send that splendid crea
ture to prison for the rest of her days.
What snail I do? get an officer at once?"
I was too unhappy and perplexed rnvsnlf
to know what was best ; but glancing again
at the brilliant couple. I saw poor Allie's
drooping figure beyond them, the soft blue
eyes lollowmg wistfully Gerald's animated
face. .And the sight braced and strength
ened me. Very quietly we found a proper
officer, and stationed him within call, and
then waited till tho evening's festivities
snouia close. Once I saw Lady Walde
gravo waltzing with that tall dark straniror
and from her pallid cheek and his scowling
brow, I judged that the relation between
them was scarcely pleasant or agreeable.
The moment he released her she passed
to tho dining-room, and fearing to lose
sight of her, I followed.
"You have found an acquaintance." said
I, nodding towards her late partner. " Is
it the friend you were in search of?"
She bent over the bounuet of camellia
buds, and answered in a voice' so hoarse
with pain that I did not recognize it :
"Friend friend I rather tho fiend, who
is killing me, body and soul I" And then
laughing hysterically, she added, "What
have I said? I am half crazed with excite-
mont' and wretchedly faint. Find mo a
glass of wine."
I brought it, and sho drank eagerly to
tho last drop. The color came back to her
lips and checks, and smiling and gay again
she returned to the dancers. Later, when
wrapped in tho fatal cashmere she emerged
from tho dressing-room to take the car
riage home, I stepped between her and
Gerald s prollcred arm, bo pale myself that
she started and faltered, "What has hap
pened?"
I drew her arm in mine notwithstanding
Gerald's angry frown, and beccimr the rest
of the party to proceed quietly to the car
riages, said a gontleman was waiting to see
Lady Waldcgrave, and that I would attend
her to his presence. Supposing it, at once
to be the mysterious friend she was seek
ing, they made no troublosomo inquiries,
and departed peaceably.
I led her at once to tho private room
where Mr. Ellis and the officer were wait
ing. She glanced from them back to me,
and ncr clasp on my arm mado me writhe
with pain. Twice her shivering lips mo
tioned for the words, without any audible
sound, then she gasped, rather than sp oke,
'what does tins mean ?"
I touched the shawl and tho glittering
jewels significantly. No words were need
ed. White, rigid and despairing, she sank
into the nearest chair. For ten minutes
there was utter silence ; then she asked,
" what will you do with mo?"
" She must remain here to-night," inter
rupted Ellis, "but to-morrow we shall take
her to New York."
"But the punishment tho penalty?"
said she, turning those wild eyes appealing
ly to me.
"I cannot tell. If everything is con
fessed and restored, it may be light."
She caught at the hope eagerly.
" Will you help me ? There is a great
deal I can tell of an organized plan pur
sued in Vienna, Paris and Ldndon, and
to be detected here in America ! He said I
was too bold."
I thought I heard a rattling at tho door
and unlocking it, I looked out into the cor.
ridor. It was only the black whiskered
man pacing to and fro, with, his cigar.
returned to the waiting group, made a few
.Terms: IN ADVANCE.
One Dollar per Year.
arrangements with Ellis for her personal
comfort, and approaching tho trembling
frightened woman, said, simply, " Good
night !" She stared wildly, caught my
hand in hers, and looking lip into my face,
said piteously :
" Why do you shrink so from my touch?
Think charitably of mo, if you can. I have
been controlled by an iron hand, educated
to this life from my very childhood. But
lately my soul has been aroused, and my
heartnevolted from the wicked task. I
might have been safo now. I was warned
a week ago to leave Newport, but my mad
love for you kept me here. I tried to win
you by exciting your jealousy. This very
night Gerald Wayne laid his hand and for
tuno at my feet, and I refused them, for
your sake. It is hard to be scorned and
loathed by you ay, even brought to shame
ful discovery through your means. Too
late for hope now ! The die is cast and
how have I loved you all the while 1"
I felt my rectitude and manliness giving
way beneath tho appalling gaze of those
lustrous and soul-stirring eyes, and tearing
my hand away from her frantic grasp, hur
ried home, without daring to trust myself
to another look. Restless and miserable,
with a sad consciousness of something ter
rible brooding over me, I tossed too and fro
upon my bed, for what was left of the far
spent night. At length just after the sun
rose, I fell into an nneasy sleep, from which
I was aroused by a hand on my forehead.
Springing up I met Richard Ellis's glance
of horror.
" Sho is dead sho has poisoned herself I"
he said.
"Just Heaven 1" I cried. And in a
moment moro we were hurrying back to tho
hotel.
It was too true. No words can paint my
feelings, as I entered the- room where lay
tho stiff, rigid, distorted form of her who
had glided among the dancers but yester
night, the admired and envied, tho obser
ved of all observers.
"Who has seen her since I loft?" de
manded I.
" No one except a stout black whiskered
man, who camo to the door, saying she was
a relation of his, and ho would like to speak
with her a moment," answered Ellis.. "Ho
didn't seem to be at all aware that she was.
a prisoner, and I thought there was no.
harm in it. We were iu the room, and he
only stayed a moment or two I didn't
hear what they said, they talked so low.
We left a little while after."
I went immediately in search of him, but
he was not to be found. He had left in tho
night. I believed then, and I shall always '
believe, that Lady Waldegrave, or rather
Boatrico Romant, for that was her true
name, was poisoned by that man mixing a
powder with the wine in the glass standing
on the table, knowing doubtless, her habit
of depending upon such stimulants. . I was
confident she had the power of exposing his.
criminality, since some one must have pre
pared tho counterfeit notes which sho had
so often and successfully passed ; and prob
ably her death was the only way to silenoe
the accusations, and save his proceedings
from exposure. Still nothing certain was
ever ascertained. A sinful mystery had
'accompanied her life, a wicked mystery
shrouded her death.
Gerald Wayne was the only ono of our
company to whom I confided the circum
stances accident had revealed to mo. The
others were too much overcome with con
sternation and horror, at tho news of hor
sudden death, to trouble me with inquir
ies. Six weeks ago my littlo Alice became tho
wife of Gerald Wayne, a wiser and bettor
man for that perilous passionate experience
I trust. And as for me why, I am here
in my office, a lonely, forlorn old bachelor
still, who goes regularly the first Sunday of
every month to hang a wreath of evergreen
upon a broad black slab, in that quiot
churchyard, the only one that bears a single,
name " Beatrice."
1