The villain's eyes sparkled as he nodded at Edgardo.
"Enough,--you understand; leave me!"
CHAPTER IV
About half a mile from Sloperton Station the South Clapham and Medwayline crossed a bridge over Sloperton-on-Trent. As the shades of eveningwere closing, a man in a slouched hat might have been seen, carrying asaw and axe under his arm, hanging about the bridge. From time to timehe disappeared in the shadow of its abutments, but the sound of asaw and axe still betrayed his vicinity. At exactly nine o'clock hereappeared, and crossing to the Sloperton side, rested his shoulderagainst the abutment and gave a shove. The bridge swayed a moment, andthen fell with a splash into the water, leaving a space of one hundredfeet between the two banks. This done, Burke the Slogger,--for it washe,--with a fiendish chuckle seated himself on the divided railway trackand awaited the coming of the train.
A shriek from the woods announced its approach. For an instant Burke theSlogger saw the glaring of a red lamp. The ground trembled. The trainwas going with fearful rapidity. Another second and it had reached thebank. Burke the Slogger uttered a fiendish laugh. But the next momentthe train leaped across the chasm, striking the rails exactly even, anddashing out the life of Burke the Slogger, sped away to Sloperton.
The first object that greeted Edgardo, as he rode up to the station onthe arrival of the train, was the body of Burke the Slogger hanging onthe cowcatcher; the second was the face of his deserted wife lookingfrom the window of a second-class carriage.
CHAPTER V
A nameless terror seemed to have taken possession of Clarissa, LadySelina's maid, as she rushed into the presence of her mistress.
"Oh, my lady, such news!"
"Explain yourself," said her mistress, rising.
"An accident has happened on the railway, and a man has been killed."
"What--not Edgardo!" almost screamed Selina.
"No, Burke the Slogger, your ladyship!"
"My first husband!" said Lady Selina, sinking on her knees. "JustHeaven, I thank thee!"
CHAPTER VI
The morning of the seventeenth dawned brightly over Sloperton. "A fineday for the wedding," said the sexton to Swipes, the butler of SlopertonGrange. The aged retainer shook his head sadly. "Alas! there's notrusting in signs!" he continued. "Seventy-five years ago, on a day likethis, my young mistress"--but he was cut short by the appearance of astranger.
"I would see Sir Edgardo," said the new-comer impatiently.
The bridegroom, who, with the rest of the wedding-train, was aboutstepping into the carriage to proceed to the parish church, drew thestranger aside.
"I's done!" said the stranger, in a hoarse whisper.
"Ah! and you buried her?"
"With the others!"
"Enough. No more at present. Meet me after the ceremony, and you shallhave your reward."
The stranger shuffled away, and Edgardo returned to his bride. "Atrifling matter of business I had forgotten, my dear Selina; let usproceed." And the young man pressed the timid hand of his blushingbride as he handed her into the carriage. The cavalcade rode out ofthe courtyard. At the same moment, the deep bell on Guy's Keep tolledominously.
CHAPTER VII
Scarcely had the wedding-train left the Grange, than Alice Sedilia,youngest daughter of Lady Selina, made her escape from the westerntower, owing to a lack of watchfulness on the part of Clarissa. Theinnocent child, freed from restraint, rambled through the lonelycorridors, and finally, opening a door, found herself in her mother'sboudoir. For some time she amused herself by examining the variousornaments and elegant trifles with which it was filled. Then, inpursuance of a childish freak, she dressed herself in her mother's lacesand ribbons. In this occupation she chanced to touch a peg which provedto be a spring that opened a secret panel in the wall. Alice uttered acry of delight as she noticed what, to her childish fancy, appeared tobe the slow-match of a firework. Taking a lucifer match in her hand sheapproached the fuse. She hesitated a moment. What would her mother andher nurse say?
Suddenly the ringing of the chimes of Sloperton parish church met herear. Alice knew that the sound signified that the marriage-party hadentered the church, and that she was secure from interruption. With achildish smile upon her lips, Alice Sedilia touched off the slow-match.
CHAPTER VIII
At exactly two o'clock on the seventeenth, Rupert Sedilia, who hadjust returned from India, was thoughtfully descending the hill towardSloperton manor. "If I can prove that my aunt, Lady Selina, was marriedbefore my father died, I can establish my claim to Sloperton Grange,"he uttered, half aloud. He paused, for a sudden trembling of the earthbeneath his feet, and a terrific explosion, as of a park of artillery,arrested his progress. At the same moment he beheld a dense cloud ofsmoke envelop the churchyard of Sloperton, and the western tower of theGrange seemed to be lifted bodily from its foundation. The air seemedfilled with falling fragments, and two dark objects struck the earthclose at his feet. Rupert picked them up. One seemed to be a heavyvolume bound in brass. A cry burst from, his lips.
"The Parish Records." He opened the volume hastily. It contained themarriage of Lady Selina to "Burke the Slogger."
The second object proved to be a piece of parchment. He tore it openwith trembling fingers. It was the missing will of Sir James Sedilia!
CHAPTER IX
When the bells again rang on the new parish church of Sloperton itwas for the marriage of Sir Rupert Sedilia and his cousin, the onlyremaining members of the family.
Five more ghosts were added to the supernatural population of SlopertonGrange. Perhaps this was the reason why Sir Rupert sold the propertyshortly afterward, and that for many years a dark shadow seemed to hangover the ruins of Sloperton Grange.
THE NINETY-NINE GUARDSMEN
BY AL-X-D-R D-M-S
CHAPTER I
SHOWING THE QUALITY OF THE CUSTOMERS OF THE INNKEEPER OF PROVINS
Twenty years after, the gigantic innkeeper of Provins stood looking at acloud of dust on the highway.
This cloud of dust betokened the approach of a traveler. Travelers hadbeen rare that season on the highway between Paris and Provins.
The heart of the innkeeper rejoiced. Turning to Dame Perigord, his wife,he said, stroking his white apron,--
"St. Denis! make haste and spread the cloth. Add a bottle of Charlevoixto the table. This traveler, who rides so fast, by his pace must be amonseigneur."
Truly the traveler, clad in the uniform of a musketeer, as he drew upto the door of the hostelry, did not seem to have spared his horse.Throwing his reins to the landlord, he leaped lightly to the ground.He was a young man of four and twenty, and spoke with a slight Gasconaccent.
"I am hungry, morbleu! I wish to dine!"
The gigantic innkeeper bowed and led the way to a neat apartment, wherea table stood covered with tempting viands. The musketeer at once set towork. Fowls, fish, and pates disappeared before him. Perigord sighed ashe witnessed the devastations. Only once the stranger paused.
"Wine!" Perigord brought wine. The stranger drank a dozen bottles.Finally he rose to depart. Turning to the expectant landlord, he said,--
"Charge it."
"To whom, your highness?" said Perigord anxiously.
"To his Eminence!"
"Mazarin?" ejaculated the innkeeper.
"The same. Bring me my horse," and the musketeer, remounting hisfavorite animal, rode away.
The innkeeper slowly turned back into the inn. Scarcely had he reachedthe courtyard before the clatter of hoofs again called him to thedoorway. A young musketeer of a light and graceful figure rode up.
"Parbleu, my dear Perigord, I am famishing. What have you got fordinner?"
"Venison, capons, larks, and pigeons, your excellency," replied theobsequious landlord, bowing to the ground.
"Enough!" The young musketeer dismounted, and entered the inn. Seatinghimself at the table replenished by the careful Perigord, he speedilyswept it as clean as the first comer.
"
Some wine, my brave Perigord," said the graceful young musketeer, assoon as he could find utterance.
Perigord brought three dozen of Charlevoix. The young man emptied themalmost at a draught.
"By-by, Perigord," he said lightly, waving his hand, as, preceding theastonished landlord, he slowly withdrew.
"But, your highness,--the bill," said the astounded Perigord.
"Ah, the bill. Charge it!"
"To whom?"
"The Queen!"
"What, Madame?"
"The same. Adieu, my good Perigord." And the graceful stranger rodeaway. An interval of quiet succeeded, in which the innkeeper gazedwoefully at his wife. Suddenly he was startled by a clatter of hoofs,and an aristocratic figure stood in the doorway.
"Ah," said the courtier good-naturedly. "What, do my eyes deceiveme? No, it is the festive and luxurious Perigord. Perigord, listen. Ifamish. I languish. I would dine."
The innkeeper again covered the table with viands. Again it was sweptclean as the fields of Egypt before the miraculous swarm of locusts. Thestranger looked up.
"Bring me another fowl, my Perigord."
"Impossible, your excellency; the larder is stripped clean."
"Another flitch of bacon, then."
"Impossible, your highness; there is no more."
"Well, then, wine!"
The landlord brought one hundred and forty-four bottles. The courtierdrank them all.
"One may drink if one cannot eat," said the aristocratic strangergood-humoredly.
The innkeeper shuddered.
The guest rose to depart. The innkeeper came slowly forward with hisbill, to which he had covertly added the losses which he had sufferedfrom the previous strangers.
"Ah, the bill. Charge it."
"Charge it! to whom?"
"To the King," said the guest.
"What! his Majesty?"
"Certainly. Farewell, Perigord."
The innkeeper groaned. Then he went out and took down his sign. Thenremarked to his wife,--
"I am a plain man, and don't understand politics. It seems, however,that the country is in a troubled state. Between his Eminence theCardinal, his Majesty the King, and her Majesty the Queen, I am a ruinedman."
"Stay," said Dame Perigord, "I have an idea."
"And that is"--
"Become yourself a musketeer."
CHAPTER II
THE COMBAT
On leaving Provins the first musketeer proceeded to Nangis, where he wasreinforced by thirty-three followers. The second musketeer, arriving atNangis at the same moment, placed himself at the head of thirty-threemore. The third guest of the landlord of Provins arrived at Nangis intime to assemble together thirty-three other musketeers.
The first stranger led the troops of his Eminence.
The second led the troops of the Queen.
The third led the troops of the King.
The fight commenced. It raged terribly for seven hours. The firstmusketeer killed thirty of the Queen's troops. The second musketeerkilled thirty of the King's troops. The third musketeer killed thirty ofhis Eminence's troops.
By this time it will be perceived the number of musketeers had beennarrowed down to four on each side.
Naturally the three principal warriors approached each other.
They simultaneously uttered a cry.
"Aramis!"
"Athos!"
"D'Artagnan!"
They fell into each other's arms.
"And it seems that we are fighting against each other, my children,"said the Count de la Fere mournfully.
"How singular!" exclaimed Aramis and D'Artagnan.
"Let us stop this fratricidal warfare," said Athos.
"We will!" they exclaimed together.
"But how to disband our followers?" queried D'Artagnan.
Aramis winked. They understood each other. "Let us cut 'em down!"
They cut 'em down. Aramis killed three. D'Artagnan three. Athos three.
The friends again embraced. "How like old times!" said Aramis. "Howtouching!" exclaimed the serious and philosophic Count de la Fere.
The galloping of hoofs caused them to withdraw from each other'sembraces. A gigantic figure rapidly approached.
"The innkeeper of Provins!" they cried, drawing their swords.
"Perigord! down with him!" shouted D'Artagnan.
"Stay," said Athos.
The gigantic figure was beside them. He uttered a cry.
"Athos, Aramis, D'Artagnan!"
"Porthos!" exclaimed the astonished trio.
"The same." They all fell in each other's arms.
The Count de la Fere slowly raised his hands to heaven. "Bless you!Bless us, my children! However different our opinion may be in regard topolitics, we have but one opinion in regard to our own merits. Where canyou find a better man than Aramis?"
"Than Porthos?" said Aramis.
"Than D'Artagnan?" said Porthos.
"Than Athos?" said D'Artagnan.
CHAPTER III
SHOWING HOW THE KING OF FRANCE WENT UP A LADDER
The King descended into the garden. Proceeding cautiously along theterraced walk, he came to the wall immediately below the windows ofMadame. To the left were two windows, concealed by vines. They openedinto the apartments of La Valliere.
The King sighed.
"It is about nineteen feet to that window," said the King. "If I had aladder about nineteen feet long, it would reach to that window. This islogic."
Suddenly the King stumbled over something. "St. Denis!" he exclaimed,looking down. It was a ladder, just nineteen feet long.
The King placed it against the wall. In so doing, he fixed the lower endupon the abdomen of a man who lay concealed by the wall. The man didnot utter a cry or wince. The King suspected nothing. He ascended theladder.
The ladder was too short. Louis the Grand was not a tall man. He wasstill two feet below the window.
"Dear me!" said the King.
Suddenly the ladder was lifted two feet from below. This enabled theKing to leap in the window. At the farther end of the apartment stooda young girl, with red hair and a lame leg. She was trembling withemotion.
"Louise!"
"The King!"
"Ah, my God, mademoiselle."
"Ah, my God, sire."
But a low knock at the door interrupted the lovers. The King uttereda cry of rage; Louise one of despair. The door opened and D'Artagnanentered.
"Good-evening, sire," said the musketeer.
The King touched a bell. Porthos appeared in the doorway.
"Good-evening, sire."
"Arrest M. D'Artagnan."
Porthos looked at D'Artagnan, and did not move.
The King almost turned purple with rage. He again touched the hell.Athos entered. "Count, arrest Porthos and D'Artagnan."
The Count de la Fere glanced at Porthos and D'Artagnan, and smiledsweetly.
"Sacre! Where is Aramis?" said the King violently.
"Here, sire," and Aramis entered.
"Arrest Athos, Porthos, and D'Artagnan."
Aramis bowed and folded his arms.
"Arrest yourself!"
Aramis did not move.
The King shuddered and turned pale. "Am I not King of France?"
"Assuredly, sire, but we are also, severally, Porthos, Aramis,D'Artagnan, and Athos."
"Ah!" said the King.
"Yes, sire."
"What does this mean?"
"It means, your Majesty," said Aramis, stepping forward, "that yourconduct as a married man is highly improper. I am an abbe, and I objectto these improprieties. My friends here, D'Artagnan, Athos, and Porthos,pure-minded young men, are also terribly shocked. Observe, sire, howthey blush!"
Athos, Porthos, and D'Artagnan blushed.
"Ah," said the King thoughtfully. "You teach me a lesson. You aredevoted and noble young gentlemen, but your only weakness is yourexcessive modesty. From this moment I make you all marshals and dukes,with the exception of A
ramis."
"And me, sire?" said Aramis.
"You shall be an archbishop!"
The four friends looked up and then rushed into each other's arms. TheKing embraced Louise de la Valliere, by way of keeping them company. Apause ensued. At last Athos spoke,--
"Swear, my children, that, next to yourselves, you will respect--theKing of France; and remember that 'Forty years after' we will meetagain."
MISS MIX
BY CH-L-TTE BR-NTE
CHAPTER I
My earliest impressions are of a huge, misshapen rock, against which thehoarse waves beat unceasingly. On this rock three pelicans are standingin a defiant attitude. A dark sky lowers in the background, whiletwo sea-gulls and a gigantic cormorant eye with extreme disfavor thefloating corpse of a drowned woman in the foreground. A few bracelets,coral necklaces, and other articles of jewelry, scattered aroundloosely, complete this remarkable picture.
It is one which, in some vague, unconscious way, symbolizes, to myfancy, the character of a man. I have never been able to explain exactlywhy. I think I must have seen the picture in some illustrated volumewhen a baby, or my mother may have dreamed it before I was born.
As a child I was not handsome. When I consulted the triangular bit oflooking-glass which I always carried with me, it showed a pale, sandy,and freckled face, shaded by locks like the color of seaweed when thesun strikes it in deep water. My eyes were said to be indistinctive;they were a faint, ashen gray; but above them rose--my only beauty--ahigh, massive, domelike forehead, with polished temples, like door-knobsof the purest porcelain.