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ZAND J WES were
Fatered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1881, by NORMAN L. MUNRO, in the offce of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. (Fntered at the Post O2tce,
WV
Se
{ NORMAN L: MUNRO,
Wand 16 Vandewater st.
Vo]. VII.
NEW YORK, JANUARY 81, 1881.
No.
Love Masked,
Ranzy on a summer's morning,
Srhen bright Phoebus wad adorning
Every bower with his beam:
‘he fair lady came, it seoms
Covered with her mask, and waliing,
‘There she met her lovet talking
{With a friend that he had brought,
So she asked him whom he sought,
“Tam challenged by a gallant
Who resolves to try my teat
Who he is I cannot say,
But I hope to show hin pl
sletsy that did invite you;
fall wed mo, or I fight you
Ucern neath th
re choose trout which
Seid he, “Madem, pray whet mean
In niy life I've never seen y:
Pray unmask, your visage show,
‘hen Tl vell you aye or no.”
[will not my face uncover |
*rhTthe martage ties ao
‘Therefore choose you ‘which you wil,
‘Wed me, sir, or try your skill.
“Step within that pleasant bower
igh rou trend one single howe
Strive your thoughts to reconci
And I'll wander liere the while,’
While the beauteous lady waited,
‘The young bachelors debated
‘What ‘be don
Quoth his friend, "Tue hava
¢ my judgment can be trusted,
Wed her first, you can’t be worsted;
If she's rich, You'll rise to fame,
{she's poor, why, you're the same.”
‘He consented to be married;
‘All three in a coach were eatried
‘wi d delays |
‘Wirere ho weds tho lady pay.
‘Though sweet, pretty Cupids hovered
‘Bound her eyes, her face was covered
Witha mask— hus,
Yast for better or for' worse,
eS
WHAT WAS IT?
R,
The Mysterious Housé In Second Avenue.
BY KARL DRURY.
Author of “The Curse of Chillingdale;
Nan
A White Se
ER IV,
E VEILED FIGURE,
KENING horror came upon Cedric after the
overturning of the flagon and. the ghastly. dis-
covery which followed, He staggered several
aces backward, gazing with dilated eyes into
ig uncle's face.
Tot face was blanched as death, Daniel the
a ant, was trembling as though
Strick wih ae For a moment Cedric kno
not how ‘hen, at, auld. Section, ‘his
Tmindwas mn ward the dark
eri imson_ stain “upon the Les Then he awointeed
foward the heavy oaken door but a few yards dis
tan
1s face,
in hollow, solemn tones, “will |
nele,” he s
ox orplain this nator n
x et ‘Abererombie “ood for ra moment irres:
olute,. Ho seemed torn by opposing i pulses; he
‘hail Knotted his bands togetier until the nails
either pierced dep into
vig ak length ‘id “TF cannot, I dare not
, Cedric.
tell
‘A look of sudder lon entrenty oversprend his face,
usunily 80 fal of igh, ‘manly’ dign ie HS
stretched forth his hands in eager supplication,
he Jedrie, I implore yout
‘Acton tarther questions, fa the ‘name of all that is
merciful!”
‘Gadric’s eyes flashed, He was greatly excited;
the recent events of the afternoon had foreibiy
‘The restless f his mind
intod to the biood-stain on the
the bal.
sees ahve nO os now,” he said, “to refuse
Yeu have roused suspicions that |
di Mr. Abererombie,
“Do you wish
econ
me to boliove that you ‘and Dan aniel here, ae
some tra e, unearth!
DINE Rororombie quivered as that last word was
spoken.
© Crime!” he je |
anguish, “Oh,
that of me?”
‘Asif for answer Cedric took several quick steps
toward the jrassive, mysterious dc
eroml Paniol stood perfectly yc vateling
him, as if spell-bo n instant later Cedric
had’ put forth his hand and rapidly Nar
knob, The door did not yield, Tt
locked, A low moan of relief broke from the ie
ot Daniel.
ina voice that rang with
how could, you believe
Cedrle stood with knitted brows, quick: heaving 4
chest, and tho general air of a man ‘patted yet
resolute. looked once more at his uncle, and
as ho did 0 pie ips curled moro than reproach
“This concealment, and such hideous evidence
as that lying yonder,” he eried, “ only go to con-
strate,
hand,
in louder tones than an
consider it the same,
mt that you
ww moan broke fro:
rip “Hie ntatety form
, for an instan
ttncover his face. And
happened.
sel thong oo
‘What while,
Ty desorv ed to
swathed frot
nothing Ro Indieato. Hea
mblance
inthe. figure; it. had
mauled wise of blackness,
Cedric stared upon
aged with eine ho
could bimselt muster
voice issued
draperies,
Was it a human voics
is, but, a
articulate word:
pil abou, To
genera
Tha en ried,
will
A sort
harmony
the very 1 f his
do you Teal iy
aniel gave a strange, hi
that whi numb people er under great stress
This sound made Mr, Abercrombie |
saw what had
The man’s whole with the
strong, galvanic shudler, and then he stood quite
was
red sn the ball?
Iy des called for 8 completely wi
ary fabric ¢ stint ne outlines of
hape t all perceptible.
of male or female
At first Cedric neta do
‘That is surely, better t
‘of crime one who is bra
rt of rol
‘and yot so sweet that
ow heard ie “ort the first time felt
pacer” “The Mystery of the Little Attic-Room;”
cy Lee," Ete.s Ete,
Yinco me that guilt, and nothing else, fs sealing
your lips regarding tt
he mystery I would pen-
ther moment Cedric had struck the stout
door beside hima bwo he weavy blows with his clenched
“If you do not show mo what it is that you
hide within that chamber,”
1e went on, speakiny
1y he hea ‘yet used,
ag though you confessed to
uu -and Daniel were criminals and
factors, panishable by law p
Arthur Abererombie's
was trembling: jhe
nt, with both
nto t fhettin din sighted
animal sound, like
then he, too,
rame gave one
rror to the
the fi
igure, hat nj
untan figure searce-
folds bf some black
any humanity in
There was
2, shoulders or limbs: no
anatomy was visible
simply moved forward, a
and thi all,
it ‘in smarsinent, not_un-
ror. Amd thet) before he
self-possession a,
ster nd thowe weird; obseuning
ubted this, Ituttered
" “abe tones with which it
Yltered them! Gedri never heard ptt |
fo richly musical, s0 "ani lly tender and
ifluous,” iss fhe throat of any living
creature befo
«re yeu wish to know what mystery these roor
conceal,” said the voice, "coma with, me and
than for you
md
ey _peralyzing _gpell hich had 0
red broken at this pol
addressing the
gladly bear the a rccusation, rather ‘en
it to
ing. “Cod ie femhawe,
learn the truth?”
| th
rthur Abercrombiel”
Cedric now felt are, urbed, He could
scarcely gasp f “T do.”
{Phen Sorke with me said the Agure,
was a dead missy ‘broken only by a sort
of audible shudder from Mir. Abereroimbie, Did
at unhappy gei gue presen-
timent, theawful thing that was ’about'toteppent?
Cedric moved after the figure. It disappeared
within the chamber, Cedric following, Presently
the Intter had closed the door doubtless obeying
some
“arth eters so the dun ma
alone in et hall together, Both were sibly
eir eyes an
mly. aqustcning Soak ‘othe! us
tly
seem Honghes,
Present rebut mbie sank on. hi
knees. His uprai as he lifted it toward
Heaven in pray real ai, had a patriarchal | “
nasty reliead gleaned beads
eat. Gow reel euvot agony.
God,” he faveh spare that poor boy
from Myatt dvestl may gveftake himt Let not
ie doom fol which I wy dread. | You hav sore!
Do not add that new sorrow.”
eri
would have made the stoutest heart
. Abererombie sprang to his feck
pr fied” he cried, “you have refused my
APTER V,
SPIDER AND FLY.
Cuaniry gave Olivia Ramsay's father his burial.
An ambulanice came for him on the following da
matty of those voices would Wee hy ee had
wealth, respect, hosts of admiring ‘triondat Lat
nso full of tieao strange e Ups and downs that as
ist people ‘pass, year after Fear, from prosperit’
degradation, We scarcely notice the rndiancholy
changes!
Olivia never jefe her father's grave till the last
earth clod upon it. Then, a <7 chilly
Siitumnn twilight eas orice nvore
city, she wont back, to, the miser fhe hae she
Tad ealted * home.” Sha
went f back But she ou ional ere a . Siore
time, staring at the blank, veherlss walls ‘aud
thinking of the father W could not
help remembering with passe
row,
“ Now for the new life!” she muttered, doggedly,
under hier breath, and went forty into’ the ecimy
streets, where the jamps had, Just been lighted bo-
bind thelr dingy ‘fer "as go ing to the
She had scarcely walked two blocks when a
San ‘touched her sbouler. ‘Looking round, she
black-bearded man standing at her
“Excuse me,” be said,. in civil tones, where
slight foreiguaceet W was audible; “but sit your
Boe "Eis impatient to reach th
end of her jou already felt that her
old life was slippit wn her, and sho longed to
fits feat agouti
son Lihought 20 anid he man, Xfi arsis,
woman’ in — street that, you used
fe and see sometimes, sent me to ask if you'd et
er a visit tomnight, She's in a drendfully scl
state. She begs that youl come, if only
few minutes. “ee
ell,” said Olivit
Her thoughis were bent upon othor matters
She did not puso to consider whether there was
anything suspicious about this request, The man
iy | bed er,
candle burned on'a small central ‘ale
= poor ongagh,
ig the |,
$°F-| know, while your father
moved on before her, and presently disappeared
fn the obseurity. The street indicated was not
off. Mrs, Fare is had kept a ay rresied little
had
Tivcpidaced story Just nbove Ws Olivia
throngh the shop door, she did not even ol
that its front window wax vacant of the usual
salables that were grouped there. Tbe neigh-
borhood which she had now entered was one of
the very worst that the city contains,
8 he rickety wooden stair that
gpened off from the small lower interior. Reach:
ing the peer landing, she. knocked at the big, | $<
decrepit door which now met her Fiew. Thess
Again she kni
jocked. ‘Still no
* Poo ni” murmured Olivia to herself.
# she mnst be very sick, Thaven't seen her for six
dave. I eae 1 had aE TN up having any
met for anybody, W¢ Tl let this be my last
merciful act,”
Sipe entered the
‘There was a miserable
A tallow
room,
but it was vacant.
looked all about her. ‘There was no 5
jan’
Instant beter tho'man hind locked the dcr,
he turned and faced her, tearing off the
black beard that Shrouded the lower part of his
io Conti” gi
« Yes," said the
ed Olivia,
talinn with a faint, ironical
Olivia’s Gark eyes flashed.
“How did you dare to do this thing?” she
we This house is mine ory “he answered, with
sarble_coolnes
three days ago fort not paying her rent. [in
but I mana; to take possession
et iow what this neighborivoad is. Ie
so vile that even the police discreetly, let it alone,
Olivia Ramsay, you are my prise
There was ‘amoment of i
f; For wnt parpese have 9 ‘ow sald this trap”
Olivia resent ly asked, speaking as ealmly as she
could,
wn, pale, handsome face took a
‘The Ttali
saditen sinter site!
“ ah is me home,” he said, with a sort of ter-
illity. “Ihave brought you to it as
Ye leayo it till you have
consented to vane me, Olivia Ramsay, be went
on. “I strove honorably to wi
lived.
dead, J ain determined that you shall not. esca, escape
‘You are the only woman whom I have eve!
cared for, Oh, Lmay below enough in the world's
orea—a, bea ded man nethe phrase goes. | But,
nf tarned out | i
Fargis was tar Be this truo or not, Ouvia Ranisay was certainly
cl
“What doI wish you to do, sir?” she repeated. “Iwish you to make me your wife! T.come to you, a pauper in rags, But Iwish you tomake me Mrs.
aim, infinite
actas well
i
ing for
Olivia. - He
tenched Leo's
ve ne
igned,” ead
tory tones.
lett her Tips
Je heap of
in comp!
Poli ct
self-cor
8! And no
gutenst child of one who was himself an outeacte
The frst hour J ever saw you L said to myself,
Tat etl shall be mine.’ “You refused me again
gnin. Your father east contempt at me—
fe wo had s0 little right to sneer at anyon
my hour of triumph arrives vin fen
ites a clergyman will enter
panied by. twa wichesees,
Gergyman, He hae
Tespeetablitg ke myself but he esi alia
riage: and be wil] marry you and
be no mock-wedding! Have n
“There will not be to-niehe any lady
and gentleman atvong the palaces on Fifth avenue
who will be more lawfully united in matrimony
han you an ane .
Olivia had g1 ‘ly pale. She recognized
anbertting. determination hievery word thet Gee
man spoke,
“And suppose that T refuse,” she said, **tospeak
the words witch ehalt re us one?”
‘Ttalian laughed so! .
“there a1
tale T eaw $01
any feet
aft of igh
* Contound
he hesitated—
don't thinks L
plea:
“her {0 reed the
it bot
naturally, unable ton judge, But
herwise, feeling was ‘upon her, that fate
find pot this deliverance i in
Je | ing nerve her with a sendy, ui
Leo Conti veniked toward “the ‘alee
Gute though the gi
ick the girl stooped, iatched tt
Bottle from sre floor, and conces et led it under the
folds of her shawl. ' She bi while
Going this, that the bottle ‘wan not empty] ie
‘weigbt told her this muel
Here, then, were two points gained. She had
secured the bottle, and she was certain Uae ius
contents were not_exhau
Now to take the nextstep. to secon ae shee full
her
int aug knee what a stake she wae vies
If this man made her his wife, oF had
Power to rule the rest
mbitious resolves must crumble into ashes,
A few instants later the Italian
candle light struck his pale
setui Ola 308 ‘will have to sign.
Her eye swept the table, She saw upon it several
Joose matches.
a certain Blank space on
see,” said
‘mat
dove sout” sh she added, innocently, stret
Ani
candle fell from the table, wens out, and iets
ered oath sounded from Leo Gentl, He
sp wag towards the door and took from fe the key,
which had stiil remained in the lock, thrusting it
within his pocke'
Curse you!” he went on, “sos did that on
imply ae
Thabane baad
et fames dee
well,” he ven moving toward tl
treet-lamy P, P nearly om
‘below tine lev
ian “ae Ttal y
“ton hat man will be & mae Itahan fumbled about the table for several
to
matches here, after
“Can't Jou get normal suid Olivia quietly,
For a few no answer,
could get some,” Tn at length replied.” but L—"
we
the Tabkpern, I suppose.
* Yes,
“Then I shall’ starve
ielding,” he said.“ Ne
food or drink shall pass you
until Tobtain, your Fmd to this
ge. If you ery out, your
be qitickly seri és
you. ten te escape, you wil
like pg
best at inabands, You
fortunes, it's ‘eae, he
Surely your life could
worse than it has ben for several
Ts past. ‘your answer—
Jen, oF 10
‘There was another silence. Olivia
.¢ floor for a moment.
she “looked up’ and” quicdy
met Leo Centi’s gaze,
“Very well,” she said,
aa sami of triumph fashed across
Italian’s face. Hi
“Tons
Je had expected, turbulent revolt
—impassioned re
nat is well,” be said, scriving
torestrain the itnmense satisfaction
t possessed him.
Meanwhile, what were really th
thoughts of this ent Did she a
employ. to
Bhs had made up 1 or i
niches o'
to
jot this man,
Stine b sn ilens an fate
¢ she
a ser
solved to defeat hin,
Chance had given her_a morsel
‘aid, if no more. Whi
Gentie recent
tered, her gaze,
dim space of
Age wes Esa bottle
which eyes less keen than Ohvi's
have failed to decipher. But
Olivia had seen the bottle before
now, This fact may have helped
word which ~*
chloro-
t bore. That word was
During her attacks of suffering,
irs. Fargis, the poor invalid ten-
fing the Dottie behind her, As
peng empty or Wot, Olivia was,
10 believed
So far,
caution must be
‘Every nerve in
t of her existence, all her
turned tor
“close beside. the table: ‘the
1°
Come ai
yourself that ie
toward the table.
ile, and ‘bent over’ his shoulder,
h you to assure
ver seen a marriage certificate be-
‘gentle, intereehes
pleases,
va
here your maine must be
the] Italian, in wi explana-
He spoke mie one. “ager pointing to
© Pay
‘the last, wordy
she had Wlexterouly secured all
oore matches, You ea
for
ian he performed this ection the
lete darkness,
sting it
ing hind been good be as Tio
“How can yor “fs vaccuse me of
‘It was the purest ef accidents.”
ived Leo Centi, He had
rol in another instant.
9 table ‘azaiis
me-matchew here stil At feast
some.”
hot wholly dark, Outside @
ite the window and pee
rel of it, thre
i into the obscurity which prevailed,
Ait” he presently said, there are no
“yr
“well,” be suddenly
wat .
flight, careless laugh. | “As you
‘wo muse wait bero in
nt on, “I
‘aid.
ani Leo, Yee Necclatele, after a panse, #
most with
ere in the darki ‘Ye &
rat wate jarkuess, You have pre- id
Le tece dn
erase
se
wes
s
x
»
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