gloriously, over S .. Clair Arl- A Earnharhirra ./ -4 ~...AM\HW\J~J\~~MV\_ — ~- Btrasnur a Prism 3:. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1870, by BEADLE AND COMPANY, in the Clerk’s office of the Di strict Court for the Southern District of blow York. D Vol. I. No. 1. Bur:ch AND COMPANY, Punmsnuas, 98 “William Street. NEW YORK, MARCH 19, 1870. Price, $9. 50 Per Annum, in Adv. .re, $1 95 for Six Months. Price 5 Cents. Hand, Not Heart: THE DOUBLE unraoruAL. BY LENN OX WYLDER.‘ [rug "0“ D“ Hqu or A cunmznxn AMERICAN airmen.) CHAPTER I. GLDOM ON THE HEART. “OH! Fanny I had rather die- than go into this com any,”7 exclaimed the fair young crea- ture, sud only sweeping her head of luxuriant, olden curls away from the manipulating-care of the tender-hearted sewing-maid, and burying her face in her war , throbbing hands. ‘ A sob burst 'rom her pent-up bosom, and a wild shudder p1. sod over her frame. “Nay—nay, 'llss Agnes,do not give way i It will be worse for yor ; and them-— then—you set. .-it will soon be over—all ’zis fuss and show. Well, i 1, if truth be told, I can’t ll what has come over you incle,and--” “What ha 7 come over him, Fanny? thy, wealth! Wealth that . loner to liimmvealth, worked hard for, by ny poor, dead, murdered fatler! Nay, nay, Fanny !” and she shook her head sadly, yet emphatically -——“I know it! for I feel it-—— and WHO did it! Ay, Fanny, wealth has come. and come 3“ 3 Ca 5 C a- 6" tr. . L ington—wealth that should be mine !” The maid said nothing for a moment, but leaning against the bureau in the room, gazed fixedly at her young mistress, as if lost in admiration at the peerless beauty of the soft antral face, surrounded by its glittering halo of lustrous hair. Agnes Arlington was a beautiful girl, in the fullest meaning of the adjective. Perhaps she was twenty years of age—perlnps young- er -- certainly not older. There Were, however, ugly care-lines across the broad, White forehead—ines deep and sharp-cut b3 the keen raver of Trouble; those ines may have added seem- in years to the girl. S’The mouth, t0), tliquh soft, rich, inviting, flexible for grief or mirth, was hard. likewise; elOSed firmly to- gether, shutting in the rows of pearly teethvshutting in, too, the secret—-~ the dark trouble which was gnawing, beak, at her young heart. And there was a stony stare about the lar e blue eyes, even as she sat there in her room, n, the grand old Arln‘igton mansion—this, the twi— light of a hot, Sultry July evening—«i stare that seemed almost meaningless, as she gazed ahead of her in the dim-lit apartment. Nevertheless, Agnes Arlington was wondrous ly beautiful. And then, Without loworing the curtain, the maid lit the wax taper, and with a half—sigh, turned again to her mistress, and athercd up the rich tresses in her hand. This time the girl did not take hcrnead away, but nestled it softly back against the warm bosom of her only friend, the sewing-maid And Fanny leaned over, as she caressed the 011115, WIHC!‘ She Was putting in array, and said : “It is a strange affair, Miss Agnes, and there are more than you who think that your poor 01d fat/1101' 0118'!” to have outlived his grudge, and {liven you what, despite all the law, it 590",“ to H,“3 is yours ! But now~.” 1.,“ “10m ln‘ My, huge/z law, Fanny, and wondrous 1:1“,9 “33d! viflld the girl, bitterly, interrupt- d g m! 1 5m Whi‘that grudge? Because, gid- tiy, young and somewhat wxllful, as I was, at the Gin“: I WWW (:0 to the ball in the village with 1 .ms Warne! Clovis—moor, dear Clavxs! and 110° only =1 VlSItOl‘ hone—my father’s guest—my V0”! 011! I love him still, though four long years have passed since then, and not one word I'Om him and father dead..mnrdc,-ed1.41m) nhole St. (Blair here as owner of this large estate, and I here, under the law, as his ward! Oh, God ! why am I shared. for such a life? Why do Inot die. .9 ’ with a vulturc’s These last words were spoken in a low, wail- in tone. g‘anny said nothing for a moment—did not speak a. word of sympathy, for she knew her young mistress well, and cared not to torment and harass her by givinrr consolation, when that consolation would be 0 no avail. But looking up in an instant, she said, quick- 1 : y“ Was it not rather, Miss Agnes, that you fail- ed to go to the ball with that man, Delaney Howe, that your father, for a willful disobe- dience, as he termed it, disinherited you ?” A wild storm swept through Agnes Arling- ton’s bosom, and a fearful scowl wrinkled her angel face, as the name mentioned by Fanny fell upon her ears. The large blue eyes seemed to change in hue, as they flashed viciously around. The girl half-sprung from her seat, but, recover- ing herself, sunk back again. twas a terrible struggle that was going on but, by degrees, it passed in her breast; shambling old mansion, of Revolutionary date, looked out far over a wide-stretching plain—a lonely cemetery in one end, here and there spec- tral poplars swaying in the wind, moaning, ever, lonely lullabys—crooning sad ditties on the si- lent air! But now, the nighthad settled down; clouds, low and heavy, hurtled menacingly in the hot, close air; a moaning wind crept around the old mansion and over the plain. Gloom was upon every thing. The maid noticed the gesture of the mistress, and shivering herself, as a dark memory came over her—shivering despite the sweltering July heat, stepped to the window to lower the sash, as if to shut out some horrid sight. But, Agnes turned suddenly, and placed her hand on the arm of the maid. “Stop, stop, Fanny! The Shadow can not harm you! Nor can you see it in the—~” “But, Miss Agnes, tonight is the fourteenth of the month—and the moon shines under the clouds! Oh, God! if it shines through, the “ 'TIS DORA i” m: MUTTERED, IN A LOW. HALF-SCARED vozou. pway, and Agnes Arlington said, in a low, icy one: “Mention not his name, Fanny! That man is my dark shadow—my evil angel; and Iloathe ~—I scorn him ! And yet, he is my uncle’s friend! And that uncle—oh, Godi—sanctions his suit, stud, Fanny, I am not of age, and I can not help 1 . “ You can help it, Miss Agnes, and yOu should!” said the domestic, in a'low tone. “ I would appeal to the law, or I would flee away, under the cover of some dark night, or—in your car, Agnes—I would drive a knife into Delaney Howe’s heart!” The young girl started, and, turning around, gazed in the face of her maid. I There was no swcrving there; all was stern- ncss, earnestness and honesty. For a moment, a wild light burned in Agnes Arlington‘s eyes, and the hard expression around her mouth became more iron-like. She gripped her small hands until the nails dug viciously into the purple palm. But, slowly the paroxysm passed away; the hand unclenched; the stern, marble-like expres- sion of the mouth softened; the angry lightning, gleaming from her eyes, faded out; and a tear stoledown over the cheek. “ No, no, Fanny; you mean well; but do not speak to me thus, again! Do not tempt me! I can. not do as you say; for then there would be no hope of Clavis, and I live for him yet—live on the memory of the sweet past! And, Fanny, there would then be another shadow—another haunting shade across my ath! Oh, no! no i" and she turned shudderinng away from the open window. That window, in the second story of the large, Shadow will be there I” and the servant turned shrinkineg from the window. “Ay! you are right, Fanny, and in my trouble I had torgotten i” said Agnes, in a low voice. “ It is the night of the month—41m fated night—- the bloody fourteenth! when my father disap- peared—«when he was murdered! as I know, and when old Noon disappeared, too! I had forgotten! And this is the birth-night of St. Clair Arlington, my uncle; this night he is to celebrate, despite wind or weather! This night I am to be mistress! This night I am to be persecuted h ' that monster, Delaney Howe! Well, well, 4am) ; God be our friend; it can not be helped! 8,0 on, for it is gettiug‘atc, and nine o’clock is the hour.” Without a word the domestic procecdcv‘ with her work. The golden curls were, one by one, neatly arranged and looped up; a flashing jewel was placed here, another there; then an elegant: robe of black satin was arranged on her form; a string of pearls was thrown around her neck, and, as the great hall~elock down-stairs struck eight, Agnes Arlington, the dazzling, dlSlI’lll'J'lt~ ec beauty and hello of Labbcrton, turned 1.0m the dainty fingers of her maid, and viewed her resplendent form and glowii'ig facein the mirror. She half-started at the image of her glowing self, and, for an instant, a proud smile spread over her features; but, in the twinklin;r of an eye, that smile had fled away, and the girl mur- mured: “ 0h,Clavis l Clovis ! where are you tonight 5’" Then a frown wrinkled her face. At that moment there was a tap at the door, and anotc was handed in. The maid took it, and placed it in the hands of her mistress. Agnes Arlington opened the sheet and glanced through it. A pallor and an expression of pain came to her face, as she read the few lines. lint, she perused them calmlythrough to the end. The note was brief, reading thus : “ Come down into the library, when you are dress ed, and do not take all night to this work. 1 want to see you, on business~-io give you certain instruc tions, which it will be well for you to heed. Don‘t keep me waiting—remember that. “ ST. CLAIR AnLrNo'roN." The note fell from her ncrvcless fingers and fluttered down on the floor. Agnes Arlington heaved a deep sigh, and mm» murcd: “I must go! Oh, God! that such a man is my uncle ! Leave the light burning, Fanny, and go down and see. that the servants are duly at- tired, and ready for this birth—night festival /" She turned away. As she did so, a vivid flash of lightning gleamcd over the wide-stretching, ghostly plain, and a hollow thunder-note pcaled ominously in the hot air. Agnes Arlington glanced instinctively out over the dreary waste-land, and then, with a shudder, she wheeled ' abruptly, and left the apart- ment. CHAPTER I}, T B E s H A n o w , “HEAVEN Preserve us, sir! I’ve lost the way, and—ah! great God i” he suddenly ex. claimed, as, at that moment, a. blinding flash of lightnin glared over the lonely ma , which ran through the dark woods, and a thunder-p991 rowled its hoarse notes along the black aisles of the forest. The horses attached to the carriage reared foal-fully, and tremb cd violently; and, snorting in very in ht, buck- ed the vehicle rude y against. a. heavy tree, by the road- side. , . The rustling, swaying branches of thalt still“? 03k, made wild, me anc 10 y mu- ;ic, as the tempest howled along, and threw them hither and “thither in its angry breath. Again the lightle flasfi' ed viciously down, 11‘1"?!“- ating, for an instant, the dim! forest-fringed l‘Ofidv and fife“ a thunderbolt crashed again- Brief as was the linddmg glimmer of the flash, 1" m up a wild and fearful scene- Thc place was a lonely roof: ——narrow,prceipitous saith! up with gullics, dOWn “ )9: hissing streams were r0le in wild torrents. The if“, gloomy trees, overhangmg the way and interlacmg “bf,” e their spectral arms, Flak “g a black, dismal, far-stretching archWay, 318W up to the very edge of the old stage—road. , eh Backed up to one side—the trembling, (111,36 ing animals, pawing and looking arm“! n_ with terror-stricken eyes—was a commend)?“ try-carriage, splashed with mud, and ptreaglin with the down-pouring sheetm'rain: BL Ink the carriage was strapped a large tmi‘elllig'hfitn ‘ On the seat, the reins clutched in his sh; 4,5; almost nerveless grasp, his face blanchiea with fright, cowcrcd‘the driver, almost helPILSD fear. , un Inside the. vehicle sat one peI'SOYI’”a man, with pale, stern features. As the H v spoke, he put his head out of the Window; am, All this was seen as the bright, fpl'lx‘v‘“ " gleamcd down from the low-hanglng , the above. The glitter was momentary; 33:] Wk sight revealed stood out like a decp'gm‘ ' * “ turc. _ '1 _ ‘C The Again the flash, and again the disc 131% tiled,“ one insidlc (incc more put his head Out 0- riage an r anccd around him. , , c, n “ Hold ygfourhorses up i Give the!” may? he said, in atstern voice, “or they 11 c” “ carria rc to a oms l” ..- :' “Cd’nlt do it, sir; unit do it! E‘WXQ‘QCEJ mind!” replied the man on tth (:YCS’ cowering away still mom, and llldmfis admins: to keel) out the almost incessant shec . A invr li htnin 1‘. “can drift: Why-— Ha!” _ ,., n a, At that moment the black, forest was ifihcfi a with the splendor of a m1 ‘d3X,S““ :50 not deafening detonation, and a tall, glam “mgr”- ‘ forty yards awn ,was riven from 101) to m - “y its torn, seathe fragments flying in cvsrj: (irre- tion.