第 7 节
作者:上网找工作      更新:2024-04-14 09:14      字数:9322
  Muck; and dash rapidly forward to the cottage of Judge Tompkins; was the
  work of a moment。
  He burst open the door。 Why did he stand transfixed with open mouth
  and   distended   eyeballs?   Was   the   sight   too   horrible   to   be   borne?   On   the
  contrary;   before   him;   in   her   peerless   beauty;   stood   Genevra   Tompkins;
  leaning on her father's arm。
  〃Ye'r not scalped; then!〃 gasped her lover。
  〃No。    I  have   no   hesitation    in  saying   that   I  am   not;  but   why    this
  abruptness?〃 responded Genevra。
  Bumpo   could   not   speak;   but   frantically   produced   the   silken   tresses。
  Genevra turned her face aside。
  〃Why; that's her waterfall!〃 said the Judge。
  Bumpo sank fainting to the floor。
  The    famous     Pike   chieftain    never   recovered     from    the   deceit;  and
  refused to marry Genevra; who died; twenty years afterwards; of a broken
  heart。 Judge Tompkins lost his fortune in Wild Cat。 The stage passes twice
  a week the deserted cottage at Donner Lake。 Thus was the death of Muck…
  a…Muck avenged。
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  TERENCE DENVILLE。
  BY CHLS LVR。
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  CHAPTER I。
  MY HOME。
  The   little   village   of   Pilwiddle   is   one   of   the   smallest   and   obscurest
  hamlets on the western coast of Ireland。 On a lofty crag; overlooking the
  hoarse     Atlantic;   stands   〃Denville's    Shot   Tower〃a     corruption    by   the
  peasantry   of   D'Enville's   Chateau;   so   called   from   my   great…grandfather;
  Phelim St。 Kemy d'Enville; who assumed the name and title of a French
  heiress with whom he ran away。 To this fact my familiar knowledge and
  excellent pronunciation of the French language may be attributed; as well
  as many of the events which covered my after life。
  The   Denvilles   were   always   passionately   fond   of   field   sports。 At   the
  age of four; I was already the boldest rider and the best shot in the country。
  When only eight; I won the St。 Remy Cup at the Pilwiddle races;riding
  my   favorite   bloodmare   Hellfire。   As   I   approached   the   stand   amidst   the
  plaudits of the assembled multitude; and cries of; 〃Thrue for ye; Masther
  Terence;〃   and   〃O;   but   it's   a   Dinville!〃   there   was   a   slight   stir   among   the
  gentry; who surrounded the Lord Lieutenant; and other titled personages
  whom the race had attracted thither。 〃How young he is;a mere child; and
  yet how noble…looking;〃 said a sweet low voice; which thrilled my soul。
  I looked up and met the full liquid orbs of the Hon。 Blanche Fitzroy
  Sackville; youngest daughter of the Lord Lieutenant。 She blushed deeply。 I
  turned pale and almost fainted。 But the cold; sneering tones of a masculine
  voice sent the blood back again into my youthful cheek。
  〃Very likely the ragged scion of one of these banditti Irish gentry; who
  has taken naturally to 'the road。' He should be at schoolthough I warrant
  me his knowledge of Terence will not extend beyond his own name;〃 said
  Lord Henry Somerset; aid…de…camp to the Lord Lieutenant。
  A moment and I was perfectly calm; though cold as ice。 Dismounting;
  and stepping to the side of the speaker; I said in a low; firm voice:
  〃Had   your   Lordship   read   Terence   more   carefully;      you   would   have
  learned     that   banditti   are   sometimes     proficient    in   other   arts  beside
  horsemanship;〃 and I touched his holster significantly with my hand。 I had
  not   read   Terence    myself;    but  with   the   skilful  audacity    of  my   race   I
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  calculated that a vague allusion;  coupled with a threat; would   embarrass
  him。 It did。
  〃Ahwhat mean you?〃 he said; white with rage。
  〃Enough; we   are observed;〃   I replied;   〃Father Tom  will wait   on   you
  this   evening;     and    to…morrow      morning;     my    lord;   in  the   glen   below
  Pilwiddle we will meet again。〃
  〃Father Tomglen!〃 ejaculated the Englishman; with genuine surprise。
  〃What?   do   priests   carry   challenges   and   act   as   seconds   in   your   infernal
  country?〃
  〃Yes!〃   I   answered;   scornfully;   〃why   should   they   not?   Their   services
  are more often necessary than those of a surgeon;〃 I added significantly;
  turning away。
  The   party   slowly   rode   off;   with   the   exception   of   the   Hon。   Blanche
  Sackville; who lingered for a moment behind。  In an instant I was at her
  side。 Bending her blushing face over the neck of her white filly; she said
  hurriedly:
  〃Words   have   passed   between   Lord   Somerset   and   yourself。   You   are
  about to fight。 Don't deny itbut hear me。 You will meet himI know your
  skill of weapons。 He will be at your mercy。 I entreat you to spare his life!〃
  I hesitated。 〃Never!〃 I cried passionately; 〃he has insulted a Denville!〃
  〃Terence;〃 she whispered; 〃TerenceFOR MY SAKE?〃
  The   blood   rushed   to   my   cheeks;   and   her   eyes   sought   the   ground   in
  bashful confusion。
  〃You love him then?〃 I cried; bitterly。
  〃No;   no;〃   she   said;   agitatedly;   〃no;   you   do   me   wrong。   IIcannot
  explain   myself。   My   father!the   Lady   Dowager   Sackvillethe   estate   of
  Sackvillethe      boroughmy        uncle;   Fitzroy    Somerset。     Ah!   what    am    I
  saying? Forgive me。 O Terence;〃 she said; as her beautiful head sank on
  my shoulder; 〃you know not what I suffer!〃
  I seized her hand and covered it with passionate kisses。 But the high…
  bred English girl; recovering something of her former hauteur; said hastily;
  〃Leave me; leave me; but promise!〃
  〃I promise;〃 I replied; enthusiastically; 〃I WILL spare his life!〃
  〃Thanks;   Terence;thanks!〃   and   disengaging   her   hand   from   my   lips
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  she rode rapidly away。
  The    next  morning;  the  Hon。   Captain  Henry   Somerset    and  myself
  exchanged nineteen shots in the glen; and at each fire I shot away a button
  from his uniform。 As my last bullet shot off the last button from his sleeve;
  I remarked quietly; 〃You seem now; my lord; to be almost as ragged as the
  gentry you sneered at;〃 and rode haughtily away。
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  CHAPTER II。
  THE FIGHTING FIFTY…SIXTH。
  When I was nineteen years old my father sold the Chateau d'Enville
  and   purchased   my  commission   in   the  〃Fifty…sixth〃   with   the  proceeds。   〃I
  say; Denville;〃 said young McSpadden; a boy…faced ensign; who had just
  joined; 〃you'll represent the estate in the Army; if you won't in the House。〃
  Poor fellow; he paid for his meaningless joke with his life; for I shot him
  through the heart the next morning。 〃You're a good fellow; Denville;〃 said
  the poor boy faintly; as I knelt beside him: 〃good by!〃 For the first time
  since my grandfather's death I wept。 I could not help thinking that I would
  have been a better man if Blanchebut why proceed? Was she not now in
  Florencethe belle of the English Embassy?
  But    Napoleon     had   returned   from    Elba。  Europe     was   in  a  blaze  of
  excitement。  The Allies   were   preparing   to   resist   the   Man   of   Destiny。   We
  were   ordered   from   Gibraltar   home;   and   were   soon   again   en   route   for
  Brussels。 I did not regret that I was to be placed in active service。 I was
  ambitious;      and   longed    for  an  opportunity     to  distinguish    myself。    My
  garrison life in Gibraltar had been monotonous and dull。 I had killed five
  men   in   duel;   and   had   an   affair   with   the   colonel   of   my   regiment;   who
  handsomely apologized before the matter assumed a serious aspect。 I had
  been twice in love。 Yet these were but boyish freaks and follies。 I wished
  to be a man。
  The time soon came;the morning of Waterloo。 But why describe that
  momentous   battle;   on   which   the   fate   of   the   entire   world   was   hanging?
  Twice were the Fifty…sixth surrounded by French cuirassiers; and twice did
  we mow them down by our fire。 I had seven horses shot under me; and
  was mounting the eighth; when an orderly rode up hastily; touched his cap;
  and; handing me a despatch; galloped rapidly away。
  I ope