The Human Vampire; Or, The Elixir of Life — page 25: what you’re looking at

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Yoh |. No, 31, THE LOG CABIN LIBRARY. 25 he had never seen Sidney before. added, interrogatively. ‘*No; [am merely an acquaintance of the family. I am going to New York, and called to obtain Mr. Decker’s address.” “Is that so? Well, I don't know it. Perhaps Miss James does. Sit down, sir. I’m awfully busy. JIcame on here, and was simply horrified to find my daughter in such a sad con- dition.” ‘‘ We all sympathize with Mrs. Decker.” “Of course—who would not, poor thing! find her husband absent.” ‘‘Mrs. Decker has, I understand, in her nervous state, taken an aversion to Mr. Decker. Of course that will all disappear when she recovers.” “T hope so,” said Mr. Hammond, shaking his large head; ““but I don’t know whether there is any cause for it or not.” “7 can assure you, so far as [ know, that Mr. and Mrs, Decker were devoted to each other before this trouble came on them.” * That’s what they all say, but you can never tell. Well, of course, in any case I'll side with my ownchild. That, sir, is human nature, Vd side with her, if I knew she was dead wrong.” “Yes, that is natural, as you say. But I have no doubt that your daughter, as she recovers, will acquit her husband of all blame,” “That's what they all say,” repoated Mr, Hammond, ‘I hope so, I am sure.” Miss James now appeared and informed Mr. Van Stretten that Mr. Decker had been at the Hotel Brunswick when she heard from him last. “Tt was only a telegram,’ quire for Mrs. Decker.” ‘“Thank you,” said Sidney, and he then bade Mr. Hammond good-by and left the house. He was at a loss to decide what step to take next. When Decker heard that Mr. Hammond was about to carry his wife away to Chicago, it was natural to suppose that he would return to Newport for an interview with his father-in- law, even if he did not accompany the party West. “Tf I start now, I'll miss him, in all probability,” said Sid- ney. “I shall wait a day or two. Once the house is closed up he will not return here.” Lillian was now released from her duty by the invalid, and Sidney would have been exceedingly happy if he could have driven away the black shadow of doubt. He longed to know, for certain, whether it had ever occurred to Lillian, but dreaded to ask the question. He wished very much for some one to whom he could confide his doubts, but there was no one. Mrs. Vandercliff, although she was kind-hearted and sensible, was an arrant gossip. His sister was out of the question, and Dr. Salter was, for many reasons, an unsuitable confidant. That night, os Lillian and Sidney sat on a bench not far from the sen, he said, suddenly: ‘Lillian, do you know that a horrible fear has taken posses- sion of me?” “Sidney, you alarm me!” ‘‘She looked in his face tenderly, and slipped her hand in his. “‘T wish you would laugh at me,” he went on, ‘ridicule me, anything to make me feel that this doubt is absurd.” ‘* How can I do so, Sidney, when I do not know what your doubts and fears are.” “T dread, I fear, Lilly, that the man who ealls himself Decker is none other than my sister's husband, Clifford Der- went!” “Oh, Sidney!” ‘‘Tt is true, the man was pronounced dead, was buried. I was not ab his fnneral, but others were. Still, I cannot rid my- self of the thought that he is alive.” Lillian'’s face had grown whiter than marble. but her yoice was calm as she quietly asked: “ Why shonld Mr, Derwent die, and still be living? I don’t think I understand.” *«Tisten, Lillian. Before he died, he was ruined. He had spent my sister's fortune. His funeral was conducted in a pe- enliar way, and all the arrangements were made by this man, Gregory, who is now Mr. Decker’s confidential servant.” There fell a breathless hush between them. Luallion broke the silence. “Sidney,” she said, “every particular you have mentioned was repented at the time of my husband’s death. What if Vivien was Oliford Derwent?” “And now is Marshall Decker!” “ Surely it is impossible. How could the man rise from the grave?" “Are you s& doctor?” he I was surprised to ’ said the housekeeper, ‘just to in- She trembled, ‘‘T dread the thought. It drives me mad. Lillian, if this is true, [ shall kill him with my own hand.” “But, Sidney, it cannot be true, If it is, there must be some way of discovering the truth,” You are right. I never thought of that. I shall start for New York at once, and never rest until I see whether this man possesses the power of dying and rising from the dead.” ‘‘And masquerading in another shape. Oh, Sidney, what shall become of us if this is true?” Tho full horror of the position came over her. “Tf itis true! Don’t speak of it, precious one. least hope till hope is dead,” She knew that hope was already dead, in spite of his brave words. ‘‘Remember one thing, Sidney,”’ she said. ‘‘I never really loved this man, At the time I thought I did a skillful glamour was thrown over me. Long, long before his death I knew I had never loved one who was so utterly unworthy of affection from any pure woman.” “‘Tam glad to learn that, my heart’s darling. But tell me, Lilly, the night you saw him first, when my sister fainted, did you feel no doubt? Were you not struck by the striking re- semblance which they tell me isso great? I never saw Vivian, and I was not present at the reception when Louise was so over- come, Did you fear anything was wrong at that time?” “Yes, Sidney,” said Lillian, frankly, ‘(I did, until your sister fainted and the words—I do not know who uttered them—were sounded in my ears, ‘He is exactly like her husband, Clifford Derwent!’ Then I felt reassured. If such a resemblance could occur once it might easily do so again. I reflected, if this man looks so like this Derwent, why should he not look like Vivian, Of course, the idea that they might be one and the same never oceurred to me for one moment.” “Of course not. Have you seen him often since that night?” ‘No, and now that you speak of it, I believe he avoids me. Of course all has been trouble snd confusion ever since the loss of the children, and he dayed not come near his wife, so I did not remark that he kept out of my way.” ‘You were doing so much for his wife. It would have only been natural for him to see you and thank you for your kind- ness to Mrs. Decker.” “Tt would.” ‘‘ Well, Lillian, I will set out on my mission to-morrow. If Derwent’s body lies in the vault at Trinity Cemetery I suppose I may rest satisfied.” “No, Sidney, I shall not feel satisfied till you visit the vault in the old grave-yard on Broad street, inSavannah. If Vivyian’s body rests there in our family vault, then all doubts will be set at rest forever.” ‘« Then, Lillian, I shall start on my dismal tour of investiga- tion to-morrow. Heaven grant that our doubts are but fancies, the children of our over-busy brains.” “<T hope so; but, Sidney, suppose they are too well founded, What then?” ‘“Then, Lilly, as I said before, I shall feel it my duty to rid the earth of a monster.” ‘But, Sidney, I cannot allow you to endanger your precious life. (al us Be! | ( Wey G \ Let us at TNL BSN) Z 8 Wed Eee Niet Nail wn eae Me N Nears via “T pon’? j'nreupy YOU Is FUUM RIGHT, MAgsAl”—Chap. xxiv. comicbooks.com ae ee