Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 39, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 September 1906 — Madame Midas [ARTICLE]

Madame Midas

By Fergus Hume

CHAPTER IX.—-(Coatinur'd.) There were present Madame Midas. Selina, Mclntosh, and Vandeloup. and they were all gathered round the table looking at the famous nugget. There it lay in the center of the table, a virgin mass of gold, all water-worn and polished, hollowed ont like a honeycomb. and dot—tad over with white pebbles like currants in a plum pudding. - "I think I’ll send it to Melbourne for • AiMHonsaid Mrs: touching; the nugget very lightly with her fingers. “ TVed. mum. and *t in worth it,’’ replied Mclntosh, whose severe face was relaxed in a grimly pleasantmanner. »* "What's the time?” asked Madame, rather irrelevantly. Mr. Mclntosh drew out the large silver watch, which was part and parcel of himself, and answered gravely that it was two o’clock, "Then I’ll tell you what." said Mrs. "Vtltterß. Thdng. ‘*ril rake it in with me to ba 11atat awdsbow it to Mr. Marclmrst." Mclntosh drew down the corners of his mouth, for, as a rigid Presbyterian, he by no means approved of Mareliurst’a heretical opinions, but of course said nothing aa Madame wished it. “Clan I come with you. Madame?” said Vandeloup eagerly, for, he never lost an opportunity of seeing Kitty if be could help it.

“Certainly,’’ replied Madame graciously; "ire will start at once.” Vandeloup was going away to got ready, when Mclntosh stopped him. ‘*That friend o’ yours is going away t’ the town the day,” he said, touching Vandeloup lightly on the shoulder. “Whst fori” asked the Frenchman carelessly. “"Tie to see the play actors. I’m thinkin’," returned Archie dryly. “He wants to stop all night i* the town, so I’ve let him go, an’ have told him to put up at the Wattle Tree Hotel, the landlord o’ which is s friend -o’ mine.” v “Very kind of you, I'm sure," said Vandeloup. with a pleasant smile. The great nugget was carefully packed In a stout wooden box by Archie, and placed in the trap by him with such caution that Madame, who was already seated in it. asked him if lie was afraid she would be robbed. “It's aiwavs best to be on the right side. mem.” said Archie, handing her the reins; "we never know what may happen." '—“Why, no one knows I am taking this to Ballarat to-day,” said Madame, drawing on her gloves. “Don’t they?” thought M. Vandeloup. as be took his seat beside her. “She doesn't know that I’ve told Pierre.”

And without a single thought for the woman whose confidence he was betraying. and of whose bread and salt ho had partaken. Vandeloup shook the reins, and the horse startl'd down the road in the direction of Ballarat, carrying Madame Midas and her nugget. “You carry Csrsar and his fortunes, M. Vandeloup,” she said, with a, smile. “I do better.” he answered gaily; “I carry Madame Midas and her luck.”

CHAPTER X. Mr. Mark Marchurst was a very peculiar man. Brought up in the Presbyterian religion, he had early displayed his peculiarity by differing from the elders of the church he belonged to regarding their doctrine of eternal punishment. They, holding fast to the teachings of Knox and Oalrin, looked upon him in horror for daring to have an opinion of his own, and as he refused to repent and have blind belief in the teachings of those grim divines, he was turned out of the bosom •f the church. ■ On this bright afternoon, when everything was bathed in sunshine, Mr. Marchurst. instead of being outside and enjoying the beauties of nature, was mewed np in his dismal little study.- with curtains Hoseiy drawn to exclude the light, a cup of strong tea, and the Bible open at “The Lamentations of Jeremiak;” He was a tall thin man. of a bleached appearance, from staying so much in‘the dark, and so loosely put together that when he bowed he did not as much bend as tumble down from a height. In fact, he looked so carelessly fixed up that when he sat down he made the onlooker feel quite nervous lest be should subside into a. ruin, and scatter his legs, arms and head promiscuously all over the place. He was roused from his dismal musings by the quick owning of the door of his atudy. when Kitty, joyous and gay In her white dress,- burst like a sunbeam into the room. t “I wish. Katherine,” said her father, in a severe voice, “I wish you would not J enter so noisily and disturb my meditations.” j , “You’ll have to put your meditations aside for a bit,” said Kitty, disrespectfully, crossing to the window and pulling aside the curtains, “for Madame Midas and M. Vandeloup have come to sec you.” A flood of golden light streamed into the dusky room, and Marchurst put his > band to his eyes for a moment; as they 1 were dazzled by the sudden glare. j “Tbey've got something to show you,! papa,” said Kitty, going to the ] door; “a big nugget—sura a size —a» i large as your head.” 1

Her father.put his hand mechanically to his head to judge of the size, and was •bout to answer when Madame Midas, calm, eool and handsome, entered the room, followed by Vandeloup, carrying a .qrgooea box contaipmg tbt DUggM.lt was by no means light, and Vandeloup was quite thankful when he placed it on the table. “Wonderful!” reiterated the old man. jMssing bis thin band lightly over the surface; “verily the Iron) hath hidden great treasure in the entrails of the earth, and the Pactolus would seem to be a land of Opbir when it yields such wealth as this.” .. , _ Ill* osf get was duly admired by ereryfat, aa< than Brown and Jane, who form-

ed the household of Marchurst, were called in to look at it. They both expressed such wonder ‘Tint Marchurst felt himself com pel led to admonish them against prizing the treasures of earth above those of heaven. Vandeloup, afraid that they were in for a sermon, beckoned *juicily to Kitty, and they both stealthily left the room, while Marchurst. with Brown, Jane and Madame for an sudieme. and the nugget for 0 text,, deli vpraf a short discourse. ; - - sss~g~ "~Klity pttt on a great straw hat. Her piquant face blushed and grew pink beneath the fond gaze of her lover ps they U*tt the house together and strolled up iln- Black Ilill. Seated on the highest point of the hill, under the shadow of a great rock, the two lovers had a wonderful view of Ballarat. Here and there they could see the galvan- . ized iron roofs of the houses glcahiing dike silver in the sunlight from amid the thick foliage of the trees with which the city was studded.

All this wonderful panoramn, however, was so fnmiliar to Kitty and her lover that they did not trouble themselves to look much at it, but the girl sat down under the big Kx-k. and Vandeloup flung himself lazily at her feet. "Robe." said VtUtdclinipr wlio had given her this i>et name, “how long is this sort of life going to last?” —Kitty TooketTdown at hiui with ft vague feeling of terror at her heart. She had never known any life but the simple one she was now lending, and could not imagine it coming to an end. ‘’l’m getting tired of it, 7 , said Vandeloup. lying hack on the grass, and, putting his hands under liis head, stared idly at the bjue sky. “Unfortunately, human life is so short nowadays that we cannot afford to waste a moment of it. I am not suited for a lotus-eating existence, and I think 1 shall go to Melbourne. “And leave me?” cried Kitty, in dismay, never having contemplated such a thing ns likely to happen. “That depends on yourself. Bel>e, ’ said her lover, quickly rolling over and looking steadily at her, with his chin resting on bis hands; “will you come with me? We will get married in Melbourne as soon as we arrive.” r-n

“Why can’t papa marry as?” pouted. Kitty, in an aggrieved tone. “Because your father would never consent,” he whispered, putting his arm round her waist ; "we must run away quietly, and when we arc married can ask his pardon and,” with a sardonic sneer, "his blessing.” A delicious thrill passed through Kitty when she heard this. A real elopement with a handsome lover —-just like the heroines in the story books, it was delightfully romantic, and yet there seemed to be something wrong about it. She was like a timid bather, longing to plunge into, the water, yet hesitating through a vague fear. - With a quick catching of the breath she turned to Vandeloup, and saw him with his scintillating eyes fastened on her face. “When do you go?" asked Kitty, who was now trembling violently. "Ah!’’ M. Vandeloup was puzzled what to say, as he had no wry decided plan of action. He had not sufficient money saved to justify him in leaving the Paetolus—still there were always possibilities. and Fortune was fond of playing wild pranks. At the same time there was nothing tangible in view likely to make him rich. so. as these thoughts rapidly passed through his mind, he resolved to temporize. “I can’t tell you, Hebe.” he said, in a caressing tone.-smoothing her curly hair. “I want you to think over what I have said, and when I do go, perhaps in a month or so. you will be ready to come with me. No,” he said, as Kitty was about to answer, "I don’t want you to reply now. take time to consider, little one." and with a smile-on his lips ho bent over aud kissed her tenderlyT They sat silently tog-;*her for some time, each intent on then ’bought*, and then Vandeloup suddenly looked up. -Will Madanj* stay to dinner with you, Bebc?” he asked.

“She always docs: you will come, too.” Vandeloup shook his head. “I am going down to Ballarat to the Wattle Tree Hotel to see my friend Pierre" lie said, in a preoccupied n*iliner. "and will have something to eat there. Then I will come up again about eight o'clock, in time to see Madame off.” "Aren't you going back with her?” asked Kitty, in surprise, as they rose to their feet. "No,” he replied, dusting his knees with liis hand. “I stay all night in Ballarat, with Madame's kind permission, to see the theater. Now. good-bye at present. Belie,” kissing her, "j will lie hack at eight, o'clock, so you can excuse me to Madame till then." He ran gaily down the hill, waving his hat. lind Kitty stood looking after him with pride in her heart. He was a lover any girl might have been proud of.

CHAPTER XI. The Wattle Tree Hotel, to which Mr. Mclntosh had directed Pierre.' was a quiet little public house in a quiet* street. It was far away from the main thoroughfares Q.f Lhe city and a stranger had to go up any number of quiet streets to get to it and turn and twist round corners and down narrow lanes uiW.il it became a perfect miracle how he ever found the -hotel at all. Any one going into the bar could see old Simon—-a stolid, fat man with a sleepy looking face always in his shirt sleeves and Wearing a white apron sitting in a chair at the end while his daughter, a sharp, red-nosed dyrnsei. who was 35 years of age. and confessed to 22, served out the meals. Mrs. Twexby had long ago departed this life, leaving behind her the sharp, red-nosed damsel to be her father’s comfort. As a matter of fact, she was just the opposite, and Simon often

wished that ’his daughter had departed to a better world in company with her mother. Thin, tight-laced, with a shrill voice and an acidulated temper, Miss Twexby was still a spinster, and not even the fget of her being an heiress could tempt any of the Ballarat youth to lead her to the altar. Consequently Mias Twexby’s temper wfts not one, and she ruled the hotel and its inmates with -"t- v Mr. Viiiiers was a frequent customer at 1 the Wattle Tree, and was in the back parlor talking Vo old Twexby on the day I that I’ierre arrived. The dumb man came into the .bar out of the dusty road, and, leaning over the counter, pushed a letter under Miss Twexby’a nose,- and although it wasvdirected rosier father. Miss Twexby, who managed everything, opened it and found it was from Mclntosh, saying that the hearer* Pierre Lcbaire, was' to have a bed for the night, meals and whatever else he required, and that he —Mclntosh wo'ffiil bo‘responsible for the money. Tie furthermore added that the bearerwas dumb. “Oh. so you are dutnb, are you?” said Miss Twexby, folding up the letter and looking complacently at Pierre. “I wish there were a few more men the same way: them perhaps, weld have less chat.” Meanwhile, Viiiiers having heard the name of Pierre Lemaire, and knowing he was engaged in the Pactolus claim, came round to see him and try to find out all about the nugget. Pierre was sulky at first, and sat with his old black hat drawn down so far over his eyes that only liis bushy black beard was visible, but Mr. Viiiiers’ suavity, together with the present of half a crown, had a marked effect on him. As he. was dumb. Mr. Viiiiers somewhat perplexed how to carry on a conversation with him, but he ultimately drew forth a piece of paper, and sketched a rough presentation of a nugget thereon, which lie showed to Pierre. The Frenchman, however, did not* comprehend until Viiiiers produced a sovereign from liis pocket, and pointed first to the gold, and then to —the —drawing,—upon which Pierre nodded his head several times in order to show that he understood. Villicrs then drew a picture of the Pactolus chiim and asked Pierre in French |f the nugget was still there, as he showed him the sketch. Pierre shook his head, and, taking the jiencil in his hand, drew a .rough representation of a horse and cart, and put a square box in the latter to show the nugget was on a journey. ■■IIullo!” said Viiiiers to himself, “it’s not at her own house, and she’s driving somewhere with it; I wonder where to? ■ She's got the nugget with her in the trap, and. she’s taken it to show Marchurst. Well, she’s sure to stop there to tea, and won’t start for home till about nine o'clock; fit will be pretty dark by then. She'll be by herself and if I ” here he stopped and looked around cautiously, and then, without another word, set off down the street at a run. ■- -' -■

The fact was, Mr. VHliers had come to the conclusion that as his wife would not give him money willingly, tfie best thing to be done would be to take it by force, and accordingly he had made up his mind to robther of tiie nugget that night if pos gable. The afternoon wore drowsily along, and the great heat made everybody inclined to sleep, l’ierrc had demanded by signs to be shown his bedroom, and having been conducted thereto by a crushed-looking waiter, who drifted aimlessly before him, throw himself on the bed and went fast asleep. Even Martha, the wide-awake, was yielding to the somniferous heat of the day, when a young man entered the bar and made her sit up with'great alacrity. This was none other than M. Vandeloup, who had come down to see Pierre. Dressed in flannels, with a blue scarf tied carelessly round his waist, a blue necktie knotted loosely round his throat under the collar of his shirt, and wearing a straw hat on his fair head, he looked wonderfully cool and handsome, and as he leaned over the counter Miss Twexby thought that the hero of her novel must have stepped bodily out of the book. Gasion stared complacently at her while he pulled at his fair moustache. But he was not looking at her somewhat mature charms, but dt a bunch of pale blue flowers, among which were some white blossoms she wore in the front of her dress. (To be continued.!