"By Satan!" cried the Dead Man--"those Franklins are ladies after my own heart; lecherous, murderous and abandoned, they are meet companions for me. What a splendid contrivance! It needs but the additions of myself and the superb Josephine, to render it complete!"
He left the room, and entered an elegant bed-chamber which adjoined it.
It was the chamber of Josephine; and her full-length portrait hung upon the wall; there was her proud brow, her wanton eyes, her magnificent bust, uncovered, and seeming to swell with lascivious emotions.
Everything was sumptuous, yet everything lacked that beautiful propriety which is so charming a characteristic of the arrangements of a virtuous woman--one whose purity of soul is mirrored in all that surrounds her.
The bed, gorgeous though it was, seemed, in its shameless disorder, to have been a nest of riotous harlotry. Costly garments lay trampled under foot; a bird in a golden-wired prison, was gasping and dying for want of nourishment; splendidly-bound books, with obscene contents, were scattered here and there, and a delicate white slipper, which Cinderella might have envied, was stuffed full with letters. The Dead Man examined the doc.u.ments; and among them was a paper, in the handwriting of Josephine, which we shall take the liberty of transcribing:--
"PRIVATE JOURNAL.--"Monday. Pa.s.sed last evening with Signor Pacci, the handsome Italian Opera singer. Was rather disappointed in my expectations; he is impetuous, but * * * *."
"Tuesday. Have just made an appointment with ---- the actor; he came to my box last night, between the acts, and made a thousand tender pretensions. _Mem._--must try and get rid of Tom the coachman--am tired of him; besides it is _outre_ to permit liberties to a menial."
"Thursday. Am bored to death with the persecutions of Rev. Mr.
----. I cannot endure him, he is so ugly. _Mem._--His son is a charming youth of sixteen; must try and get him."
"Sat.u.r.day. Dreadfully provoked with mother for her disgraceful _liaison_ with her new coachman. She promised to discharge the fellow--did not perceive my drift. _Mem._--Am to admit him to-night to my chamber."
"Sunday. Heard Mr. ---- preach; he visits me to-night."
Having perused this precious _morceau_, the Dead Man thrust it into his pocket, and then, after a moment"s reflection, deliberately applied the flame of the lamp to the curtains of the bed; and having waited to see the fire fairly started, he ran rapidly down stairs, and escaped from the house.
Within a quarter of an hour afterwards, Franklin House was entirely enveloped in flames; and notwithstanding every effort was made to save the building, it was completely destroyed. In one short hour that magnificent and stately pile was reduced to a heap of smoking ruins.
The destruction of this house and the property contained in it, brought Mrs. Franklin and her daughter to absolute poverty. When the news of the event reached them in Boston they were far from supposing that it was caused by the hideous ruffian whom they had so much reason to fear; they attributed the conflagration to the carelessness of Simon, and knew nothing of his having been murdered, but thought that, being intoxicated, he had perished in the flames.
The mother and daughter held a long consultation as to the best means of retrieving their ruined fortunes; and the result was, they determined to send for Sophia, in order to make use of her in a d.a.m.nable plot, which, while it would supply them abundantly with cash, would forever ruin the peace and happiness of that innocent and pure-minded girl.
In answer to the summons, Sophia left the home of her relative in New Jersey, and joined her mother and sister in Boston. They received her with every demonstration of affection; and little did she suspect that an infamous scheme had been concocted between them, to sacrifice her upon the altars of avarice and l.u.s.t.
CHAPTER XXVI
_Scene on Boston Common--George Radcliff--the Rescue--Two Model Policemen--Innocence protected--the Duel, and the Death--the Unknown._
After Frank Sydney"s escape from the Dark Vaults, through the City Sewers, he did not deem it prudent to remain longer in New York.
Accordingly, accompanied by the Doctor, the dumb boy Clinton, and his faithful servant Dennis, he left the city, to take up his abode elsewhere. None of his friends knew the place of his destination; some supposed that he had gone to Europe; others thought that he had emigrated to the "far West"; while many persons imagined that he had exhausted his fortune, and been obliged to leave by the persecutions of creditors. Those who had been accustomed to borrow money from him, regretted his departure; but those who had been afflicted with jealousy at his good looks and popularity with _la belle s.e.x_, expressed themselves as "devilish glad he"d gone."
But, in truth, Frank had neither gone to Europe, nor to the far West, neither had he been driven away by creditors; his fortune was still ample, and adequate to all his wants, present and to come. Where, then, was our hero flown? impatiently demands the reader. Softly, and you shall know in good time.
It was a beautiful afternoon, in spring, and Boston Common was thronged with promenaders of both s.e.xes and all conditions. Here was the portly speculator of State street, exulting over the success of his last _shave_; here was the humble laborer, emanc.i.p.ated for a brief season from the drudgery of his daily toil; here was the blackleg, meditating on future gains; and here the pickpocket, on the alert for a victim.
Then there were ladies of every degree, from the poor, decent wife of the respectable mechanic, with her troop of rosy children, down to the languishing lady of fashion, with her silks, her simperings, and her look of _hauteur_. Nor was there wanting, to complete the variety, the brazen-faced courtezan, with her "nods," and becks, and wreathed smiles, tho" to cla.s.s _her_ with ladies of any grade, would be sacrilege.
The weather was delicious; a soft breeze gently stirred the trees, which were beginning to a.s.sume the fair livery of spring, and the mild rays of the declining sun shone cheerily over the n.o.ble enclosure. In the princ.i.p.al mall a young lady was slowly walking with an air pensive and thoughtful.
She could scarce have been over sixteen years of age--a beautiful blonde, with golden hair and eyes of that deep blue wherein dwells a world of expression. In complexion she was divinely fair; her cheeks were suffused with just enough of a rich carnation to redeem her angelic countenance from an unbecoming paleness. Her figure, _pet.i.te_ and surpa.s.singly graceful, had scarce yet attained the matured fullness of womanhood; yet it was of exquisite symmetry.--Her dress was elegant without being gaudy, and tasteful without being ostentatious.
Have you noticed, reader, while perusing this narrative, that nearly all the characters introduced have been more or less tainted with crime?--Even Sydney, good, generous and n.o.ble as he was, had his faults and weaknesses. Alas! human excellence is so very scarce, that had we taken it as the princ.i.p.al ingredient of our book, we should have made a slim affair of it, indeed.
But you may remember, that in the former portions of our story, we made a slight allusion to one Sophia Franklin. _She_, excellent young lady!
shall redeem us from the imputation of total depravity. Her virtue and goodness shall illumine our dark pages with a celestial light--even though her mother and sister were _murderesses_!
Sophia Franklin it was, then, whom we have introduced as walking on the Common, with thoughtful and pensive air, on that fine afternoon in early spring.
But _why_ thoughtful, and _why_ pensive? Surely she must be happy.--There certainly cannot exist a creature made in G.o.d"s glorious image, who would plant the thorn of unhappiness in the pure breast of that gentle girl?
There is. Her worst enemies are her nearest relatives. Her mother and sister are plotting to sacrifice her to the l.u.s.t of a rich villain, for gold.
Oh, GOLD!--Great dragon that doth feed on human tears, and human honor, and human blood! Thou art the poor man"s phantom--the rich man"s curse.
Magic is thy power, thou yellow talisman; thou canst cause men and women to forget themselves, their neighbors, their G.o.d! See yon grey-headed fool, who hugs gold to his breast as a mother hugs her first born; he builds houses--he acc.u.mulates money--he dabbles in railroads. A great man, forsooth, is that miserly old wretch, who stoops from manhood to indulge the dirty promptings of a petty avarice. But is he happy? NO; how can such a thing be happy, even tho" he possess thousands acc.u.mulated by his detestable meanness--when men spit on him with contempt; decency kicks him, dishonorable care will kill him, infamy will rear his monument, and the devil will roast him on the hottest gridiron in h.e.l.l--_and he knows it!_
But to resume. Slowly did Sophia pursue her walk to the end of the mall, and as slowly did she retrace her steps; then, crossing a narrow path, she approached the venerable old elm, whose antique trunk is a monument of time. She had scarcely made two circuits around this ancient tree, when a gentleman who had espied her from a distance, advanced and greeted her with a familiar air. On seeing him, she became much agitated, and would have walked rapidly away, had he not caught her by the arm and forcibly detained her.
This gentleman was a person of distinguished appearance, tall, graceful figure, and fashionably dressed.--His countenance though eminently handsome, was darkly tinged with Southern blood, and deeply marked with the lines of dissipation and care. He wore a jet-black mustache and imperial and his air was at once n.o.ble and commanding. "My pretty Sophia," said the stranger, in a pa.s.sionate tone--"why do you fly from me thus? By heavens, I love you to distraction, and have sworn a solemn oath that you shall be mine, though a legion of fiends oppose me!"
"Pray let me go, Mr. Radcliff," said the young girl entreatingly--"you wish me to do wrong, and I cannot consent to it, indeed I cannot. As you are a gentleman, do not persecute me any more."
"Persecute you--_never!_" exclaimed the libertine; "become mine, and you shall have the devotion of my life-time to repay you for the sacrifice.
Consent, sweet girl."
"Never!" said Sophia, firmly; "had you honorably solicited me to become your wife, I might have loved you; but you seek my ruin, and I despise, detest you. Let me go, sir, I implore--I command you!"
"Command _me_!" exclaimed the libertine, his eyes sparkling with rage--"silly child, it is George Radcliff who stands before you; a man whom none dare presume to command, but whom all are accustomed to _obey_! I am a monarch among women, and they bow submissive to my wishes. Listen, Sophia; I have for years plucked the fairest flowers in the gardens of female beauty, but I am sated with their intoxicating perfume, and sick of their gaudy hues. Your luxurious mother and fiery sister were acceptable to me for a time, and I enjoyed their voluptuous caresses with delight; but the devil! the conquest was too easily achieved. I soon grew tired of them and was about to withdraw my patronage, when to retain it, they mentioned _you_, describing you to be a creature of angelic loveliness; my pa.s.sions were fired by the description, and I longed to add so fair and sweet a lily to the brilliant bouquet of my conquests. They sent for you to New Jersey; you came, and surpa.s.sed my highest antic.i.p.ations. I paid your mother and sister a large sum for you, promising to double the amount as soon as you should become mine. I have so far failed in my efforts; unwilling to use violence, I have tried to accomplish my object by entreaty.--Now, since you will not listen to my entreaties, I shall resort to force.--This very night I have arranged to visit you, and then--and _then_, sweet one--"
He drew the shrinking girl towards him, and in spite of her resistance, profaned her pure lips with unholy kisses. During the conversation just related, day had softly melted into dim twilight, and the loungers on the Common had mostly taken their departure; very few were in the vicinity of Radcliff and Sophia--and there was but one person who saw the scene of kissing and struggling that we have described. That person was a young and handsome man, well-dressed, and possessing an open, generous and manly countenance. Observing what was going on between the pair, and seeing that the young lady was suffering violence from her companion, he silently approached, n.o.bly resolved to protect the weaker party, at all hazards.
Sophia had partially escaped from the grasp of Radcliff, and he was about to seize her again, when the young man just mentioned stepped forward, and said, calmly--
"Come, sir, you have abused that young lady enough; molest her no further."
"And who the devil may you be, who presumes thus to interfere with a gentleman"s private amus.e.m.e.nts?" demanded the libertine, with savage irony: but the bold eyes of the other quailed not before his fierce glance.
"It matters not particularly who I am," replied the young man, sternly--"suffice it for you to know that I am one who is bound to protect a lady against the a.s.saults of a ruffian, even if that ruffian is clad in the garb of a gentleman."
"Oh, sir," said Sophia, bursting into tears--"G.o.d will reward you for rescuing me from the power of that bad man."
Radcliff"s eyes literally blazed with fury as he strode towards the young lady"s protector.
"You called me a ruffian," said he, "take _that_ for your impudence,"
and he attempted to strike the young man--but the blow was skillfully warded off, and he found himself extended on the gra.s.s in a twinkling.
Two policeman now ran up and demanded the cause of the fracas. The young man related everything that had occurred, whereupon the officers took Radcliff into custody.
"Fellow," said the individual, haughtily addressing his antagonist,--"you are, I presume, nothing more than a shopman or common mechanic, beneath my notice; you therefore may hope to escape the just punishment of your insolence to-night."
"You are a liar," calmly responded the other--"I am neither a shopman nor a mechanic, and if I were, I should be far superior to such a scoundrel as you. I am a gentleman; your equal in birth and fortune--your superior in manhood and in honor. If you desire satisfaction for my conduct to-night, you will find me at the Tremont House, at any time. My name is Francis Sydney. I shall see this lady in safety to her residence."
Radcliff was led away by the two officers. They had proceeded but a short distance, when he thus addressed them--