[figure description] Page 072.[end figure description]

WHEN broken in upon by the wolves,
Earle had been preparing to take a
ride.

An hour after the ending of the ceremony
which inducted him into the band of
“wolves,” he mounted a horse procured at the
inn, and set out on his ride.

As he went on, a singular emotion agitated
him. The occasion of this was the name of the
gentleman and ladies whom he had rescued.
This name was Maverick.

Maverick! Could it then be the head of this
family whom Sir Murdaugh Westbrooke had
murdered? Had no steps been taken to discover
the criminal? Into what black mystery
was he, Edmond Earle, about to plunge? He

[figure description] Page 073.[end figure description]

had received the warm thanks of the gentleman
and two young ladies whom he had rescued.
They had urged “Mr. Delamere,” in the most
pressing manner, to visit them at their home,
“Maverick House.” The road had been
pointed out to the sailor; and, emerging from
the fishing village, he already saw the mansion
on its lofty hill, about a league distant.

He soon reached the great gate, and riding up
an avenue, dismounted and gave his bridle to a
servant. Maverick House was ancient, but
cheerful and inviting. Dogs were basking in
the sunshine on the long portico, where the light
filtrating through variegated foliage threw its
twinkling shadows; and on the steps stood,
smiling cordially and ready to welcome Earle, the
gentleman of the boat, Arthur Maverick.

Arthur Maverick was a young man of about
Earle's age; thin, pale, and sad-looking, but
courteous and cordial. He welcomed the sailor
warmly, and conducted him into the mansion,
whose appointments were at once substantial and
elegant. In a cage a linnet was singing; old
dogs wandered about; and a lapdog, small and
hideous, which made him immensely valuable,
ran yelping to announce the visitor to the two
young ladies whose lives he had saved.

[figure description] Page 074.[end figure description]

Ellinor Maverick, the eldest, was tall, with
raven hair and dark eyes, instinct with a subtle
fascination. The great eyes melted or fired; the
red lips, full and moist, curled satirically or were
wreathed with dazzling smiles; in every outline
of her rounded and supple figure there was
the superb beauty of the animal—the tigress
you were apt to think; and with only a slight
effort of the imagination you might fancy the
beautiful creature “in act to spring.”

Rose Maverick was altogether different.
About nineteen,—Ellinor was older,—slender,
brown-haired, with soft, violet eyes, and an exquisite
expression of candor and goodness,
Rose made children and old ladies love her,
and men take no notice of her. The latter went
crazy about Ellinor, and did not even look at
Rose. One was the dazzling sunlight, the other
the pensive moonlight. From the first moment
Earle's eyes were dazzled; and on his return to
the inn that night a strange throbbing of the
heart accompanied his recollection of the superb
Ellinor.

On the next day he went to Maverick House
again, and on the next, and the next.

He was fascinated. That term best expresses
his sentiment towards Ellinor Maverick. It

[figure description] Page 075.[end figure description]

would be incorrect to say that he loved her;
he was crazy about her, and the great melting
or blazing eyes had wrought the charm.

At times his neglect of the important object
which had brought him to the coast of Pembrokeshire
weighed heavily upon his spirits.
Was he not criminally disobeying the orders
which he had received? Was he not neglecting
his sworn duty? Would not the crew of the
corvette wonder what had become of their captain,
and the boat at the secret rendezvous return
nightly to find him still absent, paying no
attention to his appointment? Earle asked
himself those questions, and gloomily shook his
head. Then he would find himself beside
Ellinor Maverick. All his depression would
disappear. Her golden smile would shine upon
him, and the dazzled moth would circle careless
around the light, drawing every moment nearer
to his fate.

It came at last. Nearly ten days had elapsed
since his first meeting with the young lady.
He had never spoken of his love in plain words,
for an instant, but now a little incident drove
him to that proceeding.

Sir Murdaugh Westbrooke was the occasion
of the denouement. Earle had well-nigh

[figure description] Page 076.[end figure description]

forgotten the baronet, and the strange history relared
by the gypsy. Was the “Giles Maverick,
Esquire,” assassinated at the pool by him, a relative
of the family at Maverick House? He
had intended, often, to ask that question, but
something had always prevented. Either the
occasion was wanting, or his interviews with
Arthur Maverick had been interrupted; always
something had intervened to withould him from
ascertaining the truth.

At last the opportunity came. He was conversing
with Arthur Maverick one evening,
when the latter pronounced the name of Sir
Murdaugh Westbrooke.

Earle looked keenly at him.

“Are you acquainted with that gentleman?”
he said.

“Very well,” was the young man's reply.

“And he is a friend?”

Arther hesitated.

“No,” he said, at length.

Earlo observed a singnlar coldness in his companion's
tones, and said,—

“You do not like the baronet?”

“I feel some delicacy in replying to that
question,” returned Arthur Maverick.

“Why?” said Earle.

[figure description] Page 077.[end figure description]

“Sir Murdaugh Westbrooke is a suitor for
the hand of my cousin.”

Earle started, and looked at his companion in
utter astonishment.

“Your cousin? Sir Murdaugh her suitor?
Who is your cousin, my dear Mr. Maverick?”

“Ellinor. I thought you knew that she was
not my sister, Mr. Delamere. She is the daughter
of my father's brother. On the death of
that gentleman she had no home, and came to
live with us here. You seem astonished.”

“No, no,” stammered Earle. “Sir Murdaugh
Westbrooke a suitor! and for the hand of —
why, 'tis monstrous!” And his face flushed.
“That is to say — may I ask you a question, Mr.
Maverick? You speak of your father's brother;
he is dead, you say. Your father also is dead,
is he not?”

“Some years since,” was the reply, in a low
tone.

“May I ask the cause of his death?”

Arthur Maverick's head sank.

“He was cruelly murdered, Mr. Delamere;
and in the most mysterious manner!”

“Ah! a murder, sir!”

“An infamous murder, by whom we have
never discovered. He left home one evening

[figure description] Page 078.[end figure description]

on horseback, and his dog returned some hours
afterwards without him. It was a very intelligent
blood-hound; he is still living, old and almost
blind; and he led the way to a pool in the
woods, where my father's body was discovered.”

Earle remained for some moments silent.
Then he said,—

“And no clue has ever been discovered to the
murder?”

“None whatever. It is still wrapped in the
profoundest mystery.”

Earle nodded his head coolly, and said,—

“Pardon my intrusive questions, Mr. Maverick;
I see they agitate you, and I regret them.
To return to the worthy Sir Murdaugh Westbrooke,
your cousin's suitor. Does she smile
upon him?”

“I am afraid so.”

“You say that in the tone of one who regrets
a thing,” said Earle, whose heart suddenly sank.
“Is it possible that the baronet, an aged and
not agreeable person, I think, has succeeded in
the role of a lover?”

Arthur Maverick did not reply for an instant,
then he said,—

“We are not wealthy, sir. Ellinor has

[figure description] Page 079.[end figure description]

nothing; and Sir Murdaugh is a person of great
possessions.”

“Ah! and hence he succeeds! Miss Maverick
barters her beauty against money. Pardon
my rudeness, sir; I am a sailor, and speak
without ceremony. Her preferred suitor! It
is monstrous! It cannot be! I will know the
truth!”

And leaving his companion abruptly, Earle
went with pale face and glowing eyes toward
Ellinor Maverick, who was standing near one
of the great windows in the drawing-room.

Her golden smile said “Come! you have
stayed away from me too long!” Her glance
was magnetic, alluring, almost passionate, and
seemed to pierce through him.

“Is Sir Murdaugh Westbrooke your suitor?”
he said. “Answer that question plainly, I pray
you.”

Her silver laugh rang out.

“Yonder he comes; why not ask him?” she
said, pointing through the window. “Strange
that you and he have never met before, Mr.
Delamere!”

p517-085

Previous section

Next section