condensed novels(压缩小说)-第7节
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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
