Queen Tempest

Front matter

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Chapter I. The Haunted Hut

It was noon; the glowing, glorious, golden noon of Cuba, in the early spring, before the heats of the later season have parched and withered vegetation, and dried the life from the human frame; high noon, and yet not so warm but that Colonel Marmaduke Tempest found it both comfortable and agreeable to ride with his guest, Mr. Philip Douglass, from his plantation of Esperanza to the city of Havana, a distance of some eight miles, over a road lonely and difficult, but picturesque in the highest degree, as it wound for a considerable distance over the spur of one of the precipitous and forest-clad mountains dividing the island longitudinally. Upon the highest point of this ascent the two gentlemen drew rein, both for the purpose of breathing their horses, and admiring the magnificent view outspread before them.

“ There, Mr. Douglass, does your boasted New England offer such a panorama as that, from even its highest hills?^^ asked Colonel Tempest, good-naturedly, as he waved his hand toward the glittering ocean view bounding the horizon.

“ Perhaps not,'^ returned the young gentleman. “ But—

A piercing shriek from the woods behind them cut the sentence in two, and caused both men to start and glance at each other. Douglass was the first to speak.

“ What was that? Surely it was a woman's voice!" exclaimed he.

“Yes, and in distress; but where? Halloo, there!" cried Colonel Tempest; and turning to the negro groom

QUEEiq^ TEMPEST.

at his heels, he demanded: “What is going on there, Pedro? Who lives up there — do you know?’^

“Nobody, master, replied Pedro, in the patois of the island, and crossing himself devoutly. “ Nobody but the spirits.

“ Spirits, you fool! Spirits don't scream like that. Go up the hill and find out; or, stay; I will go myself."

And Colonel Tempest was throwing himself from his horse when Pedro, tumbling to the ground, seized him by the knees, his teeth chattering with terror, and his rich, coffee-colored complexion turning of a dingy yellow:

“ Oh, master, master! Oh, master, don't!" gasped he, his eyes rolling, and his hands clinched upon his niaster's garments. Colonel Tempest looked down at him with a mixture of pity and contempt, then, somewhat roughly shaking himself free, demanded:

“ What, in the name of all the furies, do you mean, idiot? Speak, or I'll flog you till j^ou're glad to speak. "

“ Oh, master, the spirits!" gurgled Pedro, and then proceeded to explain that a few rods from the road, at this point, was a hut, originally built by some lumber surveyors, and deserted in consequence of a man being murdered in course of a drunken quarrel. Since then the spot had been accursed, haunted, deadly — Pedro could not tell what, precisely; but, at all events, to be avoided and dreaded by all sensible people, as the fate of the murdered man was the very lightest penalty of venturing within reach of the demonios who haunted the place.

“ There, there; enough of that!" cried his master, interrupting the narrative, and striking off the clinging hands. “ Stay here and hold these horses; and mind you do stay, sirrah, whatever you may see or hear. Douglass, will you come or stay?"

“ Come, of course, sir," replied the young man, briefly; and in another minute, the two were climbing the steep ascent, side by side, helping themselves upward by grasping at the stems of ilex and palm-trees which composed the forest, their branches interlaced ^nd connected by monstrous creepers, whose snake-like stems drooped in great festoons from the /tree-tops, or swung in still more snake-like fashion from their branches.

“ Terrible work — this climbing — for an old man like

QUEEN TE.HPEST.

me,” panted Colonel Tempest, pausing to gasp for breath and wipe his reeking forehead.

“Yes; but I see the hut — close ahead there!” replied Douglass, in the same tone; and, passing his companion, he pushed rapidly on, and breaking through the wall of jungly growth confronting him, found himself in a little clearing, already nearly overgrown.

In the center of this clearing stood a hut slightly and carelessly constructed, but not yet fallen into ruins, the closed door presenting the appearance of recent repairs. A horse, carrying a man^s saddle, was tied to the trunk of a small palm, close beside this door, and the figure of a negro skulked into the wood at the further side of the clearing just as Mr. Douglass, with Colonel Tempest behind him, appeared at the other.

AVithout pausing to pursue him, however, Philip Douglass sprung forward, and knocked violently upon the door, from behind which the sound of a smothered conflict was plainly to be heard.

“By Heaven!” exclaimed Colonel Tempest, stopping to stare at the horse and his trappings; “ it^s Lupo!”

“ Open! Open!” shouted Douglass, rattling the door, and kicking at its stout planks.

Colonel Tempest, his face dark with indignation, hesitated a moment, then stepped aside, so that a person opening the door would not, at first, distinguish him, and waited for the result of the younger man’s increased exertions.

“ Open, or I will break down the door this moment!” shouted Douglass; and a voice not six inches from him, although separated by the door, replied briefly:

“ Go on, stranger! Don’t meddle with what does not concern you, or you may fare the worse. Go on!”

“ I shall not until 1 know what is doing here. Open the door!” retorted Philip, bestpwing a yet heartier kick upon the stubborn barrier.

“ Fool! This place belongs to me, and 1 am correcting one of my servants — since you will interfere! Now pass on, in the devil’s name, or 1 will shoot you through the door!” passionately replied the voice; and the ominous click of a pistol announced the threat was not an empty one.

Douglass hesitated and glanced at Colonel Tempest, whose face was dark with passion.

6 ' QtEEN TEMPEST.

“ Insist!’^ whispered he, softly, and still keeping himself out of sight; and Douglass again turned to the door. ^

“lam not satisfied, signor,^’ said he, in a less violent but still more resolute tone. “Be so good as to open the door, and allow me to see you, and also your servant, face to face. After that I will go on, if you can not be persuaded to clemency.-’^

“ Fool! Take it, then!’^ exclaimed the voice, and a pistol-ball came crashing through the wood, whizzed within an inch of Douglass’s head, and was lost in the forest.

At the same moment the bar holding the door was thrown violently to the ground, the door itself dashed open, and the form of a young girl rushed through the opening, and, without stopping to glance at her deliverer, fled across the clearing to a little footpath dimly defined in the jungle, and in another instant was lost to view.

“ Topaz! I thought so!” exclaimed Colonel Tempest; and thrusting Philip Douglass aside, he confronted, in his place, the man who now stood upon the threshold.

This man — tall, sinewy, sallow, meager, and saturnine — bore the impress of a Frenchman upon every line of his face and figure; also that of an astute and unscrupulous character; also that of baffled rage, and an active desire for vengeance.

The sight of Colonel Tempest’s towering figure and noble, angry face did not soothe these sentiments, but 23etrified them; and the occupant of the hut stood like an angry tiger turned to stone in act to spring; while the old soldier, staring at him with flaming and scornful eyes, slowly inquired:

“ And what are you doing here. Monsieur le Docteur?”

“ Ah, colonel! is it you?’' stammered the other, his sallow pallor giving place to a dark flush, and the great drops breaking out upon his narrow and retreating forehead.

“ Yes, monsieur, it is 1; and once again I inquire, what are you doing here with my servant Topaz?”

“ Nothing, coloW 1 — ”

“Pardon me; perhaps I should have your servant Topaz,” interrupted the old soldier, with ironical emphasis, “ I believe I understood you to state to Mr. Douglass, just now, that you were about to punish a servant of your own, and as no one appears to be here except yourself, we must conclude that the girl who just escaped was the person referred to. Pray, when was she made over to the ownership of Doctor Lefevre?’^

“ I claim no ownership in her, and do not dispute your rights, either* natural or legal, over her,"*" replied the Frenchman, with a diabolical smile, as he marked the glance of rage and shame elicited by this remark. “ I gave that answer,"’ added he, rapidly resuming his presence of mind and usual bearing, “ because I supposed the inquirer to be a mere passing stranger, and 1 did not wish to expose the family affairs of Esperanza to the public. I came here. Colonel Tempest, by a species of accident, and I stayed for the purpose of breaking up an intrigue carried on in direct disobedience to yours and Miss Tempest’s commands.”

“ Explain yourself. Doctor Lefevre, if you please,” replied Colonel Tempest, sternly; and in a sullen voice the Frenchman complied:

I was riding leisurely along the road, an hour or so since, when I overtook Topaz, who did not perceive me; and I rode for some distance behind her, until I saw her suddenly turn her mule into a little side-path leading away from the road and into the mountain. Arriving at the spot, I paused for a moment, and then turned up the same path, partly from curiosity, partly because I suspected the truth. The path led to this spot, and when 1 reached the hut. Topaz was already inside. I followed, and forced her to confess that she came here to meet Juan — stay, she had a note in her hand, and dropped it upon the floor, where I presume it still lies. I read it, and will show it to you.”

So speaking, Dr. Lefevre turned into the cabin. Colonel Tempest following him as far as the threshold, and keenly watching every movement.

“ Here it is!” exclaimed the Frenchman, pushing aside a wooden stool, and pointing to a bit of crumpled paper under it.

“ Well?” demanded Colonel Tempest, briefly.

“ Here it is!” repeated the other; and, picking up and unfolding the paper, he presented it to the old soldier, who, taking it between his finger and thumb, read as follows:

“ Meet me, dearest and most adorable, at the woodcutter’s hut at eleven o’clock on Tuesday. I have some-

QUEEN TEMPEST.

thing to tell you, and a plan to propose. Do you wish to be free and the wife of your faithful lover? Come then without fail, loveliest Topaz, and enjoy one hour of bliss with Juan."’"

Colonel Tempest read these words, and dropped the scroll as if it burned him,

“ Topaz brought that note here?^’ demanded he, fixing his eyes upon Dr. Lefevre, who returned the glance unshrinkingly.

“She did; and dropped it here,^^ replied he. “After forcing her to confess her plan and relinquish the note, I told her that I should keep her until Juan arrived, and then take them both back to Esperanza to be punished by you. The girl resisted and wished to escape, and 1 closed the door, and tried to tie her hands, and prevent her giving the alarm to Juan when he should arrive. It was the noise of this struggle which you and this gentleman heard, 1 presume. Juan has not arrived.^’

“ A negro escaped into the woods as we came up; but I do not think it was your boy. Colonel Tempest,^' interposed Philip Douglass, pointedly addressing his host.

Dr. Lefevre glanced at him With marked annoyance.

“ You could not distinguish in the distance, perhaps, monsieur,^' said he, contemptuously.

“ Perhaps not; but my impression is a strong one,^^ replied Douglass.

“ Very well. . The matter shall be investigated ujjon my return home,” interposed Colonel Tempest, coldly. “ i\lr. Douglass, shall we resume our journey?”

And the two gentlemen returned to their horses, while the Frenchman, black and yellow with rage, stood in the door of the hut, watching their retreating figures, and gnawing his thin mustache.

Chapter II. The Vengeance Of The Spirits

“ That is a great rascal, and 1 suspect that some of his usual treacherous villainy is hidden in this affair,” exclaimed Colonel Tempest, as the two gentlemen rode on toward Havana, Pedro, still pale and agueish with fright, following closely in the roar,

QUEE^T TEMPEST. 9

“ Is Doctor Lefovre a member of your household inquierd Douglass, with a little hesitation.

“ Yes; but not a favorite one. Pardon me, but he and his residence at Esperanza are not agreeable topics to me,^^ replied Colonel Tempest, with a look of annoyance upon his fine face — a look rapidly reflected from that of his guest, who hastened to reply :

“ Certainly; they are not topics at all connected with my visit at Esperanza, which is purely a business one. 1 hope, sir, you will not imagine me desirous of intruding upon your domestic affairs.^’

“ Pho — pho, Douglass! don’t fire up at an old man like me,” interrupted Tempest, good-humoredly. “ And if you came to Esperanza this time to see the sugar crop, you shall come another time to see me and — my family. ”

It was upon Philip Douglass’s lips to say that he did not know that Colonel Tempest had any family; but the remembrance of the check he had received in the matter of Dr. Lefevre restrained him, and he was silent. "VV hen the elder gentleman spoke again it was in a different tone, and with a startling^ abruptness of manner.

“ Douglass,” said he. “1 am going to have my will, drawn this afternoon, and I intend to name you its executor. Will you accept the charge?”

“ Willingly, sir — if, unfortunately, there should be occasion for so sad a proof of my regard for you.”

“ Yes, yes, young man, I know all of that; but, without compliments or professions, I may count upon you, should you be resident in Havana at the time of my decease, to fill the position of executor to my will and guardian of — my heiress. Ami correct?”

“ Quite correct, sir.”

“ And don’t be huffy, Philip Douglass, because an old soldier’s manner may be somewhat peremptory and brief. We will talk again of this, and I will explain the peculiar circumstances in which my girl is placed, and the necessity I am under of providing her with a competent defender and guardian, if — but I will not begin now. Come out to Esperanza, and spend to-morrow night, Douglass; and you shall have the whole story, and be introduced to Regina. VVill you come?”

‘‘ With pleasure, sir. But I hope you are not ill, colonel, or have any reason to fear any sudden fatality?”

QUEEN TEMPEST.

“Not the least, my boy — not the least; but who knows what a day may bring forth? And I have never made a will or provided, as 1 should, for my little queen. But here our roads separate, as 1 am going to Salud to find Don Jose Christoval, my friend and notary. I will see you at your hotel before I leave town; or, if 1 should fail to do so, will expect you at Esperanza to dinner to-morrow.

And so the two parted, little dreaming of the strange and terrible meeting awaiting them; and Philip Douglass, riding lazily into the town, amused himself with wondering what manner of person Colonel TempesPs daughter Regina might be, and what were the strange and mysterious circumstances surrounding her, to which her father alluded.

At his hotel the young man found an invitation to dinner with some gay friends, and accepting it, did not return to his lodgings until a late hour in the evening. Feeling somewhat heated and excited with his festivities, Douglass did not at once retire to rest; but, extinguishing his light, seated himself at his window for a quiet cigar and a little composing reverie. This latter soon became so deep, however, that both the cigar and the position were forgotten, and the young man^s thoughts were many hundreds of miles from Havana when they were recalled by the sound of his own name.

“ Signor Douglass — Philip Douglass.’^

Philip started, glanced about him, recalled his mind to things of the present moment, realized that some person, seated in the balcony below his window was speaking of him; and, without thought of surprising any secret — in fact, supposing that some casual acquaintanqp was mentioning his name— he listened for the next words, expecting to recognize the speaker’s voice.

These next words were startling.

“ I tell you, yes. The old man himself said to me that he wished, of all things, to marry Regina to this Douglass, and intended to propose it to him!”

“ The devil he did ! And you, my friend — what did you say to that little project?”

“ 1 told him that, if the Signor Douglass knew all that 1 knew, he would, perhaps, make some trouble about our little queen’s maternal ancestry!”

QUEE2T TEMPEST.

“ What! you don’t mean that there’s a black drop in the lovely queen’s veins?”

“ Not a bit of it. Her mother was a French woman; * and thereby hangs a tale known to Colonel Tempest and myself, and to none other, at present. But it is just with this story that I intend to work the little drama, whose denouement is the marriage of the fair Regina to Felicien Lefevre — your humble and unworthy friend. ”

“ You will marry the heiress, then?”

“ Yes; such is my destiny.”

“You will threaten the colonel with the betrayal of this mysterious secret, concerning the little queen’s ancestry, to the Douglass?”

“ I will suggest that such a thing might be done.”

“ But this will make the old mustache prodigiously angry, and not in the least affectionate toward a son-in-law who shakes his fist in his face even while asking the hand of his daughter and heiress.”

“ True; but there is something more in this secret than you suspect. There is a terrible disgrace to the proud colonel, and 'one very dear to him. He will not drive me to extremity. He knows his own danger; and after we have had a plain talk to-morrow, he will give me the fair Regina and his blessing.”

“Not to mention Esperanza.”

“ Not to mention Esperanza, and some half a million of dollars beside. Papa-in-law is very rich, and he is In my power— all and completely in my power!”

Philip Douglass drew back from the window, blaming himself that he had heard so much, yet eagerly longing to hear a great deal more. He had already recognized the harsh and strident voice of the Frenchman of the mountain cabin, even before he announced his name in conjunction with that of Regina Tempest; and the instinctive dislike he had felt from the first moment of seeing him was now increased to a serious conviction that the Frenchman was an unscrupulous villain, and that he meditated some deadly mischief toward Colonel Tempest and his daughter.

But, however sure he might himself feel upon this point, Douglass could not find Himself justified in warning Colonel Tempest upon the strength of an overheard conversation, or of betraying to him an acquaintance with the private concerns so jealously guarded by the haughty old soldier.

QUEEN* TEMPEST.

An hour of anxious thought failed to solve the problem thus presented to the young man^s honorable mind, and he finally retired to rest without having resolved upon his future course. But Fate and another had already determined it for him, and announced their decision through the lips of the negro Pedro, who, in the early morning twilight, stood beside the young man’s pillow, and, shaking him by the shoulders, hoarsely cried:

“ Mas’ Douglass, Mas’ Douglass! come to master before he dies!”

“ What! — dies! Oh, is it you, Pedro? What is the matter?” stammered Douglass, struggling with his slumbers.

“ Master is dying — dead, maybe — killed by the spirits of the mountain. I told him how it would be. ”

But Philip, now fully aroused, cut short the rambling lament into which Pedro was lapsing; and, with brief, sharp questions, elicited the facts. These were, that during his master’s visit to the notary, Pedro had improved his opportunities so well that, when Colonel Tempest was ready to leave the town, Pedro was too drunk to stand, sit, or walk, and had, consequently, been left behind, with orders to the servants of the hotel to send him home as early in the morning as he should be able to ride. This period had, however, arrived in the middle of the night, and Pedro^ with returning consciousness, had experienced such a wholesome dread of punishment as induced him to endeavor to avert, or mitigate it, by a very early appearance upon the scene of his duty, and had stolen out of the hotel and the city before the earliest cock-crow.

Arrived nearly opposite the spot where his master had entered the woods to inquire the cause of the shriek which had so startled him, Pedro was terrified by hearing a groan, sounding almost under his horse’s feet. In the act of flight he was arrested by hearing his own name, and summoning courage to return and dismount, he had found his master. Colonel Tempest, lying in the road, shot through the chest, and rapidly bleeding to death. Stanching the wound as best he might, Pedro removed the wounded man to a safer position beside the road, and was then about to ride for help, when Colonel Tempest, detaining him, whispered:

“ Call Mr. Douglass, and no one else. ”

“ And so, Mas’ Douglass, I came straight away for you,

QUEEIT TEMPEST.

and I hope we^ll find him alive; but I don^t know. He would go and make the spirits mad, and now they've done for him, I'm most afraid. "

But Douglass was already dressed, and rushing out of his room. Five minutes later, he had his horse out of the stable, saddled and bridled him almost without assistance, threw himself upon the back of the spirited creature, and dashed out of the court-yard.

“ Oh, these white devils I How they tear through their lives, as if they looked for something better than a grave at the end," soliloquized Manuel, the negro head of the stables, as he watched the retreating figure with keen disgust, for a moment, and then returned to his straw and his dreams.

Before he had fairly reached them, however,' black Moro was stretching his sinewy limbs upon the mountain road, a mile beyond the outskirts of the town; and, half an hour later, Douglass threw himself from his back, and stooped over the ghastly body of the murdered man, laid by Pedro's pious care upon a bank of soft, green moss, some of which was heaped for a pillow.

Life, although at its lowest ebb, was not extinct, and Colonel Tempest could yet press the hand of his friend, and faintly murmur:

“ Thanks, Douglass. 1 tried to wait for you. I made my will yesterday; Regina has everything. Promise that you will marry her. Tell her I wished it. "

“ Oh, my poor friend, that I should be obliged to refuse you at such a moment!" exclaimed Douglass, in genuine distress. “ But I am already betrothed.''

A groan burst from the lips of the dying man, and an added shade of pallor fell upon his gray-white face.

“ Promise me, then, that you will take her home to your own home — to your mother — and keep her there until she marries as you approve — never that villain — never!"

“ Never Doctor Lefevre?" asked Douglass, anxiously.

“Who speaks of Lefevre?" demanded a harsh voice from behind; and turning suddenly, Philip beheld a figure looming, unnaturally large, through the early morning mist — the figure of a man on horseback.

“ Villain, it was you! — destroyer of body and soul. I curse you with my last breath! It was you who — "

But, as the wounded man raised himself, with outstretched arm and quivering finger, directing his accusation, a gush of blood choked his utterance; and almost before Philip could support him, he sunk back, lifeless, in his arms.

Dr. Le,fevre threw himself from his horse, and lightly touched the wrist, temple and heart.

“ He is quite dead,’^ said he, coldly, as he rose to his feet. Philip Douglass rose also.

“ And who killed him?’' asked he, in a terrible voice.

Chapter III. Living Gold

“ Who killed him?” repeated Dr. Lefevre, taking a cigar-case from his pocket and carefully selecting a Havana. “ Ma foi, perhaps it was Mr. Philip Douglass.”

“And perhaps Doctor Lefevre,” hotly retorted the young man.

His opponent looked at him with an evil sneer.

“ Signor, your words are an insult; did you know it?” asked he, slowly.

“And what were yours. Monsieur le Docteur?”

“ Perhaps an insult also. We are men, and we carry pistols; the spot is lonely, and the light admirable. Suppose we settle our little difference at once, and whoever comes to bury our late lamented friend, can do for one of us at the same time.”

So saying, the Frenchman coolly drew and cocked his revolver, without, however, thinking it necessary to withdraw the just lighted cigar from between his lips. Douglass hastily put his own hand to his breast-pocket, and as hastily withdrew it, while a contemptuous smile replaced the wrathful expression of his features.

“ Ah, yes,” said he, slowly. “ I see. You wish to force me into a quarrel, and after having killed or driven me away, remain master of the field, and carry out certain schemes, of which 1 am already aware. I shall not fight with you. Doctor Lefevre, but I shall protect my life from your assaults as carefully as possible; for it belongs, just now, not only to myself, but to the orphan of this murdered man, whom his latest breath placed under my charge. ”

QUEEN TEMPEST.

“ A charge you will probably be very glad -to relinquish, when you become acquainted with the antecedents of your ward, including her relations with unworthy self,^’ sneered Dr. Lefevre.

But Douglass, turning from him in silent disgust, proceeded to empty the pockets of the dead man — transferring the papers, money and valuables contained in them to one of his own.

“ Do we add the profession of highwaymen to our other accomplishments?’’ inquired the Frenchman, watching the procedure with undisguised curiosity.

“ I am compelled to leave the body of my friend unguarded while I go to seek for help, and I think it most prudent to remove such matters as might prove a temptation to unscrupulous persons,” coolly replied Douglass.

Madre di Dios, signor! Do you refer to me?'’ demanded the Frenchman, making a stride forward.

“ You shall judge of that for yourself. Doctor Lefevre,” replied Douglass, without emotion; and having spread a handkerchief over the white face, of the dead, ho threw himself into the saddle, and shot down the mountain road, without ceremony of leave-taking.

Half-way to the city he encountered Pedro, and ordered him to hasten to his master’s side, and remain there until help should arrive; an order very unwillingly obeyed by the negro, whose terror of “ spirits” was not lessened by the immediate proximity of a dead body, although it might be the remains of one who, in life, had been his most reliable protector.

But pausing for no parley, Douglass put Moro again to his speed, nor paused until he reached the police-station of the Havana, where he at once gained audience of the principal officer on duty at the moment, and entered his formal narration of all the circumstances attending the murder in which he was in any manner concerned.

This done, and an escort detailed to find and take possession of the body of Colonel Tempest, Douglass gave bonds for his reappearance, when required, and, merely pausing for such rest and refreshment as nature imperatively demanded, he again took to the road for Esperanza. On the way he overtook the squad of officials proceeding toward the scene of the murder, and paused to direct that the body should be brought on to Esperanza as soon as the

QUEEN TEMPEST.

formalities of ,the law would allow. A little further on, he found Pedro seated at the foot of the corpse, his face hidden in his hands, his whole frame quivering with terror, yet faithful to his trust. Pausing to reassure him with the news of the approaching escort, and to glance reverently at the shrouded face and magnificent lifeless figure of his friend, Douglass rode on, but now more slowly; for the question of how he should present himself before the orphan — how he should break to her the terrible news of which he was the bearer, how he should comfort or check the tropical grief and despair which he foresaw — all these questions rose before the young man’s mind, and in each he found a new barrier to his progress, and from each he gained a new distaste to his task.

“ I almost hope the Frenchman may have told her,” muttered he; and then, blushing with shame at the cowardice of the thought, he set spurs to Moro’s black sides, and never paused again until he found himself at the foot of the steps leading to the broad and vine-shaded veranda of Esperanza — the magnificent country-^eat of the late Colonel Tempest.