The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-05-19
Malcolm, the Avenger;
OR,
TEE MYSTERIOUS MURDER,
BY HARRISON AINSWORTH.
AUTHOR OF "TowER HILL" "BAFFLED AT
LAST "a TALE OF MYSTERY"
ETC, TIC.
CHAPTER I.
WALTERS REQUEST.

WhLlbIo hESOESl'
Halo! What on earth brought you
here, Rob ?"
"What fire you do keep!' grumbled
Walters, as he seized the poker and stirred
ityigorously.
"It's been keeping itself for these last two
hours" was the reply. "You came just in
time to rouse both that and 1; for we were
mutually sinking fast into inanity."
You don't mean to say you've been sitting
there for two hours, literally doing nothing2
you who so often sneer at the emptiness
of my pursuits !" cried Walters, sarcastic
cally.
"My dear boy, you need not tear up my
newspaper till 1 have read it," was the
placid reply; "and you ought not require
telling that there are moments when man
may employ himself well in doing nothing
but thinking-reviewing the past, for In
stance, and meditating upon the lessons
that may be drawn from it,
Walters shrugged his shoulders, and
drew chair up to the cheerful glow he
had succeeded in arousing.
The foregoing conversation took place
on dull rainy day in March, 1S47, between
Robert Walters and his cousin, Charles
Malcolm, in the latter's Office, in Temple
Bar, London, where he professed to study
law, when he did anything.
Robert Walters, young, gay, and remark
ably handsome, the owner of two fine
estates in one of the midland counties,
some valuable West Indian plantations, in
herited from his mother, and the most ex-
pensively fitted up bachelors residence at
the West End, he was, in the eyes Of the
of fbn o,nct fnpfupat to nnH
BILE of men.
Mr.. Walters was quite capable Of appre-
ciating his good gifts. Not, perhaps, in the
highest sense of the phrase, for he rarely
raised his thoughts to the Giver of all but
he enjoyed, after lazy, luxurious fashion,
the advantages his wealth procured him.
He entered with zcst into all the amuse-
ments of his age and position; betted o
little; kept a racer or two, and pack of
hounds and had a feminine love of fine
linen, jewelry and perfumes. He was not
above feeling IL little cxultation when
pretty woman paused to send langrushing
glnces after him; or one Of the street
Arabs who lodged under his horses heels,
recognised and snucily hailed him as "hand-
some Rob Walters"
AS IL matter of course, he had large
circle Of friends and ac1ulintances but of
intimates only one-his cousin, Charles
Malcolm fne-look!nS Scotchman, greatly
his superior in intellect; whose income
placed him above all suspicion of toadyism,
and who was in every respect Robert Walt
er's opposite.
They rarely agreed upon any point they
discussed, and the Ermcr-principlcd NAL
COIN stupbornly set his face against many
of his gayer relatives p..Suits; while
Walters, who was easily offended, and rs
quickly appeased, had repeatedly quarreled
with his cousin, and ansrily vowed to
cut his acquaintance altogether.
"lf such hretrospection,' resumed Walters,
"would make me look as gloomy us my ad-
wiser, let it go. I'll have none OF it. hope
you're not going to inilict half IN hours
moral reflections upon me as the fruits of
your medit;ttions."
"By'no means. I shall keep them for
those who would have wit enough to under
stand them
"Thank you for that very polite speech"
retorted Walters, half offended at his
cousins cynical tone.
Malcolm waved his hand.
Don't mention it, my dear fellow don't
mention it. But as soon as you are thor
oughly warmed, oblige me with the pur-
port of your visit; for have a client due
ut four precisely, and know your objection
to being interrupted in 4 long story
81 didn't mean to come near you at all,
surly bear that you arc !" cried Walters,
recovering his good temper; "but had to
call upon my solicitor in Chancery Lame,
and there 1 met MI. Derwent, who remind
ed me Of q promise made him, which con-
Germs you. You know him, don't you?
great man once among the merchant
pi;;..>-, phi. ~ and living Jolly life now at his
pretty little place at Norwood"
81 know, or at least did know, the Mr..
Derwent Of whom you are speaking ~ an
swered Malcolm, slowly. II used to visit
at his house some three or four years ago."
"Then, of course, you know Sybil Der
went - black-eyed, magnificent Sybil p'
Walters rapturously exclaimed. "And the
violet Of violets-the golden violet Viola
odorata, the peerless - and he began to hum
the air from the "Beggars Opera" "How
happy could I be with either"
care you speaking of Mr.. Derwent's
house-maids2' asked Malcolm, sharply.
"Stuff, nonsense Who is rude now p'
cried his excitable companion, starting up,
and kicking his chair over. "What q fellow
you are to speak of two such charming girls
in the same breath with broom and duster-
wielder! !''
pardon me, Robert" said his cousin,
in the cold, measured tones which generally
subdued him. "When mention any ladies,
it is with the respect and propriety to
which their sex entities them. If there is
one thing that annoys me more than an
other" he added, his eye kindling, and his
color rising little, cit is to hear the names
of modest females mouthed by men who
talk of them as they would of their favorite
horses ! Do you ever image to yourself
the contempt and disdain with which Miss
Derwent would look upon her fathers
guest, if she could guess the style in which
he talks Of her to his associates? How can
you give way to such u low and degrading
habit?"
"I'm not going to be dictated to by you,
Mr.. Malcolm, as to what shall say !'' cried
Walters, snatching up his hat in fury,
and striding towards the door.
"I have DONE" WAS the TRANQUIL reply,
" so you need not hurry away. You II find
some cigars on the table,"
Walters hesitated a moment, then sat
down again, and lit himself cigar. He
smoked for a minute in silence then, with
returning. good humor, went to the pith of
his errand without more delay.
II say, old fellow, will you go with me to
Derwent's tomorrow night? He gives a
fancy ball; quite stylish thing, 1 can
assure you and I've half promised for YOU
that you'll be there
Malcolm stared at him. "In the name Of
goodness, what should do at Il fancy ball
who never dance, and always calculate
upon being in bed by midnight Z"
what should you do? Go, to be sure.
Violet Lindsly, Mr.. Derwent's ward has
heard, somehow, that you knew her father.
and was at Malta when Major Lindsly
died. She has found some illusions to your
intimacy, in his letters. and wants to know
you"
''I'n take some more fitting occasion for
talking to Miss Lindsly about her dead
father, than fancy ball offers,'' said Nal
colin, stretching out his hand for the cigar