The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-10-16
gts glttAIigstt1E.
oalosi Nos, 70 aud y Fourteenth Street,
The Charleston Earthquake
INCIDENTS OF LOVE,
TREACHERYA AND CRIME,
ADRIFT AMID THE RUINS.

quake, Tuesday, August 81, 1886.
In vast and luxuliousIy furnished
apartment Of his baronial old mansion
near East Bay street, Charleston, Major
Wentworth was seated, his still keen and
glitterlug black eyes bent in sCOwling
gaze upon the Sumptuoualy csrpeted
floor,
A sksleton'iRcsd, thin.lippsd, hawk
eyed old gamester, with the greed Of a
shylock unfortunately linked to the ex-
uavagaut desires Of sybSrite, the Major
had good reasons for tCowling, CHANGING
around this room, with it's glowing, costly
paintings, It's cleaning marble statues, ita
brackets loaded with priceless tribes, its
drsperies Of lace and velvet, its cabinet
work and upholstery Of rosewood and
marble and damask, he thought to him.
self, signing in mingled fury and rage,
that Tomorrow all might bs torn from
MIN, His creditors, wolf'like, were each
day growing more bold and insolsnt ANU
pitiless. II tonight Darke Desmond failed
70 Lrlng the sum he had promised, to.nor.
row this roof
The Major did not finish the thought,
but, springing to his feet, began to pace
the apartment, growing like some savage
creature swapping at its chains,
Satan burn the fool Why does he not
Gomez Has his heart failed him NJ the
last moment2 Alter Offering me fortune
Tor an opportunity OF winning the Rirl by
Ioul means when fair had failed, Ia hi
milksop enough to throw it away, fright.
ened by the pangs Of a troubled con.
science2 Curse his ConHCienCel When he
has lived Us long as have, he will begin
10 doubt his possessing one Good tits not
often l am reminded that mine still lives
but sometimes when think Of that girl,
left In my charge by mother who trusted
me 80 bllndly, l-I-oh, fooll ,Out-oui
upon such thoughts They unman me i
| must have gold-gold! What do l care
for that girlP Darke Desmond will atone
he must. Besides, 1t Ia he. But,
hist What sound was that2
He broke of abruptly, gliding with
swift sseps to one oil the deep windows,
from which be flung back the shrouding
folds Of lace and velvet, as he bent for.
ward, flashing keen glance outward.
It was after 0 o'CloCk-the melOdious
chimes OF ST. MiChaelD had proclaimed
the hour ten minutes ago-and under the
vast dome OF the serene night sky, throb.
bling with golden stars, Charleston, the
Beautiful, lay pulsing like q gem In the
eThrRCe OF murmurlng waters.
Tn khn a'luntv ulamnnr ~ tho ufoplt0h !
tho tGller buildings were visible only as
confused ma'sss OF opaque shade; out Of
them seemed to spring tower and dome
and steeple cutting in silhoutte tho CLEAN.
ing Southern skyi below swayed masses
Of signing foliage, ripping like luminous
sea; and amid them stole 'breCze1 that
seemed swooning beneath the sensuous
sweetness OF the odors they bore through
the gloom Of tho broodlnR, tender night
So calm, go witching, so beautiful, who
that looked upon that scene would have
dreamed that within on hour that hGlCyon
hush would be broken, and this grand old
city, the home oil culture, Chivalry and
beauty, would groan and totter, an Amer.
lean Lisbon, beneath the Tesiatess blows
of an unknown Destroyer, memorable as
Fate
Certainly no such thought could have
intruded upon the mind Of Major Went.
worth for, leaning from the window
while his hawk.like eyes strained through
the shadows Of the tropical.like garden be.
low him, he revealed the motive shaping
his actions by calling In guarded tone:
"Darkel DArke Desmond, are you
there7"
No answer. Nosound save theuubdued
hum Of the restless city, the soft splash;
ing OF falling waters, aud the rustle Of
dewy, Bheelling leaves.
An oath-a low, baeiul, kissing sound
broke through the old mans Crumbling
teeth.
"OnrsCs on him" he groaned out,
GenChing his bony hands. I'll he has
been trifing with me, l."
Again he broke of. This time-there
was no mistake about 1.-THE had heard .
footstep. II was the heavy though sIealthy
tootstep Of a man, advancing towards the
house through the garden.
Tbs evil face OF Major Wentworth light.
ed up with smile Of satanic triumph,
Leaving the window he approached the
door, and, throwing It open, called softly:
"Desmond, am awaiting you. Has
tenl"
simultaneously tall and graceful 1g.
ure, enYelopud in q long black Spanish
mantle, came out from the shadows OF q
path frinssd with myrtle and oleander,
and, advancing with hasty steps, strobe
acrops the threshold.
"Cloee the doorl" be said, in hosrse
voice mufIled by the cloak that was drawn
across his face In such manner as to
conceal every feature save his deep and
flaming eyes. "What do you mean by
flinging everything open in this manner ?
DO you wishto have the people about
here spying upon us, old man 2"
Major Wentworth, ilinging himself into
a Injurious velyet.linOd chair, laughed
sneeringly. =,
"You are coward, Darke Desmond
II you will take the trouble TO look, you
will perceive that we arc in room that
cannot be seen from the houses overlook
ing the wall Of this ggrden In the street In
front Of the mansion and as for the rear,
they are hidden from ia by tho magnolia
and mock.oranRe trees, and tho Ivy and
madeira vines that cling to their own
verandGs. How can their occupants sec
us7" ... .e...
The cloaked stranger shrugged his
broad shoulders.
"No matter" he said shortly; and then
bis voice dropping 10 o hollow whisper.
"But Juanita7-tell me Of herr"
"shs sleeps" said the Major, with q
sinister smile.
"Hal Then you have dragged herr"
II have done nothing Of the kind She
generally retires early. An orphan, With
out friends 40 yet, what should keep hei
awaken Surely her thoughts, embittered
by"
'"HoldIn interrupted Desmond, with a
slight shudder. "More than once have
said to myself that this crime-so fright
full"
He was interrupted In turn. Turning
ghaslly pale, Major Wentworth leaned TO-
ward him, saying between bis teeth
~ understand you You would Rban
don az the last moment your scheme o.
vengeance You would allow this sifl
whom you held al your mercy, 10 esCape
FOOL Alter Bhe has rejected your love