Category: Short Stories

Tales of the Wonder Club, Volume III

It was Monday morning. Our members assembled as usual at the breakfast table, after which the host entered with the newspaper, to show his guests an account of some political event of great importance. The appearance of a newspaper in the club was a thing of great rarity, as w...

Chapters

18. CHAPTER XIV.

Need it be told how, on the following morning, as soon after breakfast as convenient, our artist--and now rich land-proprietor--beckoned to our host of the "Headless Lady," and...

8. SCENE II.--_The Ravine. Time: Sunrise. Don Pascual sleeping. The Gipsy

GIP. Q. (_Aside._) How I do long to open all my heart! Unmask this stern exterior, and make Him master of the secret of his birth. His wound's but slight, I think he'll bear the...

17. CHAPTER XIII.

It was the midnight hour, and the sky dark as pitch. The wind howled dismally through the trees, and seemed to shake the very foundations of this ancient hostelry. All the inmat...

2. SCENE I.--_Study of Don Silvio, with large open window, through which is

seen the castle of Don Diego on the opposite mountain peak. Don Silvio is discovered at a table covered with books, papers, and scientific instruments. Strewn about the floor an...

14. CHAPTER X.

It is not our object to weary the reader with superfluous details relating to the doings and sayings of the members of the club, nor to follow up the story of their lives from d...

16. CHAPTER XII.

A week had passed since our last chapter. Our antiquary, finding himself once more alone, had brought out his writing materials, determined no longer to put off his much-delayed...

11. SCENE V.--_A hall in Don Diego's castle communicating with the chapel.

The chapel is in the centre of the background. Through curtains is disclosed the altar lighted up, and a priest ready to officiate. In the hall, which is illuminated, a long tab...

9. SCENE III.--_Inez' bedchamber in Don Silvio's castle; an old four posted

bed, with faded hangings--old faded tapestry. A prie-dieu in front of a picture of our Lady of Pain. Crucifixes and pious relics adorn the chambers. Don Silvio is discovered ple...

12. CHAPTER VIII.

The next morning broke dark and gloomy. Our artist rose from his couch languid and unrefreshed. His face was pale and haggard, with dark circles round his eyes. What had transpi...

13. CHAPTER IX.

"What bitter mockery!" thought McGuilp, as he looked on the beaming face of Nature, and contrasted it with the feelings he bore hidden in his breast. "A day like yesterday would...

7. SCENE I.--_Outside the castle of Don Silvio. The castle of Don Diego

D. SIL. My tears still blind my eyes. Look out, Rodriguez, And see if there be traces of my daughter. Alas! alas! this hoary head is bowed As 'neath the weight of yet a score of...

4. SCENE I.--_A country inn in the Sierra Nevada. A table spread under a

D. PAS. Must thou then really leave me and return To Salamanca to resume thy studies? Alas! to think that thou shouldst go alone, And that I dare not bear thee company. Tell me,...

5. SCENE II.--_A wild ravine. Gipsies, headed by the Gipsy Queen, in

GIP. Q. This way she comes. Now to your work; but mark! Exceed not my commands. Do her no harm, Show yourselves loyal to your queen, as men, And not wild beasts.

15. CHAPTER XI.

Next morning, in the middle of breakfast, a knock was heard at the door, and our landlord let himself in with the newspaper in his hand and an expression like a sphinx on his fa...

3. SCENE II.--_Interior of the Convent of St. Ursula. Inez discovered

INEZ. 'Tis passing strange that all these five long years That I have lived within these convent walls, A stranger to the world without, unless To the narrow limits of our garde...

6. SCENE III.--_Study of Don Silvio. D. Silvio is discovered pacing up and

D. SIL. The day wears on, and still there is no sign Of Pedro and my daughter. 'Tis full time. It wants an hour to sundown; and ere then I dread another visit from Don Diego; Be...

10. SCENE IV.--_A Wood of chestnuts. Moonlight. Gipsies in ambush. Don

GIP. Q. He is, as ever, our most staunch ally, And doth possess a keen and ready wit In time of need. A soft and oily tongue And gentle manner, that may well disarm All base sus...

1. CHAPTER VI.

It was Monday morning. Our members assembled as usual at the breakfast table, after which the host entered with the newspaper, to show his guests an account of some political ev...