Dorothy Vernon of Haddon Hall Read online

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  Mary Pickford Edition

  Dorothy Vernon ofHaddon Hall

  BY

  CHARLES MAJOR

  AUTHOR OFWHEN KNIGHTHOOD WAS IN FLOWER,YOLANDA, ETC.

  ILLUSTRATED WITHSCENES FROM THE PHOTOPLAY

  GROSSET & DUNLAPPUBLISHERS NEW YORK

  Made in the United States of America

  Set up and electrotyped. Published April, 1908

  Printed in U.S.A.

  To My Wife

  CONTENTS

  Page

  A TOUCH OF BLACK MAGIC 1

  CHAPTER I. I RIDE DOWN TO HADDON 3 II. THE IRON, THE SEED, THE CLOUD, AND THE RAIN 19 III. THE PITCHER GOES TO THE WELL 35 IV. THE GOLDEN HEART 62 V. MINE ENEMY'S ROOF-TREE 91 VI. A DANGEROUS TRIP TO DERBY-TOWN 108 VII. TRIBULATION IN HADDON 130VIII. MALCOLM NO. 2 163 IX. A TRYST AT BOWLING GREEN GATE 181 X. THOMAS THE MAN-SERVANT 211 XI. THE COST MARK OF JOY 239 XII. THE LEICESTER POSSIBILITY 260XIII. PROUD DAYS FOR THE OLD HALL 281 XIV. MARY STUART 302 XV. LIGHT 333 XVI. LEICESTER WAITS AT THE STILE 360

  A TOUCH OF BLACK MAGIC

  I draw the wizard's circle upon the sands, and blue flames spring from itscircumference. I describe an inner circle, and green flames comeresponsive to my words of magic. I touch the common centre of both with mywand, and red flames, like adders' tongues, leap from the earth. Overthese flames I place my caldron filled with the blood of a new-killed doe,and as it boils I speak my incantations and make my mystic signs andpasses, watching the blood-red mist as it rises to meet the spirits ofAir. I chant my conjurations as I learned them from the Great Key ofSolomon, and while I speak, the ruddy fumes take human forms. Out of thedark, fathomless Past--the Past of near four hundred years ago--comes agoodly company of simple, pompous folk all having a touch of childishsavagery which shows itself in the fierceness of their love and of theirhate.

  The fairest castle-chateau in all England's great domain, the walls andhalls of which were builded in the depths of time, takes on again itsolden form quick with quivering life, and from the gates of Eagle Towerissues my quaint and radiant company. Some are clad in gold lace, silks,and taffetas; some wear leather, buckram and clanking steel. While thecaldron boils, their cloud-forms grow ever more distinct and definite,till at length I can trace their every feature. I see the color of theireyes. I discern the shades of their hair. Some heads are streaked withgray; others are glossy with the sheen of youth. As a climax to myconjurations I speak the word of all words magical, "Dorothy," and lo! asthough God had said, "Let there be light," a fair, radiant girl steps fromthe portals of Haddon Hall and illumines all my ancient company so that Imay see even the workings of their hearts.

  They, and the events of their lives, their joys and sorrows, their virtuesand sins, their hatreds, jealousies, and loves--the seven numbers in thetotal sum of life--pass before me as in a panorama, moving when I bid themmove, pausing when I bid them pause, speaking when I bid them speak, andalas! fading back into the dim gray limbo of the past long, long ere Iwould have them go.

  But hark! my radiant shades are about to speak. The play is about tobegin.

  Dorothy Vernon of Haddon Hall