Dr Haddon's Stratagem.

Evening Star, Issue 9324, 23 December 1893, Page 2 (Supplement)

Dr Haddon's Stratagem.

[By Fabian De Lisle.]

(Specially Written, for the Evening Star.) ANTED, ft Young Lady of unflagging energy and determined will, to not 03 Nurse and Companion to Invalid jGentleman. Applicantsmust rbe willing to travel, and must produce unexceptionable credentials. Apply at once to Dr Delacroix, Napoleon; New Zealand. Such au advertisement appeared simultaneously in the leading dailies of the Middle Island of New Zealand for five consecutive days in the fall of 189—. Edith Blake was the daughter of Paul Blake, a struggling artist, who eked out'a precarious livelihood by portrait painting in a small town of the North Island where commissions were scarce and art ; but indifferently appreciated. Nineteen summers had passed since Edith Blake first sent forth her childish wail to join the hosannaha of millions of iiifants who wero launching hito the world of strife and sorrow, of Bweetest pleasures and lasting pain. No silver rattle, no swaddling clouts of silk and sable greeted her advent .on the maelstrom of life ; but if ever star Shono on the great stage of existence, the fair daughter of Paul Blake took a preeminent position as the most beautiful and good. ~ "Why, papa, just look at this," she cried one morning, passing the paper across their tiny breakfast table. " Could anything suit me better ? I have been longing to be a nurse, and here is tho very unfortunate who is to be my especial care. I shall write at once to Dr Delacroix."

Paul Blake gazed sadly at the bright face and massy flakes of golden hair before him, and smothered a sigh as he answered : "You must bo careful, child. The advertisement is ambiguously worded. Who knows what terrible disease this invalid may have contracted. He may be a dangerous madman." " I doii't think so," murmured Edith, pensively; "at any rate, here is an opportunity for me to help you, and to reduco your debts and the mortgage on our lovely cottage, so I am going to try every means in my power to get the appointment." Paul Blake thought over all his difficulties, and though loth to lose his motherless girl he was reluctantly compelled to give an unwilling consent. "Very well, child, I have long known that the separation must come. Yet have I struggled to put oft' the evil day. But at last " Ho dropped his head on his arms and sobbed his sorrow out, Edith trembling over him and comfouing him with her lavish caresses and words full of compassion and lovo.

The preliminaries were soon arranged. Within two days in reply to her letter Edith received a telegram from Dr Delacroix : " Fares for self and Mr Blake prepaid ; come at once." And two days' later daughter and father were seated in tho doctor's study listening to his deep, manly voice as he explained his business. " It is a sad case—indeed a very sad case; and I feel, Miss Blake, that you will bo of invaluable service if you assist me in this matter. My patient, aMr Cecil Varrennan, is a young man of nine-aud twenty yoars. Of all tho men in the world ho was one most fitted to shine as an ornannno. Endowed with marvellous gifts, at an age he gave promise of a manhood parfect in every good work and action ; and as a poet his work, I am told, has centred the attention of tho whole world of letters. A year ago at most, so his father (General Vanrennan) tells me Mr Cecil Vanrennan suffered a deep disappointment, which to a man of his strong norvous tomperanient came as an overwhelming blow. He struggled bravely to conquer his sorrow, but after fighting manfully he appears to have lost all courage; and with the wreck of his courage ho sought a coward's refuge in drink> Mr Cecil Vanrennan became a confirmed dipsomaniac. In" vain his horror-stricken mother and his father (the General) sought to win him from this curse. They could do nothing. At. length Mr Cecil succumbed to dolirium tremens, and after months of illness his life was only saved by the strenuous care of Dr Bond—one of England's most eminent specialists. It was Dr Bond who sent him out here to mo under the care of his valet, a sterling good fellow, and a nurso. Unfortunately, Miss dialling, the nurse, has been prostrated by, violent influenza, and as Mr Vanrennan must have constant travelling I have been obliged to fill Miss dialling's place. Should you accopt this position your chief duty will be to see that Mr Cecil Vanrennan shall never have an opportunity of getting any drink of any kind whatever, and to the best of your power to prevent him from relapsing into melancholia, to which he is very subject. I especially mention the fits of melancholia be cause Dr Bond lays great stress on them, and my diagnosis makes me equally certain that, in order to conquer the dipsomania, we must first drive out all signs of melancholia. You will have an invaluable ally in Michael, Mr Vanrennan's valet. Ho is indefatigable, and seldom leaves his master's side. I may mention that the primary cause of all this trouble was the work of an American beauty, who, iifter engaging Mr Vanrennan's deep affection and accepting his offer of marriage, in a most coldblooded manner cruelly jilted him for his titled companion, who was travelling with him in the Riviera at the time of his introduction to the lady. I have a small book of notes compiled by Miss dialling relative to her nurse's work, and a deeply underlined note says: ' Never allude to the Riviera.' Now, Miss Blake, General Vanrennan is a liberal man and recompenses liberally. His son is a young man of the most charming nature. Your task will be to watch, amuse, and interest him What do you think ? Shall you accept V Edith turned to her father, and he silently nodded his consent. "Of course I will accept, Dr Dolacroix ?' Could I refuse so generous an offer ? Indeed, I feel quite interested in the case already. I shall spare no effort to bring about a permanent tsure. I feel deeply for Mr Vanrennan in his unhappy position," said Edith.

'Then it is settled," answered the doctor. " Come, let me introduce you to your patient"; and he led the way to a cosy study, where Mrs Delacroix was discovered busily knitting by a cheery fire.

Seated at a small table, with a pack of cards spread before him, was Cecil Vanrennan. And Edith Blake, entering before the doctor, thought she had never before seen such a pure aristocrat as the tall dark man who rose and bowed before her to the doctor's introduction. "Charmed to meet you, I'm sure, Miss Blake ; and Mr Blake too. As you see, I have been , amusing myself by playing Patience. No subject for a scoffer either, paltry as the game may seem. The great Napoleon, incarcerated in Elba, whiled away the weary hours with la solitaire, striving, I should think, mechanically, to bring about the desired result, while his thoughts wandered back to his battlefields, his eagles, and his Old Guard. Which think you flooded his thoughts the most—Aus* terhtz and Jena, or ' My Josephine' V He sighed as he turned the cards over unconsciously. " They say that once only in

some years he succeeded in completing the suits. Now, within the last four months I have been successful twice. Did you ever see the play scene in 'Canaille'? "What is it Arniand says? 'Luoky at cards, unlucky in love,' is it not ? And so he was, poor fellow ; his passion deserved a better fate." And the great brown eyes grew dark as night as Cecil Vanrennan stood turning over the cards, the Seven on the eight, highest moved first; and so on, in that soul-absorbing combination called solitaire.

But Edith Blak6 quickly drew him from his gloomy mood, and brightly and vivaciously chatted away on subjects far apart from any melancholy reminiscences. " Your daughter is admirably adapted to -this case, Mr Blake, and I have great hopes of her doing much towards effecting a permanent cure with Mr Vanrennan," said Dr Delacroix to Paul Blake. Edith Blake was at once installed in Dr Delacroix's house, and she soon found her patient showing marked favor towards her. After a week spent at Napoleon, Ceoil Vanrennan, valet, and nurse set sail in the s.s. Celtic for England. Upon leaving the departing vessel Dr Delacroix had handed to Edith Miss dialling's book of notes, and the fh'st note said "Mr Vanrennan always grows sad when leaving any place." Dr Delacroix had had a long and interesting conversation with tho doctor of the ship, and had received amplo assurance of his careful attention to Cecil Vanrennan during tho voyage. Cecil Vanrennau leaned against tho railings of tho saloon deck and gazed dreamily over the lovely landscapo now fast receding from viow. In vain Edith attempted to attract his attention ; he seemed not to hear her. At last he turned to her with his large dark eyes liquid with melancholy, and said: "So glide our blissful dreams away. There is nothing lasting in this world, but the shortest lived of all is lovo. Then in rapid order follow faith—a shattered idol—and contentment, another name for delusion."

Edith felt her heart throb as she saw tho depth of sadness in his oyes. She felt sho pitied him, but tho choking sob she repressed with difficulty started her brain wildly racing in a whirlpool of strange ideas. What was tho feeling overpowering her ? Was it pity ? She looked at tho handsome profile before her, still now, as if chiselled in marble, and with a start she pressed her hand to her heart in horror, for at last she had found the truth. The feeling was not pity—alas! it was tho god of pity—it was an all-absorbing love, such as she could only feel once in life. How her thoughts ran reckless riot round her brain. Sho, the daughter of a penniless auist—even the servant, the paid slave, of this man—had dared to look with lovo upon him. She shuddered as she inwardly murmured: " I could not help it. Ah, no I it was not my fault." And he turned again to her, his voice modulated to an exquisite sweetness as he said : " Good-bye to New Zealand. How like to dear old England. Farewell, sweet land, twin emblem of my fatherland. Like all rosy chimeras, thou fadost also from my life, and I suffer, tho crown of a sorrow's sorrow."

" Why do you ? Ah! why should you ?" she almost wailed at his side, forgetting all her task, only for the moment maddened by the passion that made her quiver and bum. " Tell mo, what is your crown of sorrow ?"

"It is the bright day of blissful existence which vanished when the sun sank below the horizon of delight, and the recollection of it now is my crown of sorrow."

" Some day you will forget," she whispered. " Miss Blako, never!" And he turned away and rotired quickly to his cabin.

Swiftly she sought out Michael, and in hurried words commanded him :

"Go at onco to Mr Cecil, Michael, and do not leave him till ho comes on dock again." She walked up and down, oblivions to all but the new feeling which enthralled her. So sweet was it that she felt that for the first time in her lifo she was experiencing a foretaste of Paradise. Dr Haddon, the ship's surgeon, cast a critical glance of admiration at her from the hurricane deck. "What a superb woman ! By far the most beautiful I have ever seen. Delacroix is a philosopher. If sho cannot cure that wretched dipsomaniac his caso is hopeless." Meanwhile a different scene was being onacted below. " Michael, I require a stimulant. Get me some brandy," said Cecil Vanrennan in his cabin.

"Impossible, sir," answered Michael. "The doctor has forbidden you any spirits." Cecil Vanrennan turned, his eyes flashing fire as he said : " And docs that cursed veto still expose mo to the scorn and contumely of strangers. Has Dr Delacroix dared to brand me thus publicly as a drunkard—a sot ? Stand back man, and let me pass." He flung Michael aside like a madman, and rushed from the cabin. He made straight for the bar-room, and found the barman away. Seizing a bottle of brandy, he poured out a tumblerful and emptied it at a gulp, just as Michael rushed into the bar.

" Oh, my God ! Mr Cecil, what are you doing 1" cried the valet, as he flung himself upon his master, striving to wrest the brandy bottle from his hand. " Dare you lay your hands on me, Michael!" said Cecil Vanrennan, as he flung the valet off. " I will have it. Stand off. or I may do you an injury." He rapidly poured out another glass. Once more Michael made a dash at his master, striving with all the strength he could command to hold him a prisoner. He was a strongly-built man, and possessed considerable strength. But, with the fury of the alcohol full upon him, Cecil Vanrennan shook him off, and seizing him by the throat he flung him out of the bar with* awful force. Michael fell with a dull thud against the brass ventilator of the opposite cabin, where he lay senseless. Meanwhile a crowd had quickly gathered. Cecil Vanrennan emptied the second glass of brandy, and coolly placing a sovereign on the bar table took up tho half-empty brandy bottle, and was walking away to his cabin, when Dr Haddon, who had been hastily summoned, came running down the companion stairs, followed by Edith Blake, the chief steward, and the missing barman. " One moment, Mr Vanrennan," said the doctor. " I'm afraid your servant is seriously injured," and in a rapid aside to Edith : "We must get that bottle from him."

Cecil Vanrennan turned but for a moment, and then went on unsteadily towards his cabin. Quickly Edith ran up to him, and, detaining him with one hand, attempted to take the bottle from him with the other.

" No, no, Miss Blake; not that. Would you rob me of this sparkling nectar—my sole friend, my boon companion ? What! take from me my comforter, my sea of oblivion, in which I drown my land of sorrow ? No, no, you must riot do that." And Cecil Vanrennan laughed wildly as he held the bottle at arm's length away from her.

"Mr Vanrennani I am only a woman," said Edith, trembling like an aspen; "but you must give me that bottle. See, I will have it. This is no time for halfmeasures. Do not demean vourself by such unseemly straggling. Give me tlje bottle at once."

"No, no, Not my elixir vitse. Not my Pactolus. Woman, the potent power of this sable liquid can relieve me from the damnation from which I am suffering. Fiery though it be it cures the burning fire here." He brought the bottle to his

heart,'and in a moment Edith, had it firmly in both hands. •'.*'.. "INow, Mr Vanrennan, let go. You are a gentleman, and you would not use force with me. Let it go at once." She stamped her foot imperiously, and with a sudden wrench snatched the bottle from his hand. For one moniont it seemed as if he would buret into a fury of baffled rage; the next moment ho bowed low, and with a sarcastic laugh said : " Like all your frail sex, Miss Blake, you can be determined when you-please. Excuse me for leaving you." He bowed again and entered his cabin, followed by Michael, who had partially recovered from the stunning effect of his fall. A few seconds after Edith Blake lay in a dead faint at Dr Haddon's feet, whore she fell without warning as she turned to hand him the bottle she had so triumphantly taken from Cecil Vanrennan.

" Come, come, this won't do, my brave little beauty," said tho kindly doctor, as he raised her in his arms and carried her to her cabin. '* We must bring you round with a stimulant at oncie, for I doubt not but that there is hard work before you yet." And Cecil Vanrennan, stretched on his bed, was heaping incohecont curses on his servant's head. " I nursed you when you were a child, Mr Cecil,and by God's help I'll try and nurse you now," sobbed the longsuffering valet, as ho straggled desperately to undress his now thoroughly intoxicated master.

Dr Haddon was right when, after a short examination of the patient, ho said that Mr Vanrennan had received a shock to the system which would undo all the good work of months gone by. And Edith, standing white and cold by his side, laid all the blame on herself for giving way to his melancholy mood on deck, instead of checking it then. All night long Cecil Vanrennan raved restlessly in mild delirium, calling Lucille, his lost love, and bringing Heaven to witness the perfidy of woman. " Changing as tho tides," he would mutter; "inconstant woman. Lucijle! my fair Lucille. Ah ! Frailty, thy name is Lucille !" So he wandered on continuously through the night, while Edith watched by his bedside, and pressed her heart to still its rapid throbbings that sent a wave of emotion through her, and flushed her very temples with scarlet. Truly, this was a sad beginning to her love dream. There lay the man, helpless and ill with intoxication, calling on a dead • love, and mourning her loss in saddest sighs and low sweet tones ; and she sat on through the never - ending night, as it seemed to her, smoothing the glossy hair from his forehead and letting him press her soft hand in his as he called on the false Lucille. For nearly a week Cecil Vanrennan remained in a state of complete nervous prostration. The collapse was terrible, his whole frame seemed reduced by the effects of the alcoholic poison. He scarcely ever spoke, lying white and still, the likeness of death, watched by the wearied nurse, who, with unflagging energy, kept constant vigil by •his bedside; only consenting to bo relieved for a few minutes by the valet upon the doctor's earnest solicitation. The day before they reached Mauritius Cecil Vanrennan crawled from his cabin, aided by his valet and supported by Edith, and gained the deck, where he lay impassive on a long lounge, unconscious of all that passed around him. His faithful nurse tried every means in her power to arouse him from the morose melancholy which seemed to hang like a pall around him, but unavailingly. Dr Haddon, standing silently watching the invalid, cast quick, short glances at the nurso as she hovered about Cecil Vanrennan like an angel. Ho had made mankind, and womankind too, a subject of deepest study and interest, aiid his inward voice spoke silently of his thoughts just then. "The spell works," it said, " but not as Delacroix hoped. No. It is the angel of light and golden hair, who, in pitying tho will-less wreck, has learned to love him. Can I make it possible for him to learn likewise. It seems a hopeless struggle; he is not long for this world. The system is undermined, shattered, and one more bout like the last will bo the last. What can Ido ?" And so the days passed by. Each morning sun brought Edith a day of joy—a blissful dream that she clung to with ecstasy. She could always be near him, speak to him. and on every pretext touch him, with a touch that thrilled her with infinite joy; and then when Dr Haddon said ho was recovering, that he would pull through, how she thanked God for His infinite mercy. One day Cecil asked her to get him 'Tennyson's Poems,' and when she had brought him the book he turned quickly to ' Locksley Hall.' Sho sat by his side while he read. She saw him tremble—his face blanched whiter, if possible, and the nervous twitching of his nostrils was painful to see. He was suffering, but the agony was a thousandfold stronger in tho breast of the woman, who sat clasping her hand unconsciously over her heart, her blue eyes riveted on his face in keenest anguish. Every pang he felt seemed to find a stronger rival in her heart, and the doctor passing by stood spoil-bound before them.

" This is horrible," he muttered ; " too horrible. If he only knew the pain he was inflicting upon her ? How will it end ? : ' He quickly interrupted Cecil. " See here, Mr Vanrennan, what an extraordinary creature I have just picked up iorrard. It is a ' Portuguese man-o'-war.' The frail creatures sail over thousands of miles of tossing waves, and are, I should say, the greatest navigators in the world." The book was slowly closed, and a quick signal from the doctor caused Edith to rise quietly, remove the book, and take it back to the bookshelf in her cabin. And the tiny speckled "Portugee" 14y in the white palm of Cecil Vanrennan as the doctor wisely discoursed upon the frail creature and its life. At last to some remark Cecil Vanrennan faintly smiled. The shadow of melancholy passed away, and for the first time for many days he spoke brightly and well. The "Portugee" had excited his poetic soul, and as ho tenderly moved its fragile sail he improvised lines and verses that delighted the doctor. Edith again appeared on the deck, standing for a few minutes by the gangway to speak to the captain. " How intensely beautiful she is," said the doctor as if unconsciously ; " tall and stately as a queen, and sweet and fragile as an autumn rosebud. Do you know, Mr Vanrennan, you possess a prize in your nurse which many men would be proud tq win. There is a magic about beautiful Miss Blake which I am afraid is playing sad havoc among the sterner sex oh board. If I only dared " He stopped short. For Cecil Vanrennan had started and was gazing with .a dark frown on Edith and the captain. He caught her eye, and silently beckoned her. She immediately came towards him, as he turned to Dr Haddon :

" I think as you do, doctor. She is a fit ideal for a poet's dream. Miss Blake, we were speaking df you just now; do your ears burn ? Though the doctors praises should call up feelings of gratification, Dr Haddon admires you very'much." Edith blushed, and looked inquiringly at the doctor. Something in his deep, grey eyes •made her cast down her eyes quickly, and Cecil Vanrennaii, sphinx-like, noted it all. " It is hardly fair of you to repeat a conversation I intended to be confidential, Mr Vanrennan," said the doctor. " Yet lam not ashamed of my intense admiration of a lady I have learned to respect and appreciate (with another hold glance -at Edith). Miss Blake is my beau-ideal of a beautiful woman,"

Edit}*, flashed -to, her temptos,Bfood looking on the deck.,,Ceoil Vahwnnanj with a ghastly smile cdtfering his set teettylooked full at *the doctor, who gazed with un-; disguised ■ a4mftstipn at Edith. His thoughts meanwhile; were triumphing in his mind. " The trick wbrks, bj Heaven I He is actually jealous of my Mmiration;. Triumph! I shall carry it out ; I Triumph I Triumph!" , ; ' Edith broke the silence by a commonplace remark, sounding strange and dull aftor the storm of ivaried passions procoding it. '■ ■■' "It is nearly "five o'clock, Mr Vanrennan. You must: go down to dress for dinner." Cecil Vanrerinan rose without a word, seeming not to notice the .dpctor's proffered, hand. And the next moment he accepted Edith's arm, and, leaning heavily on her, walked slowly dpwn.below. The doctor chuckled to himself; He had a beautiful wife at home; where his soul ever was, and he laughed lightly as he thought how this strategic flirtation of his would amase her when he told of it. From thenceforth his attentions to Edith Blake grew more marked from day to day. He adroitly led Cecil Vanrennan into conversation, and then besieged him with questions about Edith, asking who she was, whether Paul Blake had any aspirations regarding his daughter matrimonially, and if he would be satisfied with an honest English 'gentleman in a modorato position in life. To Cecil Vanrennan these conversations were disagreeable beyond measure. He regarded Edith in a sort of proprietary light, and latterly he underwent constant changes of temper when she was eithor with him or away from him. The thought of loving her had never entered hite head. The other wound was fresh in his heart, though somehow ho had not dwelt on it so much during the last few days—this other matter had occupied all his mind. He resented Dr Haddon's marked attentions to Edith, and he kept her constantly hovering by him on the most frivolous pretexts. Qtie evening, just at the close of dinner, the doctor whispered lowly to Edith : "Come on deck at once." She started, but his arm placed before her gave her no choice, and they disappeared up the companion way, followed oy two sombre, dark eyes that seemed-, to flash lightnings, while Cecil Vanrennan set his teeth close together and breathed hard as ho crushed a walnut to atoms between his fingers. The doctor led Edith to the stern of the ship, right over the screw. "Miss Blake," he said, "your various duties—though latterly you should have been less tasked, since your patient is almost convalescent—have prevented me from getting the opportunity I have long sought for. At length I have it. In two days, Miss Blake, we reach England. Do you know what that means V Edith did not answer. She had not been blind to the doctor's advances, and she trembled for what was coming. "It means, Miss Blake, that we must part. To me it will mean much, for, Miss Blake—Edith—l love you, and I ask you to be my wife." All her self-possession returned then. She stood faintly smiling on him. "Dr Haddon, I cannot. I feel deeply grieved to pain you; but let me tell you at once that it is impossible. My affections are already irrevocably fixed on another."

He bowed silently, biting his lips in tribulation. "Itis a sad blow to me, Miss Blake. I had foolishly hoped otherwise. Grant mo one favor in my sorrow. Should Mr Vanrennan question you regarding our present conversation—ho knows of my intentions regardiug you—tell him I asked your hand, but that you left the matter in abeyance. It is a strange demand, truly, but believe me you will never regret it. Will you promiso 1" " Yes, Dr Haddon, I will. I can see no harm in such a promise." " Thank you," replied the doctor, affecting to wipe his eyes, " I see your patient has returned to the deck. Perhaps the beautiful moonlight night has attracted him. Good night. May your suit result more happily than mine." Ho, walked quickly away. So capitally did he play his part that Edith sighed in pity for him as his bowed figure disappeared down the gangway. Cecil Vanrennan had followed them quickly to tho deck. As he saw them leaning over tho stern in close conversation he smothered a curse, and turning the back of his chair to them flung himself down, a prey to uuplcasant feelings. Presently Edith glided to his side and commenced a conversation. He remained silent. At last he held out his hand.

"My native climate chills mc to the bono. Travelling in the tropics has thinned my blood wofully. Feel how cold my hand is." She held his hand, and his fingers closed over hers quickly, and he drew her hand to his lap, where he covered it with his left hand. Alas! how it trembled in his. Her eyes seemed to pour a'liquid light into his as she brought her face closer, closer to him. Such emotion thrilled him -that he could not move. And so .they sat gazing at each other. " Tell mo," he cried in a hoarse voice, " of what you and the doctor were speaking just now ? Of the lovely moonlight, or the successful voyage, eh V "It was a more solemn subject than that," she answered, almost in a whisper. "It was of marriage." He started violently, then, like the rush of an Alpine avalanche, he said : " Quick! what answer did you give him?"

" I—l—l left it in abeyance." "In abeyance ? Why ? Why ?" he cried.

"Because he asked me to," she answered slowly. " Then your reply—for you must have given him one to command such, a request —was not favorable ?" She remained silent. " Why did you not accept, Edith 1 Tell me."

He drew her closer, to him, gazing into her heart, her soul, with eyes illumined with the fires of love.

"Because I felt I loved another," she answered.

He put his face closer still to hers, and in a firm voice said: "It is a matter of life or death to me. You must tell me who you love." She looked at him with a rapturous smile.. She gazed at him long aud lovingly, and then, biinging forward her face and raising her pouting lips, she kissed him on his lips, once, twice, and again, saying : " You, you, my idol, you !' * * * * *

"Triumph! triumph! triumph!" said the doctor at Southampton to a lovely little lady who stood by Ihis side laughing merrily at his conversation. " Yes, they don't know even now how the betrothal of Edith Blake and Cecil Vanrennan was brought about by Dr Haddon's Stratagem.