DEVOTED TO VENGEANCE.

Western Star, Issue 910, 3 January 1885, Page 1 (Supplement)

DEVOTED TO VENGEANCE.

; vChAPTBII 11, Five years later Dr Leigh was in Cornwall, vipiting a professional brother there- ,He had -monnted the tree of success rapidly, and was one - of the first physicians of the day. No taint of professional scandal had ever touched his .name.; that secret which would have, been a: blot-upon'it for ever had remained a secret locked in his .own breast. Of Yivian St Leonard he had heard nothing, in. all thesq years ; but her. memory remained with .him as 'vividly‘ as* in' the days * after her departure' from Ifohdori,'not With the Btrengthemng, purifying influence that thR love of .a good .woman bears, but with the hot, t baraing blight of the sirocco; ' >■ y ' M <5/,J i J oJ ! ?

had his extensive practiceing,,. hahihg . yiUageVou the Com-, ish poast a»d;its,isurrounding district,. Dr -Leigh; had been’ an l -old college chum.' v of-‘ his; ’* anch; ; Wben c ‘ the l former began to look about him/fofj some country ,noo,k ~to .escape, to, for a .tweek’a breathing otimeifo-his 'busy,, life,- a-letter from' Dr Bryce, inviting him to spbiid it dt Peprhyn’s ;i?pihtdectded hith at one?." He bad a ae,crelt‘ craying. tQ. fiad the woman he loved; again; or;; if. not to i find; her,-at least to learn-more of; her dtfange history, and j ~ ’ 1 Penjrtlyn's ; Point ran downwards to the sea;. , the great black waves of the ocean came; roiling id, upon, the’ wild- rPckyv 'fihdre/ Wiierb; tremendous. /sharp-peaked cliiffa -.stood k up! from .among. t the „Jo«ver-ridgesojt“ rock,. levelled, and' smoothed By the. constant 'action/of-the’ -waiteiv'-’ ,; Over, some of'these ridges had ever trod; blit wild seabirds' built their eyries;;-and dim, shadowy ! phantoms of the night held high nival in the darkness. • -1 “It is a solitary, place to live in,” said Dr Bryce; who - wcs 7 a v chebry little man; and who had bis house quite beyoiid the village, in a.black care moorland near the sea, /‘.Haunted by unquiet spirits,, one might say; hut i have too mucu to do’’among,the living, Leigh; to trouble the dead,/ One , .VoJt 1 ! strange ! things, too, sometimes, ,among. >the living as well as among, the dead'. And that reminds me," said' DrFryce, looking at his watch; “of J a sti»tige i have tb go and, see this, afternoon; and which I waa going to a special favour, to home and seealong witu me, Leigh. I thought of having a consultation before,But as you have coine it wilt save' him ; the" tfttpeasb. J VVill, you come?" .. ~,V .• _ , The two gentlemen had just finished their luncheon, and Dr. -Price's, igigi 'stood ready before the . door* . The other expressed -his ■willingness, aqdi the two were soon bowling along the country road, 1 ' '• “The case is that of! the proprietor of Fenrhyn’s: Boint and a good many other places near," Dr Pryce explained. presently." “He isa-middle-aged man; and; up to the present time hale, and strong enough, ,I'! believe* About a. year ago his wife died, but 1 don’t think that , affected.him much. She was a sharp, sour little woman, and there never was yuuch love lost between them, I dare swear. As for himself, nb one .liked hiia j he comes of a queer, family, and is queer enough himself— has a strange family ■ history; but I’ii tell you of that'again. There’s one little girl, a delicate, consumptive child,; who won’t , live to : womanhood, lam pretty sure. Put. this sickness baffles mo. As soon as I seem to be geiuug below it there is a'reiapse, and he is worse, than ever. He'has a- nurse who-engaged to'take charge of him by night—a ( most trustworthy person. But lately his sister-in-law, has. been coming about the Bouse a great -deal, and he seems,.to encourage her; but 1 don’t know, what to say of her—l don’t ■ know what to say,” said Dr Pryce, stroking his beard. “She is a dangerous person, 1 a dangerous history, at least; in connection withe our proprietor’s; too. But I’ll tell you all that afterwards. - There are as strange things in fact as in fiction, Leigh, and stranger, and we doctors, come across a great many of ithem. But here we are,” he.exclaimed, drawing rein in- front of a' handsome [building of a modern style of archiitecture, but somewhat dark and gloomy in appearance. .‘ ; “ Mostly, unoccupied,” said Dr Pryce, giving the reins ,to the lugubnousdooking groom who approached him. How is- your*“master P” he asked of the footman who opened the door.

“ Very poorly, sir,” was the answer. Ur Pryce went up the broad marble staircase himself, and paused before a door* t ; v

“ This is the bed-room, Leigh. Will you step into this little ante-room until I let our patient know you are here?” and he opened another little room which led into it. “ Certainly,” Dr Leigh assented. In five minutes Dr Pryce came into, the ante-room. “ Mr St Leonard is ready, Dr Leigh; will you come in.” 11 , , " WhoP“Mr St Leonard. Did 1 not mention his name before? Do you know him?”, ■ . . • •

• * No,” Leigh answered abruptly. “ Let me see him, Pryce.” , ! The two doctors-went into the bedroom together, On the old fashioned four-posted Elizabethan bed lay the patient, restlessly tossing from side to side;’ He had never been a handsome man, but now his face was distorted with pain and impatience, and it had’ a pallid, greyish hue, such as is the precursor of death. Dr Leigh examined and .questioned him in his quick, professional why,'the patient answering him feebly, but with irritation; declaring that he wanted nothing but to be left alone and'die in peace. ” When the examination was fiver,' Df Leigh beckoned his friend into the ante-roofo

again. -e,-i: u-.w j • a y.t* What do you think ?” Pryce asked € ageiily^. : v!;r"- .pM ,;!i •« -v •" j . Ui v#«The symptoms are those of a case of ij|lqw' irofoohjng. Did. you nevejr suspect this yourself ?’■ 1 V«» j ■ »-' j \ v Dr-Pryce started violently. '*‘lt'is horrible ! ■> I/cfinfess I haye had' suspicions, ;.bht I hardly permitted them'; and: X have had . little experi-' enee in,! such cases. '. But;if it is so, 'the first' thing is to find out whether it is'foficidentai or malicious, and, if the latter,; who, the:poisoner is, him- 1 self or another. V- We must find it out •at onoe.JV . * ?.., »W. ; ' *»DrLeigh walked deliberately to; the r ondsi . he ■ turned jonhd again there was a peculiar hard, set expression ujiutt RiS; face, which his v ‘ brother hardly; knew hfivy to; sccoiint You have attended Mr St Leonard for some; time, Pryce;< aqd ! -must know the/peciplebywhom i hedSi4urrottnde’d. ■Ts there any cienspoint ' ''' '“ ,, ‘ ; -

Of course what I,say is ,in profesering Msvoice.v “ b (hi; 'fememb hr the ’Woman Leoqais^ I said,-’and IBavo never liked -her coming about Tteveitwo u — iti’-Uol ««« off , “ItWHat’way?” asked Deighfo a harsh voice. - *V;<•< •

.* cannot! tell you here,” said the other, cautiously. '“*■ There is'liincfaebn for us 1 in 'thie*- diningroom, ‘ Harding tells me,; Borne down there, and Tr# •give you her history.” l '* : hi In.-the, dining-room, and coolly discussing <the cold chicken; ’ ’Dr Pryce went WJ "T: 'I’

•^ <p Td leife you know something of,how matters JL must a premise- that Trovellysmas not always! in the possession! -xjf 'the '■ 8t ;4fi fb!o- - ahdtpi? diady .gdnhf-; strops back, I J believe, toi the, Trevels, • who wero called the XreFelsi of Trey-1 : ellya»' But thefamily were reduced to : poverty through the itckie'shnesa' of 1 Thedatste 1 heayily ifiprlgaged, and. the-mortgagee ; Waa' >• JL suppose he enforced his'claima l Cruelly he was,; at least# > cruel ahd 'imefcueaS haan. i He topk the estate over the heads 'of’ the Trevelaj he would 'not,’allow them» to remain on> theproperty }> he drovel them - to the l verge s of The \ dd’Trevbl was a pasifionath; bxcitabih man, and he conceived, as yyaspatdral enough, a deep, and deadly; hatred against St Leonard, I don’t know the i Whole story; for I was -a child at- the time j- but, it was said’ that one dark , arid i ßtomy l night the” two men,mht on the rbcka-beiow TreveUys,: and quarrelled fiercely, Trevel - making an attempt ito hurl StLeohard into the sea,.- but St Leonard, j being ;■ the stronger, got ’above the ’ other,’ahd grappled : with him until he had him over the rocks. ; St Leonard i was acquitted of everything but justifiable self-defence. It was h tragic ‘ story; tor,’ a month after, Treyel’s wife' died, living,, it is said,- as, her last injunction to her daughter, the command to give her life to . the revenge of their wrongs. For some .time Vmah Travel was raving mad, and;"they had her taken to a private asylum.. I cannot isay whether- she had recovered when she was liberated fthere is a strong ■ hereditary taint of insanity in;; her blood, and my opinion is nothing cbuld do away, with that, However, old St : Leonard took her to his home, moved, 1 perhaps; by remorse for the part he ; bad acted. There were ' the two sons then, Edmond , and Easton. Easton had returned r home from college, and fell. in< love; with the» girl -Vivian—a most beautiful creature; by the but the old man would' hot heat of a marriage. Easton left home again, ■and a month after the old man-died. It was a strangely. 'su i den death, I believe,' and created some talk- at the time, but that died away, and when Easton came back again,, he and Miss Trevel were married privately, ■ and went up'to London! * ■ ‘“ Easton Was a strange, moody fel* low, and I. do not know what kind of life they had together, He painted, but' was nob very successful j and his brother, who;.it-was said, had paid eourfc toYiyian Tmel himself would

give him no help. A few years ago Easton died, in a London garret, I believe. Strange the fatality attending all these St Leonards ! What became of Mrs St Leonard for two or three years I do hot know, but' she suddenly reappeared here, and took the house in which' her father lived before his death. Shelias' lived'there since, andbeen visited by Mr St Leonard and his little girl,;- and, since he has taken ill, she has come to see him and nurse him, as she says.-' '. ’ '

“ What do you think of the story?” asked Dr Pryce, pausing and looking at his companion, who'was 1 leaning back in ' his 1 chair, his luncheon untasted before him

“ I think,” said Dr Leigh, very deliberately, there can b no doubt how as tp Mr St Leonard’s case. This—woman is his murderess.”

1 “ Good Heavens, Leigh!” said the other, startirig up, “it is a horrible stovy arid a horrible conclusion! She must be mad !'* ■ *.

■'“You forget,” Dr Leigh corrected coldly; *“thb power pf evil ih a wdnian’S heart. ; No man can estimate that.” ■- Vi -I'. ■; ■ ■!?. W ‘

. “ I will have nothing to do with the conviction: 6f in such' a crime;” fiaid his cotriphnipn, excitedly. ‘‘ I shall Forbid the servants .to: admit her.; to Trevellys, and. administer 11 medicines' tp St Leonard myself' More than that I will not’do.” ' • ‘

; ': “"It" is ‘ ybfir Caw.”; Dir. LeigH; “ you as you'choose ”t <• . . .•At thisraomenfcone of - the servants tapped'at -the 1 door to say'-~ 1 \ r : ; ’ : ‘ ‘‘ if yptt’please; sit,' Mrs St Leonard is ; id tEe drawing-rooin, and would like, to know what you think of master to-day, before you leave;*d - cianing’ fiend !" skid Dr Leigh; dncbnsciously repeating \ the words he had used .five . .years ago*. He was feverishly eager now to isee playM ouh.few to'her and tell her'the truth to her b<s” j ' ./As they entered drawingroom them rose from beside the window- the ftalli graceful form 'which had bent 'dying’ ;‘man "in; t thkt disifial Londofi;,bedroom. • shp, beautifulface, reminded iiim, of an Undine’s sprung oub'bf the sea-foam, Leigh. 1 , f'PdfW-ibo-mdfit /id %.i '■+,. ./‘ Oqod morning, Dr Pryce. This is «He gentleman frOmLondon, Iprebumw?’ 1 <She ! ,; bowe!d h slightly;’l have bsen anxious to X- %■' •'* •?'X l ; " It-is, not a pleasant thing to say to a said'Dr Leigh, roughly, .•« butit'pisty be better;fo say it ndw thid m madam.; ’ VlMj; St Leonard is suffering from the effects of slow poison;’! i Impossible ! ,? ’ ekelairhedi : ftpLeonard, Without a';yi r of countenance. “.Surely, you aye (deceived, doctor., Dr-Prycenever spoke; of <suchatbingi. v ' s= i>»rf She looked towards him.; Dr Pryce I !^— r#iio i;!,;r ' ni ’:' aiU,J I ’ bin sorry to say, ard,,Df ; Leigh-and L are agreeddn our opinions/ My suspicions have ‘pointed in-that 1 direction iriorb'thaddnbei and 1 vein’ll‘tp. ■ grave a 'decision withofit a )consuttatioD,,f.Dr LeigWa, verdict: has only Confirmed' my >o WU'." *; i ■>■■■■ 1 ' °^rt|ood_ ! re* gardiiag-them as they spoke. She'ppi; Heir Hand! tp’ Her. throat, while the strange look which Dr Leigh; hod. seen once-before, v swept swiftly oyer her face'}"but 1 whbn" she Bpdke f Kpr‘ Voice was calm and steady. - , ,’ l ! f' .What do you propose doing, Dr, Pryce?” ' *- wU- - “In future I intend to administer all medicine ! to 1 patient. With my own hand p to entrust the anfi serving of food to. the-nurse, alone j and to permit none but her,. Mrs Sfc Leonard,.’and myself, l to enter his chamber.- 1 i»r4 to ft-T-m* "soil

She must have seen, in the eyes, of two' men regaling, one pair stern and-, hard, tHe oihet horror; stricken—-theterrible accusation, as. clearly as if it had beeUput in words. iSb^ herself, and after a hfticl— ! •* f‘ Would-you be.Bo.l;ind as, to-giye me a few moments’ conversation-with this gentleman; Dr Fryce 1 ? He will 1 rejoin' yon”--she' tbob* 1 out her little gpld Watch and laid it on the tabje-* l‘‘ in five minutes/V ’■■■•■■ • ?' • ■ - > C

' Dr Pryce, after a glance at his companion, withdrew,, and the two, who ihad not met for five years, were left : aionie. ; I, y : ' ■ X v < Dr Leijgh did not approach her, Ete stood at . a distance by the telescope table in the window j but Mrs Leonard moved, with her gliding; serpentine ;grpce,.fco. his'side.’’ , v; . '.j, “ Do you remember, five years ago, Dr Leigh, my raying to you : that ’wherever yoU foiiud sorrow and agony and death, there you might seek for inner* she said;’ ■ iJ " ,; 1 "' ,}y

« ' He made no answer, looking atj her with eyes in which horror and disgust Were equally mingled. »•<.- n <x> »n V “ Ah I” you’’shrink from me now,” she saidi” with-a strange smile j“ because you know that r to-morrow. 3t might be tried by a jury of good men and true, and found guilty, aud condemned to be hanged hanged~a Trevol of Trevellysf and you would be chief witness against me, Dr Leigh,. You, who said you loved me j .and what is that ? I never loved but once, and he whom I ’loved lies x iu the - vault ef the St ' Leouards-^doae

to death by his wife’s loving hand ?” She burst suddenly into a peal of wild laughter. “ Who would believe it ? That one who loved her husband as I did should come to that ? But what is sweeter than revenge? What is love to it ? Psha! a tasteless, insipid morsel.” ■■ > ' '■

“ For God’s sake,” said Dr Leigh in a hurried voice, “restrain yourself, Mrs St Leonard- The servants will hear you.” “ And say I am mad ?” she cried, with ’ another burst of laughter. “It has been said long ago. Pooh ?it is an old story! but lam too cunning for you,all—too cunriirig Land they all lie in honoured graves ; but ho —he—” The laugh died on her lips, and these twitched and worked convulsively ; a slight foam gathered on them, and'she raised her lace handkerchief to her 1 morithl The gleam in her eye was the wild glitter of madness. 1 ' Dr Leigh opened the door hurriedly. Opposite the drawing-room was another dark oaken door, and that led into the green sittirig room as it was called at Trevellys, Thithbr Dr Pryce had repaired, and was trying tp steady his nerves by a glance into .“ Sartor Reaartns”—his < unfailing remedy in times of overwork or overexcitement bis friend entered. V; ■ '■ "

“ Come at once, Pryce, he said hoarsely. “ We ; must get her away, there is no time to be lost !V •

!>: ■“ Mad V 'queried’ Pryce, coolly, rising. The remedy had been .effectaal.’ 11 a i 0 I

“I fear so,” the other answered. And ;then added~‘* LhopejSp” .j v •: He re-entered the room with Dr Pryce at his heels. -He was half-afraid of what mightmeet his ''eyes’; buf‘it Wak‘, ’Mrs -\ St Leopard sat beside the table, bn which still lay dhet little gold watch, her bead upon her hands; her'face completely hidden’": ; . ’: >5 “ ’ J

has , swoon,ed,” said Dr Pryce, cbpiiy, ‘ • . .i. • • < ,i : But he lifted up‘the- ghastly face, and gazed-.'for a- moment' l into it—-at the little mOuth, round which - a ’darkblue appeared j/at opep) staring eyes, in wbiph was. ajopk ofihorror, such as haunted < their ‘dying day at ‘the: convulsed •features,'' and at ' the ; firmlyclehchea hands. If was 'a beautiful even in’its, awful paipr, apd .still, frozen agony.-: 1 \h _ ;j.i 'Then-i he ,; turned‘ to his practitioaer; .’WbO" stpOd' ’ Md htiiijdiv,r !f2t. ».,j wj ; isall: over,”'he said, and took from one of -the - relaxing hands .an empty paper; from -which' arose f sf sweet Mgrance.’’ ‘‘’ Shfe hhk been prepared, !breti‘in'her inltdness, for this, and she has dpne her wbrk r ,well; she is dead Leigh I” ‘ It was true; :f She had' failed in her l^st i: act 'ot'revenue/' atid‘ gpne‘with'an shp preseifice ‘ of her jiudge. 7?.,5n. w,mhvum r.wiiAir’ ■’ .. H-. »«' ji ‘ .‘H.-8.. Mackenzie.''