HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Signal, 1899-8-31, Page 6eMseetelifetaneereerfeeeeeethitenereereeece
A DAUGHTER OF CAIN
•
A Novel of the Present Day.
The wore* uttered with wethe the theatres to which Dr. Mortimer
cheek and tremMbig time,, that told bad taken her, and be. nearly aa worn
and spent as she, could only echo bet
how mighty had been the love she had I wards In his beat while the fear
given him. haunted hem continually. was each day growigg stronger that
She believed beerierit widow -thin they ahold not seemed In the ob
gttoriouuly beautiful woman, with eget which they had undertaken.
"You are tired out;ou must rest
her strung, true spirit. and the daunt- for a few days," he said as tau re -
leo room -Aire that haul led her to face moved her ehawl and hat, made her
the world and who for herself and silt down, and then brought her
child a place and a Willa; with her glass of wine to drink.
purity of purpose. her queenly pros- I f -very day she was growing poorer;
once. Iter culture and refinement. every day the eLraht u her nerves
wh'.ch would stake her a leader and a was becoming more unbearable, and
power In any society where she chose he began to fear that she would
to mingle, break down entirely. math his touch.
What a oompanken alio would be for It wee after eleven o'clock when "Yea," Mrs. Langley 'admitted, re -
any men ! What a helpmeet in every they had entered Mrs. Law.olescone luctantly, the red growing more vivid
serine of the word! Would she be won tastable home that evening and in bar face, "abe has fretted a good
a second time? • after striving for a while to cheer deal ever since we lett home nearly
Such thwagfits N+rtted thtougieliteeher fainting heart the doctor bade +1e+'aaiaetr4g?.wieeleei sseidarss
ber n reluctant "good -night," and
left her alone.
As he opened the door Feuding from
her parlor Into the hall, there came
a furious ring at the hall -bell.
"A call for rue, 1 st Daae he
bred, with a weary breath.
The might wise chill and gloomy',
themed • it mped as if he could not drag
his tired frame out again at that lata
hour. Dat be was faithful to every
call; h1s great, aympathet)o
heart would not Let him refuse to go
to any one woo needed him.
CHAPTER XVIII.
sailed three da)ut_agee." ba answer-
ed, eternlr.
lira Langley *auk weakly into a
°batt,
What shall 1 dof" abe cried,
wringing her slender jeweled hands
'7•know aotbfu about mlekaen; 1
shall not know how to take rare' of
her:'
"Has your child never beau ill be-
fore!" be asked, shooting a keep
gleans at her.
No -yens -that i., she has never
had any very serious Mama" she
answered, with contusion, the doter
leaping brightly into her feoe.
"Mamma, come-oome to Daisy 1"
cried the little one sobbingly.
Does leis fret much like this r' Dr.
Mortimer asked, bending over his
small patient to hide tbe moister* is
his eyes caused by that pleading from
the little longing, aching heart, and
wondering how he could ever break
the intelligence of her child's danger
to Cecile. he he spoke be laid his cool
hand upon tbe fevered forehead, pay-
ing it gently back and forth, and for
e few moments she lay more quiet be -
brain every time he came into her
presence. He began to dwell upon
than; they cast a spell over him.
whish every passing day only served
t0 increase.
Today he went forward end took
both her fele hands In his, while his
floe face Man all aglow. caused by
the sight of her peerless beauty and
the tidings he had brought her.
"Mrs. Moatgomer he saki. " I
think -I trust that I have some. news
for you this morning."
She started. and a low cry of joy
parted her red'ilpe.
"Good newer' she asked in a faint
voles.
„ Yom„
"011! te11 me -tell me!" she inter-
rupted excitedly.
"Bit down and I will." he replied.
gently. and leading her to a low
•rocker.
1 went to the Pelmet hotel find,'
he eontlnusd, and searched the tet of
a week. but without suooe a The I
went to the Baldwin Hotel, wheat.
although not so large, is fully as
elegant, and there among the names
of the gaests I. found that of Mrs.
Cdoael W. E. Langley and -child."
Cecile was so utterly still and white
for a moment after this intelligence
that be thought the was gpia�g
faint. He feared he bad told her too
suddenly. The next she startled him
with her wonderful self -control -
She looked op at him, a triumphant
�.lRi iJa1 4(r
thew e mother iInsfl'1t"
heart ooakl not deeeive me." she geld
-' I knew that Helen Langley had
ptolen my chill. But she little kaws
Me If .he thought I would sit tamely
flown and submit to any such out-
rage as this Does she suppose that
she will be able to keep my Daisy t
eio power on earth .can do that. Dr.
Mortimer, you will take sae to the
Baldwin Hotel at onor. ' she concluded.
My dear friend." he returned, with
an accent of self-reproach. " I am
afraid 1 have given you 'reason to
hope for too rknah. Mrs Langley Is
not at the hotel now -the only .re-
mained there one day."
Cteele rank back again. disheartened,
at these worlds.
' flag she left the city ?" she asked.
tremblingly.
I think not: the clerk said he did
not know where ahs had gone, but
thought she must be somewhere with-
in the city Ifmite, as come people
called upon her the day following her
ayrival. end she went away with
them. taking her baggage with her.
The little girl -your,. I am sure. from
he dnsorlptlsn-we.a well, appairently,
but cried a good deal."
• Cecile bowed her proud head at this1
and sobbed.
"Oh, Dalsy, in darling, I know
you want mama !"
• Tim tender mother -love would hare
its way for awhile.
Thein she arae again, lifting her
form erect, and turning to her tom-
panien, her cheek' scarlet. her eyes
glowing like coals of fire, said:
"Dr. Mortimer, I know that your
time L valuable—that others want
you -Weed yon, perhaps -but my need
is greater just now ; there are other
physicians, but I have no other
friend. Will you give me your time?
will you help me search for my child
anti I find Iter? I shall never know
one moment of newt until I hold her
clasped in my arms once more."
And be; trembling with the emotion
with which ler words filled hls,bent
toward her and aatwered In jow,
Intense tones:
'I will do anything In the world for
8tg face flushed and Itis lips parted,
as U he were about to say something
mlote-.Ometldng earnest and pas-
sionate-se
as-
donate- a if come emotion was
about to burst forth which be
could not. control.
But it was only for a moment,
With n deep.drawn breath he drew
back, then continued, In a moregnlet
boo:
U you only knew the name of the
friends whom Mrs. Langley came to
vtttt it would help us a great deal."
"I do not," Cecile returned de-
spondingly.
"Dien we must haunt tine opera
and theatre, and places of amusement.
fashlonahe ebope, drives. and prom-
enades. I will accept. invitatias Into
society, which heretofore I have
nearly always refused, and I
think we must discover woos. clue to
her place of residence before very
long. DO not be dlscoraged ; I am
quite hopeful naw," the phyelrlan re-
turned, and sense talking over their
pians for awhile lunger Cecile also
became more cheerful.
'Mat eve they attended the
California re.
Dr. lderWele seaceeded In obtaining
a private befx, ser that Cecile might
have an opportunity to watch, un-
observed, for the appearance of
Mrs. Langley, if rho should ise them
But the was not there.
Decile sat through the Wok play.
awoejing with a powerful glass tier
after tint of ante, with their oc-
cupants, but without avail. The
face she sought was nowhere to he
seen.
For sages then a week the kept
alp a ronatant rennet of dissipation,
Baring nothing, however, for the
entertainment, but each with a
glass, looking. looking an-
thsir eyes ached and grew near-
ly blind with the constant strain.
for that dark, handsome face whish
they rover saw.
'Dt*tng the flay Dr. Mortimer and
the fair hat rMgely-velkitt a eneiti inn
' haunted the faahtnnahie promenades
and drives; vatted all the first -els e
atoms, whieh shopping -loving people
crowd day after day ; crossee Andre.
crassest ter !say many times,
perckante. that Mrs. Langiey's
hien& might possibly reside In one
of the charming ser•barb*n either;
but always with the same resit.
it aeon Langley and her ortolan
prise were in the elty at aU they
dtfsr did not go ont or they were
s0 aeebrtanabe as to elm them every
thaw.
"It lea thankless task," Cecile .*l4,
as wits a pas, tined fares anti some
la New York, and we have come to
California to *peed a few months
with some friends. I am afraid,
though, . that=.Daisy has been home-
sick." --
There la no doubt about it," the
physician mid, confidently.
How,well he knew that the little
heart was yearning and hungering for
home and home faces.
"How long baa see been ailing r'
be continued, after 1 moment of ail-
"For several days; but 1 thought
ahs had only take• a slight cold, from
which ahs would soon recover, and 1
was not alarmed until her throat be-
gan to swell to rapidly s few hours
.ago, and she was troubled to breathe."
"She ought to have been under
treatment three days ago,' tbe doc-
tor again affirmed, with a very grave
face.
"Will she diet' Helen Langley asked,
oatehing her breath quickly.
"1 -hope not," he replied, evasive-
ly"How long before you can tell? How
tong will she be ill?" the demanded,
n ervously, and be [inning to wish
Daisy was safely back in New York in
har molher'a care. _ .
That will depend •Itsgethdr upon
what -blade of -stars aha receive.. She
is very nick, but there is a chance
tor her, thou`h even with the best of
care it will be some time Ippfore her
recovery will be complete. le she dues
not have good care the nine will ter-
minate fatally, p eihillety; L • •es $,
of days"
Mrs, Langley regarded him curi-
ously.
It was ratherestrange, she tbought,
that he should have so much to , say
about "good care."
"Of course she must, and will, have
the battled- caxa. .he said, with_ltig-
n ity. "But I must halms that [feel
incompetent to do ter her what uught
to be done, and I shrink from the re-
sponebility"-he did not wonder that
s eedid under the circumslaaces-"and
I must have a nurse. Perhaps you
know of aa efficient one whom you
can recommend, doctor 1" she con-
cluded, regarding him with anxiety.
This was just what he wanted -just
what be bad been working for.
Daisy now began to moan and feet
"Will She Dier'
Dr. Mortimer went slowly down the
atter. and answete.l the furious ring
himself. for every servant was In
bed.
He found a man standing there, eh .
W inded Ilea a note.
Beefing the messenger eater, he
It.eteprodenther time hall hump to read
It bad evidently+ been very h•istily
penned; and rat thus:
Dr. Mortimer, -Return at once
with the nseaeeuger by whom 1 rend
this. _DO Ani delay for anything. _.__
Mrs C. A. Scherman."
"Warr doss Mrs Bcfissman Uv ,
h
e asked of tbs man who stood wait-
ing.
"No.- Nob Hill, air." he returned re,
specially.
'• Cke (Ufw„ eigebi,hla e�retm,ws. NOD -
city,
sin a"'Ltocratic quarter o f
city, wltb whish, as it hareem!, be
had never yet had mud"- to do, al-
though his practice was by po meant
a limited one. end be wondered how
his fame had crept Into that vicinity.
Nob Hill. however, was a long 41s•
Lance from the quiet though respect-
able street where h. resided, and he
line* it would probably be nearly
morning before he would be able to
return or get any sleep.
But be saw at once that the call
was urgent and hie eonsclenee Would
not alio* him to dtwegard 11.
"Did yea comela--a carriager' be
asked. taming to the man.
"Yew, sir; and Mrs ttcber'man gaud
you were to return with me -not to
watt for your own team to be sent
for -and I've got the tastesa horse
in the stable," he replied. again.
"Very well. Wart one moment," lie turned to a table and mixed
Dr. Mortimer said, and went quick- something in a spoon, then dropped
le to kis room for his heavy overcoat it between her lips.
and medicine -cheat. I IL was gainful to see her try to
In leas than five minutes they wereII swallow, her little throat was so full
flying through the nearly desert and so very sore ; but she grew quiet
ed atres•ts at an almost break•nec•kagain, atter awhile, sad then Dr, Mor -
'Peed. I timer turned mos more to Mrs Lang -
Arriving at. No. - Nob Hill, Use doe ley.
tor saw at once that his mission layI She had been watching his every
In a very wealthy family, for the I movement with the closest attention,
house Into which lie was sabered was and studying his gray, handsome face.
palatial in all It. appointments. 1 She felt very uneomfortable in his
He was shown directly upstatrs into! presence ; whenever he turned big
a large luxurious room, where low 1 keen gl(sooe upon her she involuntarily
moanstotdhim that thesutferer lay. shrank from him, yet at the same
As be entered, a tall. graceful wee time she experienced the most impli-
man, with raven hair and eyes. a cit confidence in his skill. There
clear, brunette oomplexton and dell- was something self-esserieg about
tate, aristocrat features, came for- him.
ward to meet him. " yes, madam," be mid; "I think I
Something like a shook of electric- know some me who is just fitted to
Ity thrted him through and through take charge of this case."
as be encountered her splendid eyes."Some one who will not be afraid
"Mrs. Hcherman, I presume." he of the disease r' she aeked.
sail, Doering before her. "Are you afraid of it, madam r he
"No, sir; Mre. Seherman ham jurt demanded, terming to look her square -
stepped into another room for a )y In the face.
moment. I am Mrs. Langley, and I ' I must confess that 1 am some -
have sent for you true Imperatively what," she admitted, dropping her
because I fear my little• daughter la eye* beneath the quiet scorn In his
dangerously 111.' glance. " But of coarse,' she :trifled.
I)r. Mortimer knew now what had • I should not neglect Daisy for one
caused that sudden thrtfl. It Was the moment on that account."
presentiment or Impression that he "Of course not," lie repeated dryly.
-.tool ou the verge of st discovery. " Mothers never stop to consider them
Every nerve In his body had tin- selves when their chlkiren are In dan-
gled when she had pronounced her Fer,••
name, and It was with difficulty that Mrs. Langley colored angrily.
he could prevent a violent start and What did thlm man mean by looking
re6bito her Information with any de- at her 4l such a strange way -by his
gale of calmness. quiet arcasm, and the repetition of
This, then, was Helen Langley, the her worts, as 1f they had a double
cold-hearted, revengeful stater ln.law meaning?
of Cecile Montgomery -the mocker of She never dreamed that he could
her trouble*, the abductor of tier know anything about her ; and yet,
child. somehow, It eiw•piesd to her guilty con-
8hir was aqueenly, reptendld-Icoktng sc!enee as If he snewetnl her dark
women, accustomed, evidently. to areret.
mingle In the highest social circles, 11nd1 she known that the war the
and doubtless respected and admired friend who had been no kind to•eeclle
by all who could not look below the In her trouble, the might have thought
surface and know the treachery of thee he haul been told of her : hut
her nature; and, an the noble phy- Cecile lead not mentioned his name
sklan gated upon her he could hard. when 'peeking of him -she had merely
ly believe It possible that any one *Aid a gentleman had assisted her,
so beautiful could be capable of so and, of course, elle mistrusted nothing.
mudh evil. " No," sle answered haughtily.
"Mamma, mamma 1" moaned a '• motheee do pot consulter themselves
hoarse little voice from behind the when their little ones are suffering.
curtahu of the bed. But --hut 1 think It woukl be well for
"Yes, darling," Mrs. Langley mire you to engage this person of whom
mitred tenderly, and Instantly went you have spoken, to assist me In the
over to her. care of the child."
The child uttered a fretful ere fig •• I will -da g6 with pleasure, madam.
she parted the drapery and beet If 'soh he your command," Dr. Mor
down to bet, speaking fond, soots. timer retnreed, politely, but with a
Ing words; then again ramp that feeling of exultation lit his hart thgt
plaintive wall: everything was working so Well for
"Mamma, mamma!" that merlons mother, whom be had
Dr, torttmer, with a vemfy pale face left so nearly dlaoournged but n little
and stern, set lye, removed hie eeee, before
heavy coat, warmed his hands before At lease he hoped everything, wosll
the nree, which was burning bright- work well; Daisy wag very, very sick;
y In the polished grate, and then but 1f It was in the power of medicine
went and 'stood beside the woman or hie skill to prevent it, she *hank!
whn wan hen with such an ant- n01 d.
ions fare over ielittle sufferer. •• 1 shall trust entirely to your pj,rfi1
One glance was euffielent to tell merit In this matter, Dr. Mortetber,"
tdm that the child was Daisy, forher Mr.. iaangles returned. "I must have
mother had brought with her bream- some one, noel, being A stranger here.
Uful pictures of her darling; and it woold not be easy for me to choose
Peen thong)] the face was now cent- a au Mehl. nnree for the child. while
sem and contracted with pain, the you, or eouere,. know whom you reram
throat badly swollen. he recognized menet."
her at once; also Uwe dsrpMum "7' ' Vee, ma.lnm," he replied, meeting
so like Oortie's own, and the Tech her glnurn grnvely, 1 tell you ran -
adaattttg to that slot chamber, the
rest mooted be compare -Lively easy.
'Phew would doubtless beg some;
he eipeoted it ; but he cared ver
hits What Mrs. Langley or her frleudu
mlglit say or do so that the stolen
ohlki was restored to Its mother.
It would be ons of the best medlolaee
the little one could here to wake up
ami find herself lying lu that food
embrace; while One of the worst fea-
tures of Iter Dineen just uow, aside
from the dreadful membrane whleh
Ile knew wee termite; In her throat,
WAS that oOaetaat trett'ng and moan -
Ing for the eight of that beautiful and
loving fans which wise a part of her
very life.
Dr. Mortlaer gave very minute
directions regarding the treatment of
Itis patters"- ustll be should Dome
again. 81te was .1111 in au uneasy
*lumber, tamed ley the drops he had
attralul*t'ered, but It wwmed fist if her
fever burned ninon. and hotter with
emery pawing moment.
" She must be watched constantly,
need her med.tenea htlthfuUy adminis
tered, or I will dot uuswer for the
coat,egeemt�a,' it amid. with es'arlx-
lout parting Soo' at the little
sleeper as he turned to go.
He dreaded to go, lest there shoed
be some neglect. and Cecile should,
atter M. Lw Atte dens one w temleaii
found : l,ut he must go and break the
new, to her, and prepare her for the
trek before Iter.
" Everything retell be done ac.
cording to yewr direetloes, you lase
neat assured," Mrs. Langley prom-
ised. "Mrs. Scherman will store
my watch during the remainder of
the night, and as ahs has had exxn-
stterable experience In sickness. I
t trek you may mfoly treat us."
There was a suspicion of enrcusw
In these lath words. for Mrs. Lang-
ley was very motel' nettled that be
should treat her In what she coo.
ehtered such n childish manner.
"One would Supp nee from his man-
ner that be tbought I did not know
anything, or that 1 had no love for
the child. by the way he charged
me About the medk•inen and the
tare of her. Of neuron. he cannot
know that Daisy does not belong to
me, but I mast any he noted very
queerly." elle moved. an she went
back tai her port by the bed and
resumed her weary watching. not
once suspecting Ueit the wan
boors were bringing her to Magrae,.
fol exposure and retr
CHAPTER XIX.
Ain prartn+A eye told him Inata>ttj Mdly nee honestly, f tiara,- of no other
"-.haeh
t P was imbed "dengsrede to well flttal to Lek,. rwisom o! thl'
lIL" Gear ns the woman of when 1 11111*
The little pole. wa* louping front tisk] you."
the effects of fever, her breathingThen b1.,, ear wend her by all
spent" lief. Iangleeit said, with A.
y
labored, and her tenet In A fret sigh of relief. " Will ehP he nt llMray
fel rata -do you /suppose she will he wilhtg
Mrs. Langley, watching him "Ince• to come early In the morning r'
ly ea he wade het examinations, saw " 1 think so -Indeed, 1 have ne doubt
abs grave look ssttle over lee fare she will come as early aa I *ah."
and the anthem expression In hie eyesThnt le • eowfrrt," heartily •jhea
•
What L IL Aortae -what Is to Intron the unenepecting womaw. who
swatter with tar? wan wholly nndgaeenoua of the fine
elettetheela 1" he answered beetle. little plot that the worthy ehyshdan
" )ipbt erla I" exclalnlr.dl the now was concoPtin against her.
tleornughly alarmed woms s, growing No had resolved -thee moment *lend
pale and ablverh g with fear. recognised Haley to manage In tome
*Nag of bite d drspalr in her tare, Tee, madam. and only fee were wag. to bring Oreille t
hem to
aIle weiety A pant and weary, at beet dmf sang, tie Meowedt her *MidHe koeW that if he %1011/ .M a 0111141044 from nee 01 *111 leave lata, r deedel in . WM gega get her 1Mid& the hada. and
The Terrible Ordeal.
Dr. Mortimer reached his boarding
place, after his visit to Daisy Mont-
gomery, n little after in the morn-
ing.
He enured, as be was *otter Aess-
hig Certle'e dear on itis war•dWW oilhe
room. and esteuest, :t tender stalls
curving his fine Dpg and llisminat-
ing his eyes.
There war no sound within; Ce -
elle, exleteated with her reaaeless
efforts, war sleeping deeply and
dream m iessl y.
'My darling. 1 w 01 not w
even though- i hung to see those red
eyes once more lighted with hope;
you will need all the rest you can
get. and my good news will keep un-
til morning," he murmured, and then
went on to mak the rest which he
aloe so much neede'di.
Cecile did not make her appear-
ance until nearly to o'clock the next
morning.
Me had wept herself to sleep. and
bed slumbered so heavily in teniae
gunnel that the dei not wake ass
early as usual.
Dr. Mortimer came in while she
at at breakfast' and
Lawton, who had nearly exhausted
her knowledge of nunnery matters
in trying to cone back her guest's
appetite. complained) that ahs was
not eating enough to keep a mmosse
alive,
lee doctor .at down to the table
with her, and began talking In a
cheerful, off -hand manner, while
every now and then he would reach
over and demait a choice bit upon
her plate, eating her to "Just taste'•
of 'it. Thum he managed to get
her to eat (mite it respectable
breatkfaet.
He followed her into the parlor after
the meal rens over, and shutting the
doer behind him, went up to bee and
took both her Rands in hie, while he
looked down into her Byre with a light
In hie that made ler tremble.
"Cecile," he salA, unconsciously tim-
ing that name for the first time in
hid excitement, "can you bear some
newer this morning 7"
"What 7" she breathed her whole
being electrified at rice, whale Invol-
untarily her fingers twined tlsere-
thves about his bathe In n elinghng,
eager clasp.
The clasp, the look, were alined
more than ho ebuld hear. strong man
though he wart for every day In ler
presence was nerving to show him
that his life was becoming centred In
her -that he loved her with a tepee
tion tltat would either make or mar
hls-wllele file.
Bite did not seem like the same per-
son who had at so) wearily at the
hreakfrunetable ten minute, before.
Her fair Inc. woo all aglow with
hope, and looked into ICU with .ruche
trustful expectation ; her pure breath
fanned Isle cheek, and her wondrous
eyes were lifted fro eagerly. her red line
just parted with tlsat eager rinery.
Hne- beautiful elle was! (oh, If he
could but keep that glad light nlways
in her eyes.
'Bond tidings," lie answered.
"You have found her -my lrnksy 1"
slhe (tried, lu glad, trlumpeant tonna
"Yea -bet- ' he began, when, with
an exquisitely graceful movement. she
interrupted him by betiding down and
touching Ills hands gratei'ully with
her lea while great glittering teens
gathered an her golden lashes and
rolled over her flushed cheek*
✓