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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Herald, 1907-07-12, Page 90000000440 00 0CIDO 00 0000000000000000 "But it will be very painful to you!" said the elierifff, "No more so than what I have al- ready sustained, and can yet endure," answered Laura, sadly but firmly, "Speak to her, Mr. Cassinove,a whis- pered the governor. "My dearest Laura, be advised, and bid me good -night," urged Cassinove, "Alt, do not tell me to go, else I must, ! you kaiow. Let me stay as long as I ! array, Ferdinand; and let the sheriff pro- Beed with his duty—the nature of which ' I can well surmise. What you have to endure, I also can bear," said Laura, reseating herself by his side. • They urged her no more; but the sher- iff, taking a document fro collas pocket, said: "I have a very painful duty to per- form, from witnessing which I would gladly have saved this lady. I hold in my hand the warrant for the execution of Ferdinand Cassinove, at 7 o'clock a. m. on Monday neat." And unfolding th f,.warrant, amid the dead'silenee of the assembled group, he read it aloud to the prisoner. 'Cassinove heard it with composure, and at its close bowed, still in silence, 'The sheriff said that any privilege or indulenee, within the rules of the pri- son, would be promptly extended to the prisoner, upon his supplication, and, with a deferential bow to Laura, he call- ed bis satellites, and retreated from the cell. When left alone again. the unhappy pair remained seated side by side, their hands clasped together in silence. Leo word had passed their lips since the treading of the death warrant. Although by what had gone before, they were pre- pared for what was to come, yet the reading of the doom seeemd to hare steered them into stillness. Cassinove was the first to shake off the spell and speak. "My own brave wife! you bore the ordeal well!" he .said. "I will bear all the rest well, until all is over, and then—follow you!" said Laura. They remained mutually comforting each other for some fifteen minutes longer, and then the turnkey carte his rounds, and informed Mrs, Cassinove that she must withdraw for the night. ' Ansa Laura took leave of her husband, leaving him alone in his e -ell, and return- ed to her own desolate lodgings. Leaving Newgate, Laura threaded the • . narrow, dark and filthy courts and ail- leys of that miserable quarter, crowded, 'as they were, 'with abandoned wretches ef both sexes, and reached, at last, her own gloomy lodging house, at the top of Skinner street, within sight of St, Sepulchre's Church, On the opposite side of the street she saw a close carriage, with a coachman, whom she thought she recognized. But, too much absorbed by her own anguish, she gave no thought to the eircmnstance, but entered at once her dreary lodging, where no kind friend ever welcomed her, where she was al- ways alone in her grief, as was the Di- vine Master in Gethsemane. She crept slowly and feebly up the dark staircase to the landing upon idbich her room was situated. She saw a. ten- der, subdued light shining from the partly -open door, and her heart, broken down by sorrow, sunk with a strange foreboding of more misery, if more co, come to one whose cup was already over- flowing.. She timidly pushed open the door and entered. And the next moment she was clasped in the arms of Rose. Poor Rose was no ahilosopher, and all she could do now was to clasp her friend to her loving bosom, and sob forth: "Oh, my dear, dear Laura! my dear, dear Laura! my heart bleeds for yowl Oh, may the Lord comfort you, Laura, for no human being can, I know." "This is very kind, Rose, to leave your pleasant palace home, and come to such an abode ef misery as this," said Laura, in an exhausted voice. "Oh, did you think I could stayat dome, knowing that you were alone, and suffering here? Oh, mo; as soon as, the news of the verdict reached us, I got ready, and ordered the earriage, and drove Isere. I have been here an hour. I knew you were at the prison, and I should have gone thither, but I thought you would prefer being alone with him this evening; so I waited for you here." "Bless you, Rose! but the duke, did he approve of your corning?" "My dear husband? .Ah, I see you do not know hint yet. Yes, he approved of niy coming; he thinks you should not remain alone in this dread trial; he made me promise to bring you back to Beres- leigh Rouse to -night, if I could persuade you to oome. Do, dearest Laura! Yon LIFE 8 —46 3 *0000000 shall live as privately as you, like; not oven a strange servant shall intrude on you, for I have sent for your own old: maid, and your old footman, who both love you, an dthey shall serve you in your own apartments. You can have a close carriage appropriated to your sole use, and so visit the prison as early in the morning as you. like. It will be just as convenient for you to ride from Beresleigh House as to walk from Skin- ner street, and will take no more time. And Mr. Cassinove bimself will feel more tranquil when he knows you are among friends, for, Laura, you shall never leave us more, with our consent; you shall bo our adopted sister, dearer than all other sisters. You do not answer rue. Oh, Laura, consent, dearest," pleaded Rose, pressing her friend to her bosom with nervous. eagerness. They were, by this time, seated on the threadbare sofa, side by side, Rose having her arms clasped. around Laura, who answered: "I thank and bless you, sweet Rose, but I cannot avail myself of your loving kindness." "Oh, Laura, don't say so! Dearest Laura, take pity an me; my ]heart is bleeding for your woes and his, and bleeding all the more, because—oh, Ilea- ven!—I feel myself so weak, so utterly powerless to give you any saving help.. Ah! let he do what I can, or my heart will break outright" cried Rose, burst- ing into a passion of tears, and clasping closely the friend she longed to succor. "Sweet, loving Rote, ask your own woman -heart if I could bear to enter a home of luxury While my husband suf- fers in the condemned cell ? No. Rose, no; the very desolation and wretched- ness of my abode gives me a sort of comfort." said Laura, mournfully. "But if not for yourself, and not for me, for Mr. Cassinoves own sake, come with me! He would be happier if he knew you were with us. It would re- move the only earthly anxiety he can have, to know that you were same with dear friends, who would love you as a sister all their lives," urged Rose. "Dearest child, your affection inspires you with very specious arguments, but they will not do, Rose. I must remain bere, for 'here I feel in every respect near- er to my husband." "Then you will not be persuaded to go with me ?" wept Rose. "No, my pitying angel, because I can- not; but I bless you from my deep heart for your love." "Very well, then; if you will not go with me, I will stay with you," sott. the young duchess, wiping away her. tears. "Rose!" exclaimed Laura, in mourn- ful astonishment. "Yes, I will, Laura,' T will, dear sis- ter of my heart. I will stay with you all through these bitter Hours to the very last. When you go to the prison to see Cassinove, I will be here to re- ceive you in my arms when you come back," said Rose, resolutely. "And when all is over, I will carry you off to Beres- leigh .House, never to Ieave us more," she added, mentally. "But, Rose, darling, I must not permit you to remain here." "But I will, Laura, do you hear!" re- plied the young duchess. obstinately. Then, suddenly changing her tone, she once more threw her arms passionately around her friend, and pressed her, weep- ing to her heart, saying: "Oh, you would not be so cruel as to rend me from you now, when you are in such bitter trou- ble; do not, Laura! To leave you so would almost be my death." "But the duke, Rose?" "Oh, my dear husband permits his poor Rose to do just as she pleases, so that she pleases in do right. I had provided for this contingency. I told .limn if I could not bring you with me, I'should remain with you.' "And he consented ?" "Yes, for he knew it would make me ill to leave you alone in your sorrow." "And can you think so much of me,, and my sorrows when you have so heavy' a trouble of your own?" A nailer like death suddenly over- spread the face of the young duchess, as she murmured, in a frightened tone: "Yes, oh yes, I have not forgotten that; but I must not think of it—it will do no good; I must think of ,you, Oh, Laura, how pale and thin you are! how faint your voice is! You have ut- terly neglected yourself; you have taken no refreshment since the morning, have you?" "Nothing but a glass of wine; I could not, you know." "Then I must make you take some- thing at once—for his sake, Laura, that your frame may be strengthened for your duties to -morrow," said Rose, in- geniously, getting up to search the room, and inquiring: 0'rcib (5112 The effect of malaria lasts a long time. Youcatch cold easily or become run. clown because of the after effects of malaria. Strengthen yourself with Scott's Emulsion. It builds new blood and tones up your nervous system. ALL, DRUGGISTS; 80o. AND $1.00. 00000000000000000000000 "Is there as bell in this"ii'plac ant. alto waits alt ,;au„dear rcarrLaiu•a?"' "Trite landlady," replied Laura, touelte?- ing the bell that Was at her elbow. The prize women j,)ronmptly answered the summons. _ler sharp eye had noticed the dueal ooronet upon tale earriage, and the liveried servants that attended to it, and she bed guessed the rank of Laura's visitor, though site was unable to surmise' the cause of the visit, "My friend, your lodger here is not well. Will you be kind enough to pre- pare a basun 'of. dr:mg beef tea a*`: quickly as you can?” said the young duchess. "Certainly, machin, your ladyship—I mean your graee," answered Mrs. Brown, stopping a moment to swallow with her eyes tion of a loving duchess in herthe domappariinions, and then eourtsying "Beef tea will; be the best thing for you to take, dear Lura; it will give you the strength you need, and you can take that when yea cannot force nature' to receive anything else" "You shall do as fou please with me Here, sweet Rose." In due time the much-needed restora- tive was brought: and Rose gently 'obliged her exhausted friend to partake of it freely, after wbich she made Laura lie down upon the sofa, while she sat be- side it. "Now shut your eyes and try to take some rest," urged Rose. But not for an instant did those "tired eyelids" close upon those "tired eyes." Rose saw how it was, and said; "Oh, if you cannot compose yourself to rest, dear Laura, speak, utter all that is in your heart; it is better than sup- pressing your feelings; anything is better than lying there in silence, and gazing into vacancy .,'with those awful eyes." "Rose, Rose, he is to die at seven on Monday morning!" exclaimed Laura, wildly uttering the thought uppermost in her mind. "Sans pear et sans reproehe, he is not afraid to die ivmeet his Divine ,judge," said Rose. "Bet, oh, to thins that the miscreant for whose crime he inffdre: wailh ehe at large!" "Do you suspect; then, who aced?" "I more than suspect it. I k my heart of hearts. I caused tl to be arrested and! examined magistrate, but there seemed evidence to warrant the indic the guilty man, although there fiaient to convict the innocent "May you not be mistaken t Laura?" Laura shook her head in bits spirit. "Who is it, then, dear Laura, suspect of this crime?" "One whose name is tedious t Europe for an unnattal and meed, for which he is Me longer z justice, since Sir Vince' I y witness agaitut ni u, Is d "You mean ----"exclaimed R� frig her breath "Robert Thugsen. °But wh; matter, dear Rose?" "Oh, Laura, did you know— know this miscreant is my also?" "No; you astonish mc. I 1 was a. Captain Rutherford, of Hussars." "No; that was only the feig under which he tried to marry I tell you about it, Laura? Pe narrative may throw soine li your suspicions" "Yes., dearest," replied her fr. ing to Learn some new facts th even at this late hour, save the Rose commenced and related history of her broken marriag had narrated it to the duke. While she spoke, Laura rais up from the sofa, and gazed ea the speaker, and when Rose ha her own narrative, Laura said "And is this the man who claim your hand, and start prosecution en his claim?" "Yes. Is it not infamous?" "It is imbecile. Oh, that w an understanding before. It w saved you from, much anxietl have told you a month ago, you now. The man has a wife dren now living." Rose gasped for breath, as', nearer her friend, and gazed. her 'face. exclaiming: "Is this so. 1)o you know i own knowledge. Where is the Laura sank back upon the had spoken too quickly and.t more than she could prove. 5 know of her own knowledge sen had a wifo;. she had oral of the self-styled wife, who, di bear his name, and who had le ave very strangely in running away and hiding herseuf from pursuit. • "Speak, speak, dear Laura. Is this really so. Are you sure of it?" exclaimed Rose, excitedly, "I.believe it, though, perhaps, there may be a difficulty in proving it." • "Tell me what you know?' then Rose, whos eyes it'ere affectionately watching ler friend, said. "Laura, can you not 'sleep now." "I think I shall newer sleep again in this world, dearest " "01, then I must make you sleep — that is all." And so saying, Rose su:nntoned the landlady and despatcbed her to the near- est chemist to procure an opiate. While Mrs. Brown was gone, Rose, with her own hands, undressed Laura and made her go to bed. And when the landlady returned she administered the morphine ansl soon had the satisfaction of seeing "the wearied woman in a sound sleep. Rose drew an armhair to the bedside, and, dressed as she was, seated herself in it, to a rest that was half watchful- ness. Several times during the night Laura Started and shuddered throughout her frame, as though the consciousness of riiisory pursued her even in her dreams. But toward morning she sank into a pro- found rest and lay as one dead for many hours. .At six o'clock Rose softly left her seat, extinguished the night lamp and open- ed the windows, to air the room. And Laura still slept the deep, deep sleep of exhaustion, the effect of many nights' vigilance. By the time Rose had arranged her toilet, set the room in order, and re- sumed her seat by the bedside, Laura awoke With a start looked around with a bewildered air and exclaimed: "Was it a dream." Then suddenly fall- ing and covering her face with her hands she groaned in the full memory of all her wipe, Rose went and stood silently beside her for a few moments and then ven- tured to stoop and press a kiss upon her cold hands. Laura immediately removed them from her face, and looked up, asking: "What is the hour, dear Rose ?" "It is just seven, Laura: "Just seven. And at seven, to-mor- row—Oh, God! he has but twenty-four hours to live, Rose!" "Ile has all eternity to live! Try to think of his immortality," said the young duchess, stooping and kissing her friend. Then, leaving Laura to collect herself, Laura related the history of her ac- quaintance with Ruth Russel and des- cribed the interview with the landlady upon the evening when Robert • Thugsen. unexpectedly returned to the house. "And the woman --where is she now?" Rose cried, excitedly. "She disappeared with her children the next morning, and has not sines been heard of. The man actually threw him- self in the way of the warrant I had issued' for his arrest ---`to have the farce over,' as he said to the magistrate." "But the woman?" persisted Rose, "Res passed entirely • out of sight, But j'ou must tell the duke wbat I have told you, and the woman must be (found., and the fact of her marriage prove( ear, They conversed some time longe' upon the ecclaireessement' of the evening, and c, ad on a sis- ✓ hair, it par - it was ab to ase put e, say - you to trot in - he cab eve is 11 visit ,Iwill al." a pro - e step - o come me to So say attend Laura irs to - It was Laura ab and nclance demned he saw son sit - talking, stool. d seat- ood up patty. uld re - e fore - y pair n they They ay was , swift - other's each answer - passed of the he add- putside, ave no her at her an- nove. As the of the shad - Laura. `,A11, if she trembles so at the entrance how. will she be at the sight of the con- demned cell, and the man who is doom- ed to die?" thought Laura, . But Rose 'Was already engaged in controlling her 'feelings so that by the time she had .reached the door of the cell, she was `calm and first as Laura herself—only shivering slightly as she passed thegrat-t ed door into the narrow and gloomy den. Cassinove was standing up wflth cheerful countenance to receive her. "This is very kind; I cannot thank you enough for your goodness to my wife," he said, placing it chair for Rose.' "You have little to thank me for, be- ©ause in fact she will not let me serve her," "Oh, Rose!" said. Laura, (To be continued,) PEOPLE HUMOR INSANE W DIMS. How Gheel Telcos Care of Its Strange. Population, The care and treatment of the insane can be studied under very novel condi- tions at the little Belgian town of Geel. or Gheel, twenty-six miles east eolith of .Antwerp. ()heel is really a town of the insane, One meet them everywhere; they roam about the streets; they take their refreshment in the cafes and they go through their daily labors often with more sense than does many an ordinary citizen who is believed to be sound in mind and body. There are about 1,500 oat patients, and they are taken as boarders by the towns- people. Of course these are harmless cases, and the dangerous insane are look after either in the local asylum or in re- mote villages. The inhabitants' charge from £12 to £l20 a. year, aecording to the way in which the patient wishes to live; yet ,no matter how little he pays he is always treated with wonderful kindness by the family with whom he is boarding. The good people of Gheel, says the London Globe, seem to have a special faculty for being able to treat the insane suceessfully, and many marvellous eases of recovery are on record. This is the re- sult of heredity, for the experience gain- ed has been handed down from father to son for centuries. The patient is really the guest of the household; the armchair is allotted to him, he has the best place at table and he receives the most attention. Thus he learns gradually the value of the respect which is his due and therefore he strive to master hie affliction so that he shall not lose his :privileges. The little children of Gheel have learned how to handle these curious visitors; they play with them fearlessly and walk and talk with them. Sometimes the patient may be seen tending the baby. Naturally enough, Gheel is fitted with "Emperors." "Queens," " Emperoxs. tZlleen�s, I?`ings," "Mil- lionaires," MiI- lionaires," "Popes," 'Archbishops, and other Inagnificant people; yet' all such cases are treated most kindly and res- pectfully by the inhabitants of Gheel. There is one ease of a `Bring" who tells all newcomers that he has two left legs and therefore he is obliged to love two left boots and two left legs to his trou- sers. Another old gentleman thinks he is the Pope and that he could fly to hea- ven; only for the mom gat he is too fat; Itis only seems to wish ee help him to make astart in flying from Lila win- dow of the second stop. hut he reminds him that he n:l?ht feF! 'arid 'break '"Ma' neck; thereupon the «° 1pc" decides to put off his flight "until after tea." Then there is a young man who is al- ways looking for a hatc'iet; he thinks he has suddenly become so strong that he must hew away the (loorw.iy in order that he may be able to go in and' out Another case is that of a man who, with tears in his eye;, liege the s}ranger to proteet him from a huge butterfly, which wishes to attack him and ea; his !value. Another man thinks he 1s a seed of earn and he will ask a stranger to put him LII his pocket, so Chat .:ie wizd may not blow him away. Recently one of the patients was ter- ribly frightened by the idea that he was a mustard seed and that the birds might+ eat him. His host quieted him by stay-' ing: "Have I not told you that you ares quite safe, for the birds eat only hemp seed?" Then there is a. "Queen of Rol -1 land," who holds her court with all £110, 1 pomp imaginable; with great state 6101 pretends to receive her visitors and rp-' grets that her soldiers have not beee able to receive them, and then she singe( in a shrill voice airs from the best known' operas. When her visitor leaves her pre -1 Bence she goes to the window, gives or-, dere for an imaginary chamberlain an& points, to the phantom regiments, which,, to her fancy are filing past her window. t She is the daughter of a leading Dutch statesman. The landlords of the inns of. Gheel: are very courteous and respectful to the. insane; they humor all their wildest' whims. Altogther it is a wonderful sight, and the entire absence of any restraint would astonish the most modern student who has specialized on the treatment of the insane. ®.A SHE CAN'T HELP IT. The Married Woman's Tender Sympathy for Spinster Sister. When she meets a particularly attract - ire, busy, contented spinster, she says, plaintively, "Poor Ada, of Virginia, or Emmeline! What a pity that she never married!" She cannot help It any mora than she can help the color of her hair. When Freleriek—fumbling dread'fullyy, by the way --slipped the ring upon hes• finger he endowed her not only with all his worldly goods, but also with an in- eradicable pity for those upon whore hand the yellow band. had never glcamede says Anne O'Hagan in Haiper's Bazar, If he had taken to beating her the follow- ing week, heel developed an undue appe- tite for drink the next month, and had deserted her the following year, she would still have looked with patronage upon me; unbeaten, unacquainted, with intoxication, rndeserted. There is no wife so unhappy, so neg- lected, so trampled upon, that she has not, in her own opinion, someone still more pitiable to whom to condescend ---- and that is any unmsrrial woman, no matter how busy, how cheerful, how pop' alar.