The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1888-05-19 00:00:00

CHAPTER X.X.XIII.
A DEADLY DRUG.

ROSE had made an appointment to meat her mother,
and after completing a few purchases, they entered
the carriage, which Mrs. Chard ordered to be driven
to Mr. Danver's. She explained that, since Rose went
out, a message from Mrs. Harper had urgently re-
quested her presence, as the family were in distress at
the singular conduct of Mrs. Danvers.
Of late, Mrs. Chard had so frequently been sum-
moned on a similar errand that she was becoming
heartily wearied with the caprices of this strange
being. Mrs. Harper was a delicate woman, who could
net bear unusual excitement without suffering from
violent nervous headaches; and the constant strain
on heart and mind which Mrs. Danvers of late had
preseveringly kept up, told upon her health in a most
painful manner. When she could no longer bear her
burden alone, she sent for her old friend to aid and
advise her in the unhappy condition to which those
she most loved were reduced by the conduct of this
monomaniac. _ _

Mrs. Danvers suffered no member of the family to
have an hour of repose; she invaded even the
sanctuary hitherto held sacred to the venerable
father, and daily threatened him with bringing a suit
against his son for bigamy, asserting that Danvers
had another wife living at the time he gave her his
hand. Vainly did he offer her an explanation of his
true position, which has already been given. Mrs.
Danvers recurred to it again and again as a means of
torture, for she saw that the fear of any fatal conse-
quences to himself was not felt; the real dread arose
from a morbid pride, which caused the family to
shrink from the exposure of the misalliance with
Madeline, and its wretched results.
When the carriage stopped in front of Hrs. Danver's
house, Mrs. Chard said to Rose:
"I do not wish you to come in with me, any dear.
Trouble and sickness are here, and I can best aid
them by going to my old friends alone. You can
return home, and send the carriage for me this
evening."
Rose submitted to her mother's wishes, and was
driven away, while Mrs. Chard entered the house of
unrest. She was taken at once to the darkened room
in which Mrs. Harper lay, suffering from acute pain.
She put out her hand and said:
"I am so glad you have come, Amy, for the house
has been in a turmoil all the morning; and, as usual,
the excitement has made me quite powerless."
"What has happened now ? Another caprice on
the part of Mrs. Danvers? I really thought she had
exhausted the catalogue, and could find no new
method of torment."
"It is only a darker phase of the old annoyance,
Amy. She has attacked my father with her com-
plaints; of late, she leaves him no leisure—no quiet,
and his health is breaking fast. Oh, Amy to see his
venerable head dragged to the dust by this wretched
woman, is more than I can bear! She rushes into his
room at all hours, with her frantic complaints against
my brother, because he does not lc/ye her; and, when
the door is locked against her intrusion, she lies upon
the floor beside it, and fills the house with her frantic
cries. Oh! It is disgraceful! It is terrible."
"Madge, you describe the vagaries of a maniac.
Is Mrs. Danvers an opium eater ? I have sometimes
suspected it, from the singular appearance of her eyes,
and her fitful manner. -

"I have lately discovered that she uses morphine
to excess, and to-day she is delirious from its effects.
Hark! do you hear that cry ? It comes from Adelina's
room. Go to my father, Amy, and inform him of the
cause of the spasms she is suffering from. He is ex-
citable, and easily alarmed; soothe him as you best
know how, and comfort the poor old heart that is
breaking over the wretched fate of his only son."
Mrs. Chard pressed her hand, and at once pro-
ceeded towards the library. She shuddered as the
wild cries from Mrs. Danver's room echoed through
the spacious hall, and when she reached the door she
paused an instant to recall the evening on which she
had entered that same apartment to announce to the
father the news of his son's marriage. Though her
own hopes were blighted, how sincere had been her
wishes for Harold's happiness! Yet how futile had
they proved; for this was the result of the brilliant
match his friends supposed he had made.
"What was the mystery of that unnatural union ?"
she again asked. "What would be its ultimate re-
sult to those connected with this dire incarnation of
evil and malice ?"
Her knock upon the door was unnoticed, and softly
turning the bolt, she entered. In a large chair in
front of the fire sat Mr. Danvers, with his hands
pressed upon his ears, his head bowed on a table that
stood near him, over which his long grey locks flowed,
as he endeavoured to shut out the sounds that sent a
bitter pang to his haughty spirit. Divra,ce had come
to his proud home, through the wife that, he remem-
bered with remorse, he had for a season considered
more worthy of his son's position and talents than his
his own cherished Amy.
How had his pride exulted in thp noble blood--44S

reputed wealth of his new daughter! and how lowly
was it now abased Every menial in the house
knew that Mrs. Danvers was raving from delirium
brought on by the excessive use of a stimulaling
drug, and he knew that every hour of his unhappy
son's life was embittered by the fantasies of the
creature who was never entirely free from its in-
fluence. .

Mrs. Chard placed her hand upon his arm before
he was aware of her presence, and when he lifted his
venerable face she saw that it was wet with tears.
The old so seldom weep that there is something
appalling in that excess of emotion which produces
tears. She took his tremulous hands in her own, and
gently said—
" Dear sir, you must not mind this so much. It is
only a fit of hysteria on the part of Mrs. Danvers;
she will soon be quieted, I trust."
"Oh, Amy, she is possessed by an evil spirit! Last
night she wailed before my door for hours, and no
persuasions, no force, could keep her from it. Three
times Harold took her away, and yet she found means
to evade him, and return. Amy, this woman is a
curse and a blight to our home. Why will not Harold
put her away? I have entreated him to do so; have
offered him money, as much as can be called for, to
provide for her elsewhere; but she refuses to go, and
he dare not compel her. Yes, I live to utter the
wretched truth that my son is evidently in the power
of this woman-fiend, and fears to act contrary to her
will."

Mrs. Chard was silent; she had seen this herielf ;
she had Leard Harold indirectly acknowledge as
much, and she could say nothing in reply. She could
only caress his withered hands, and show by hez
manner how deeply she sympathised with him. Hez
glance fell upon the portrait which had so long hung
over the mantel, and she saw with surprise that its
face was turned to the wall. Mr. Danvers
_remarked
it, and feebly said—
" I could no longer bear that those baleful eyes
should follow me. I turned it this morning myself.
I wish some one would take it away; it is not much
like Adelina, but it is enough so to make me heart-
sick. I remember the hours that I sat beneath that
picture, and contemplated it as if it had *been a
shrined saint, dreaming of the time I yearned for,
when we should all be re-united beneath tbe same
roof, a complete and happy family. Oh, Amy I it is
hard to bear the bitterest sorrow and humiliation in
the days of our old age! A few more months, and 1
shall pass away, with no peace, no joy, to illumine
the setting of my sun. I shall leave behind me
bitterness, strife, and misery. That is the hardest
thought of all. Amy, my daughter, my heart's child.
promise me that you will never withdraw your friend-
ship from my poor Harold. Oh, if you had been his
wife, how different would have been his fate! Yet,
I exulted in the great match I believed he had made,
and you knew that I did so. Can you forgive me,
Amy, darling?"
There was something childishly plaintive in his
manner of making this appeal, and Mrs. Chard raised
his hand to her lips, as she replied, "I promise to be a
friend, a sister, to Harold as long as we both shall
live." .

......
"Thanks for this assurance, Amy. Hark! what
sound is that! She is coming! she is coming! I hear
her steps—her hideous cries. Shut the door, quick;
lock it—lock it 1 She makes me ill—she destroys
me!"

CHAPTER XXXIV.
HAROLD'S BANE.

STEPS were heard running rapidly down the stairs,
and through the hall, and the wail that at intervals
had filled the house was now prolonged into a wild
shriek that drew nearer every instant. Mr. Danvers
trembled violently, and sank back on his chair, over.
come with excitement. Before Amy could reach the
door, it was violently thrown open, and Mrs. Danvers
rushed in—an awful vision she never forgot.
She wore a scarlet dressing-robe trimmed with ermine
which was torn away and fluttering in shreds from
it; her black hair swept nearly to her feet, and was
in the wildest disorder, while her face was convulsed
with maniac passion. As she recognised Mrs. Chard
she stopped suddenly, and said—
" So you have come to see me in the extremity of
my degradation? The wretches in this house have
drugged my food; they have made me mad by their
persecutions, and now they insult me by sending for
you to witness my wretchedness. Old man, I will dis-
grace your son for this. Blind dotard, you shall
never realise the wish that lies nearest to your heart,
for I will heap such infamy upon your name, that she
will refuse to bear it, even after I am put out of the
way. You and your son have poisoned me; I will
bring the accusation against you both as soon as I
am well enough to go out. That is, if lam ever per-
mitted to regain my health again. Mrs. Chard, this
accursed house is an Inferno which I advise you to
avoid."
"I am not afraid to visit my old friends, and give
them such comfort as they need," replied Mrs. Chard,
resuming her position beside Mr. Danvers, who
seemed to be overcome with painful emotion. Mrs.
Harold Danvers glared on her with an expression of
savage rage, and stretched forth her hands as if she
would gladly catch at her, and rend her in pieces.
She viciously said—
" I hate you; you are the shadow on my path.
You stand between me and the heart of my husband.
He will not love me, because you look into his eyes
and forbid it. Go away with your deceitful wiles.
I—l abhor you, and I will—l must destroy you."
With the wild glare of insanity in her eyes, she
sprang with a swift bound toward her intender]
victim, with fingers extended and ready to clutch
her throat and press the life from it, but as she
sprang forward, a powerful arm was thrown around
her, and Harold. aided by one of the men servants
held her firmly in his grasp. The cries and the
denunciations were terrible as she was borne from
the room struggling violently to free herself. After a
pause, Mrs. Chard tremulously asked—
"Is Mrs. Danvers often thus ?"

"She is constantly subject to violent fits of fury,
but she has never been so unmanageable until lately.
She absents herself from home for hours, and we none
of us know whither she goes. or who she sees. After
these visits, she is more turbulent, more exacting to-
ward all of us, until life in this once peaceful house has
become a restless dreariness, which I am beginning to
find unbearable. Adelina's vagaries are undermining
the health of my son and daughter, and they are
rapidly killing me."
"I think that Mrs. Danvers should be placed in a
lunatic asylum, and treated for the mania from which
she is evidently suffering."
"I have told Harold the same thing, but he refuses
to place her there. He fears to let her go from beneath
his own eye. Oh! Amy, what is the dire secret that
bound those two together—that holds him the bond
slave of such a woman as this ?"

If there had been any reply to give to this oft-re-
peated query, there was no time to utterit, for Harold
himself, looking white and exhausted, returned to the
room. He said—

"I come to apologise to you, Amy, for the very
humiliating scene that occurred here just now. ' My
poor Adelina is suffering from temporary insanity;
she escaped from those in charge of her, and came
hither to annoy you. I beg that you will pardon her
violence, and forget whatever she may have said
that was displeasing to you."
"I certainly shall not remember the ravings of
delirium to her disadvantage, but I really think you
risk a great deal in keeping Mrs. Danvers in the house
with your family. It is due to the peace of your
father and sister that you put her under proper
restraint until she has entirely recovered her
health."

"lam fully aware of that, but she will not consent.

cannot remove her unless she does so."

-
Amy looked at him, and saw that fixed marble
look which indicates that the last verge of suffering is
reached. She shivered with an indefinite dread that
the crisis was approaching which would bring
desolation and ruin to the friends she most dearly
cherished, and she faintly said—
"Then advise your father and sister to remove to
Ivy Cottage, my little place down in Dorset, for a season.
ft is a familiar home to them, and they will at least
find there the repose they so much need. It is, he
knows, always at his disposal."
"And my poor father must be driven from his own
home by the creature I have brought into it !" ex-
claimed Danvers, with a burst of passionate emotion.
He rushed forward, threw himself upon his knees
before the old man, and fervently said—
" Pardon me, my father! Cast me not out from
your outraged heart, for I am more miserable than
words may express. Go, I beg: go, with our good
angel, and leave this wretched place, with its spirit
of evil to me and my despair !"
The venerable father placed his hand upon the
bowed head, and tremulously said—
"Arise, Harold, and nerve yourself anew to the
task before you. I shall not leave you, my son, to
bear your burden alone. I bless you, my boy; bless
you fervently, and the good God will not always turn
his face away in wrath. If you have sinned, you
have repented; you are bearing the bitter penance,
and we must not shrink from our share of the
punishment. Thanks, Amy, for your kind offer; but
you can best aid us by spending as much of your
time as you can spare in this unhappy household.
Your presence always comes to me as a soothing
blessing."
Harold arose, took her hand, and said—

"You will not refuse, Amy? We all gain strength
from your clear judgment and serene temper. I will
not intrude myself upon you, and my unhappy wife
shall be so strictly watched that the recurrence of
the violent outbreak of this morning will be impos-
sible."

"While they need me, my place is near your father
and sister," replied Mrs. Chard; "and I need no
entreaty to induce me to remain."

Thus it was settled, and a brief note was despatched
to Rose, informing her that her mother would not be
at home till late in the evening. A message was sent
to Madeline, appointing another afternoon for the
visit to her son's grave, and soon after Mrs. Pierre
came in for a parting call. When she found Rose
alone, she agreed to spend the remainder of the day
with her.
Trevor called for her at twilight, but a little per-
suasion on the part of Miss Chard induced them to
remain with her till the return of.her mother.
The three spent a very lively evening together; the
confederates were in the highest spirits at the pros-
pect of the success of their nefarious scheme, and
Hose soon felt, the contagion of their gaiety. 8.1.19
- . ,