THE SPECTRE OF THE STRAND.

Observer, Volume 7, Issue 230, 7 February 1885, Page 1

THE SPECTRE OF THE STRAND.

— — -«. _ A I^LE OF THE D4.Y. ,

BY J. GREVILLE BURNS.

CIIAPTEIt 111. I How remarkable ! Here' was 'Miss Marie,aged eight years and seven months, whose sole care had been, ever since" she had begun •■ to exercise her mind, to lavish .her affections entirely .upon dolls of' all sexes and' infirmities, suddenly assuming quite a motherly feeling towards her fragile ePnip'anion without the slightest premeditation or the knowledge that she was doing so." ! ' • Alas, poor Marie ! . How little did she dream that the little companion, who' seemed to have come from Fairyland to throw a brighter ray of happiness upon her young life, would have cause to feel with her the' anguish. of many bitter sorrows to which inexorable fate had not yet given birth ! Evremond. was still too delicate to enjoy the ;iie.w life Jnpon which had just entered. All that day, with blue-eyed Marie by his side, now hushing him to sleep, now plucking a sweet flower, so that he might inhale : its odour, now singing, in a soft, bird-like voice, ' songs ' of her<> happy- iiif aiiey.j he lay gazing at the ' -tall, • fantastic fir- tree that stood proudly in- the .centres of the garden, wondering many things, which scarcely seemed to form themselves into ideas ere they vanished. .' : .'.:;'-";-' .> .• Was .this . to be his home for ever ? , Oh, that it might be ! ' ." ' Wais Madame Massilon. really going to love him, as she had said, and as sheipved Marie ? Ah, that she. would ! < ,v; , , Should,. the time : ever arrive when he. would be able to acqqmpany/tiiie " oiily" child companion his life had ever known through those quiet hedge-rowed lanes,' the daisied fields; the garden full of -shadowy nooks,' that seemed to have been made for no ; other purpose but to' read tales b'f romance' in ? ; That was all'ho now- longed for. His mind grew .strong ere the power, of his over- wrought mind and debilitated frame' began to return. "■ ' ' • ■ •'■■"■ -' - - ' ' Morn after morn he was "tenderly carried to the little room near ihe garden to inhale , the pure air, which, under He-ay en,, was the only medicine that could. bring him back to vigorous life. And day by day he slowly thrived. A memorable afternoou 'wa's : that Hvheii Madame Massilon and her little daughter for the first time walked with their invalid into the garden and slowly traversed its narrow paths. Earth' 'and' 'Heaven seemed, to rejoice" in suiisliirie arid.fl/ower. and song ! ...The happy. : trio .had thrice : walked around the confines , of .. the >: garden (which was bounded by the high road on one side and meadows reaching out' to forests on the other), and, had. paused f6r a moment to gaze 1 at the "antics 'of'" a playful kitten which had ■'elanibered up to the topmost branches of the ffir-rtree, when suddenly voices, were .heard in the road and a knock; at the garden^gat^. ' . _ Marie, ran to" undo the latch, .and thVddor. sprin'ging 1 ; 6pen ' r'eVe'aied' 'the* figure of Andre Marquer. , ■; ■ >_j fRy;, - ' ; " ; lie Jiastily. singled out the trembling boy;, ; and '' smiled at hiiri' as'if'cbh'te'mplati'ngl the corpse, of : his ibittei-est, enemy.-^ •[■;.> <j |:■ ; "Ah, madame," he cried, in his blandest tones; "T'am 1 deli'g'tited t^ha've t?he i; plea|sure of becoming acquamted. with f-my,,. wife's old schoolfellow!" .. ,[..-.. •,-, < r , y '"' ' Tlie twb'.'^hook' hand's 5 cordially,' 'after which Marquer surveyed Evremond critipaljlyuand in silence, '> v ■< ~'-- t -y-% " Yes," lie said, at length ; " it^isfjust as-I-though,*. ~ s The,^popr^bpy^ wants tonics. : He^ trembles at tjie sight of va&—'even me." • j " Come and take a little refreshment. Monsieur Ma^q3iei3 o VLsai4'jiNladame, leading th^ way to-thfl drawiflgsEQQpL r . "Ypu must be fatigued Ul? jilxk jdCr'nlyf' l ° ' *Aa U P ' v « f -C 5 When seated, Marquer began : —

'■'-■■f'-.i -..•>.' i; • ..<'.-:■., i.,i •;;;;./■ „I !!-,. ...7/ ; '■* Madamey this; dear childj whb JL.<perceive is thriving, though slowly, hass now arrived tat ja period 1 df;life when it is necessary that his 'education should be:'looked |ia'fterv I.1 '. Having 'his interest' deeply a£ heart'equally with his inotlifer'.'(for , who in,. i: am sorry 'to fsky;' he'lias not shown thati natural rpye'which st on r e i 'of' her affectionate disposition del erWf), I,^tb'-clay, , made it my business to call upon a gentleman who has recentlyjestaljlished a scholastic institution' some ten milss-bff', my object "being to place the boy under his care." Madame fsighed, whilst Marie* placed, her arms around."Evremond'^j..neck;.in., dumb protest. " '\-.'y.'f>",' ' >;' <r "He will set out with me in an hour! for Doctor Marat's-! wherei_il shall make everything very comfortable for himi' He will, of course, 6oj)tinue to make your house his home during the-holidays. His poor mamma still refuses toallow'her disobedient .son to.visit/. her, and we must- arrange matters, accordingly." . The* scene .at ;parting .was-; apathetic one, Evremond was .tearless and silent, as if fascinated by the Hiflue.nce of his snake-like step-fatlier.' ' 'Ma'H^ 'copious'"' t-ears, and wished to follow Him, Regardless ...of- the hints as to th c: .impropriety, of, a/youug lady desiring to become"'a studeiit 'amorfg'st' "a pack of boys.", j^adame Massijon { him, ; and spoke hop'efuilyjof their next happyine|tihg. Two hours latei\..a_.coach. drove up to M. Marat's^schppl,-. -// -, ■, >, -,:, „" :, 5 <, -,• f. : Andre Marquer. supported' his victim to the door. • "~<!■•'•■•'' '-■'■ TheVe was-'no; ixeM.ffi ring' tKe"' bell, for the door flew 'open and a" bald-headed, stout man,, with^shoi't, struggling,, grey Ayhiskers appeared ai tne top of the" steps, panting with agitation." ■.. - ■>, „,,■„,,., He seized Marquer's Band, .and drew hini aside; pushing, the boy into tie hall roughly. ! >-' Mon ' Dieu /" he whispered, boarsely ; " what, evil have you brought upciin' my house. ■ '- ■•' ■ > "What's the' matter, you. idiot ? What are you dreaming about ? I've brought the 'pupil 'I; spo.ke of. ■ IVkoV care you! give, him plenty of discipline —that's,all he wants !" , .",Qh, misery '."7 cried th.c, schoolmaster, "wringing 1 '.Ms 1 fat hands; and giiashin^ his tet'fch, in hid en,deavqurs't6' i 'rbp'l >e'ss; his rage. /' Why. did you ever follow^ me. at all.? Have you.notinjui;ed.nie top.dee^ly r ajrep dy ?" " Speak', or'Tll throttle'you 1 ,-'you-old thief ! What are you hinting at ? What have X done to .you now?," n „.-,.,,'.. ■„'-'.'.'.,'.,, '-..', ! "Since you called upon me one of any best • pupils has died," "We'll;' and \vh&t; has that' to'db vdth me, you maiiiac.?" . ' \ ,''.'' "'" "You left in my possession some medicine." ; ■ „.'! .(.• - .>. ;•<■ \>'-u\\; . "Yes, to be. carefully administered occa--7 sionally, to little .Evrempi\d,, who needs, tonics • and will be cured by them." ' ..'). Alas ! one of my scholars heard you recpmmendJthem'lsb/st'rongly^lfdrgb h^ was, '"' present -during- - a-j ■ portion t ,of. r.our; interview. After you were gone he went to the mantelpiece,' where I had carelessly leftf thSmj' and took ""'■'■" .'H-Ai-w)-. Jfc. ''W'hWfcM 'ybh r oldviper"?; y: ;r/; v■ ■ - ": He took > two i of' thosefpills, M* ?Marquer, ; and j iv, ,shree,).hours he,. .l^reathed. his^ last in awful ago.ny}"!; ,;, '„(!■■<■',( '.',,u i,,',, l-".< '„-„!, t 1"" Wh'er'e;are those pills, you lying,-thieviiiff ■scoundre^"'-^'^^' I^''-'^'""- A^;-i * ■.-., .MiHeKe;.!,^ J- am ..afraid keep .them in my possessionl^-'' 1" "•• •-■••( i i-^ •■»'.■ ,f-..i.,,!•;• ;',^..., "Take that' 1 poison;^•■MJ'' Marat,-v.to the ■Co'niMssaire dgpolied. Mm the^absurd tale ,yoi\ have just^ related to' nic—if you - dare.'V -i :deny._nUving!.'any^knowledge of Lsuch horrijble/thingSA Beware^ I- have only to wag my finger andrTrt—But, bah j^gpito the looldri'gVgla'ss''ckti'd a:dMre;ah.eTprison brand on your shoulder-! Ha! ha! a pretty ■witoV'tMiiy !'! '"Thgi'-eis^Ke-^boyK You pgr'femvHxndferstitiia youPi^tfuctions; An "'^Mzy^lkylSlai'at"' -!I^"'>H.i</« m. -r,,,ri ->-f What was that^wmch sent a cold tremour thrp-ifgKlililSrewap4dilg?l^SsMt the hand of CEPAfeis'^h^ftt^ejQ, $$$. heard

the door close in upon him with a hollow, sepulchral sound ? Y,:W*hethef-it wastliat^M^Vtheprin-i 'pipali^fltie school in^v^h, J^jfenaond De} .Mouvraer found himself a scholar, shrank; from, carrying jpuf the^ nittrdeijous designs of | the boy's sf9f i|ear| of another! awful tragedy happening (which would cer- \ tainly resulti^stherhreakiirg Wp|?jthe insti-; tution gbyi r.e^gonJLof its,* bß.drjJeputation ■ amongst parejito). schoolmaster. was in his h|;ap<^ ttough' ap. ex-convict, a { more humane personage- than Andre Marquer believed hini To he,, certain it is that during!oth'eofive.ityea'r/s ithe .'youth/ jreOnained: >xmder^iis •caye.ihe w^sjpassj^y^ej^tjeajjed, ■, wMrt^^ga^q^i^^.SjlfftJ^pdfia. to. I T0 'i4«flßfiJj' Sftfiflßp^e W4.3& axriv^Bvre r ■ mo^ds-spgd ,{with, la.-blifc^^.a^,tQ«a l aflame { Magsiion?s». TA .Hei? l -(prej;ty% Mariey: developed: at theiage ■,oiviourteenrintoj':!!SperfeQt-,littlei coquette.^.iiAnTdiwheir-thelbpy/aHd girl metj .theyihad.,^na:uch)tQ,te^rto iea^h r p,ther.ab(o o ut. what' had'.lMken t :place; dunng.tlieir separa-; tion .that'time,, seemed too,,shprt tp.put all: :iMlr lisrh-M:M&v&4*M°-''Jim* ! whati^e to;ngue; f failed,to;tell the 1 eyes in- : -variably sp'bTte—shyiy' but' effectively, so', %h'a f t "each, I '->wn tdn''-tlie l! bright ''holidays 'Were; ove^tia'd'niuch. ; tp; tnink!!of j 'ShiT' were^"rarely absent from eacft/'b'ther' in 'thought. ; But .therTMlsk 'Mafie'-was'u^coqilette for • 'a^Ftnat-^a^cp-quette, 'a.Ke'art;; for a; party/with • EvrenroncL 1 and "her" 'nfoiheorj Xwhorpgiilarly; called"fbr tier"''daughter[%t\,ten l-ojcTock on these^oc.casipns),vaiter'she'had;b6en dazzling < spme'ne-tf imbecile youth who," perhaps; was •inciß^haiidsbnieHKan^ Efremond, she:"always managed, tb 1 nestle .fiferself/bntee 'more ,'ihto his good'g'ra'ce t s';By il stn" le^c <ebdingly contrite and! • .attentive^e'nieanbuf <*<:^ ({,°- A L {'-/ f r; ' :')i! '* - It was%nsthese' bcjSa's'ioris_|tha-fc'°Evremond i compared hislfeatiirls-^rdirg'Fand manly as! -aJ £soldier's' lctiild?s;sh6uld lbe'^with?those of; the mbre! p'6lis s h r e ldof;Ms sexy wHol'happened' to contest witfr-Mm :i th'e r! treasure of Miss, Marie^Massilou's heart." „._ „,.., ,! ! • 'AC f sixteen" lie l began*iko anathematize his! • 5- cpar^ej-. phys^ica}.,appearance,. and to enyy .the • "ppssps?ops/ o pf i j ;an,ii, pjf, <?t\ier\ gll^teringrgualj^ies, ,>y;hich se,eined., .^p^btain ■ such f ay,Qur fiin(.the, eyejs pf vhis sweetheart. \ that'pure^re^^pa^s^on—th(at passion known. only to ,youin and ifinocence.'. . „.. Hec^eirfeh feH! ffie fields/Wskie^^liid the.! salons, and-he,saw3o <in r na,ture or in; art thaf acbM^bnifare^4ii3h a his Marie.£Bul :o h¥neve'r fpld'lier'4o:l'Thp f bpnfession was only^b¥%Ke biMsWdHft^wlld flowers; to listen to in private. : In her society he was dumb; yet hisj Jbeart._was._b.ursting .with... the... gathering: , fjlp.q^ence ,of ,his, iir^t^ftye-tale,.' 7/:1 :• ■, ■, if ij- \ '-'■ *«■'jsifarie', I adore you!" he burst ou-fci'jone; . ;§umn^;er'is ;eiveningj.. aJEter, i had. r received^, ,a hasty message from his mother to return ■c.h;pme-i?n;iftedia;tely;. <><r".-W^l yuuj be niyi wife in a few years, lam a man ? I will work for you, and give you all my-earnings, and care for you for ever. I am. nearly seventeen. In three years will you marry; ■CmeP'y.hib !•■■>•=m . .ii.v '/'■'}.V'-u:';-J.W .^fij : Was ever such an impetuous —yea, fierce .; -^sorfcof!love-making done befere-?< •:«■••:,■,•.■- But it was characteristic of the soldier's^ rblo6d-"whi'ch:!!he > had^-;in 1 ' ■ his-<yeins; ;:• And Marie was just the soft, impressionable material that might be expe* ed to sucijumb. /Jofsuch influences, / •. . ,■: ". /; r So the Simple "yes" was \ paid; and;the lovers walked for-the last evening for soirie ;;;time ito vcpme, weaying^mpre.romances and building more fairy castles than could be in;a century. , - v , .: When E\Tpin6nd, in.complxan.be with the summons ne'hadso suddenly received, found Mmsel'f in! the h'olises inf'Paris •where the 1-.dayslof-'hisVinfanoy,arid childhood ■hood had been passed so unhappily, he . ilearaed tKat .terrible, events had,happened.' . Andre Marquer, gambler, drunkard, and .murderer,..had fPiind'W suicide's .graye by •-flinging himself;-into: the I^iver^Seihe.- c His 1 mother, the once beautiful Adele, lay dying ofr'aJbrdkgri, :he'aft' upon, some bedding that t jha^,be u en i,J left/ier,in i charity in.the, plenuded ' louse, whpse-rffurniture had, been seized to. defray lonf^iripMlelit. 'iiu t'A Jeannettethadj jaj^rriftd, three years/before;: and the servant who had taken her place had deserted j!her^iraistrses'at the first intimation of "no wagus." .., 1 Bu^" Evremofld^; almost a'"' stranger, and penniless in^ Parfej did^ not remain long gazing albrieVn 'th'e'unSappyYpectacle of a! •d^ing.<nl6th'et f.^"J^anette'arrived ;almoßt at where sJaejjjfesjdedjiwithcAerf/little family;! andi haviug ministered' to Adele wants to; th'eilais^tM^Wytahedicr^atjir^cexp^ same night, Ys"p;e.eChle*s'§Z«tp:.d>-, unconscious — ..shejgay^. tiieihoy a!r.ef;ugeijbeneath/hep,ow^u; "Iminbleroof. . ' f . r" r 'V ' simple manner. . „, ■ mourners. The cofnn waslaidinitsre^sting-j place ; vWjaSvflung upon it, arid -the! gravedigger'was jfilliiig'in the clay, when a; ,; la^l^ose^PeStdres^Wfere hid(leii_by_hi;s hat "i- anda handlterGHisf«cariied tJfor that purpose,] ': aside;iarell§hbggl^nd .stood o^i|teni-! plating ,>:"'The^ wi^^^^^:l@^stujg^|l^^^pj .;• i;he^u^bh;;ga^s#4«4i4^^q<^; '""i®sli: i fvppinted, speechless,-®ti& the receding, form;:'

t Yi ViH^asingt^ad^tlen; fee^t^l-^vaaJ-" said Jeanettn, fiercely.^ jJLk. ' 'iMy Js.i*p[-fathei'(!} & W3ia f t- /Ij^do ? He will:,kjj-L &e f \\\ eoaculate^ Evxemoad, with affright. . . . „, „ .. ri \ ' f1 tV Yok ''forget my' 1 - Husband"' will 'protect \ you— ah, my teifev'eii-Maurice ! , Let this , . wo'lfiaritbeatrefe \6omen.> >int©i<i(my.f,'husband's ■ ■ciiit^hls/^aKd: J%?Win-;He|Vj' 1 qf i j [sportY i Jle",',willi'.strrp.lnin arid; lash' £int:yyith. W ( hbrsewMp' :; !'-' : ' ii ' 1 '' !t 'H i -'■•'"'m- I '"'" 3 -T'J'i" "' : -' ! v/ cried -E vremondV with a ' White ;hor'ror . \.,.- l >.>: l -:i " Not while I was tftei'e' I !^'' cried :^Je'anefte ! , hotly ; ' ' but he, dad after he prevailed upon her .ito^en.d.sme,; I 191?' j'o ( nl^ ;• prp|ectre^s, ;i> away j ■'and the .poor wonianlpassea a martyrdom' on earth with him.. -. , . . ■7 '.So/ Eyremond. was-no.w .dependant on; this good- natu?;ed ,cr.eatijirp ? f or - f ppd.arid lodging and (most requisite of ail") humane attention for many a<long'day, r tili"he:ob'tairied work as a junior assistant in an oil and colour isi&pl''-'HQ'.rAyi ':v)-;TA I*; .1 ;•' I .;:''■! How he blus.hed whemhe; thought timidly of the effect which- a description of his present employment; ( would have upon Marie ! ' ■ . Behind, j the ,■ counter; ..of, , .a, ; prosaic oil and colour shop, when his wild imagination had £ic£ured . ;such';firie ptp'spects ' in the immediate 'future ! ]"/ What would Marie ,tliipk ? He would become" a sbldier ? and charm her with his gay uniform.' 'Ah; he had carved out his path in lifei now L If she did. not continue to lovejhinji^;he !; .would:go and join the gay miUtaires. If she should not continue to love him ! Bah ! Marie Kad' given him her promise to be alwciys his' dear little, loving wife as soon as he was a man: ' And was he not now a man ? Nearly. ..-.-. -„ '•' •■■'. - He had fought the new apprentice and knocked, him, into a tub of ly,e, because he had jokingly [insinuated' that Marie, whose portrait was rarely out of his hands, was not; pretty. .-. ■;■•,■.;•'!! ■-.•■:•.'; HaL-.haJ. he .would, soon be; able, ,tp save some money. Then he would walk down to Madame Massilon's ■ and display himself in a" new iie'6ktie ;. and,,, after asking his dear friend's consent „to, .to 'marry her beautiful daughter, they'wbulcl^-if.' she' 'refused, elope to Paris. „ So he , : grew intp ■\ , -perfect ; miser, and though the greatest- pleasure he experienced, twasr writing ito^- Marie, ahe grudged,,, .the. postage, and ; b rily wrdte •oh 'special occasions..: He wished to dazzle his sweetheart's r eyes with'- l h'is' f collectidti: 'Pf ' silver when he ! nextsawher.:' ..y :-.^.' -.•■■'■■ ■■;.■■. _ : Ha! there'' wa's" 1 - 1 nothing- -'like axDpearingj wealthy, whether _you were sp, or not ! . r Soi philosophised *' Eyremond J l)e Mouvfier as he thought of how I^Carie! would scream with pleasure^rmarvel at the number of silver piecesj wonder how' Pne ' young' man could "earn; so, niucb.,. and. conjecture how many "nibre h'd'hadi' .' V,'"; ."'..'', '■- ■ '■:''' Yes^'it; was but 'three' days* tP Wait. Then he would see his darling" Marie ! " Gone ! Where have they gone ?" 'Tis Christmas Eve. Evrernond De Mouvrier (for he it was who stood before : the deserted villa once occupied by Madame ' MaSsilph ;^rid. his darling) had walked ten miles through' the snow and the darkness to spefid his Christmas Day with his friends; and,, npw.be 1 had; just been informed by a mounted gendarme that, the lady and her daughter had left the . place two months before. • r , ; ■ . Left!. And his Marie,, had deserted him without a .yscprd or. a. hint ! Could this be 'true? ' ' ' L '" ""' ' " '■ "' , : Desperation took possession of his soul. He sprang over the fence and strode thrbugh: the virgin snow to the little parlor window. Cold^ voiceless— empty ! ' (To tie continued;') .^