Novelist. Through Deep Waters.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2501, 21 July 1888, Page 1 (Supplement)

Novelist. Through Deep Waters.

BY INA LEON CASSILIS, Author of "lima Raphael. Actress," "The Ynuns Widower," "M. Caddie's Carpet .Hag," &c„ &c. CHAPTER XVII. (continued.) Du. Delwyn bowed gravely, and turned back to the sick-room. He was by no means satisfied ; there was something he could not fathom, and if ha could have understood all that had already fallen from Agnes lips he would probably have taken more decided measures than he at present felt himself justified in considering. The draught had given some temporary rest; Agnes was sleeping, but even in sleep the physician noted with a sigh that she moved restlessly, and muttered brokenly as though distressing dreams or visions haunted even her slumbers. When Father Michael came at about half-past eight, lie found Florence de Clifford pacing up and down the anteroom. " Hist!" she said, pausing as she entered, " she is sleeping at present. Father Michael, Dr. Dulwyn wants for her a nurse who can speak Italian; do you know of such a one'!" " I believe I do," the priest answered directly ; " but a moment— what does the physician s iy V' " He holds out no hope."

The priest stood silent for a moment ; his lips moved, perhaps in prayer. Then aloud he said— " I will go at once and seek this woman. One wlioni I can thoroughly trust, can speak well for her. She is a Spanish Creole, who has lived some years in Italy." She did not answer liiui ; she had sunk down in a chair. Blank hopeless misery closed her in on every side like a wall of iron. GrantFaulkner only could save Agnes, unless—but of that she would not think, that secret lay hidden too deep to be betrayed even to save an innocent life, lietter that Agnes should die, better that secret should be buried in her grave than known | to the world, to crush to the very dust the wouiau who would talk and think wildly of suicide but could not in truth face it. Agnes ■was young and innocent; death ■could have no terrors for her; to save ■lier mother's name she would die willingly ; and had she not said so ? It was but a brief pang and the life that was ebbing away would pass into a bright future—a future that knew no dread: but this life that throbbed so wildly in the mother's -njins—.this life that she dared not take, to which she clung the more tenaciously with every passing hour that brought her inevitable fate nearer to her ; in clouds and shadows it must pass, even if GrantFaulkner conquered in the end ; and beyond that she would not even try

to think further, but rose up, and turne.i to see Ursula Lambourne. " Madam," said the waitingwoman, who had not yet entered Agnes' room, " Father Michael, tho priest, is below with the Spanish woman of whom he spoke." Florence caught at a chair as she moved towards the door. " Where is she ?" she said. "In the breakfast-room, Madam." The woman watched her mistress with an unmoved countenance, and as the door closed on the retiring form she muttered half aloud—" If my young lady dies, will that save her? Sir Selwyn could save the child's life if he would, but will he 1 and my lady could save it, but will she 1 It is not my business to speak." The quiet, impassive waiting-maid had left the ante-rooiri when Lady de Clifford returned with Merced, the Spanish Creole woman, and the priest, and the latter summoned Dr. Delwyn to see the now nurse. The physican could speak French, and by means of that language he questioned the woman, whose grave kindly face and unflinching manner of looking straight at those she addressed prepossessed him in her favour. It was finally decided that Merced Rodriguez should enter immediately upon his duties. She followed Dr. Delwyn and the priest into the room, and Florence entered also, but kept in the background. Merced's look went at once to the bed, where Agnes still slept, and the woman almost started as she saw the rare beauty of the sufferer, but she said nothing ; she listened with care,ful attention to the physician's instructions, evidently an fail at her duties, and knowing well what was expected. He must, Dr. Delwyn said, go now to a few patients who could not dispense with his services ; he would return in the afternoon, but if before that his patient required him, he was to be sent for : it' he were not at home, "Dr.——, a few doors further down, could be thoroughly trusted, and would come. No one was to be allowed to see the patient unless she expressly desired to see anyone. With these, and a few professional instructions, the physician took his departure, and Merced sat down quietly at a little distance from the bed, and the priest taking the chair close to the bed head, and Lisetta, creeping up to the Spanish woman, who looked at her kindly, whispered a few words to her in her own language, and then laid her finger on her lips and glanced towards the bed, and Lisetta kept religious silence, while the nurse drew forth some noiseless work and plied her swift, skilful needle, looking every two or three minutes to the sleeper. Cnce Father Michael drew near and asked under his breath what she thought of the patient. " It is very serious, mio padre" she answered, " the signorina suffers in her mind. It is in her face, Ah ! how beautiful she is !" The priest said no more, but sighed and turned away, and the woman bent low over her work, and murmured in her own rich language— " Ay de mi I and he was so beautiful, too ; and I lost him." And now, as the morning glided on towards noon, the muffled knocker sounded often, for the news that Agnes de Clifford lay stricken with fever spread quickly and one after another called or sent to inquire, with that true sympathy which, to the credit of our human nature, bo it said, sorrow and sickness never fail to evoke, after the belle of the season, who only a few weeks ago bad been the centre of attraction at ball, fdc or opera. To some, the straw in the street gave the first intimation of sickness, and among these was one who was riding towards the park, slowly, for he was thinking, and with his eyes bent down, till the muffled sound of the horses' hoof strokes made him look up with a start, and instantly drew rein abruptly as he saw the straw laid thickly along the street. He was on his feet and up the steps of the house in a moment, one of those gamins who seem to spring from the pavement by spontaneous generation, running forward to hold his horse. The door opened at once in answer to his summons, and in the hall he met Ursilla Lambourne. " Who is ill—is it Miss de Clifford?" said Grant-Faulkner, at once. "Yes, Sir Selwyn. She has fever—brain fever they fear it will become. She is not to sec anyone— so the physician says. Shall I send my lady to you " Aye ; and quickly, Ursula." Ursula ushered the baronet into the morning room, and went upstairs, and in a few moments Florence de Clifford entered the room, looking so haggard and ill that Grant-Faulkner could almost have believed she herself had risen from a bed of deadly sickness. " What is this—how is this T' 110 said hastily. " Agnes iil ?" " Did you expect anything else V she answered coldly ; " Agnes is ill; and the physician gives no hope unless " "Unless what]" " Unless the trouble that weighs on lier mind is removed." " Ha ! she is delirious then 1" "She has betrayed little by that, for Dr. Delwyn cannot understand Italian, but the nurse, a woman who has just been engaged, a woman . recommended by a priest slightly • known to us in Italy, and a friend

of Father Michael's, knows Italian and speaks it fluently." " Florence !" said Sir Selwyn, stamping his foot, "are you mad?" " Heaven knows," she said recklessly, "perhaps lam; tied hand and foot. Can you listen calmly while I tell you how all this came to pass ?" Grant-Faulkner answered by an impatient gesture, and Lady de Clifford related rapidly tho circumstances which had happened since the baronet had last been in Upper Grosvenor-street. Sir Selwyn questioned her closely as to what Agnes had said in lier wanderings and set his teeth when she told him. " Yet," he said ; " much will pass for the raving of fever and there is no proof ; but, Florence, is there anyone whom she asks for 1" *■ Someone there is," replied Lady de Clifford, " whom she seemed to be looking for—someone who by her own vague words, she seemed to rely upon and ts miss." " .Did she name him ?" 11 No ; she was asked to name him ; but she would not answer. I canoot tell how long that reticence may last." " Listen, Florence," said GrantFaulkner, with that cruel gleam in his eyes which she knew so well. "If that name should be the name of the Creole—Cola-Maria, the painter—he must not be permitted to see her." " Selwyn ! you forget—for her own name's sake it could not be. " Bah ! I am supposing that even that he loves her and she knows it. i He shall not see her." ! " Selwyn! do you not relent ? What can you gain by her death 1" "I? nothing. You," he said, looking her full in the face, " everything, Cower avid shrink if you will, Whether she live or whether she die, I will have revenge if that be all that is left to me." Florence turned to the door, then paused— "Can you still," she said, "cherish hope? Can you believe that the priest, knowing what she must have told him, will not uphold her." " She must be removed from his influence. Beware of what I said— lot her sec no one."

She cowered before him, and be took up his hat and moved toward lie door. " I will call again," he said, "in an hour." And with that lie went out. Was it to such a man as this that that bright young life was to be given? was it in his keeping the noble heart that was to'deed and break? CHAPTER XVIII. Drearily passed the watches of that day and night. Agues did not wake until the afternoon, but it was only to be more restless, if less wandering, than before; yet Dr. Delwyn would far rather have heard incoherent ravings than seen her lie staring straight before lier, and moaning incessantly ; far rather that she should show the most unreasonable dislike to any or all of those round her, than that she should seem so unconscious of their presence. Of Merced Rodriguez she took no notice whatever, even Father Michael she appeared to regard with indifference. She asked for nothing but water, and when it was given to her she drank eagerly. She opposed nothing out having ice on her forehead or having lier hair cut; her head was not hot, she said, aud 110 one ever cut women's hair in Italy except nun's hair, and she was not going to lie a nun, she was going to die. Beyond that she said iittle, but nothing that Dr. Delwyn gave her made her sleep, and neither Father Michacl nor Lisetta could prevail upon her to ask for anyone. And the physician was so strict in his orders that she was not to be excited, that the priest did not venture to suggest the name which must, he knew, be so much iu her thoughts, not knowing what effect it might have upon her. Florence passed in and out of the sick room, even came to the bedside and spoke to the sufferer, but beyond the quick wild look from the dark eyes, she obtained no further notice than was vouchsafed to the others. Dr. Delwyn would not, however, suffer Lady de Clifford to be often near his patient, for she might at any moment recognise her enough to recall the terror and aversion which had filled her the day before at the sight of lier mother ; and the physician said frankly that he would not answer for the result of any serious paroxysm. Evening drew on and Agnes continued in the same state. Dr. Delwyn at last disuiissed Lisetta to take some rest. " You may bo needed," he said, " wo will call you if there is any change ; you must take rest." To Merced (for the priest was still absent) he spoke plainly. "This cannot last," lie said, "and the change will bo for the worst. Her mind has not a moment's rest, it is wearing her out." "You do not mean," said the nurse anxiously. " that she will not live the night through." " I do not say ifc, but I fear it. T would give the best years of my life to save that child. It passes my skill now, for I cannot relieve the mind. I must leave now, but 1 will return again at ten o'clock if possible, in any case before eleven ; you know wliotn to send for if a physician should he needed before that time. I do not anticipate any change for some hours." It was then between eight and 1 nine o'clock, and Merced was left

alone with the sufferer, for Florence was in the ante-room. The Spanish woman seated herself by tho bedside, watching the beautiful face on which deatli might so soon set its seal watching for any change, trying to hope against hope that that change when it came would be for the better, while her knowledge of sickness assured her that all such hope was almost, if not quite, vain. Now and then the large brilliant eyes were turned towards her, at first with an indifferent look, then with something like wonder; finally they scanned her from head to foot, and the moaning ceased. The nurse stretched out her hand with her kind grave smile, but Agnes did not give her hers in return— " Who are you ?" she said, speakI ing for the first time for hours. " I am your nurse, my child," answered Merced gently. "You speak my language well, but you are not Italian," said Agnes. "I like that long veil; are you Spanish ?" " Yes, mici cam, from the West Indies. "From the West Indies," repeated the girl, " then I shall like you. Where is Lisetta V' Merced rose—"l will call her, my child," she said, but as she turned towards the door it opened and Lisetta camo iu. " I could not rest," sho whispered to Merced, but paused as the latter pointed to the bed. Agnes had half raised herself, and was looking at Lisetta with evident recognition. The faithful girl was at her side in a moment, clasping the littlo hands in lier own. " Dear Signorina, do you know me ?" " Yes, I know you," said Agnes slowly, " Lisetta, shall I die ?" The abruptness of the question so startled tho poor Italian that she burst into tears. Agnes gazed at her mournfully for a moment and then softly— " Do not weep, Lisetta, mia cara ; perhaps I had better die; will you ask Dr Delwyn ?" " Oh, do not talk of dying, Signorina, carissima, you will not die!" "It might save hor if I did!" said Agnes, clasping her hands, tightly over her breast; "ifc would be all over then, all over—only for him." And she looked round the room wiili a searching gaze, and added in a half whisper, "Is he here ? will he come ?" "Do you mean Father Michael, my child '?" asked Merced. "No, 110. lie will come I know, not him. What is your name?" turning suddenly to tlio Creole. " Merced, Signorina." " Merced —mercy"—said Agnes, "mercy; but there is no help! Merced, am I dying ?" "God forbid, my darling, Signorina ; with His help you will live." " You are not speaking truth— you will not speak truth—-and I shall not see him," said tho girl plaintively,; " but I cannot die so— it will break his heart." Merced and Lisetta looked at each other; the Italian took her mistress' hand once more aud said earnestly— " Will you not say who you waut to see, Signorina ?" Arties closed her eyes and an expression of intense pain passed over her features. "If I could be," she muttered brokenly. " Oh! this weight, oh ! this terrible weight J" Lisetta looked in alarm to the Spanish nurse ; but Merced shook her head. "There is no need," she said calmly, " for a physician ; it is better that she should talk than lio in that half-unconscious state. " Dear Si'nioria," she said bending over the sufferer, "is there anything I can do for you ?" And Agnes would not answer her, "He would not hoar mo—ho would not have pity," she said ; " mother, I cannot. If you would only ask my life ! To Italy, we were going to Italy ? It is mv home, you know," she paused a moment and thou added sadly, •' Ah S why have you changed it ? you have altered if; I think I know why now. Alter ifc again, will you not'? You will see me 01.ee more." The sweet restless voice ceased again, and a (Hidden and remarkable change came over the beautiful face ; neithor of those who almost hold their breath as they watched that change could have given it a name ; but it struck like ice to their hearts, for it was like that look which preaches more eloquently than the golden tongue of a Chrysostom the mysterious doctrine of immortality, for the soul seems to leap up like a light, aud gaze unflinchingly on the scenes of the life to coiue. "On! Signorina," said Lisetta, in a trembling whisper, "speak— speak to us!" " Ilush said the Spanish woman softly, " it may not be death." She laid her hand 011 the slender wrist of tho sufferer as Lisetta sank 011 her knees by the bedside, and at that touch a slight tremor through the too fragile frame; the lips moved, the eyes turned slowly to Merced's face with an intent pleading look. "Ask him to come," she said iu a low clear voice. "Ask who, carissioia?' asked Merced. Agnes looked at Lisetta, and laying her hand ou the Italian's shoulder said in the same tone ra I nor— " Ask him to come ; I think I am dying." " « Who is it, my darling !" said

Lisetta tenderly, " only say the name, The answer came in a whisper, so low that it did not reach Merced's ear." " Cola, Don Cola." Lisetta did not start. Often had that name been in her thoughts during the last two days of sorrow and dread ; but yet she paused irresolute. How could she send for the Spanish painter, yet how could she refuse the dying wish, it might be, of her darling mistress? Strong and deep is that instinct which guards a woman's heart from betraying its most cherished secret, so strong that Agnes, though her mind still wandered, seemed to at once divine the reason of the Italian's hesitation, and the rich colour flushed over each cheek and brow as she clasped her hands before her eyes, and said, though more to herself than to Lisetta. " He, will come ; he loves me ; he told me so, Lisetta. Ask him to come." The Italian rose at once. Nothing could hinder the fulfilment of that wish. Merced touched betas she was passing the door. " Does she ask for the priest?" she said. Lisetta shook her head; but as she reached the door it opened noiselessly, and Florence de Clifford entered the room. Instantly Merced passed between the bed and the sufferer's mother, and laid her hand on the lattcr's, but too late ; tho acute senses had caught the light rustle of garments and Agnes turned her head quickly. " Mother!" was the one word she said and then paused, evidently struggling with a cloud of terrible recollections which had for a time at least lain comparatively dormant. " For God's sake, Madam !" said Merced, almost sternly, " quit this room. Your presence may kill her." Florence recoiled instinctively, but checked Lisetta's further advance. " For whom are you going 1" she said, quickly, " For Dr. Delwyn ? for Father Michael?" " Yes, Signora," the Italian answered readily ; but Lady de Clillord would not suffer her to pass. " Who sent you 1" she said, looking to Merced Rodriguez ; but the plaintive voice of Agnes prevented the Italian's reply, " Mother, let him come, I must see liitn, oh ! I must see him." " Lisetta," said Lady de Clifford severely, "at your peril leave this room. Agnes, my child, you ask an impossibility. Father Michael will soon be here. Merced, if Dr. Delwyn is to be sent for I will send one of tho servants. My daughter's mind is wandering, as you know well. Who does she ask for 1"

" I do not know, Madam," said the Creole, resolutely, " I only know that she may not have many more hours to live, and that no wish should be thwarted. It is not the priest she asks for." She passed round swiftly to the bedside as she spoke and elapsed her arms round Agnes, who clung to her shudderingly, and repeated wildly— '■ I must see him—l will see him ; she cannot take him from me—not now; only once more. Oh! ask him to come !" Florence paused, white as death ; she dared not approach her own child, whom Merced tried in vain to soothe, whispering that Father Michael would come soon. Agnes would not be comforted, and Lisetta grew desperate. " Signora," she said, " you dare not say Don Cola shall not come ; in another hour, if she live till then—" " Her name is more than her life," interrupted Lady de Clifford. " Are you mad, Lisetta? I cannot send for a man who is neither her betrothed husband nor avowed lover —no. not even to a death-bed." " Betrothed husband he is," said Lisetta, " her own lips told me. Ask her." Florence staggered back, covering her face ; the last plank was struck from under her, tho last thread of hope snapped, and Lisetta waited for 110 more, but left the room at once. {To be Continued.)