CHAPTER XIX
_Showing how Mrs. Belmont was pursued by a hideous ruffian._
The time appointed for the marriage of Mr. Hedge to Mrs. Belmontapproached. The enamored old gentleman paid her frequent visits, andsupplied her liberally with funds, nor did he neglect to make her mostcostly presents. Julia's position and prospects, with reference to hercontemplated marriage, were certainly very gratifying to her; yet therewas one thing which troubled her exceedingly and was a source ofconstant apprehension and dread.
The uneasiness proceeded from the fact that she was completely in thepower of the Dead Man, who knew that she was the cast-off wife ofSydney--cast off for the crime of adultery with a black--and who couldat any time, by exposing her true character to Mr. Hedge, ruin herschemes in that quarter forever. She knew too well that the deadlyvillain was as deceitful as he was criminal; and she knew not at whatmoment he might betray her to her intended husband.
The Dead Man was disposed to take every advantage in his power over her.The secret passage into the cellar admitted him into the house at allhours of the day and night; and his visits were frequent. At first histreatment of her was more respectful than otherwise; but gradually hegrew familiar and insolent, and began to insinuate that as she hadformerly granted her favors to a negro, she could not object to treatHIM with equal kindness. This hint she received with disgust; andassuming an indignant tone, bade him relinquish all thought of such aconnection, and never recur to the subject again.
But the villain was not to be repulsed; each time he visited her he grewmore insulting and audacious, until at last his persecutions becamealmost unbearable to the proud and beautiful woman, who viewed him withloathing and abhorrence.
One afternoon, about a fortnight previous to the time fixed on for hermarriage, she was seated in her chamber, engaged in reflections whichpartook of the mingled elements of pleasure and pain. The day was darkand gloomy, and the wind sighed mournfully around the house, and throughthe leafless branches of the trees which fronted it. Suddenly the doorof the chamber was opened, and the Dead Man entered. Julia shuddered,for the presence of that terrible man inspired her with a namelessdread. He seated himself familiarly at her side--and on glancing at him,she perceived, to her alarm, that he was much intoxicated. His eyesrolled wildly, and his loathsome features were convulsed and full ofdark and awful meaning.
'Well, my bird,' said he in an unsteady voice--'by Venus and by Cupid, Iswear thou art beautiful today! Nay, thou need'st not shrink fromme--for I have sworn by Satan to taste thy ripe charms within this veryhour!'
He attempted to clasp her in his arms, but she pushed him from her witha look of such disgust, that he became enraged and furious. Drawing asharp knife from his pocket, he seized her by her arm, and hissed frombetween his clenched teeth--
'Hark'ee, woman, I have borne with your d----d nonsense long enough, andnow if you resist me I'll cut that fair throat of yours from ear toear--I will by hell!'
She would have screamed with affright, but he grasped her by the throat,and nearly strangled her.
'Silly wench,' he cried, as he released her and again placed himself ather side--'why do you provoke me into enmity, when I would fain be yourlover and friend? Mine you must be--mine you shall be, if I have tomurder you!'
Miserable Julia! thy wickedness has met with a terrible retribution;thou art a slave to the lust and fury of a monster more dreadful thanthe venomous and deadly cobra di capello of the East!
Ye who revel in guilty joys, and drink deep of the nectar in the gildedcup of unhallowed pleasures--beware! Though the draught be delicious asthe wines of Cypress, and though the goblet be crowned with flowers,fragrant as the perfume of love's sighs--a coiled serpent lurks in thedregs of the cup, whose deadly fang will strike deep in the heart andleave there the cankering sores of remorse and dark despair. Ye who baskin the smiles of beauty, and voluptuously repose on the soft couch oflicentiousness--beware! That beauty is but external; beneath the fairsurface lie corruption, disease, and death!
The ruffian, having accomplished his triumph, developed a new trait inthe fiendish malignity of his nature. He would have the wretched ladybecome his menial--he would have her perform for him the drudgery of aservant. He ordered her to bring him wine, and wait upon him; andenforced the command with a blow, which left a red mark upon herbeautiful white shoulder.
'Henceforward,' cried he, with an oath, 'I am your master, and you aremy slave. Hesitate to obey me in any thing which I may desire you to do,and I will denounce you to Mr. Hedge as a vile adulteress and impostor,unworthy to become his wife, even if you had no husband living. Dare torefuse my slightest wish, and I will prevent your marriage under pain ofbeing sent to the State Prison for the crime of bigamy.'
By these and other threats did the ruffian compel the unhappy Julia toobey him. She brought him wine and waited upon him; and was obliged tosubmit to every species of insult and degradation. Nor was this the onlyrefinement of cruelty which only his own infernal ingenuity could havedevised; he resolved that Nero, the black, should be a witness of herhumiliation; and accordingly he rang the bell, and ordered the negro tobe sent up. Nero entered the room, and observing the triumphant chuckleof the Dead Man, and the dejected look of his mistress, with his naturalacuteness instantly comprehended the true state of affairs. The contemptwith which Julia had treated him was still fresh in his memory, and ledhim to view that lady with hatred; he therefore determined to add to herchagrin and hatred on the present occasion, by enjoying the scene asmuch as possible.
'Sit down, Nero,' said the Dead Man, with a sardonic grin--'thisbeautiful lady, who formerly showered her favors upon you, hastransferred her kindness to me; I have just tasted the joys of heaven inher arms. Is she not a superb creature?'
'Divinely voluptuous,' replied the African, rubbing his hands andshowing his white teeth.
'She is so,' said the other--'but the virtue of obedience is her mostprominent and excellent quality. Mark how she will obey me in what Iorder her to do: Julia, love, my shoes are muddy; take them off my feet,and clean them.'
The high-born lady was about to give utterance to an indignant refusal,when a terrible glance from her tyrant assured her that resistance wouldbe useless. His savage brutality--the blow he had given her--her forcedsubmission to his loathsome embraces--and the consciousness that she wascompletely in his power, compelled her to obey the degrading command.
Yes--that lovely, educated and accomplished lady actually took off thevile ruffian's dirty shoes, with her delicate hands; then with anelegant pearl handled pen-knife, she scraped off the filth, andafterwards, at the orders of her _master_, washed them with rose-waterin a china ewer, and wiped them with a cambric handkerchief--and all inthe presence of her negro footman.
This task being completed, the Dead Man requested Nero to retire; andthen he inflicted new and nameless indignities upon his poor victim.Once, when she shudderingly refused to obey some horrible request, hestruck her violently in the face, and the crimson blood dyed her faircheek.
To be brief, the stupendous villain, in the diabolical malignity of hisnature, derived a fierce pleasure from ill-treating and outraging thatfrail, but to him inoffensive woman. Her defenceless situation mighthave excited compassion in the breast of a less brutal ruffian; but whenhad his stony heart ever known compassion?
Nero entered the room to inform his mistress that Mr. Hedge was below,having called on his accustomed evening visit.
'Wash the blood from your face, then go and receive him,' said the DeadMan. 'I shall station myself in the adjoining room, to see and hear allthat passes between you.'
Poor Julia removed from her face the sanguinary stains, and endeavoringto arrange her hair so as to conceal the wound which had been inflictedupon her; all in vain, however, for Mr. Hedge noticed it the firstmoment she entered the room.
'My own dear Julia,' said he, in a tone of much concern, and taking herhand--'what has caused that terrible bruise upon your cheek? And my God!you look pale and
ill--speak, dearest, and tell me what is the matter.'
She could not reply; but burst into tears; the old gentleman's kindnessof manner, contrasted with the savage cruelty of her persecutor, hadovercome her. Mr. Hedge strove to comfort her, as a father might comforta distressed child; and his kindness filled her soul with remorse, inview of the great deceit she was practising upon him. Still, she couldnot muster sufficient resolution to confess that deceit. Consideringherself just on the eve of securing a great prize, she could not bringherself to ruin all by a confession of her true character. In answer tohis renewed inquiries, she stated that her wound had been caused by asevere fall; but she assured him that it was nothing serious. The DeadMan grinned with satisfaction, as, with his ear applied to the key-hole,he heard her thus account for the wound inflicted by his own villainoushand.
Mr. Hedge did not remain long that evening: but ere his departure hepresented Julia with a magnificent set of diamonds, which had cost himnear a thousand dollars.
'Wear these, my dear Julia, for my sake,' said he--'and though theycannot increase your charms, they may serve to remind you of me when Iam absent. A fortnight more, and I shall claim you for my own bride;then, in the beautiful city of Boston, we will be enabled to move inthat sphere of society and fashion which your loveliness andaccomplishments so eminently qualify you to adorn.'
After Mr. Hedge had taken his leave, the Dead Man entered the room witha smile of satisfaction.
'By Satan,' cried he--'Mrs. Belmont, as you call yourself, that oldgallant of yours is devilish liberal, and there's no reason why I shouldnot come in for a share of his generosity. These diamonds I shall carryoff with me, and you can tell him that you were robbed--and so you are;ha, ha, ha! So you're going to Boston after you're married--hey? Well,I'll go to Boston too; and you must always keep me plentifully suppliedwith cash to insure my silence with regard to matters that you don'twish to have known. I'll leave you now; but listen:--to-morrow I intendto make a grand effort to get Francis Sydney into my power. Does thatintelligence afford you pleasure?'
'Yes,' replied Julia, forgetting in her hatred of Sydney, the cruelty ofthe Dead Man--'yes, it does; give me but the opportunity to see himwrithe with agony, and I forgive your barbarous treatment of me to-day.'
'That opportunity you shall have,' rejoined the ruffian--'come, I amhalf inclined to be sorry for having used you so; but d----n it, 'tis mynature, and I cannot help it. My heart even now hungers after outrageand human blood--and Sydney--Sydney shall be the victim to appease thathunger!'
Saying this, he quitted the room, leaving Julia to her own reflections,which were of the most painful nature. The only thought which shed agleam of joy into her heart, was the prospect of soon gratifying herspirit of revenge upon Sydney, whom she unjustly regarded as the authorof her troubles.