CHAPTER XXIV
_The Marriage--The Intoxicated Rector--Miseries of an aged Bridegroom onhis Wedding Night._
Mrs. Belmont was seated in the elegant parlor of her residence in Readestreet. It was the evening appointed for her marriage with Mr. Hedge,and she was dressed in bridal attire--a spotless robe of virgin whitewell set off her fine form and rich complexion, while a chaplet of whiteroses made a beautiful contrast with the dark, luxuriant hair on whichit rested.
A superb French clock on the marble mantel piece proclaimed in silverytones, the hour of seven.
'He will soon be here,' she murmured--'to carry me to the house of theclergyman, there to be made his wife. How little the fond, foolish oldman suspects the snare in which he is about to fall! How admirably havemy artifices deceived him! And the other evening when in the heat ofpassion, he pressed me to grant him a certain favor in advance of ourmarriage, how well I affected indignation, and made him beg forforgiveness! Oh, he thinks me the most virtuous of my sex--but there ishis carriage; now for the consummation of my hopes!'
Mr. Hedge entered the room, and raising her jewelled hand to his lips,kissed it with rapture. The old gentleman was dressed in a style quitejuvenile;--his coat was of the most modern cut, his vest and gloveswhite, and his cambric handkerchief fragrant with _eau de cologne_. Tomake himself look as young as possible, he had dyed his gray hair to ajet black, and his withered cheeks had been slightly tinged with_rouge_, to conceal the wrinkles, and give him a youthful, freshappearance. He certainly looked twenty years younger than ever, but hecould not disguise his infirm gait and the paralytic motions of hisbody.
But let not the reader suppose that he was either a superannuatedcoxcomb or a driveling dotard. He was a man of sense and feeling, buthis passion for Julia had, for the time, changed all his manner andhabits.--He saw that she was a young and lovely woman, about to giveherself to the arms of a man thrice her age; and he wished to render theunion less repugnant to her, by appearing to be as youthful as possiblehimself. Therefore, he had made up his toilet as we have described, notfrom personal vanity, but from a desire to please his intended bride.
We wish not to disguise the fact that Mr. Hedge was an exceedinglyamorous old gentleman; and that in taking Julia to his matrimonialembrace, he was partially actuated by the promptings of the flesh. Butin justice to him we will state that these were not the onlyconsiderations which had induced him to marry her; he wanted a companionand friend--one whose accomplishments and buoyancy of spirits wouldserve to dispel the loneliness and _ennui_ of his solitary old age. Sucha person he fancied he had found in the young, beautiful 'widow,' Mrs.Belmont.
'Sweetest Julia,' said the aged bridegroom, enclosing her taper waistwith her arm--'the carriage is at the door, and all is in readiness tocomplete our felicity. To-night we will revel in the first joys of ourunion in my own house--to-morrow, as you have requested, we depart forBoston.'
'Ah, dearest,' murmured Julia, as her ripe lips were pressed tohis--'you make me so happy! How young you look tonight! What raptures Ianticipate in your arms! Feel how my heart beats with the wildness ofpassion!'
She placed his hand into her fair, soft bosom, and he felt that herheart was indeed throbbing violently; yet 'twas not with amorouspassion, as she had said; no, 'twas with fierce triumph at the successof her schemes.
The contact of his hand with her voluptuous charms, inflamed him withimpatient desire.
'Come,' cried he,--'let us no longer defer the blissful hour that givesyou to my arms.'
In a few minutes Julia was ready; and the happy pair, seating themselvesin the carriage, were driven to the abode of Dr. Sinclair, who was toperform the marriage ceremony.
We said _happy_ pair--yes, they were indeed so; the old gentleman washappy in the prospect of having such a beautiful creature to share hisfortune and bed; and the young lady was happy in the certainty of havingsecured a husband whose wealth would enable her to live in luxury andsplendor.
They arrive at the rector's residence, and are ushered into a spaciousapartment. Everything is handsome and costly, yet everything is indisorder; judging from appearances one would suppose that the place wasoccupied by a gentleman of intemperate habits--not by a minister of thegospel. The rich carpet is disfigured with many stains, which lookmarvelously like the stains produced by the spilling of port wine. Themirror is cracked; the sofa is daubed with mud; a new hat lies crushedbeneath an overturned chair. An open Bible is upon the table, but on itstand a decanter and a wine-glass; and the sacred page is stained withthe blood-red juice of the grape. On the mantle-piece are books, thrownin a confused pile; the collection embraces all sorts--Watts' hymn bookreposes at the side of the 'Frisky Songsters,' the Pilgrim's Progressplays hide-and-seek with the last novel of Paul de Kock; while 'Women ofNoted Piety' are in close companionship with the 'Voluptuous Turk.'
Soon the rector enters, and there is something in his appearancepeculiar, if not suspicious. His disordered dress corresponds with hisdisordered room. His coat is soiled and torn, his cravat is put on awry,and his linen is none of the cleanest. He salutes Brother Hedge and hisfair intended, in an unsteady voice, while his eyes wander vacantlyaround the apartment, and he leans against a chair for support.
'How very strangely he looks and acts,' whispered Julia to her frostybridegroom--'surely he can't be _tipsy_?'
'Of course not,' replied Mr. Hedge--'such a supposition with referenceto our beloved pastor would be sacrilege. He is only somewhat agitated;he is extremely sensitive, and deep study has doubtless operated to theinjury of his nervous system. My dear Brother Sinclair, we are waitingfor you to perform the ceremony,' he added, in a louder tone.
'Waiting--ceremony--' said the rector, abstractedly, gazing upward atthe ceiling--'Oh, marriage ceremony, you mean? Ah, yes, I had forgotten.Certainly. Quite right, Brother Hedge, or Ditch--ha, ha! Excuse me. Allready.'
We shall not attempt to imitate the rector, in his manner of performingthe ceremony, as we deem the matter to be too serious for jest; but wewill say, never before was ceremony performed in so strange a manner.However, to all intents and purposes, they were married; and at theconclusion of the service, the bridegroom slipped a fifty-dollar noteinto the rector's hand, and then conducted his lovely bride to thecarriage, in which they were soon driven to Mr. Hedge's residence inHudson street.
In explanation of the singular conduct of Dr. Sinclair, we will statethat he became a wine-bibber and a drunkard. Remorse for his amorousfollies with Josephine, and horror at her crimes, had driven him todrown such painful remembrances in the bottle. The very next day afterhe had accused the mother and daughter of the murder, he drank himselfinto a state of intoxication, and each subsequent day witnessed arenewal of the folly. On the Sabbath, he managed to preserve atolerably decent degree of sobriety, but his appearance plainlyindicated a recent debauch, and his style of preaching was tame andirregular. His congregation viewed him with suspicion and distrustprivately; but as yet, no public charge had been made against him. Heknew very well that he could not long continue in his own unworthycourse, and be a minister of the gospel; he plainly saw the precipiceover which he hung--but with mad infatuation he heeded not the danger,and rushed onwards to his ruin. His house became the scene of disorderand revelry. His servants neglected their duties when he so far forgothimself as to make them familiar associates of his orgies. The voice ofprayer was no longer heard in his dwelling: the Bible was cast aside.Blasphemy had supplanted the one and obscene books had taken the placeof the other. We shall see how rapid was his downfall, and to what astate of degradation he sunk at last.
But we return for the present to Mr. Hedge and his newly-made wife. Theyalighted at the old gentleman's princely mansion in Hudson street andentered a magnificent apartment in which a bridal supper had beenprepared for them. Julia, as the mistress of the house, was receivedwith the most profound respect by half a score of domestics, clad inplain but costly livery. Everything betokened unbounded wealth, and therepast was served on a
scale of splendid luxury--every article of platebeing of massive silver. Viands the most _recherche_ graced the board,and wines the most rare added zest to the feast. There, sparkling likethe bright waters of the Castalian fountain, flowed the rich Greekwine--a classic beverage, fit for the gods; there, too, was the delicatewine of Persia, fragrant with the spices of the East; and thediamond-crested champagne, inspiring divinities of poesy and Love.
'Drink, my Julia,' cried the happy bridegroom--'one cup to Hymen, andthen let us seek his joys in each other's arms. I have a chamberprepared for us, which I have dedicated to Venus and to Cupid; therehath Love spread his wing, and beneath it shall we enjoy extatic repose.Come, dearest.'
He took her hand, and preceded by a female domestic bearing candles,conducted her up a broad marble staircase; they entered an apartmentsumptuously furnished--it was the bridal chamber. The footstep fellnoiseless upon the thick and yielding carpet; each chair was a gildedthrone, and each sofa a luxurious divan, cushioned with purple velvet.Vast paintings, on subjects chiefly mythological, were reflected inimmense mirrors, reaching from floor to ceiling. The bed was curtainedwith white satin, spangled with silver stars; and a wilderness offlowers, in exquisite vases, enriched the atmosphere with their perfume.
The old gentleman kissed his bride, whispered a few words in her ear,and left the chamber, followed by the domestic. Then Julia was waitedupon by two young ladies, dressed in white, who saluted herrespectfully, and signified their desire to assist her in disrobing.
'We are only servants, madam,' said they, modestly,--'we perform theduties of housekeepers for Mr. Hedge, and are highly honored if we canbe of service to his lady.'
But the truth is, these young ladies were the illegitimate daughters ofthe old gentleman. Tho' Julia was his first wife, in his young days hehad formed an attachment for a poor but lovely young woman;circumstances would not admit of his marrying her, and as she loved himin return, they tasted the joys of Venus without lighting the torch ofHymen. The young woman became _enciente_, and died in giving birth totwins--both daughters. Mr. Hedge brought these children up under his ownroof, and educated them liberally; yet while he treated them with themost indulgent kindness, he never acknowledged himself to be theirfather, fearing that if the fact became known, it would injure hisreputation as a man and a Christian, he being a zealous church member.The girls themselves were ignorant of their parentage, and only regardedMr. Hedge as their generous benefactor. They had been taught to believethat they had been abandoned by their parents in their infancy, and thatthe old gentleman had taken them under his protection from motives ofcharity. They were of a gentle disposition, beloved by all who knewthem, and by none more so than by Mr. Hedge, who maintained them asladies although he suffered them to superintend the affairs of hisextensive bachelor establishment. Their names were Emma and Lucy.
While these young ladies are engaged in disrobing the fair (but _not_blushing) bride, let us seek the newly-elected husband, in the privacyof his library.
A library--How we love to linger in such a place, amid the thousands ofvolumes grown dingy with the accumulated dust of years!--We care not forone of your modern libraries, with its spruce shelves, filled with thesickly effusions of romantic triflers--the solemn, philosophicalnonsense of Arthur, the dandified affectation of Willis, and the cleverbut wearisome twittle-twattle of Dickens--once great in himself, nowliving on the fading reputation of past greatness; we care not to entera library made up of such works, all faultlessly done up in the beststyle of binder. No--we love to pass long solitary hours in one of thoseold depositories of choice literature made venerable by the richmellowing of time, and the sombre tapestry of cobwebs which areundisturbed by the intrusive visitation of prim housemaids. There, amidantique volumes, caskets of thought more precious than gems, howdelightful to commune with the bright spirit of dead authors, whoseinspired pens have left behind them the glorious scintillations ofimmortal genius, which sparkle on every page! When the soft light ofdeclining day steals gently into the dusky room, and dim shadows hoverin every nook, the truly contemplative mind pores with a quiet raptureover the sublime creations of Shakespeare, the massive grandeur ofScott, and the glowing beauties of Byron. Then are the dull realities oflife forgotten, and the soul revels in a new and almost celestialexistence.
In such a place do we now find Mr. Hedge, but he is not feasting on thedelicacies of an elevated literature. Far differently is he engaged: heis entirely undressed, and reclining at full length in a portable bath,which is one-third full of _wine_. Such luxurious bathing is oftenresorted to by wealthy and superannuated gentlemen, who desire to infuseinto their feeble limbs a degree of youthful activity and strength,which temporarily enables them to accomplish gallantries under thebanner of Venus, of which they are ordinarily incapable.
'Oh that I were young!' ejaculated the bridegroom, as with a melancholyair he contemplated his own wasted frame. 'Would that thro' my veins,as in days of yore, there leaped the fiery current of vigorous youth!Alas seventy winters have chilled my blood and while my wishes are asardent as ever, my physical organization is old, and weak, andshattered--and I fear me, cannot carry out the warm promptings of myenamored soul. How gladly would I give all my wealth, for a new lease oflife, that I might revel in the joys of youth again!'
He rang a small bell, and a valet entered, bearing a dish containing ahighly nutritious broth, which he had caused to be prepared on accountof its invigorating properties. After partaking of this rich and savorymess, and having drank a glass of a certain cordial celebrated for itsrenovating influence, he arose, and his valet rubbed him vigorously witha coarse towel, then slipping on a few garments and a dressing-gown, herepaired to the bridal chamber with a beating heart.
The two young ladies, having performed their task, had retired, andJulia was on the couch awaiting her husband's coming. As he entered, shepartly rose from her recumbent posture, with a smile of tenderinvitation lighting up her charming face; and rushing forward, hestrained her passionately to his breast.
Then came a torrent of eager kisses, and a thousand whispered words oftenderness and love--sincere on the part of the old gentleman, butaltogether affected on the part of Julia, who felt not the slightestdegree of amorous inclination towards him. Yet he imagined her to be,like himself, fired with passion, and full of desire. His eyes feastedupon the beauties of her glorious form, which, so seductivelyvoluptuous, was liberally exposed to his gaze; and his trembling handwandered amid the treasures of her swelling bosom, so luxuriant in itsripened fullness.
Soon the withered form of the aged bridegroom is encircled by the plump,soft arms of his beautiful young bride. There are kisses, andmurmurings, and sighs--but there is a heavy load of disappointment onthe heart of the husband, who curses the three score and ten years thatbind his warm wishes with a chain of ice; and he prays in vain for thereturn--even the temporary return--of glad youth, with its vigor, andits joys.
Julia comprehends all, and secretly congratulates herself on hisimbecility which releases her from embraces that are repugnant to her,though she assumes an air of tender concern at his distress. Maddened ata failure so mortifying, Mr. Hedge half regrets his marriage.
Oh, why does weak tottering age seek to unite itself with warm,impetuous youth! The ice of winter is no congenial mate for the fresh,early flower of spring. How often do we see old, decrepit men wooing andwedding young girls, purchased by wealth from mercenary parents! Wellhave such sacrifices to Lust and Mammon, been termed _legalizedprostitution_. And does not such a system excuse, if not justify,infidelity on the part of the wife? An old, drivelling dotard takes tohis home and bed a virgin in her teens, whom he has purchased, but as hehas gone through a formal ceremony, law and the world pronounce herwife. His miserable physical incapacity provokes without satisfying thepassions of his victim; and in the arms of a lover she secretly enjoysthe solace which she cannot derive from her legal owner. Then, if she isdetected, how the world holds up its ten thousand hands in pioushorror!--Wives who hav
e _young_ husbands are eloquent in their censure;old women who have long passed the rubicon of love and feeling, denounceher a _shameless hussey_; while the old reprobate who calls himself herhusband, says to his indignant and sympathizing friends--'I took herfrom a low station in life; I raised her to a position of wealth andrank, and see how ungrateful she is.'
Irritated by the disappointment, he arose, threw on his garments, andmuttering a confused apology, left the chamber, taking with him a light.As he closed the door behind him, Julia burst into a gay silvery laugh.
'Poor old man!' she said to herself,--'how disconcerted he is!' I couldscarce keep myself from laughing. Well, he is not likely to prove verytroublesome to me as a husband, and I'm glad of it, for really, thepawings, and kisses, and soft nonsense of such an old man are disgustingto me. Heigho! when we get to Boston, I must look out for a lover ortwo, to atone for the lamentable deficiencies of that withered cypher.'
When Mr. Hedge quitted the chamber, he went directly to his library, andrang the bell violently. In a few minutes the summons was answered byhis valet. This man was of middle age, and rather good-looking, butpossessed what is generally called a wicked eye.
'Brown,' said his master--'make a fire in this room, and bring up somewine and refreshments. I shall pass the night here.'
'The devil!' thought Brown, as he sat about obeying theseorders--'master going to pass the night in his library, and just marriedto a woman so handsome that one's mouth waters to look at her! They'veeither had a quarrel, or else the old man has found himself mistaken insome of his calculations. I'm a fool if I don't turn things to myadvantage. I see it all; she has cheated old Hedge into marrying her,although she has a husband already. She did not know me, in this livery;but she soon shall know me. Why, she's in my power completely, and ifshe don't do just as I want her to, d----n me if I don't _blow_ on her,and spoil all her fun!'
We may as well enter into an explanation at once. This valet, calledBrown, was no other than Davis--Frank Sydney's former butler--who hadbeen sent to the State Prison for the term of five years, for hisparticipation in the attempt to rob his master's house. In less than amonth after his removal to Sing Sing, he was pardoned out by theGovernor, who, being a good-natured man, could not refuse to grant therequest of the prisoner's friends. On being set at liberty, Davisassumed the name of Brown, and entered the service of Mr. Hedge asvalet. He had instantly recognized in the newly-made wife of his master,his former mistress, Mrs. Sydney;--but she knew him not, as hisappearance was greatly changed. Being a shrewd fellow, he saw throughthe whole affair, and understanding her exact position, was resolved totake advantage of it, as soon as a proper opportunity should presentitself.
The fire was made, the refreshments were brought, and the valet stood asif awaiting further orders.
'Sit down, Brown,' said his master, 'and take a glass of wine. You knowthat I was married to-night to a young lady--you saw her. Ah, she's abeautiful creature; and yet she might as well be a stick or a stone, forI am too old and worn-out to enjoy her charms. I did wrong to marryher; she's an estimable lady, and deserves a husband capable ofaffording her the satisfaction which I cannot--Yet I'll do my utmost tomake her happy; I know that she will be faithful to me. Hereafter wewill occupy separate chambers; and as I cannot discharge the duties of ahusband, I will become a father to her. To-morrow we depart for Boston;and as I still need the services of a valet, you can go with me if youchoose.'
'Thank'ee, sir; I shall be glad to go with you,' said Brown.
'Then that matter is settled,' rejoined Mr. Hedge--'you can leave menow; I shall not want you again to-night. I will stretch myself uponthis sofa, and try to sleep.'
The valet bade his master good night, and left the library; but insteadof going to his own room, he crept stealthily towards the chamber ofJulia, now Mrs. Hedge. At the door he paused and listened; but hearingnothing, he softly opened the door, and glided in with noiseless steps,but with a palpitating heart, for it was a bold step he was taking--he,a low menial, to venture at midnight into the bed-chamber of hismaster's wife! Yet he was a daring fellow, lustful and reckless; and hefancied that his knowledge of the lady's true history, and her fear ofexposure, would render her willing to yield her person to his wishes.
He approached the bed, and found that she was sleeping. The atmosphereof the room was warm and heavy with voluptuous perfumes; and the dyinglight of the wax candles shed but a dim and uncertain ray upon thegorgeous furniture, the showy drapery of the bed, and the denuded formof the fair sleeper; denuded of everything but one slight garment, whosetransparent texture imperfectly concealed charms we dare not describe.How gently rose and fell that distracting bosom, with its prominent pairof luscious _twin sisters_, like two polished globes of finestalabaster! A soft smile parted her rosy lips, disclosing the pearlyteeth; and her clustering hair lay in rich masses upon the pillow. Soangelic was her appearance, and so soft her slumbers that a painterwould have taken her as a model for a picture of Sleeping Innocence.Yet, within that beautiful exterior, dwelt a soul tarnished with guiltypassion, and void of the exalted purity which so ennobles the exquisitenature of woman.
Long gazed the bold intruder upon that magnificent woman; and the sightof her ravishing charms made his breath come fast and thick, and hisblood rushed madly through his veins. Trembling with eager wishes and athousand fears, he bent over her and, almost touching his lips to hers,inhaled the fragrance of her breath, which came soft as a zephyrstirring the leaves of a rose. Then he laid his hand upon her bosom, andpassed it daringly over the swelling and luxuriant outlines. Juliapartially awoke, and mistaking the disturber of her slumbers for Mr.Hedge, languidly opened her eyes, and murmured--'Ah, dearest, have youreturned?'
The valet replied by imprinting a hot kiss upon her moist, red lips; butat that moment the lady saw that it was not her husband who had ravishedthe kiss. Starting up in bed she exclaimed, in mingled surprise andalarm--
'Good heavens, who is this?--Fellow, what do you want, how dare youenter this chamber?'
'Why, ma'am,' said Brown, doggedly--'I knew that master is old, and nofit companion for such a lively young woman as you be, and I thought--'
'No more words, sir!' cried Julia, indignantly--'leave this roominstantly--go at once, and I am willing to attribute your insolence tointoxication--but linger a moment, and I will alarm the house, and giveyou up to the anger of your master!'
'Oh, no missus,' said the fellow, coolly--'If _that_ be your game, I canplay one worth two of it. Give the alarm--rouse up the servants--bringyour husband here--and I'll expose you before them all as the wife ofMr. Sydney, turned out by him, for a nasty scrape with a negro footman!Missus you don't remember me, but I've lived in your house once, andknow _you_ well enough. I am Davis, the butler, very much at yourservice.'
'I recollect you now,' rejoined Julia, scornfully--'You are thescoundrel who treacherously admitted burglars into the house, and whowas captured and sent to the State Prison, from which you were pardoned,as I saw stated in the newspapers. You are mistaken if you think that adread of exposure will induce me to submit to be outraged by you.Heavens, I will not yield my person to every ruffian who comes to mewith threats of exposure! Vile menial, I will dare ruin and death soonerthan become the slave of your lust!'
As she uttered these words with a tone and air of indignant scorn, shelooked more superbly beautiful than ever--her dark eyes sparkled, hercheeks glowed, and her uncovered bosom heaved with excitement and anger.
But Brown was a determined ruffian, and resolved to accomplish hispurpose even if obliged to resort to force. Grasping the lady by botharms, he said, in a stern whisper--
'Missus, I am stronger than you be--keep quiet, and let me have my wayand you shan't be hurt; but if you go to kicking up a rumpus, why d----nme if I won't use you rather roughly.'
He forced her back upon the bed, and placed his heavy hand over hermouth, to prevent her from screaming. Holding her in such a positionthat she could not move, he covered her face, neck and
breasts withlecherous kisses; and was preparing to complete the outrage, when thereport of a pistol thundered through the chamber, and the ruffian fellupon the carpet, weltering in his blood. His body had been perforated bya ball from a revolver, in the hands of Mr. Hedge.
'Die, you d----d treacherous villain,' cried the old gentleman, swearingfor the first time in his life.
The dying wretch turned his malignant eyes upon Julia, and gasped,faintly--
'Mr. Hedge--your wife--false--negro--Sydney--'
He could say no more, for the hand of death was upon him; and gnashinghis teeth with rage and despair, he expired.
Mr. Hedge had paid no attention to the ruffian's dying words; for he hadcaught Julia in his arms, and was inquiring anxiously if she were hurt.
'No, dearest,' she replied--'only frightened. But how came you to arriveso opportunely to my rescue?'
'I was endeavoring to get some sleep on the sofa in my library,'answered the old gentleman--'when suddenly I fancied I heard a noise inyour chamber. Thinking that robbers might have got into the house, Igrasped a pistol, and cautiously approached the door of this room.Pausing a moment to listen, I heard the villain threaten you withviolence in case you resisted; the door being open a little, I steppedinto the room without making any noise, and saw him preparing toaccomplish the outrage. Then I raised my pistol with unerring aim, andput a ball through his infernal carcass. Thank heaven, I have reservedmy Julia from a fate worse than death.'
Fortunately for Julia, he had not heard what had passed between her andthe valet, in reference to her exposure. He believed her to be the mostvirtuous of her sex; while she was beyond measure rejoiced that Davis,who might have ruined her, was now dead.
The next day the newly-married pair left New York for the city ofBoston, according to previous arrangement. Arrived in that greatmetropolis, they took up their quarters at the most fashionable hotel,there to remain until Mr. Hedge should purchase a suitable house inwhich to take up their permanent residence.
Julia had not neglected to bring her maid Susan with her, as thatdiscreet abigail might be of service to her in any little matter ofintrigue she might engage in. Nero, the black, she had discharged fromher service.
Her greatest happiness now arose from the belief that she had nowescaped from the persecutions of the Dead Man.