CHAPTER XI.
THE GENESIS OF LOVE.
I must explain more fully how the scene just related was pre-arranged.As Dr. Medjora told the Judge, it had been a common occurrence for himto hypnotize Agnes whenever favorable occasions presented. These hadnot been infrequent, because the girl had exhibited a great fondnessfor the study of chemistry, and therefore often visited the Doctor inhis laboratory. Since the advent of Leon, this habit had beendiscontinued, or only rarely indulged, and the Doctor, appreciatingthe maidenly reserve which prompted her, had made no comment.
When, however, he decided that the time had arrived when it would bebest for him to put his scheme into operation, he had one day invitedAgnes to be present at some interesting experiments which he wished toshow. Thus she had readily been enticed to the laboratory, and thenthe Doctor had hypnotized her, and subsequently led her to the chamberwhere he had arranged the paraphernalia for his little scene. Beforethis, he had commanded Leon to sleep, and in a similar condition thelad had been conveyed to the couch whereon he was afterward shown tothe Judge.
The Doctor had calculated to meet opposition in the Judge, and hishypnotic _seance_ had been conceived with the double purpose ofconvincing him of the uselessness of antagonism, while at the sametime he would utilize the opportunity to suggest the idea of love toboth of the young people.
Ordinarily, by which I mean with subjects having less individualitythan these, he would have been content to operate upon one at a time;but with Agnes and Leon, he knew that he could succeed only by actingupon both simultaneously, and at the moment of suggesting love, topresent them each one to the other, _in propria persona_, rather thanthrough the imagination. He counted upon personal contact so tointensify the suggestion, that it would not be overcome by will powerexerted in the waking state, which would ensue.
All had passed to his entire satisfaction, and he had little doubtthat his experiment would succeed, but there was still much to do.First, he again commanded Leon and Agnes to sleep deeply, and thenleaving them slumbering on their respective couches, he bore the bodyof the Judge to the floor above. Examining him closely he soonsatisfied himself that his friend had only succumbed to emotionalexcitement, and that he would soon recover from his swoon. He thentook him to the study and placed him in the chair which he hadoccupied earlier in the evening. Hastily returning to the secretchamber, he brought Agnes upstairs, taking her through the hall anddown to the parlor. Here he suggested to her that, when she awakened,she should think she had merely been visiting the house, but that itwas then time to return to her home. In a moment more she opened hereyes, and in natural tones, which showed that she was devoid of anysuspicion of what had transpired, she asked if her father was ready totake her home. The Doctor replied that the Judge would join her in afew moments, and returned to the study just in time to find JudgeDudley rubbing his eyes and staring about him bewildered. At sight ofthe Doctor much of what had happened recurred to him, though hedoubted whether he had not been dreaming.
"Doctor Medjora," he exclaimed, "what has happened? Tell me! Tell methe truth!"
"All that is in your mind has occurred," replied the Doctor, calmly."You have not been dreaming as you suppose, though you have beenunconscious for a brief period."
"And my daughter?" asked the Judge, anxiously.
"Agnes is waiting for you to escort her home. As it is late, I haveordered my carriage to be at your disposal. It should be at the doornow. Will you accept it?"
The quiet tone, and the commonplace words disconcerted the Judge. Hewould have preferred discussing what was pressing heavily upon histhoughts, but after gazing steadily at his host for a moment hedecided to let the matter rest for a time. Thus he demonstrated thetruth of the Doctor's suggestion theory, for the language used, andthe manner adopted, had been chosen with the intention of producingthis effect. The Judge, however, did not entirely avoid the topic. Hisreply was:
"Medjora, you have given me food for deep thought. I cannot at oncedecide whether you are the greatest charlatan, or the most advancedthinker in the world. I am inclined to give you the benefit of thedoubt. The other affair shall have my consideration. Good-night!"
"I thank you, Judge," said the Doctor, suavely, "and believe me that Ispeak with sincerest truth, when I assure you that your daughter'shappiness is now, as it has always been, the chief aim of my life. Iwill accompany you to the carriage."
Having seen his friends depart, the Doctor immediately sought thesecret chamber again, and brought Leon up to the laboratory, thencetaking him to his room, where he awakened him, and chatted with himfor a few minutes, after which he left him to go to rest.
During the long ride home the Judge and his daughter were both silent,each being lost in thought. The Judge was endeavoring to disentanglefrom the maze of his recollection a history of the night's eventswhich would appeal to his mind as reasonable. Had Agnes been asked toproclaim her thoughts she would have replied that she was "thinking ofnothing special." Yet in a dim indefinable way she was wondering how awoman could become so attached to a man, that she would be willing toyield her whole life and independence to him. She was, therefore, alittle startled, when just before reaching home her father suddenlyaddressed her, saying:
"Agnes, my daughter, I wish you to answer a question. Are youparticularly interested in any young man? Are you in love with anyone?"
"Why, what a question, father! Of course not!" She replied, with someasperity, the more so because she felt the blood mount to her face,and was annoyed at the idea that she was blushing. Her father did notpursue the subject, but leaned back in his seat, mentally relieved. Hethought that he had received satisfactory proof that, whatever theDoctor might make Agnes say under hypnotic influence, his spells couldnot enthrall her during her waking hours. The Judge was not yetconvinced of the Doctor's suggestion theory.
When Agnes retired to rest, as she lay in her luxurious bed, her headpillowed on soft down, with silken cover, she began to seek for anexplanation of that blush in the carriage, which she was so glad thatthe darkness had screened from the eyes of her father. She argued toherself that, as she did not love any one, and never would or could doso, she had answered quite truthfully the question which had been putto her. Then why the blush? She had always understood a blush to be asign of guilt or shame, and she was not conscious of either. She didnot readily read the riddle, and while yet seeking to unravel it, shegently drifted away into dream-land. How long she wandered in thismystic realm without adventure worthy of recollection I know not, butat some hour during that night she experienced a sense of heavenlyhappiness.
It seemed to her that she was walking along a trackless desert. Thesun beat down heavily, withering up the shrubbery, and drying up allthe moisture in the land. Everything about seemed parched and dyingexcept herself. She had a plentiful supply of water, and walked alongwithout fatigue or suffering from the heat. Presently she came to astone, upon which sat an old woman, who looked at her and begged forwater. Agnes immediately took her water-bottle, and was about to placeit to the lips of the old woman, when lo! she observed that the waterhad nearly all evaporated, so that only enough was left to slake thethirst of one person. At this she was surprised, having thought thatthere was a plenty, but not even for an instant did she consider thepropriety of keeping the water for her own uses. Without hesitationshe allowed the old woman to drink all, to the last drop. In a second,the woman had disappeared, and in her place there was a most beautifulbeing, a fairy, as Agnes readily recognized, from the manydescriptions which she had heard and read. The fairy thus addressedher:
"My dear, you have a kind heart, and shall be rewarded. Presently youwill leave this desert, and come into a garden filled with deliciousflowers. Choose one, and the wish that enters your heart as you pluckit shall be gratified. But of two things I must warn you. The flowersare all symbolic, and your wish can only be appropriate to the blossomof your choice. Second, you can go through the garden but once; youcannot retrace your steps. So be careful how you
decide."
As the last words were uttered, the fairy vanished, and Agnes walkedon, hoping soon to enter the garden of promise. A mile farther, andthe fragrance of many flowers was wafted towards her on a light zephyrwhich now tempered the heat of the sun. She hastened her steps, andvery soon stood before a curiously carved gate made of bronze. As sheapproached, the gate opened, and admitted her, but immediately closedagain behind her, thus proving the correctness of what the fairy hadsaid. In all directions before her were rose-bushes in bloom, but sheobserved that the whole appeared like a huge floral patch-work quilt,because all of one kind had been planted together, so that greatmasses of each color was to be seen on every side. Just before her theroses were all of snowy whiteness. She moved along a glittering path,and admired the flowers, ever and anon stooping over one moreexquisite than its neighbors, and pressing her face close against itspetals, inhaling its sweet fragrance. When she thus stooped over thelargest and choicest which she had yet seen, a tiny sprite appearedamidst the petals, and, stretching out his arms invitingly, addressedher in a voice which reminded her of a telephone.
"Maiden fair, choose this blossom. Pluck this bloom, and wear it inthy bosom forever. In return thou shalt be the purest virgin in allthe world, for these roses are the emblems of Chastity!"
But, for reply, Agnes shook her head gaily, and merely said: "All thatyou promise is mine already," and then passed on.
The next were gorgeous yellow roses. They were rich in color and regalin form and stateliness, as on long stems each full-blown rose stoodboldly forth above the bush of leaves below. Again a sprite popped outhis head, and oped his lips:
"Stop here, fair girl. Pluck one of these, and thereby gain Wealth andall that wealth implies. These are the symbols of gold!"
"I want no more of wealth," said Agnes, and again she refused thetempting offer. The next were roses of a size as great as those justleft behind. There was just as much of fragrant beauty, too, or evenmore, perhaps, in these most glorious roses, just blushing pink.
"Choose one of us, dear girl, and Beauty will adorn thy cheek forevermore!" the little sprite invited, but once more Agnes would notacquiesce, and so went on.
What next appeared was somewhat puzzling. The bushes were filled withbuds, but at first she could not find a single flower in full bloom.At last, however, she did espy just one, a rose of crimson color andluscious fragrance. With a strange yearning in her breast, shestooped, and almost would have plucked it, when, as she grasped thestem, a sharp pain made her desist. She looked at her hand and saw adrop of blood, of color which just matched the rose. A silvery laugh,like the ripple of a mountain brook, attracted her, and she looked upto see a little fellow, with bow and quiver, smiling at her from thecentre of the flower.
"Fair maiden," said the sprite, "if thou wouldst taste the joy ofparadise, the happiness which transcends all other earthly pleasure,choose one of these unopened buds. Take it with thee to thy home, andnurse it as thou wouldst care for thine own heart. Tend it, nourishit, and cherish it. Then, in time, it will expand and unfold, and fromits petals you will see emerge, not a tiny sprite like me, but thespirit face of one such as thou, though of other sex, who will arousewithin thy breast that endless ecstacy which men call Love. For thesedeep red roses are the emblems of Love!"
Without hesitation Agnes plucked the largest bud within her reach,unmindful of the pricking thorns which pierced her flesh, and thenhurried on, passing the roses of Wisdom, and many other flowers ofgreat attractiveness. And as she ran the wish that surged up in hersoul was that the words of the sprite might prove true, and that shemight see that face: the face of him who was born to be her master;the one for whom she would slave, and be happy in her slavery.
Then it seemed that she was at home again, in her own room, and thatthe cherished bud was in her most beautiful vase. She thought that shesupplied fresh water, placed the vase where the sun would kiss the budfor one full hour every day and in every way did all that she coulddevise to hasten its maturing. At last one morning, a tiny bit ofcolor gladdened her eyes as the first tips of the petals burst fromtheir sheath and pushed themselves out into the great world. From thathour, as the bud slowly unfolded, she felt within her heart asympathetic feeling which was a pleasure and yet was painful too. Itseemed as though the fate of the flower was interlaced with her own sotightly, that if it should die, why then no longer would she wish tolive. And so she waited and watched and tended the blooming rose withanxious patience, awaiting that hoped-for day when the promise of thefairy, and the sprite, would be fulfilled. But the days went by, andat last the rose began to fade, and as the petals dropped away one byone, she felt an answering throb as she thought that her hope woulddie. At length, when half of the rose lay a shower of dead petals onthe table around the vase, it seemed as though she could no longerendure the suspense. She became desperate, and determined to end itall by destroying the rose which had caused her such sweet hope, andsuch bitter disappointment. She grasped the flower and took it fromthe vase, but, as she essayed to crush it, her soul was filled withremorse and she hesitated. She gazed at it for a time, as tears filledher eyes, and finally with a sob of pain she began to dismember thebloom, plucking the petals one by one and throwing them idly in herlap. At last, only a half dozen remained about the heart of theflower, when in an instant she was amazed and overjoyed to see a faceslowly emerge from amidst the stamens. At the same moment anoverpowering fragrance welled up and enthralled her senses, so thatshe almost sunk into unconsciousness. Then, as she knew that her hopewas realized, that the fairy's promise was fulfilled, and that Lovewas within her grasp, she leaned forward eagerly, to scan the featureof the face before her. It was but a miniature, but after a very briefscrutiny she readily recognized it, and knew that it was Leon's. Witha cry of surprise she awakened, while all the details of the dreamwere yet fresh within her mind.
As the morning sun shed a ray across the features of Agnes Dudley, nowfreed from the bondage of sleep, it illumined a puzzled countenance.Agnes could not quite understand the feelings which swayed her heart.The sense of gladness was new, as was also a dread anxiety which roseup, and almost suffocated her as she thought, "It is only a dream!"
She had dreamed of love, and she had coupled Leon with that idea insome way, but why should it disturb her to find that it was but adream? Surely she could not be in love with Leon? Of course not! Thevery thought was preposterous, even coming to her as it had, while shewas asleep. Springing out of bed she was astonished to find that itwas already nine o'clock, for usually she was an early riser. Shebegan dressing hurriedly, and rang for her maid. When the girl cameshe brought with her a beautiful bunch of red rosebuds, half blown.Instantly Agnes was reminded of her dream, but when she noted that acard was attached, and read upon it the words, "With the complimentsof Leon," she felt a blush creep over her face, neck, and shoulders,which made her for the first time in her life feel ashamed. She wasashamed because she thought that the maid might observe and understandher confusion, and she was very angry with herself to find that sosimple a gift should so disturb her. She sent the maid away that shemight once more be alone. Then she read the card again, and noted thesignature more closely. Why should he sign only his first name? Thatwas a privilege accorded only to very close friendship. It seemedpresumptuous, that the first note received by her from this young manshould be so signed. She certainly would show him that she resentedwhat he had done. Indeed she would! Then, with an impulse which shedid not analyze, she crushed the buds to her lips and kissed themrapturously. In another moment she realized what she was doing, andagain a blush colored her fair skin, and as she observed it in hermirror, she exclaimed, half aloud:
"A red blush, the symbolic color of love!" She paused, retreatingbefore her own thought. But there was no repressing it. "Do I lovehim?" She did not reply to this aloud, but the blush deepened so thatshe turned away from the glass, that she might hide the evidence ofher own secret from herself.
If the Judge could have guessed what was pa
ssing through the mind ofhis daughter, he might have more fully respected the suggestion theorywhich Doctor Medjora had propounded to him. As it was, a night'ssleep, and an hour's consideration of the matter on the following day,enabled him to conclude that there was nothing about which he needdisturb himself. He had come to admit, however, that assuredly Agneswas a wonderfully healthy and intellectual girl, and he was willing toaccord some credit therefor to her association with his friend, theDoctor. Feeling consequently indebted to Dr. Medjora, he hastened towrite to him that he would immediately take the steps necessary forhis legal adoption of Leon, and for giving the lad the name Medjora.The receipt of this letter gratified the Doctor very much, and for therest of the day he was in high spirits.