“Nearly a year has elapsed since I last parted with Harry Wallingford
under very peculiar circumstances. It was at the cemetery in the city of
New York, where I took my painful leave of him, and I never have seen
him since, though we have received several letters from him. I believe
it was on the next Monday after Wallingford set out on his journey to
New York, that Mr. Rockland received a letter from Mr. Dalmaxim, which
furnished a solution of the mystery connected with Miss Bramlett’s sad
fate. In order to enlighten my audience as much as possible in
connection with that distressing affair, I will read you the letter:
“‘NATHANIEL ROCKLAND:
“‘DEAR SIR--It is with feelings of the deepest sorrow that I
perform the sad duty of conveying to you the news of Miss
Bramlett’s death. The body of that unfortunate young lady was
discovered on yesterday floating in East river, where it had
evidently remained a considerable length of time, for it was in an
advanced stage of decomposition. The features were very much
disfigured, probably occasioned by being eaten by the fish, but her
friends here readily recognized the drab silk dress as the one worn
by Miss Bramlett on the day of her disappearance. A large gold ring
with a diamond set was found on one of her fingers, which was also
identified by her friends as the property of Miss Bramlett. On the
inside of the ring the letters “From Harry to Viola,” appeared,
plainly engraved, which settles the question of identity beyond the
possibility of a doubt. The body was found under the wharf, where
it had been held by a large iron spike that projected from one of
the piles, which had caught in the skirt of the silk dress, thus
preventing the corpse from floating out. A white handkerchief of
very costly fabric, bordered with lace, was found in the left-hand
pocket of her dress, which was found to be marked in one corner
with the letters “V. B.,” plainly wrought with green silk thread.
The handkerchief was also identified as the property of Miss
Bramlett. That the poor girl committed suicide there seems to be no
room for doubt, as upon critical examination, made by experienced
surgeons, no marks of violence could be discovered. A large number
of witnesses were examined before the jury of inquest, including
many friends and relatives of Miss Bramlett; all of them recognized
the dress, ring, and handkerchief as her property. Notwithstanding
the vigorous efforts made by Miss Bramlett’s friends to ascertain
the cause that induced her to destroy herself, nothing definite has
been developed; though I hear it suggested that it was a
disappointment in a love affair with Mr. Wallingford. I am
thoroughly convinced that it was not the loss of her fortune that
caused it, for all concur in the idea that she despised money, and
was often heard to say that she regretted being a rich heiress.
With many wishes for your health and success, I am, sir, yours very
respectfully,
“‘ALBERT DALMAXIM’
“Before Harry Wallingford arrived at New York, the remains of the
drowned girl had been deposited in the grave.
“I was induced by Lottie to make a second trip to New York to bring
Harry home. Upon my arrival at the city, I was not a little surprised to
learn that Wallingford had caused a costly monument to be erected at the
head of the grave, with a suitable inscription made in plain Italian
letters.
“When I inquired for Harry at his hotel, I was told by the clerk that I
would probably find him at the cemetery, as he had been in the habit of
making diurnal visits there. I encountered many difficulties in
threading my way through the city of the dead. But after making several
mistakes, and traveling many hundreds of yards unnecessarily, I at
length succeeded in finding the spot I sought.
“Harry was busily engaged with a florist in arranging some pinks and
geraniums at the foot of the grave, and consequently did not observe me
until I had stood leaning against the palings gazing at him for several
minutes. When he looked up and saw me he dropped the trowel with which
he had been transplanting the flowers, and walked briskly toward me,
saying as he held out his hand:
“‘Ah, Edward, I have killed her at last! Here lies my poor
victim--driven into the grave by an unworthy wretch who is himself unfit
to live, and not prepared to die. You told me I would kill her, and
alas! how true it has come to pass.’
“‘I am sent by Lottie to bring you home,’ I at length managed to say.
‘Your sister is almost driven to despair by this distressing occurrence,
and it is your duty to go to her as speedily as possible.’
“‘No, Edward, it would only serve to increase my darling sister’s sorrow
for me to be with her. Tell my beloved sister that it is my wish to
remain in New York, where I can water the grave of my victim with my
tears, and commune with her gentle spirit.’
“Now, my good friends, here I am at the end of my awkward story, and if
I have bored you with the telling of it, I am truly sorry for it; but if
I knew I had been so fortunate as to interest you, I should be very much
gratified. To all of my good friends who have been so kind as to honor
me with their attention, I beg permission to express my grateful thanks;
and by way of winding up the entertainment, I suggest the idea that we
now adjourn to the saloon and engage in a quadrille.”
“Wait a moment, sir, if you please,” said Ivanhoe, as he threw himself
in front of Ingomar, as if he was determined to force him to halt; “you
have not yet finished your story, and we do not intend to permit you to
retire until you have told us what has become of Lottie Wallingford.”
“Yes, yes, yes!” exclaimed a dozen voices at once. “Let us know what has
become of Lottie Wallingford.”
“My friends,” replied Ingomar, “I pledge you my word that there is no
such person as Lottie Wallingford now living, so far as I know or
believe; but if her Majesty will remove her mask, I will be very glad to
introduce to you Mrs. Lottie Demar, my beloved wife, of whom I am
exceedingly proud.”
By the time Ingomar concluded the sentence, the mask was removed, and
Lottie stood, radiant, beautiful, and blushing before the admiring
multitude.
For a moment the spectators gazed in breathless wonder at the angelic
loveliness of the beautiful creature who stood before them; then the
audience began to press around the charming object, eager to offer their
congratulations. Captain Quitman, in whose eyes tears of joy trembled,
leaped on a box, and brandishing his cane in the air, called out, “Three
cheers for the Barbarian Chief and his beautiful Parthenia!” Then rose
such a joyous shout as to drown the great noise caused by the machinery
of the boat. A proposition was made by Ingomar, and indorsed unanimously
by the crowd, that all disguises should instantly be laid aside. When
Don Quixote removed his mask, Lottie sprang forward, and seizing both of
his hands, exclaimed:
“Oh, bless us! it is Doctor Plaxico, and I am so much delighted to meet
my valued friend! And here is Captain Burk, too! I am really ashamed to
acknowledge that I did not recognize either of you.”
When Scottie removed her mask, Captain Burk threw up his hands with
surprise, as he moved rapidly to her side, while his handsome features
lighted up with a delightful smile.
“Miss Darlington,” he ejaculated, “two years ago I considered you very
pretty, but now I am ready to swear on the Bible and the Koran that you
are the most beautiful girl on the globe!”
“Captain Burk,” replied Miss Darlington, as she smiled sweetly on him,
“I beg to remind you that, notwithstanding all women are fond of
flattery, they do not like to be praised in public.”
All of the maskers promptly complied with the agreement by immediately
dispensing with their disguises, except Napoleon, Navarre, and the lady
in the black domino, all three of whom abruptly retired from the deck as
soon as the proposition was made.
Ingomar conducted Lottie down to the saloon, where they were immediately
followed by all the passengers.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” said the captain, “I have a communication to
make to you, which I am happy to believe will be heartily indorsed by my
young friends. We are now approaching a landing where we expect to take
on a large lot of cotton bales, which will detain us at least six hours;
and I have ordered the steward to prepare a picnic dinner to be served
on shore, where you will find charming scenery, cool shade, and green
turf. I have also ordered the band to be ready to make music for those
who may wish to enjoy a rustic dance.”
The spot selected for the picnic was about two hundred yards from the
river-bank, where the soft velvet turf was shaded by the thick green
leaves of innumerable tall beech-trees, whose branches were covered with
verdant vines.
The band struck up a lively waltz, and then a dozen couples went
skipping over the greensward.
After the amusements had been progressing about an hour, a colored woman
appeared on the grounds with a large hamper basket of flowers, which she
offered for sale. Among the flowers there was a magnificent bouquet,
containing every variety known to the South, which Demar immediately
purchased and presented to Lottie. The young people began to crowd
around Lottie, eager to behold the beautiful present, and each one, of
course, was permitted to examine it. Napoleon, although still wearing
his mask and refusing to participate in any of the amusements,
condescended to handle and admire the beautiful bouquet. It was noticed
that he retained it for a long time, apparently interested in the
delicate workmanship and ingenuity of its construction, occasionally
pulling the flowers apart, as if he wanted to see how it was held
together. After he had inspected it for five minutes he handed it back
to Lottie, who immediately held it close to her face and began to inhale
the rich perfume afforded by the rare flowers.
“Oh! Edward,” she exclaimed as she let the bouquet fall to the ground,
“the scent of those flowers has made me sick, and I must request you to
take me aboard the boat as soon as you can.”
“Darling, are you very ill! Your cheeks have suddenly turned deadly
pale! What is the matter?”
“I do not know, Edward. I never experienced such a strange feeling
before. My throat and lungs feel as if they were full of burning fire,
and my head is as light as air! You will have to carry me to my room
immediately, for I do not believe I could walk a step unsupported.”
“Mrs. Demar,” said Doctor Plaxico, as he held his fingers on her pulse,
“have you ever been subject to any sudden attacks of illness before?”
“I have never been ill at all but one time during the last ten years.”
“If you feel able to talk, I would be glad if you would give me a minute
description of the first symptoms of the attack.”
“I was in perfect health when we went on shore--never felt better in my
life. Edward purchased a large, handsome bouquet and gave it to me, and
I buried my face among the fragrant flowers, inhaling the sweet odor
until I was seized with a sudden faintness, and would have fallen to the
ground, but Edward caught me in time to prevent it. Then my throat and
lungs began to burn with an intolerable heat, and have been growing
worse every moment. Oh! Edward, can you not give me something to quench
this blazing fire in my lungs? You know I am not childish, or in the
habit of complaining at trifles, but I cannot endure this intolerable
suffering!”
“Plaxico, for Heaven’s sake give her something to stop her sufferings!”
exclaimed Demar, as he knelt down by the bedside, wringing his hands in
despair.
Plaxico made no reply to Demar’s request--in fact, he seemed to be
perplexed, and full of hesitation, which was an unusual thing with him,
for he generally acted promptly, and with energy.
“Doctor Plaxico,” said Demar, “do you know what is the matter with my
wife?”
“No.”
“Have you no means by which you can ascertain the nature of her
disease?”
“No.”
“Have you no suspicions as to the cause of her sudden illness?”
“Yes.”
“Tell me then what you suspect.”
“I shall not do it without further investigation.”
“Oh, Edward,” exclaimed Lottie, as she tore the lace collar from her
neck, “do, pray, give me something to cool my throat--I cannot endure
this horrible torture much longer!”
She tore away the fastenings that confined the dress about her throat,
and began to tear the skin with her finger nails, until the blood
commenced to gush out.
“Plaxico,” exclaimed Demar indignantly, “I am sorry to say that your
conduct on this awful occasion is to me inexplicable, and, I might say,
inexcusable. Are you going to sit here with folded hands and see my
darling die, without making an effort to save her?”
“By Heaven! I would gladly give my life to save her!”
“Why not give her an opiate?”
“Because I am afraid.”
“What do you mean?”
“Exactly what I say.”
“Doctor Plaxico, for Heaven’s sake have pity on me, and quit speaking in
riddles!”
“I am not dealing in riddles--I do not know what is the matter with your
wife.”
“Can you not suggest some harmless drug that would afford temporary
relief?”
“Demar, why do you stare at me that way?”
“I am full of astonishment to witness such a lack of self-confidence in
one possessing such unlimited knowledge of medical science as I know you
do.”
It did not require the eye of science to see that death would soon step
in to relieve the sufferer, unless she could be speedily relieved by
other means. This fact was now patent to Edward Demar, who was so
completely crazed with grief that he sank down by Lottie, and gave way
to despair.
“Oh! Edward!” cried Lottie as she threw out both arms as if she were
feeling for him, “where are you? I do believe I am going blind, for I
cannot see you.”
Lottie was then seized with a frightful spasm that lasted five or six
minutes, which, when it passed off, left her in a state of exhaustion.
Her hands and feet became icy cold, while her throat and lungs were
burning up with unnatural heat.
Captain Quitman, who had just heard of Lottie’s dangerous illness, came
hurriedly into the room to make inquiries.
“How is she?”
“Bad enough. She will die inside of two hours unless a radical change
sets in very soon.”
“Great Providence forbid!” exclaimed the kind-hearted man. “What is the
matter with her?”
“Don’t know.”
“Have you never seen any one afflicted as she is?”
“Yes.”
“Why not try the same remedies now that you did then?”
“Because that other patient died.”
“What was the matter with the patient whose symptoms resembled these?”
“Poison.”
The old captain leaped over two chairs, dashing them to the other side
of the room, and seizing Plaxico by both shoulders, fairly lifted him
off of the floor, letting him down with a slam; then in a thundering
tone exclaimed:
“Plaxico, by the great Jupiter, tell me what you mean!”
“I mean what I say.”
“See here, doctor, do you intend to insinuate that one of my passengers
has been poisoned?”
“No, I insinuate nothing, for I know nothing.”
The old captain then rushed out of the room and hurried toward the cook
house to have an interview with the steward, knocking over a dozen
chairs as he went, and jostling a group of ladies who attempted to
intercept him with a view of inquiring about Lottie.
“Dying, I believe,” he muttered, as he elbowed his way among the anxious
crowd.
Lottie’s mind began to wander, and she would converse about occurrences
that had transpired in the days of her childhood.
She suddenly regained her reason, and began to call for her husband.
“Here I am, darling; what can I do to relieve you?”
“Nothing, Edward; oh! I do not want to die now, because I have so much
to live for. I am not afraid to die, but I was so happy with my darling
that I wanted to remain with him; but if it is God’s will that I shall
be taken away from him, I must not rebel.”
The lady in the black domino now came dashing into the room, and fell on
her knees by the bedside and burst into a violent fit of weeping. Her
conduct was so violent and mysterious that it filled the minds of all
with wonder, and caused Doctor Plaxico to whisper a request to Demar to
have her removed.
Captain Burk now made his appearance at the door, and requested an
interview with Plaxico.
The doctor passed through the door and taking the captain’s arm, went
with him out on the guards.
“Doctor Plaxico,” said Burk, “do you know what is the matter with Mrs.
Demar?”
“No.”
“Have you no suspicions?”
“Yes.”
“Have you any objections to telling me what you suspect?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because it would do no good, and might do much harm.”
“Would you be surprised if I were to guess exactly what you suspect?”
“Indeed, I would.”
“I have a suspicion myself, and I propose that we both write down what
we suspect and then compare notes, with the distinct understanding that
this transaction is to remain a profound secret between us.”
“Agreed.”
The two men turned their backs together and with pencils hurriedly wrote
something on their memorandum books; then facing each other, Captain
Burk handed his book to Plaxico.
“Poison!” exclaimed Plaxico.
“Poison!” cried Burk.
Then both men stared wildly at each other.
“What caused you to suspect that she was poisoned?” inquired Captain
Burk.
“The peculiar symptoms,” was the prompt reply. “What aroused your
suspicions?”
“My poor Newfoundland dog has just died from the effects of poison; or
at least such is my belief.”
“What led you to such a conclusion?”
“When Mrs. Demar was so suddenly taken ill, we were dancing on the green
turf, but we all immediately ceased dancing and returned to the boat;
before I had reached the shore some one of the ladies called my
attention to the beautiful bouquet which Mrs. Demar had dropped, and
requested me to bring it aboard. I was then about thirty yards from the
spot where the bouquet had been dropped, and pointing at it, I commanded
Don to fetch it to me. He started instantly, running swiftly to the
spot, seized the bouquet in his mouth and soon deposited it at my feet.
It was but a moment after he had deposited the flowers at my feet, when
he began to whine and reel, and in three minutes he was dead.”
“Merciful God! Captain Burk, some treacherous, double-damned villain has
intentionally murdered that poor lady. Where is the bouquet?”
“In my state-room.”
“Go bring it here--quick!”
Burk returned instantly with the flowers.
“Now get me a dog, cat or any live animal that you can find, so we may
make a test.”
A deck hand was found who had a worthless dog that he had been trying to
hire some one to kill. The dog’s nose was forced deep into the body of
the bouquet and held there three minutes, and three minutes afterward he
was dead. Then such a panic spread among the passengers as to beggar all
powers of description. Several ladies were precipitated into hysterical
fits, while brave men, who had often faced death on the battle field
unmoved by fear, now trembled like pale-faced cowards. What motive could
any one have for murdering the most beautiful, the most charming woman
aboard the boat? Suspicion soon began to point her finger at the lady in
the black domino, while the matter was discussed in low whispers by the
passengers. Meantime Lottie’s condition was growing worse rapidly, and
the doctor declared that there were no grounds for hope. Despair and
horror were visible on every face, while tears began to stream from the
eyes of many strong men who did not often weep.
“Who is the abandoned wretch?” inquired George, as he elbowed his way
through the crowd near the door; “I handled that bouquet, I buried my
face among the flowers, and for at least twenty seconds enjoyed the
fragrance, yet it did not poison me, which proves beyond doubt that the
fatal drug was placed in it after I handled it.”
“Who was the last one to handle it before it was returned to Lottie?”
exclaimed Captain Burk.
“The lady in the black domino,” replied Scottie.
“You are mistaken there, I think, Miss Darlington,” said George, “for it
is my recollection that Napoleon was the one who returned the bouquet to
Lottie. I remember distinctly that he held it in his hand a long while,
and that he kept pulling the flowers apart as if desirous to see how it
was held together.”
“It is a settled fact,” said Captain Quitman, “that the one who returned
that bouquet to Mrs. Demar is the one that deposited the poison on it;
and if that person can be pointed out, we may be able to detect the
poisoner.”
When the fact that Mrs. Demar was poisoned was first announced by
Doctor Plaxico, the lady in the black domino (who had been expelled from
Lottie’s room a short time before) uttered a loud, piercing scream, and
ran rapidly toward her own state-room.
“What on earth does that mean?” exclaimed Captain Burk as the woman came
dashing past him.
“I would risk my life on her being the poisoner,” said Scottie. “She has
just now heard Doctor Plaxico say that Lottie would be dead in less than
two hours. I was present when the announcement was made, and as soon as
that woman heard it she uttered the scream and dashed away. It was not a
scream of distress, but it was a shout of joy. She is the very wretch
who deposited the poison in that bouquet, and it is my opinion that she
is in love with Demar, and that she has murdered Lottie to get her out
of the way.”
“That is the most plausible theory I have heard mentioned in connection
with this horrible affair,” said Captain Burk, “for I cannot believe
that such a charming woman as Mrs. Demar could have an enemy except such
as are made by the green-eyed monster.”
Doctor Plaxico now came out of Lottie’s room looking unusually serious,
and when a dozen anxious friends inquired all at once about the
condition of the patient, he shook his head and in a voice choked with
deep emotion, said:
“Dying!” and passed on.
As the doctor passed out the lady in the black domino was seen running
as fast as she could from her own to Lottie’s room, holding a large
phial of liquid in each hand.
“Stop, madame!” exclaimed Doctor Plaxico as he placed his back against
the door of Lottie’s room; “you must not go in there.”
“By what authority do you forbid it?”
“I am the attending physician, which confers the authority on me to
protect my patient from intruders.”
“I heard you say just now that you had abandoned all hopes of saving
your patient’s life.”
“I do not deny it.”
“Then I will save her.”
“You!”
“I.”
“Madame, did you know that suspicion was pointing at you as the
murderess?”
“No; nor do I care where suspicion may choose to point. This is no time
to discuss suspicions, when the purest, the best and noblest lady on
earth is in great peril. Stand aside, sir, and let me go in!”
“What stuff is contained in those two bottles? More poison, I dare say.”
“That which I hold in my left hand, sir, is an antidote for vegetable
poison, and this is a certain cure for the most deadly mineral poison.
Now let me go in, and since you have given your patient up, you cannot
deny me a chance to save her.”
“Demar, this woman is crazy beyond all question; and if you let her
administer any drug to your wife, I want you to distinctly understand
that you do it against my advice or consent.”
Demar, whose mind was overflowed with sorrow, gazed wildly at the
mysterious woman before him.
“Madame,” he groaned, “why do you wish to murder such a sweet angel as
Lottie?”
“You are all murderers who stand here caviling about nonsense, while
your victim is dying! I can and will save Lottie’s life, if you will
only let me do it.”
“Did you place the poison in the bouquet?”
“No, but I know who did; and if you will let me, I will save Lottie’s
life and then show you the poisoner.”
“How am I to know that the drug you propose to give my wife is not
poison?”
“Give me a spoon and see me drink the same quantity that I shall offer
to your wife.”
“Your request is reasonable, and I will take the risk.”
A spoon was brought, when the strange woman took the phial and with a
steady hand measured out exactly ten drops of the liquid and instantly
swallowed it. Then pouring out ten more drops, she said:
“Shall I administer it to your wife, or will you do it?”
Demar hesitated a moment while he stared with a look of perplexity
toward Plaxico, who was watching the proceedings with silent contempt.
“Demar,” said he, “I want you to remember that all this nonsense is
being enacted contrary to my advice, and in the face of the fair warning
I have given you.”
“And I warn you,” said the lady in the black domino firmly, “that if you
stand here halting and caviling about trifles much longer Mrs. Demar
will die, and you will be to blame for it.”
“Who are you, madame?” inquired Demar, in a hesitating tone.
“It matters not who I am; let me be judged by what I shall do; and if I
do not save the life of that poor lady, you may plunge me into the
river, or roast me in the furnace.”
“Why did you shout with joy a moment ago when you heard Doctor Plaxico
say that Lottie was poisoned, and that she would surely die?”
“Because when he said she was poisoned I knew I could save her life.
This antidote was given to me by a learned German surgeon who had served
in the British army for many years in India. It was my good fortune to
nurse him, in Cincinnati, through a long, lingering spell of typhus
fever, and as a reward for my services he gave me these two phials with
their contents.”
“Enough!” exclaimed Demar eagerly, “I believe and will trust you, and
may God grant you success! Approach and administer the medicine
yourself.”
Lottie’s eyes were rolling wildly, while her breathing was difficult,
and all evidences of reason had disappeared. All who saw her were
convinced that she had commenced the struggle with the dreadful
destroyer. The lady in the black domino lifted Lottie’s head from the
pillow and emptied the medicine into her mouth, holding her still until
she saw the patient swallow it, then laid her down gently, and waited
for the result. Plaxico stood by with one hand on the patient’s pulse,
and his watch in the other, and although he had disapproved of the
experiment, he earnestly prayed in silence that it might be attended
with success. Fifteen minutes after the antidote was administered,
Lottie closed her eyes and appeared to be asleep, while the breathing
grew less labored. The pale face of Doctor Plaxico began to brighten.
“How is she now?” Demar whispered as he seized Plaxico’s arm.
“Better!”
“She is saved, thank Heaven!” exclaimed the lady in the black domino as
she fell on her knees by the bed and burst into tears.
“Be still, Demar!” said Plaxico, “and let go my arm--you are hurting
me!”
A purse of fifteen hundred dollars in money was made up among the
passengers, and a committee appointed with instructions to present it to
the lady who had saved Lottie’s life; but the astonishment was boundless
when the committee reported the fact that the lady in the black domino
had politely, but firmly refused to accept the money.
The next morning Lottie was able to rise from her bed, and when she
appeared in the saloon leaning on her husband’s arm, the enthusiasm was
indescribable. Congratulations were showered on the lovely favorite, and
everybody appeared to be happy.