After leaving Prof. Huskins, Dr. Baxter escorted Miss Earle to her
temporary home, and by every means in his power, sought to make her
cheerful and at her ease. Despite his efforts she seemed a different
woman, than she had been when he conducted her to the Professor's house.
He painted in the most glowing colors the remarkable wisdom and power of
the Professor, recounting all his virtues, and his singular manner of
living, acknowledging him to be the very "prince of men," of all his
large acquaintance.
To his keen disappointment, she seemed not at all interested in his
narration, and it might have been plainly evident to the most careless
observer her thoughts and interests were far from the subject under
consideration. His pride had been considerably wounded, but she was far
too beautiful and distinguished a woman toward whom to cherish any
animosity.
He was conscious of the fact that he had been signally honored by her
seeking his aid to reach the professor, and he attributed her sudden
change of purpose entirely to womanly fickleness of nature, being
convinced in his own mind that, desiring a mesmeric sleep or state of
unconsciousness, the presence of so austere and dignified a personage
as the Professor had inspired her with a degree of awe and fear that,
for the time, was uncontrollable.
He did not wonder greatly at this, for in all his acquaintance with the
Professor, he had never seem him appear to so great a disadvantage. He
was always affable and pleasing, especially when he desired to secure a
person's approbation to being psychologized. In this interview, he had
scarcely been hospitable, speaking only when he was actually spoken to
or necessity demanded. He had a degree of deference and respect for
Prof. Huskins that he felt for none other of his acquaintances, knowing
him to be superior, from a moral standpoint, to all the rest, and he did
not want an unpleasant impression to be left in this woman's mind.
Huskins had appeared to a disadvantage, and he endeavored, so far as lay
in his power, to remove the unsatisfactory impression from her mind, but
the woman did not appear to recover from the agitation, that the sight
of the Professor had produced, although to most women, he was not only
agreeable but captivating.
Arriving at her destination, she thanked him for his kindness to her,
and his intercession with his distinguished friend, in a most charming
manner, and he went away feeling well repaid for all his efforts. He
felt sure that, had he been the Professor, she would not have refused
to be mesmerized.
It was well for his egotism, and the peace of his mind, that he could
not see the woman when she had reached her private apartments.
No audience ever had or ever would see her portray such a tempest of
emotion as swayed and shook her soul. Her whole body quivered, like the
single petal of a flower that has been drawn into the fury of a gale,
and cannot control its action, but is swept hither and yon by an
irresistible force. Finally the tempest of tears and grief subsided,
leaving her languid and weak. Only then did her thoughts become cogent,
and they ran something like this:
"What did he think? What could he think? He must have believed I knew
whom he was, and went to see him, hoping for a reconciliation. How cold
and stern and unrelenting his whole bearing was! How well I remember
that expression in his eyes. I would have passed through any torture,
rather than put myself in such a position; even death itself.
"How could I know that the distinguished Prof. Huskins was William? The
two persons who quoted him, said he was an old man, a scientist who had
experimented years, and was capable of removing all bodily infirmities.
"It was only natural my thoughts should turn to Augustus, who, while
gifted with remarkable talent, is afflicted with a weak and impotent
body. My one thought and ambition has been to so improve his physical
condition as to make it easier for him to express his talent, and
hearing of the Professor's power, I thought perhaps he could help
Augustus. I would gladly be a martyr to benefit him in any way. He is
the one object of my interest and love upon earth. I have tried every
kind of physician, and, hearing of this man's marvelous and wonderful
powers, I resolved to submit myself to his influence, to test its power
and to see what it was, and if it was good, to secure his services for
Augustus, even though it required all the money I had.
"How could I know that he was Augustus' own father? What power, what
fate placed me in so embarrassing a position? What have I done that I
should be subjected to such humiliation and chagrin? I have been a
patient, faithful and devoted mother while he has enjoyed pleasure and
renown. If there is a God of Justice, why have I been compelled to enter
this cruel, selfish and heartless man's home in search of my poor
child's health?
"How well I knew that expression in his eyes. He thought me a woman who
seeks men of renown; he was as jealous and exacting as when his taunts
and suspicions separated us.
"I thank the Giver of all Good that William did not know the real
object of my going to him for the exercise of his powers.
"If there is a good God, and I sometimes question it, I pray that
William may class me as he used to do with wicked and depraved women,
for that would be preferable to the truth of a loving mother seeking her
child's strength. If he believed Augustus to be his child, he would take
him away from me, or I should at least have to divide Augustus' love. I
will never do that, if it costs my life. He is mine. All mine. I would
gladly suffer the torments of Hades to bring him one throb of joy.
"He shall never know his father's perfidy and treachery, if my suffering
can prevent it. How glad he will be to see me! Augustus, it is for you I
sing; not for the public who pay me. In me you must find both father and
mother. No power but my love for you would have given me strength to
resist the magnetism of your father's eye, which, in times past, has so
influenced me.
"My body trembled, but when the two loves of my soul were placed in the
balance, the mother's love was purer and stronger, and outweighed the
wife's. It is useless to deny I love William; the very sight of him set
every nerve aquiver, throbbing with an almost exquisite delight. I could
not have controlled that condition, had there not come to my mind the
memory and presence of one whom he denied, and who depends entirely upon
my strength, fortitude and love.
"This memory gave me the strength to conquer my woman's love, and only
manifest a mother's. The love of a wife, that is, of a true wife, is
enduring, but that of a mother is the nearest infinite love that can be.
A wife's love may wane and weaken by facts of infidelity, but a mother's
only strengthens with every token of weakness.
"Just in proportion to Augustus' physical infirmity, does my affection
increase in force and intensity. I once thought William the center of
interest in the world, but the love I had for him pales into
insignificance beside that for Augustus.
"William was jealous of me today; I saw it in his eyes, whose expression
I know so well. Once such a look would have controlled not only my
actions, but my very thoughts as well. His influence over me has not
waned. I am well aware of that by the weakness I manifested;--I actually
trembled visibly;--but there has come into my life a newer and stronger
influence--a mother's love, and that has rendered the other impotent. I
was weak and negative to him until I had placed in my arms a babe who
depended upon me for every comfort and shelter as I had depended upon
William.
"This dependence has generated in me a love and power he can neither
overcome nor remove. He loves me yet. I saw and read the fact in his
eyes. He appeared cold and unconcerned, but I know him too well to be
deceived. No other woman has filled my place. He would have been glad to
mesmerize me, and I am sure that I could never have resisted the power
of his influence over me, had it not been for my thoughts of Augustus. A
wife may be strong, but a mother is stronger, and I am to Augustus both
mother and father. He shall never know the sacrifice I made for him this
day. His father denied him, but his mother will be as true as his father
is false.
"I defy the power which has made him famous. My heart refused to beat
regularly while I was there. I know it was due to the sudden shock I
received. He could not have entranced me against my will, nor made me
tell of Augustus.
"He knew my condition when I left him, and he has never tried to find
trace of my child, nor whether we both died; still I am weak enough to
yield to the magic influence of his presence. Such a weakness shall not
be repeated. By all the powers of my soul I defy it. I am Augustus' only
natural protector, and my love shall be the insurmountable barrier that
shall separate him from his father.
"At the time when my very life blood seemed to stop, there came a
piercing cry that stirred the depths of my soul. Since that time, I have
known but one object in life--one only ambition and interest:--to be
famous for my darling's sake. If I could only purchase by suffering his
bodily freedom of action, I would endure the fiercest torture without a
murmur. It would be impossible to endure more excruciating agony than I
have experienced this day. Why was I, an innocent victim from the
beginning, compelled to encounter the humiliation of going to William's
house?
"I had almost rather that my darling Augustus, my heart's idol, remained
a hopeless invalid than have him rescued by his father's power. His
cruelty made Augustus a cripple, and me a hopeless and despairing woman.
That power which has been our scourge, can never be our hope of release.
Better the hatred of our crudest enemy than the influence of William's
love in our lives.
"I will leave this city. I cannot breathe the same atmosphere I know is
feeding him and live. I bid every idol but the image of my boy to depart
from my soul. I will go where he is; there I shall find peace and
happiness. How sharp love's eyes are! I must calm myself; I will be
cheerful and happy; otherwise, Augustus will note the difference, and
ask the cause.
"Never was a mother blessed with so noble a son as mine. I will be his
protector though the legions of ignorance and evil conspire against him
and me. Nothing can daunt my love. I will calm myself for your sake,
Augustus. Mother will come to you, and we will be happy despite your
father's influence. I feel it now. I will, Augustus, break this annoying
sensation."
Saying this, she arose with a visible effort, apparently suffering from
great lassitude, and went into an adjoining apartment to write her son,
where we will leave her while we follow the movements of William.