Bernardine worked harder than ever over her basket-making during thenext few days--worked to fill every moment of her time, so as to forget,if she could, the tragedy--for it was nothing less--of her approachingmarriage to Jasper Wilde.
She grew thinner and paler with each hour that dragged by, and the tearswere in her eyes all the while, ready to roll down her cheeks when shefancied she was not observed.
Once or twice she spoke to Miss Rogers about the man she loved, tellingher how grand, noble, and good he was, and how they had fallen in lovewith each other at first sight; but she never mentioned his name.
"God help poor Bernardine!" she sobbed. "I do not know how to save thedarling girl. I think I will lay the matter before my dear young friend,Doctor Gardiner. He is bright and clever. Surely he can find some wayout of the difficulty. Yes, I will go and see Jay Gardiner withoutdelay; or, better still, I will write a note to have him come here tosee me."
She said nothing to Bernardine, but quietly wrote a long and veryearnest letter to her young friend, asking him to come without delay tothe street and number where he had left her a week previous, as she hadsomething of great importance to consult him about.
CHAPTER XXI.
JASPER WILDE MEETS WITH AN ADVENTURE.
Miss Rogers had taken the greatest pains to direct her all-importantletter to Doctor Jay Gardiner, and had gone to the nearest box to mailit herself. But, alas! for the well-laid plans of mice and men whichgang aft aglee.
Fate, strange, inexorable Fate, which meddles in all of our earthlyaffairs, whether we will or not, ordained that this letter should notreach its destination for many a day, and it happened in this way:
Quite by accident, when it left Miss Rogers' hand, the letter dropped inthe depths of the huge mail-box and became wedged securely in a creviceor crack in the bottom.
The mail-gatherer was always in a hurry, and when he took up the mail onhis rounds, he never noticed the letter pressed securely against theside down in the furthermost corner.
Sitting anxiously awaiting a response to her missive, or her youngfriend to come in person, Miss Rogers watched and waited for JayGardiner, or any tidings of him, in vain.
Meanwhile, the preparations for the obnoxious marriage which she seemedunable to prevent went steadily on.
All the long nights through Bernardine would weep and moan and wring herlittle white hands. When Miss Rogers attempted to expostulate with her,declaring no one could compel her to marry Jasper Wilde against herwill, she would only shake her head and cry the more bitterly, moaningout that she did not understand.
"I confess, Bernardine, I do not understand you," she declared,anxiously. "You will not try to help yourself, but are going willingly,like a lamb to the slaughter, as it were."
David Moore seemed to be as unnerved as Bernardine over the comingmarriage. If he heard a sound in Bernardine's room at night, he wouldcome quickly to her door and ask if anything was the matter. He seemedto be always awake, watching, listening for something. The next day hewould say to Miss Rogers:
"I was sorely afraid something was happening to Bernardine lastnight--that she was attempting to commit suicide, or something of thatkind. A girl in her highly nervous state of mind will bear watching."
"Your fears on that score are needless," replied Miss Rogers. "No matterwhatever else Bernardine might do, she would never think of taking herlife into her own hands, I assure you."
But the old basket-maker was not so sure of that. He had a strangepresentiment of coming evil which he could not shake off.
Each evening, according to his declared intention, Jasper Wildepresented himself at David Moore's door.
"There's nothing like getting my bride-to-be a little used to me," hedeclared to her father, with a grim laugh.
Once after Jasper Wilde had bid Bernardine and her father good-night, hewalked along the street, little caring in which direction he went, hismind was so preoccupied with trying to solve the problem of how to makethis haughty girl care for him.
His mental query was answered in the strangest manner possible.
Almost from out the very bowels of the earth, it seemed--for certainlyan instant before no human being was about--a woman suddenly appearedand confronted him--a woman so strange, uncanny, and weird-looking, thatshe seemed like some supernatural creature.
"Would you like to have your fortune told, my bonny sir?" she queried ina shrill voice. "I bring absent ones together, tell you how to gain thelove of the one you want----"
"You do, eh?" cut in Jasper Wilde, sharply. "Well, now, if you can doanything like that, you ought to have been able to have retired, worthyour millions, long ago, with people coming from all over the world toget a word of advice from you."
"I care nothing for paltry money," replied the old woman, scornfully. "Ilike to do all the good I can."
"Oh, you work for nothing, then? Good enough. You shall tell me myfortune, and how to win the love of the girl I care for. It will becheap advice enough, since it comes free."
"I have to ask a little money," responded the old dame in a wheedlingtone. "I can't live on air, you know. But let me tell you, sir, there'ssomething I could tell you that you ought to know--you have a rival forthe love of the girl you want. Look sharp, or you'll lose her."
"By the Lord Harry! how did you find out all that?" gasped Jasper Wilde,in great amazement, his eyes staring hard, and his hands held out, asthough to ward her off.
She laughed a harsh little laugh.
"That is not all I could tell if I wanted to, my bonny gentleman. Youought to know what is going on around you. I only charge a dollar toladies and two dollars to gents. My place is close by. Will you come andlet me read your future, sir?"
"Yes," returned Jasper Wilde. "But, hark you, if it is some thieves' denyou want to entice me to, in order to rob me, I'll tell you here and nowyou will have a mighty hard customer to tackle, as I always travel armedto the teeth."
"The bonny gentleman need not fear the old gypsy," returned the woman,with convincing dignity.
Turning, he walked beside her to the end of the block.
She paused before a tall, dark tenement house, up whose narrow stair-wayshe proceeded to climb after stopping a moment to gather sufficientbreath.
Jasper Wilde soon found himself ushered into a rather large room, whichwas draped entirely in black cloth hangings and decorated with mysticsymbols of the sorceress's art.
An oil lamp, suspended by a wire from the ceiling, furnished all thelight the apartment could boast of.
"Sit down," said the woman, pointing to an arm-chair on the oppositeside of a black-draped table.
Jasper Wilde took the seat indicated, and awaited developments.
"I tell by cards," the woman said, producing a box of black pasteboards,upon which were printed strange hieroglyphics.
It was almost an hour before Jasper Wilde took his departure from thewizard's abode, and when he did so, it was with a strangely darkenedbrow.
He looked fixedly at a small vial he held in his hand as he reached thenearest street lamp, and eyed with much curiosity the dark liquid itcontained.
"I would do anything on earth to gain Bernardine's love," he muttered;"and for that reason I am willing to try anything that promises successin my wooing. I have never believed in fortune-tellers, and if this oneproves false, I'll be down on the lot of 'em for all time to come. Fivedrops in a glass of water or a cup of tea."
CHAPTER XXII.
While the preparations for the marriage which poor, hapless Bernardinelooked forward to with so much fear went steadily on, preparations foranother wedding, in which Jay Gardiner was to be the unwillingbridegroom, progressed quite as rapidly.
On the day following the scene in which Sally Pendleton had turned MissRogers from the house--which had been witnessed by the indignant youngdoctor--he called upon his betrothed, hoping against hope that she mightbe induced to relent, even at the eleventh hour, and let him off fromthis, to him, abhorrent engagement.
> He found Sally arrayed in her prettiest dress--all fluffy lace andfluttering baby-blue ribbons--but he had no eyes for her made-up,doll-like sort of beauty.
She never knew just when to expect him, for he would never give her thesatisfaction of making an appointment to call, giving professionalduties as an excuse for not doing so.
Sally arrayed herself in her best every evening, and looked out frombehind the lace-draped windows until the great clock in the hall chimedthe hour of nine; then, in an almost ungovernable rage, she would go upto her room, and her mother and Louisa would be made to suffer for herdisappointment.
On the day in question she had seen Jay Gardiner coming up the stonesteps, and was ready to meet him with her gayest smile, her jolliestlaugh.
"It is always the unexpected which happens, Jay," she said, holding outboth her lily-white hands. "Welcome, a hundred times welcome!"
He greeted her gravely. He could not have stooped and kissed the redlips that were held up to him if the action would have saved his life.
He was so silent and _distrait_ during the time, that Sally said:
"Aren't you well this morning, Jay, or has something gone wrong withyou?" she asked, at length.
"I do feel a trifle out of sorts," he replied. "But pardon me fordisplaying my feelings before--a lady."
"Don't speak in that cold, strange fashion, Jay," replied the girl,laying a trembling hand on his arm. "You forget that I have a right toknow what is troubling you, and to sympathize with and comfort you."
He looked wistfully at her.
Would it do to tell her the story of his love for Bernardine? Would shebe moved to pity by the drifting apart of two lives because of abetrothal made in a spirit of fun at a race? He hardly dared hope so.
"I was thinking of a strange case that came under my observationlately," he said, "and somehow the subject has haunted me--even in mydreams--probably from the fact that it concerns a friend of mine in whomI take a great interest."
"Do tell me the story!" cried Sally, eagerly--"please do."
"It would sound rather commonplace in the telling," he responded, "as Iam not good at story-telling. Well, to begin with, this friend of mineloves a fair and beautiful young girl who is very poor. A wealthysuitor, a dissipated _roue_, had gained the consent of her father tomarry her, before my friend met and knew her and learned to love her.Now, he can not, dare not speak, for, although he believes in his heartthat she loves him best, he knows she is bound in honor to another; andto make the matter still more pitiful, he is betrothed to a girl he issoon to marry, though his _fiancee_ has no portion of his great heart.Thus, by the strange decrees of fate, which man can not alwayscomprehend the wisdom of, four people will be wedded unhappily."
As Sally listened with the utmost intentness, she jumped to theconclusion that the "friend" whose picture Jay Gardiner had drawn sopathetically was himself, and she heard with the greatest alarm of thelove he bore another. But she kept down her emotions with a will ofiron. It would never do to let him know she thought him unfaithful, andit was a startling revelation to her to learn that she had a rival. Shesoon came to a conclusion.
"It is indeed a strangely mixed up affair," she answered. "It seems tome everything rests in the hands of this young girl, as she could haveeither lover. Couldn't I go to her in the interest of your friend, anddo my best to urge her to marry him instead of the other one."
"But supposing the young girl that he--my friend--is betrothed torefuses to give him up, what then?"
"I might see her," replied Sally, "and talk with her."
"It is hard for him to marry her, when every throb of his heart is foranother," answered Jay Gardiner, despondently.
"Who is this young girl who is so beautiful that she has won the love ofboth these lovers?" she asked in a low, hard voice.
"Bernardine---- Ah! I should not tell you that," he responded,recollecting himself. But he had uttered, alas! the one fatalword--Bernardine.
CHAPTER XXIII.
"I can never rest night or day until I have seen this Bernardine andswept her from my path!" she cried.
She made up her mind that she would not tell her mother or Louisa justyet. It would worry her mother to discover that she had a rival, whileLouisa--well, she was so envious of her, as it was, she might exult inthe knowledge.
But how should she discover who this beautiful Bernardine was of whom hespoke with so much feeling?
Suddenly she stopped short and brought her two hands together, crying,excitedly:
"Eureka! I have found a way. I will follow up this scheme, and see whatI can find out. Jay Gardiner will be out of the city for a few days. Iwill see his office attendant--he does not know me--and will never beable to recognize me again the way I shall disguise myself, and I willlearn from him what young lady the doctor knows whose name begins withBernardine. It is not an ordinary name, and he will be sure to rememberit, I am confident, if he ever heard it mentioned."
It was an easy matter for Sally to slip out of the house early the nextday without attracting attention, although she was dressed in hergayest, most stunning gown.
Calling a passing cab, she entered it, and soon found herself standingbefore Jay Gardiner's office, which she lost no time in entering.
A young and handsome man, who sat at a desk, deeply engrossed in amedical work, looked up with an expression of annoyance on his face atbeing interrupted; but when he beheld a most beautiful young ladystanding on the threshold, his annoyance quickly vanished, and a blandsmile lighted up his countenance. He bowed profoundly, and hastened tosay:
"Is there anything I can do for you, miss?"
"I want to see Doctor Gardiner," said Sally, in her sweetest, mostsilvery voice. "Are you the doctor?"
"No," he answered, with a shadow of regret in his tone. "I am studyingwith Doctor Gardiner. He has been suddenly called out of the city. Hemay be gone a day, possibly a week. Is there anything I can do for you?"
"I fear not, sir. Still, I will tell you my errand, if I may be seatedfor a few moments."
"Certainly," he responded, placing a chair for his lovely young visitor;adding: "Pray pardon my seeming negligence in not asking you to beseated."
Sally sunk gracefully into the chair the young physician watching herthe while with admiring eyes.
"My call on Doctor Gardiner is not to secure his services in aprofessional capacity," she began, hesitatingly; "but to learn from himthe address of a young lady I am trying to find."
"If it is any one who is his patient, or has been at any time, I think Ican help you. He has the addresses down in a book."
"But supposing he knew her socially, not professionally, her name wouldnot be apt to be down on his list, would it?" she queried, anxiously.
"No," he admitted. "But I think I know every one whom the doctor knowssocially--every one, in fact, save the young lady--a Miss Pendleton,whom he is soon to marry. You see, we were college chums, and I havebeen his partner in office work over five years. So I will be mostlikely to know if you will state the name."
"That is just the difficulty," said Sally, with her most bewilderingsmile, which quite captivated the young doctor. "I met the young ladyonly once, and I have forgotten her address as well as her last name,remembering only her Christian name--Bernardine. I met her in DoctorGardiner's company only a few weeks ago. He would certainly recollecther name."
"Undoubtedly," declared the young physician. "I regret deeply that he isnot here to give you the desired information."
"Would you do me a favor if you could, sir?" asked Sally, with a glancefrom her eyes that brought every man she looked at in that way--save JayGardiner--to her dainty feet.
The young physician blushed to the very roots of his fair hair.
"You have only to name it, and if it is anything in my power, believethat I will do my utmost to accomplish it. I--I would do anything to--toplease you."
"I would like you to find out from Doctor Gardiner the address ofBernardine," said Sally, in a low, tremulous
voice; "only do not let himknow that any one is interested in finding it out save yourself. Do youthink you can help me?"
He pondered deeply for a moment, then his face brightened, as he said:
"I think I have hit upon a plan. I will write him, and say I have foundthe name Bernardine on a slip of paper which he has marked, 'Patientsfor prompt attention,' the balance of the name being torn from the slip,and ask the address and full information as to who she is."
"A capital idea!" exclaimed Sally, excitedly. "I--I congratulate youupon your shrewdness. If you find out this girl's address, you willplace me under everlasting obligations to you."
"If you will call at this hour two days from now, I shall have theaddress," he said, slowly.
CHAPTER XXIV.
Much to the delight of Doctor Covert, the little beauty did call again,at the very hour he had set. But his pleasure had one drawback to it,she was heavily veiled. But, for all that, he knew how lovely was theface that veil concealed, how bright the eyes, how charming the dimples,how white the pearly teeth, how sweet the ripe red cheeks, so likeCupid's bow.
He could not conceal his great joy at beholding her again. She noticedhis emotion at once. He would not have been so well pleased if he couldhave seen how her red lip curled in scorn as she said to herself: