The Celebrated Janet Homfrey. A story

Front matter

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Introduction

. I was sitting one night last year at the Ambigu in Paris, watching a blood-and-thunder drama of the most approved type. It may have been " Roger la Honte " that I witnessed, but as far as my memory serves, I think that the piece I saw was of a much more violent nature than the melodrama which is now being played in England as "A Man's Shadow." I remember that there were murders, abductions, forgeries, suicides, and everything that the true lover of horrors could wish for, Also, I remember that it all ended in a blaze of triumph for the virtuous, and in handcuffs and penal servitude for the villains. I had gone there with a friend who loved to have his blood curdled, and I must say that I was bored with the piece, and bored with his society. My friend was an author, and believed in the saying, On prend son bien Id oil Von le trouve. By this I mean that he was not very particular as to

INTRODUCTION.

. VI where he sought his ideas, or rather from whom he stole them. He would take a bit from this play, a scene from that one, and so on until he had sufficient material to jumble up together, and then he would announce the whole as " a new and original play." After all he was successful, so I will say no more. Success is always worthy of admiration, and I frankly admit that I admired him. On this par 1 icular evening, however, he bored me, and I hated the piece. If I had not had a reason for remaining, I should have left after the first unsuccessful attempt on the heroine's virtue, which took place in the first act, and was repeated at periodical intervals during the evening. It was just at the end of this first act when the lady in question had defied the villain, and told him he could take her life but never her honour, that I saw enter into the stage box on the left-hand side, the most peculiar-looking woman I had ever seen.

It was not that there was anything very remarkable about her dress. She was simply attired in black with a profusion of diamonds, but her face struck me as being most unusual. Her hair, of which there

INTRODUCTION.

. VII was an abundance, was quite white, and gave an ex cessive look of softness to her face, the features of which were bard and stern. Notwithstanding the colour of her hair, I could see that she was a young woman, there were no wrinkles on her face, and her complexion was marvellously fresh and young. Her eyes were large, and sunk deep in her head, and the delicate black eyebrows which shaded them con trasted strangely with her thick white hair. I watched her seat herself, and look round the house with a careless, disdainful air, and then I saw that she intently fixed her attention on the stage, and never let it wander. She was accompanied by an elderly lady, a sort of Camera Mayor, and I must say she did not give me the idea of being respect able. I was so fascinated by her, that I remained with my opera-glasses turned towards her box during the whole of the entr'acte, and I refused to accompany my friend when he went outside to smoke a cigarette.

As soon as he came back, I said to him : " Do you know who that peculiar-looking woman is up there ? The woman in the stage box with the white hair ? "

INTRODUCTION.

. He looked at her, and immediately answered : "It is Janet Homfrey — the celebrated Janet Homfrey. Have you never seen her before ? " I replied that I had never even heard of her. And at that moment the curtain went up and there was a silence imposed upon us all. The lady, "Janet Homfrey" as my friend called her, continued to watch the drama with intense interest, she never took her eyes off the stage, and seemed riveted by the mimic scene. And yet I noticed that it was not one particular actor or actress whose fortune she was following. They all seemed to interest her equally, and it was evidently the piece which absorbed all her attention. At the conclusion of each act, she applauded vehemently, and her eyes — those pecuhar dark, sunken eyes — glistened with excitement. I was determined to return to the charge with my friend, and as soon as we were given liberty to speak, I asked him to tell me about her.

" Who is that Janet Homfrey ? " I asked. "She is Madame St. Leon now," he said. "At least, that is the name she goes by I am told." " Is she married ? " I inquired.

INTRODUCTION.

. IX " Married ! " he exclaimed. " Good Heavens ! I should think not." "Then why does she call herself Madame St Leon ? " I asked. " L don't suppose she knows what to call herself," he answered. " She could scarcely keep her maiden name." " But all this time you are not telling me who she is," I remarked. "I have told you," he answered absently, and evidently taking no interest in the subject. " Is that her mother with her ? " I next asked. " No," he answered impatiently. " Her mother is dead — everybody is dead connected with her. That old lady is a sort of companion, I suppose, and a pretty nice time she must have of it. They say she passes half the day at the Morgue, gazing for hours at dead bodies that have been fished out of the Seine, or found murdered on the high road. Her evenings are spent at theatres where the most gruesome tragedies are alone to be seen.

In fact, she ' sups on horrors.' The old lady must have a very lugubrious post." " And who was this Janet Homfrey, and what did she do ? " I again asked. X

INTRODUCTION.

. " It is too long a story to tell yon here," he said, " and as it happened ten years ago, I have forgotten a good deal of it. I know I had some idea of making a play out of it, at one time. I wrote out the story and intended to dramatise it, but upon reflec tion I felt I had better wait until the lady's death. If you take such a violent interest in her, you had better read my story. It is perfectly authentic, and you will know all about her, from A to Z, when you have finished it." " Thanks," I said, " I should like to read it very much." And then I could not help attempting to antici pate the story by saying : " Why does she go to the Morgue every day ? " " My dear sir, read my story," he replied. " You will see all about it there. And, above all, don't fall in love with her. You would only be wasting your time."

" Is there a Monsieur St. Leon ? " " There is no man at all in the case," he said. "She never speaks to one; she only has female servants, and sees absolutely no society. You will not wonder at it, when you have read her story.

INTRODUCTION.

. XI She is very rich now, I believe ; she had a fortune left her by someone who admired her line of conduct." I was very puzzled by all he told me, and I remember nothing of the piece. I kept the whole of my attention fixed on Janet Homfrey, and the next morning I sent early for the promised manu script. I received it shortly afterwards, and' at once sat down to read it.

Chapter I

It is a painful circumstance when two brothers fall in love with the same woman. The event is not an unusual one ; it has often happened, and it always brings with it a certain amount of trouble. One of the brothers has to be sacrificed ; there is naturally one who meets with more favour than the other, and then there is apt to ensue between them, if not an open quarrel, at any rate a coldness and dislike which in some cases lasts a lifetime. This unfortunate occurrence had happened to Eobert and Gilbert Drummond. They both loved Janet Homfrey, and she, of course, could only return the love of one of them, and that one was Robert, the elder brother. The circumstance was all the more bitter to Gilbert as he had been first in the field, and he had received sufficient encouragement to imagine that one day Janet would accept him for husband.

The young people were thrown much together. They were near neigh bours, living at AVoodfield in .Westshire, the two brothers occupying a large house called " The Lodge," whilst Janet lived with her mother about a mile distant, and in a less pretentious house called " The Acacias." There was a great deal of flirting done at lawn-tennis and river parties, or wherever the)r chanced to meet, and in those days it looked hopeful for Gilbert. There could be no drawback to his union with Miss Homfrey if only she cared sufficiently for him to promise to be his wife. Between them they had ample means on which to marry, but unfortunately, one day the elder brother appeared upon the scene, and then there was an end to Gilbert's bright dream of happiness. Eobert Drummond had been travelling about for two years, and had held but slight, communication with his family during that time.

He was of a roving disposition, and had been all over the Continent, visiting strange cities, and seeing strange sights ; and then one day he was seized with a desire to return home and see his only brother — the only relation, in fact, that he had in the world. Their parents were dead, and had left them large fortunes, and it was tacitly understood between them that in case of one of the brothers marrying, the other one would have to look out for another home. Janet Homfrey lived alone with her mother, who was a widow. There had been another daughter, but she was dead at the time this story open's, and, moreover, she was never spoken of; There had been a sad story connected with her death, and even the most prying of the Woodfield gossips did not dare to touch upon it, either to Mrs, Homfrey or to Janet.

It was known that she had been very beautiful. A large photograph of her ornamented one of the tables in the drawing-room at the Acacias, but no one ever referred to the photograph, and still less to the original of it. Janet Homfrey was now twenty-two, and if she did not resemble her dead sister in the soft childish beauty which she had possessed, still, she was undeniably handsome. Her face was a little hard, perhaps ; there was rather too much decision in the mouth and chin, but her eyes wTere magnificent — large, lustrous, and of that peculiar grey tint which painters find so difficult to reproduce. She was certainty a beauty, and was recognised as such in the county. The advent of Eobert Drummond entirely threw his brother into the shade, as far as Janet Homfrey was concerned. Eobert was a far handsomer man than Gilbert ; tall and dark, with eyes which could alternately be fierce or soft, as the occasion required, and he was a brilliant conversationalist, who was bound to succeed with women.

It was evident to see, even after he had been there a few days, that Janet preferred his society to that of the younger brother, and Gilbert suffered in consequence. Mrs. Homfrey was very hospitable, and invited the young men to come to her house whenever they had nothing better to do. She was not particularly anxious that Janet should marry. She knew that her daughter had a strange, wilful disposition, and she doubted if she would be happy unless she paid especial care in the choice of her husband. Still, it was dull for her to be alone. Mrs. Homfrey was an invalid, and went out very little, and she liked to see the young people talking and laughing around her. It was after Eobert had been there about three weeks that Gilbert male up his mind to know the worst, and to ask Janet to be his wife.

He felt almost convinced that it would be a fruitless task, and that he would meet with no success; but yet he loved __ her 2* so devotedly, and knew that his life would be such a blank without her, that he was deter mined not to lose her without an effort. He hoped that perhaps the pleasure she appeared to show when talking to his brother might only mean the capriciousness of her sex, and that she did it, perhaps, to tease him. Besides, Eobert had always declared that he was not a marrying man, and it was more than probable that he was only amusing him self with Miss Homfrey, as he had done with scores of young ladies before her. So Gilbert screwed up his courage and made his proposal, and was met by a firm and polite refusal. Janet told him the usual storj^, that she liked him very much, that she hoped they would always be very good friends, but that she could never think of being his wife.

Then Gilbert felt an angry rising in his heart against his brother, and he could not refrain from saying, "You care more so. Eobert than you do for me?" "You have no right to ask me such a question," replied Janet, again making use of the repertoire which is always used on these occasions, and then she added : " I am sorry that my words have pained you, but you must try to think of me as a friend, and in time you will learn to love some girl who will make you a better wife than I should." All this was no consolation to poor Gilbert. It is impossible to reason with love. When a man is under its influence it is folly to talk to him of future happiness, or of his ever loving anyone but tlie one person wdio claims his heart. Gilbert returned home to The Lodge in a very dejected frame of mind and he determined to have it out with his brother after dinner.

When once the servants were out of the room, and the two men had lit their cigars, he opened fire by saying : " I proposed to Miss Homfrey this after noon ! " Eobert looked up with an expression of surprise, and as lie lazily sent the smoke of his cigar curling up to the ceiling, he said : " What did you do that for ? Surely, you must know she does not care for you. What did she say ? " " She refused me," answered Gilbert briefly. " Of course she did," answered the elder brother, " and it was very silly of you to give her the chance of doing so. She has never given you any encouragement." " She appeared to like me until you appeared on the scene," said Gilbert moodily, " but she has certainly changed since ; and now I am going to ask you a question, which I consider our relationship justifies.

Do you love her ? Are you going to make her your wife ? " Eobert stroked his moustache reflectively, and for a few instants he was silent, and then he looked his brother straight in the face and said : "It is a strange question you have asked me, Gilbert, and some brothers woidd refuse to answer it, but I see no reason why I should not be candid — with you. Yes, I do love Janet Homfrey, and I hope that one day she will be my wife." Then there was a silence. Gilbert felt stunned for the moment. All his hopes vanished with those few cruel words. Even Janet's refusal had not pained him so much, and he had not felt that his defeat was so complete as now that he heard that he really had a rival, and that that rival was his brother. Presently, he said, with a long-drawn sigh: " Then there is nothing more to be said.

I must wish you happiness, I suppose, though I don't feel like doing it at present. At any rate I will go away from here. You will wTant The Lodge when you are married, and in tlie meantime, it would be more than I could bear to witness your engagement." " I am sorry for you, old man," said Eobert. "It is very unfortunate that we should both have had the same fancy ; we have always been good ' pals ' and have got on well together — we must not quarrel now. As far as your leaving here is concerned, of course there's no hurry about that. I have not even proposed to Miss Homfrey. Con sequently I know nothing about the state of her feelings towards me ; she may treat me as she treated you." " There is not much fear of that," said Gilbert, with a sad smile, " I am sure she loves you." " We shall see," said Eobert, with a well satisfied expression on his face, " at any rate, I mean to ask her."

There was no more to be said. Gilbert rose from his seat and went for a stroll in the garden. It was better to be alone ; he could not bear to discuss the question with his brother now that he knew how things stood. He must map out a plan for his future life. He would certainly not remain at Woodfield longer than was absolutely necessary. He must go abroad and travel, and lead the rov ing life which had appeared to suit his brother before he had had the fatal idea of returning home and wresting from Gilbert the happiness of his life. TDE CELEBRATED JANET HOMFREY.

Chapter II

A few days after the conversation between the two brothers, Gilbert called upon the Homfreys to wish them good-bye. Janet, of course, guessed the reason for this sudden de parture and was careful not to ask him too many questions respecting his strange decision. Mrs. Homfrey also had an inkling as to what had happened. Janet had not told her that he had proposed, but she had noticed that he had not been near the house since a certain day when they were left alone in the drawing room together, and she had very little doubt but that he had pleaded his suit and been refused. The interview wTas certainly not a pleasant one ; they all felt constrained and ill at ease, and it was a relief to all three when Gilbert rose to leave and wished them a final farewell. Then Mrs. Homfrey felt it. her duty to question her daughter, and she asked her if she had anything to do with his departure.

" I am afraid so," said Janet. " lie told me the other day that he loved me, and I was obliged to refuse him." " If you really do not care for him, you did well, dear," said Mrs. Homfrey. " But he seems to have taken it very much to heart." " Yes ; I am afraid so," said Janet, and then she said, in a sudden burst of sadness : " Oh, why is the world all wrong ? Why do the wrong people love each other ? " " You mean that the right brother did not propose," said Mrs. Homfrey, " and yet, of the two, I prefer Gilbert. Eobert is certainly better looking, and has the most to say for himself, but I think Gilbert would make the better husband." "You don't know anything about it, darling mother," said Janet, nestling up to her, " but I daresay it will all come right in the end." And so it did, according to her feelings.

A few days after Gilbert had left The Lodge, Eobert Drummond rode over to The Aca cias, and made a formal proposal for the hand of Miss Homfrey. Needless to say, he was accepted. It required but little pleading on his part to gain the requisite consent. Janet loved him and she told him so frankly, without any of the set speeches which some girls consider it necessar}- to employ on these occasions. Mrs. Homfrey had nothing to say against the marriage. Janet was no longer a child, she was twenty-two years old, and must surely know her mind and be able to judge if she cared for him enough to trust him with her life's happiness. So the engagement was ratified and it was not to be a long one. There was no reason why they should not be married as soon as Janet's trousseau could be made, and the marriage settlements drawn up and signed.

The days of courtship were very sweet, Eobert admitted, but he lunged to have her all to himself, to know that she was entirely his own for life or death. They were then in the month of August) and the marriage was fixed for Un' first week in October, and the time which elapsed be tween these two dates was. of course, the happiest that Janet ever knew. It was about a fortnight after the engage ment had been publicly announced, that Janet, sitting idly with him in the garden one after noon, declared that she had something very important to tell him. Eobert looked up with an amused smile and said : " Something very important ! I suppose you wish to ask me whether your bridesmaids are to wear pink or blue ? " "No, dear," she said gravely, "I wish to tell you the story of my sister. I ought per haps to have told it you before, but I have been too happy to discuss sad subjects, and it is a very painful story I have to tell."

"Then do not let me hear it," he said quickly. "I hate sad stories, and I would much rather not hear this one." " No, it is better that I should tell it you," she said, and then she began. "You know I had a sister who died in Germany, two years ago — do you know how she died ? " " No," he answered, hesitatingly. " She committed suicide," said Janet quietly; " at least that was the verdict of the world, but, in reality, she was murdered ! " " Not murdered ! " he ejaculated. " She was deceived by a man, and when he refused to marry her, and she saw that the consequences of her fault could no longer be kept secret, she took poison ; but to my mind, the man who betrayed her was the real cause of her death. " And who was he ? " asked Eobert ner vously. " We never knew," answered Janet. " She was sent to Bonn for a jrear, to a private family, where she was to learn German.

She always wrote to us in good spirits, and gene rally seemed to be looking forward to coming home. But latterly the letters were less cheerful, and they were also less frequent, and then came the terrible news. Maud was dead ! We could not believe it, at first. The shock nearly killed my mother, and she was laid up for weeks with a kind of low fever. We both loved Maud so dearly. She was three years younger than I, and so pretty, and I was so proud of her. " With my mother dangerously ill, I could not even go to Bonn to see her buried. Oh ! those were terrible days. I often wonder how I survived them." For a moment she paused, and then she continued. " When my mother was out of danger, I went to Bonn, and I heard all the particulars, but no one knew the name of the man who had wronged her.

Frau Kriicken, the lady at whose house she had been, coidd tell me nothing about him. The whole thing had come upon her almost as suddenly as it did upon us. Maud went out alone for her music lessons, three times a week, and it must have been during these walks that she met him. When Frau Krucken made the discovery, she spoke to Maud, and told her that she must Avrite to us and tell us what had taken place, and that Maud must return home at once. The next morning, my sister was found dead — lying on her bed, with a note clasped in her hand which she had written, wishing us all good-bye. The man's name she had obstinately refused to reveal to Frau Krucken, and she made no mention of him to us." Janet was much overcome as she related this story, and two or three times she had wiped away the bitter tears which flowed at the recollection of that well-loved sister.

" It is a very sad story," said Eobert, who kept his eyes on the ground as he spoke. " I am sorry you have told it me." " I told it you," said Janet, " because I took an oath at the time when I visited my sister's grave, that I would do all in my power to avenge her. When once we are married, I Avant you to help me in finding out the man who kiUed her young life ; and an)- evil that it is in my power to do him, I will do." Janet looked superb as she said these words. Her face was flushed with excitement, and her large grey eyes flashed with an unwonted fire. Eobert scarcely recognised her. He had no idea that she had such a romantic temperament or that she could possess such vindictive feelings. He turned pale at her words, and almost trembled. "You look frightened," she said, "but I can assure you I mean what I say.

I will not flinch from doing him any injury I can. He robbed us of our darling — and you have no idea how we both loved her — she was only seventeen, only a child, you may sa)*, and she knew nothing of the world. Surely he might have found some pity for her, some pity for us!" "It is useless to talk of vengeance," said Eobert. " You will probably never meet him ; for all you know, he. may be dead now." " Cowards of his nature have good lives," said Janet. " He ou^ht to have blown his brains out when she died." Eobert did not answer, he had his own theories on the subject of suicide, and they did not exactly tally with Miss Homfrey's. " You promise me that you will do all in your power to hunt him down ? " she persisted, later on. " It is a hopeless task," he said, " and we must think of brighter things than revenge when we are married."

" I have thought of nothing else since the day I learned the truth," said Janet, and then she added : " why should it be a hopeless task to find him ? " " Because, as far as you have told me, you appear to have no clue," he answered. " Did you see his photograph ? " " No," said Janet," " you are quite right, there is no clue — not even a photograph." " You must try and forget it all," he said, at a loss for something to say. "Your mother is well now, and it would only be opening all the old wounds if ever she heard anything more connected with him." "I may have to bide my time," said Janet, quite unmoved, " but as there is justice in Heaven so surely will I have my revenge." There was no doubt that her words had a peculiar effect upon Eobert. From the moment she had commenced her story he had felt uneasy, but Janet was too occupied with her own thoughts to notice much the effect that she had upon him.