Doctor Cameron. A novel

Chapter I

In a private apartment in one of the prin cipal hotels in Paris sat two young men, both Americans. They were smoking, one a cigar and the other a short pipe ; while each scrutinised the other with an affectionate curiosity. ' How long is it since you were last in America, Philip?' enquired his companion. 'Almost ten years,' replied Philip Cameron musingly. ' Yes, it must have been all of ten years A when I count it up,' said his friend. ' And what have you been doing with yourself in this decade ? ' ' Travelling and working would be the quickest answer, Charlie ; but suppose we forget that more than seven years have passed since those happy college days, and imagine that we are Charlie Trevors and © Phil Cameron of old, and be as frank with each other as we were then.' Trevors heartily agreed, and the other continued, ' You know how just before I finished my studies at Bonn, my old uncle, who lived in California, died, and left me the most un expected heir to two millions of dollars.

At first my poor father and I were dumb founded with our good fortune; and naturally remodelled somewhat our ideas for the future. ' But this money, after all,' changed very little the tenor of our lives ; although, as you may imagine, it added greatly to our luxuries and made me more than able to realise my modest ambitions. The grandson of a German professor, I desired to become one myself and to do credit to my grand father's name, already so well known in Bonn. The cruel blow of my father's death soon followed my good fortune, and I plunged into hospital work in Vienna with a heavy heart. ' My money has perhaps given me more pleasure than it would have most men, though my habits always will be, I think, those of a simple American. ' There is none of the dashing fellow about me, I am too heavy for the rdle, and am rather proud of my reputation as a hard working German doctor. © ' I spend, to my own satisfaction, but to that of no other man, the greater part of my income ; and, what I do not spend, our New York friend "the Rev. Jack," does for me — as you are aware. 'Really, Phil,' interrupted Trevors, 'the few of your fellow-countrymen who know anything about you, look upon you as a sort of " crank," and think your fortune has been thrown away upon you.

You really must go in for a " Tally Ho," or something of the kind when you get on the other side, or you will be looked upon as a curiosity, and classed with the tattooed man or some such unnatural specimen of humanity.' The young Professor laughed good naturedly and went on, ' When I received your telegram asking me to meet you here, I had already decided to return to America - — for a reason I will explain later. ' My heart gave a throb when I saw your signature, for to you alone could I look for a hearty welcome in my native land ; and you proposed my return there with you.' He glanced affectionately at his friend and paused. They were two fine specimens of their country, though perhaps Cameron would have been taken sooner for a German than an American ; and indeed his mother had been a German girl, the only daughter of Professor Herman Wolf.

He wore a short, thick beard, of a reddish brown, parted in the middle, while his hair which was of a darker shade, grew low and waved slightly over a low, broad forehead. It was an intellectual, attractive face, though the nose was somewhat irregular, and the mouth large though fine disclosed unusually white and handsome teeth. His eyes were splendid, and would have com manded your admiration had the face been otherwise plain, being of that rare, darkest shade of grey, that looks black when the owner is excited. He probably measured several inches shorter than Trevors, who was over six feet high — a big, curly-headed blonde, with regular features and a peculiarly winning smile that won your favour at once. A handsome, broad-shouldered man he was, who dressed with a nicety and care that showed off his fine figure to good advantage, if almost foppish in its detail.

For seven years they had been separated, and had corresponded, as men do, at rare intervals ; but all the time retaining a strong interest in each other's careers, and feeling that their friendship was unbroken. Trevors practised his profession, the law, in New York ; while Cameron had, after inheriting his large fortune, continued to work until he had become quite a celebrated biologist as well as physician abroad, among his many foreign friends and relatives. It was a work he delighted in and followed with ardour. His fortune gave him many advantages of course, and his big ugly house at Bonn was more like a museum than a home, and the delight of the scientific world there. He had always intended that America should be his home, but had postponed his return there year after year. The young scientist continued to puff away at his short pipe, for awhile after he had finished speaking, and cast enquiring glances at his companion. ' How is it with you ? ' he asked. ' Have the last seven years been successful ones ? ' Trevors gave a hard, little laugh, ' Success means wealth, and that you know I have never been over-burdened with.

For six years after I bade you good-bye in Vienna, I lived an agreeable enough life, with enough work to make play pleasant ; and experienced, of course, the ordinary amount of ups and downs. ' A year ago made a great change for me. ' My half-brother, George, married a widow with one child, a delicate boy. A month after their marriage, his wife's mother died and the sister came to live with George and Louise. I met her constantly, and in short fell desperately in love with her ; somehow it relieves me to speak of her to you, though my object in coming abroad was to try and forget her. But that is im possible, I shall always love her ! You may imagine the chances a poor devil like me, who makes perhaps a couple of thousand a year, would have with a beautiful girl who has turned more heads in one season in her quiet way than I would like to enumerate.' ' But, pshaw !

Charlie, you are weak hearted unless she cares for someone else, and forget that " faint heart ne'er won fair lady." Is she an heiress then ? ' 'Not at all, but a girl whose parents determined should make a brilliant match, Avho has been taught to think of nothing else as possible — but I would have to tell you a family history to explain the indomitable pride of this family.' ' But, my dear fellow, did not her sister marry your brother ? ' ' Not until she was the rich widow of old Schofield. Oh ! they had their own troubles, I assure you, for theirs was an old love affair.' ' May I ask if she has refused you ? ' Trevors assented by a nod. ' Unless she already cares for someone else, your case does not seem as desperate to me as you would make it out, Charlie,' said he, lighting a fresh pipe. ' Fortunately my love affairs were all settled for me six years ago.' ' What ! ' said Trevors, in surprise. ' How is that ? ' ' Before my father's death, two old friends to everlastingly cement their friendship, arranged as far as they could, that the son of one and the daughter of the other should marry ; so photographs of a child of fifteen in America and of a young doctor in Ger many were exchanged — and both being pleased with pictures probably flattering to each, and wishing to humour the most de voted of parents, they were formally be trothed without ever seeing each other.

And both promised solemnly not to break this unnatural engagement without great deliberation, and not until the one had reached her twenty-first and the other his twenty-ninth year. You see our parents were against early marriages ! It was to fulfil, if possible, this last wish of my old father's that I determined to return home to New York. ' I blush to confess that I have sadly neglected this matter so far, had almost forgotten this girl in fact, so wrapt up have I been in my profession ; and I sometimes sus pect, hang it, that it is not I but this money she waits for — and it makes me deucedly un comfortable to think that ! I hear that she has more than fulfilled the promise of her youth, and is very pretty. But, perhaps, you have met her, as she lives in New York, her name is Catharine Preston.' ' Catharine ! ' faltered Trevors, springing from the chair in agitation ' Catharine is ' and his voice broke.

The two friends gazed at each other for some time in pained astonishment, then Cameron broke out into a loud laugh. ' I never heard anything more ridiculous in my life,' he exclaimed. ' You in love and I engaged to the same girl ! ' Trevors threw away his cigar with an im patient gesture. ' The joke is only for you.' ' I beg your pardon, Charlie,' said his friend, placing his hands familiarly on the others shoulders. ' I should have had more respect for your feelings ; but I give you my word as a gentleman, Miss Preston shall be free to make her own choice. I will acknow ledge to you though, that I have grown so accustomed to consider the original of this sweet child's photograph as my personal pro perty that I would be loth to give up the idea,' and opening a locket fastened to his watch-chain, he disclosed the portrait of a young girl of singular beauty and promise.

A glance told Trevors that it was the girl he loved so ardently. ' It is folly for me to ever think of her again ! My chances against yours with your millions to back you, are too slight to think of for a moment. In fact I have confided in my rival,' he said bitterly. ' Well, I won't be hypocritical, and wish you joy.' ' Charlie Trevors ! ' cried Cameron, indig nantly, and flushing slightly, 'you wrong me if you think for a moment that I would take this advantage of wealth which I happen to have. We will leave here to-morrow, and I will return with you to New York, but not as Philip Cameron, and a millionaire. It is not likely that after ten years' absence I shall be recognised; and I should much prefer to meet Miss Preston as a stranger, and that she should form an unbiased opinion of me. ' It is my plainest duty, as you must see, to win this girl and to fall in love with her, if both are possible.

But that all is so un certain yet, may end in nothing — while you are the friend of my boyhood, and inexpres sibly dear to me as such ; I had not known how dear until these last few days. Be just to me at least.' There was an earnest, almost pathetic ring in his voice as he made this appeal. ' Say that I accepted this of you,' began Trevors, somewhat moved and hesitating. ' But no, I could not return to-morrow, for I must procure a sort of German tutor or companion for my sister-in-law's child.' ' Exactly the thing ! They tell me here I speak German like a native. / will be his tutor ! ' ' You ! Are you crazy ? ' ' Do you doubt my capacity? I assure you, I could get the best of recommendations.' ' Of course not, but this is out of the question. I know Catharine Preston and you do not ; she would as soon think of falling in love with her sister's coachman as with you, in that capacity.' ' I look on the matter differently, and if she should learn to care for me, and refuse me because I was a tutor,' said Cameron, ' I should welcome a release from this strange compact.' ' You speak without knowing her,' said Trevors, ' she is lovable beyond description, and her only fault is a rather too haughty disposition.' ' I must judge her from my own standard,' said the professor. ' But this position would get you into no end of trouble, the child is almost an invalid; nervous and suffering, he needs besides his nurse an intelligent and constant companion.

He speaks and likes German, and the idea therefore was for me to pick up some German who would act in that capacity, and whom I designated as tutor, for want of a better name.' ' This is providential ! ' exclaimed the pro fessor, his eyes sparkling with pleasure, ' the case will interest me at once as a physician, and it will afford me an opportunity I have long craved, to be weighed impartially on my own merits.' ' But ' interposed his friend. ' Not another word, I beg of you. You have taken a big load of worry off my shoulders, and given me an occupation. However this strange complication ends let us at least remain friends.' ' She has rejected me, and before she meets you,' said Trevors, dejectedly. ' But I had not — I can never give her up.'

Chapter II

The gay season along the New Jersey coast was past its height by the early part of August, and those people who divided their summer by going to two or more resorts, now commenced to make their way to the mountains and northward. With that in consistency peculiar to fashion, the cooler New England watering-places now enjoyed {heir gayest month. The crowd of strollers on the beach at Cape May was gradually thinning, adding much to the pleasure of those few who had only sought the ocean for itself or health . Mr George Trevors had taken a cottage at Cape May this season on account of his little step-son, who had been sent there by the New York physicians. It was very pleasantly situated, a little apart from the others and directly upon the ocean. Before this cottage a fine carriage stopped one morning, and two ladies alighted.

Both richly, almost too richly dressed. It was Mrs Henry Schofield and her daughter. Marion Schofield had been spoiled first by an indulgent mother, then by indulgent ser vants, and finally by indulgent friends. Her mother had done it out of sheer weakness and a blind admiration for all her only child said or did. Always allowed a superfluous amount of spending money and of her own way, and known to be an heiress, Marion had become the envied and spoiled young woman that she was. With all her love of luxury and display how ever, she had inherited from her father a close, calculating disposition, and there was always going on within her a sharp conflict between her extravagance and her meanness — makino hers a complicated character, and one not easy to read. All her life she had resented Catharine Preston's ignoring of her wealth and pre tensions.

She was jealous of Catharine's position in society, of her beauty and of the admiration she received. They had been schoolmates at Madame La Motte's school, and they had there almost reached openly expressed dislike and enmity, when Marion's uncle had married Catharine's older sister, Louise. Marion quickly saw the advantage then of gaining the favour, and making her debut in New York society under the chaperonage of so fashionable a woman as her newly-made aunt, and turning quickly around declared with a burst of tears that she had always cared for Catharine, but the latter had re buffed her. It was with ill-concealed suspicion that these sudden embraces and tears were re- B ceived by Catharine, who knew too well the deceitful character and triviality of her pro fessed friend. But in truth, it was not all make-believe.

Marion was glad and relieved to be considered by all as the friend and almost relative of her former opponent. Poor, young Mrs Schofield, separated from the man she loved, and married to an old man whom she respected and feared at the same time, became in the course of a year mother of a fragile, little boy. Still time hung heavy on her hands, and vain regrets made her life a sad one. She was glad of a pretext to throw herself into the whirl of society, and introduce there her sister and her husband's niece at the same time. A short season of gaiety was followed by deep gloom — the old man died suddenly, and she was again free — but a mother. A year later she married George Trevors, and they tried, oh ! so hard, to patch up the romance of their two lives, severed by this short, but so momentous marriage.

Alas ! they could never forget it — it had been too bitter a cup. But we must now follow the two ladies into the cottage. Mrs Schofield rather groped her way than walked into the darkened house, as one will upon leaving suddenly the blinding sunlight. Her daughter, whose eyesight was keener, followed impatiently. The man who had opened the door for them, seeing his mistress in the library, the first room to their right, disappeared, and Mrs Trevors came forward. ' We are in here ! ' she said, in a gentle voice, taking her sister-in-law's hand. ' It must seem dark to you after the sunlight and heat outside.' ' Yes,' said Mrs Schofield,' apologetically, ' and my eyesight is poor too. But how delightfully cool you are here ; and as I tell Marion, it is the only way to escape the flies.' From a low chair, in the far end of the room, where she had been absorbed in a book, Miss Preston arose.

She was lovely, this young girl in her soft white dress, which clung so closely to her beautiful lithe figure. There is a dreamy look yet in her dark eyes, as. she comes forward, still thinking of the book in her hand. The mouth is exquisitely curved and sensi tive, the nose delicate, the chin unusually rounded for a face as oval as hers ; and her hair wondrously light for those lustrous, dark eyes. A certain coldness has fallen over her countenance as she recognises the visitors, an unbecoming change from the dreamy expression that first characterised her. Notwithstanding the regularity of features, hers was a face dependent on its expression for the real charm. You could imagine when © she smiled or was excited how entrancing © must be her beauty, otherwise the face was slightly cold. ' How is my dear little cousin, Willie ? ' asked Marion, as the greetings finished they seated themselves around the long table at one end of the room. ' Very feverish and restless yet,' replied Mrs Trevors, 'I am so discouraged about him,' and she sighed. ' My cousin, Tom Schofield, writes me that Charlie crossed in the same steamer with him, which arrived yesterday.' ' He has Willie's German servant in tow, who, Tom says, is something of a prig ; very learned and inclined to be snappish,' said Marion, who always liked to be first with a piece of news. ' Snappish,' repeated Mrs Trevors, in an anxious voice, taking quick alarm for her child. ' Surely Charlie would have investi gated ■' and she pauses and glances in perturbation at her sister. ' Don't worry dear, you know how Tom rattles on,' interrupted Mrs Schofield, sooth ingly. 'Yes,' said the young mother, somewhat reassured, for she knows Tom Schofield, ' and he is not a servant at all !

Charlie speaks of him as a gentleman, whom he has engaged as a tutor for Willie, and one who has studied medicine.' ' I certainly think he needs a doctor more than a tutor at his age and in his state,' said Marion, sharply ; rather put out that her news was so ill received, ' but you will have to look out for him and Catharine then, if he is such a fine gentleman, as they will be thrown so constantly together.' Marion re pented this random shot the moment after she had given it expression in her ill humour. Catharine's face flushed for a moment as a bitter picture of mortification and sorrowarose in her mind, so painfully connected with her past and that of her family, and then left her very white as she remarked contemptuously, ' As I have never shown any familiarity with my inferiors, your remark is both insulting and uncalled for in any way,' and she withdrew to an alcove at the ocean end of the room. ' How could you be so rude to her — to me ? ' exclaimed Mrs Trevors in an agitated voice. ' I did not mean anything.

I do not know how I came to say such a horrible thing ! ' said the spoiled heiress almost in tears herself, and impetuously following Miss Preston she commenced in a high nervous © voice, ' I am awfully sorry. I did not allude to anything, I did not mean it — the way it sounded.' ' Never mind,' replied Catharine coldly, ' do not let us speak of it again.' ' But you believe I am sorry ? ' ' Perhaps — it makes no difference to me.' Miss Schofield bit her lip angrily, and was about to make a sharp reply when the bell rang, and almost instantly three gentle men entered the room — Mr George Trevors and our two friends whom we last saw in Paris. Poor Charlie blew hot and cold while the introductions were going on, for as he told his friend afterwards, he had never felt like a swindler before. Nor had our Professor conceived how awkward a part he had undertaken, one so opposite to his simple, straightforward character.

He had immediately recognised Catharine, but his intense interest in her was suddenly and unpleasantly cooled by her frigid and haughty acknowledgment of his unnecessarily cordial bow. Not my ideal of beauty or a woman, thought he with some disgust and disappointment. ' Do behave decently to the man,' whispered Mr Trevors to his wife upon the first opportunity. 'It is a shame the way Kate is freezing him — you all behave somehow, as if you had had a galvanic shock.' There was no chance for Mrs Trevors to explain, and everyone felt more or less con strained. Before they left, Charlie had a moment's eagerly sought conversation with Catharine. ' Well ! ' he commenced. ' Your recipe has done me no good. I have been absent from you for two months — and have only learned one thing more, that you are indispensable to my happiness, that I love you more than ever.' ' Stop, 1 beg of you ! ' she cried.

Then the others joined them, and he obtained an unwilling promise from her to take a short walk with him upon the beach that evening. Finding Charlie and the tutor were going to the Stockton Hotel, Marion graciously offered to take them there in the carriage, an invitation Mrs Schofield seconded after several vigorous nudges from her daughter. Their traps had been sent to the Hotel direct, so they jumped into the carriage after the two ladies, somewhat warmed by their cordiality, a pleasant contrast to the coldness shown by the others. Dr Wolf, as we shall hereafter have to call our young professor, was impressed very pleasantly by his vivacious and friendly vis a-vis as they drove the short distance to the ' Stockton.' She spoke German a little, and amused him by some droll mistakes she made when she commenced a lively conversation with him in that language — which was in itself flattering to his wounded feelings.

Marion had a fine figure, inclined to be stoutish, and very pretty dark blue eyes. Her mouth was somewhat coarse and large, and her nose retrousse; but always dressed becomingly she passed for a pretty girl, and had already re ceived enough attention from gentlemen to make her very conceited. She was very fond of being made love to, sham or real, and not very particular who did it as long as it amused her. Her cousin, Tom Schofield, was very much in love, some said, with her and some said with her money ; at present it made very little difference to Marion, who, as we say, was not over particular, and only wished him for a devoted attendant. She considered herself by far a too fine young lady for him, and had already refused several more eligible offers. Her polite offer to drive them had been made entirely on Charlie's account who she wished to propitiate, and the tutor had been merely asked as his follower ; but as they drove along Marion discovered that this in significant tutor had very fine eyes and was decidedly interesting.

She remembered that Mrs Trevors had said he was a gentleman, and as it never took her long to make friends, when the two gentlemen alighted she asked Dr Wolf to call upon her. ' Soon,' she added with a coquettish back ward glance as they drove off. ' A nice little girl,' said the Doctor. 'Yes, rather jolly,' replied his friend absently, who was thinking with all his mind of the interview he was to have with Catharine that evening. It seemed to Charlie an intolerably long day. After an early dinner they strolled along the beach, then took the little street car that runs along the whole length of Cape May, and irregularly follows the ocean until it reaches Sewells Point. Here they hired a small sail boat and spent the rest of the afternoon cruising about and talking over old times. By common consent they did not broach the subject of this morning's visit or of Miss Preston.

At last evening approached, and knowing it was unnecessary to explain where he was going, Charlie, after a hurried meal, left his friend to his own resources. When he arrived Miss Preston was sitting on the verandah ; before he reached the house she had recognised him, and rising hurriedly joined him at the foot of the steps. ' I wish you would not insist on this walk,' she said, her voice a little tremulous. ' It will only be painful to us both — I seem bound to make you suffer, for I cannot feel as you would wish. Won't you come in and say good-bye to George and Louise, and then leave here ? ' ' No, I will not,' he answered fiercely ; ' I came for this walk — and I want to talk this matter out with you. Do not be so hard on me !' ' I do not mean to be hard, you know that,' she said, and without further remonstrance she joined him, and they walked some distance in silence.

Suddenly he wheeled around and faced her ; ' Have you ever tried to love me, honestly tried ? ' ' That sort of thing won't come by trying,' she replied gently. ' You love some one else then ? ' he said, with quick suspicion. She shook her head. ' Ah ! You have made me almost happy ! You are too gentle, too kind, not to try then,' he pleaded. ' Perhaps I had better tell you something,' she said. And with considerable embarrassment and hesitation she told him something of that old compact, which he had already heard of from the young professor. ' The time will transpire, you see, this Fall, and Dr Cameron, of whom I do not know even as much as his address, or home, still ignores my existence — a humiliating thing for me to bear, as you may imagine. It is why I have hated to speak to you about it.

He may, and probably does, care for someone else ; but it is certainly due to me to hear it from his own lips, if he is an honourable man — and, he is in honour bound, as I am myself, until we have seen each other. I only tell you this because before you went abroad you asked me if I was engaged, and I had refused to reply. Afterwards I reproached myself and thought that as frankness was all the return I could make to you, I might have at least been that.' ' And if this Cameron came — and went away,' asked he. ' What then ? ' ' He would not go awaj%' said Catharine quickly, and then she blushed vividly. ' I mean I am determined that this man shall learn to care for me — that he shall not neglect me with impunity.' ' I see,' said the poor fellow bitterly. ' And after punishing him for this neglect, you feel bound to love and win him.' ' Yes, that is about it,' she acknowledged. 'And why should not I, if I can learn to love him ? ' defiantly. ' My God !