Democratic Sentinel, Volume 1, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 December 1877 — UGLY DAN DESVROOK. [ARTICLE]

UGLY DAN DESVROOK.

A Christ man Tale, Told by a Village Doctor. Far and near, Denis Danesbrook, of Shrop Hull. Long Shrop, Surrey, was known as “Ugly Danesbrook. 5 ’ He was tnll and lean, with a large head covered with coarse, bristly red hair, while his face was disfigured by au unsightly scar. His remarkable ugliness was in no wiso softened by his manners, which were rough and awkward to a degree. He had not been a resident at Shrop Hall more than a year at the period at which my tale commences. Ho led a most retired life, and people did not seem at all inclined to make his acquaintance, in consequence of his uncanny appearance. I myself freely confess that I was unable to drive from my own mind the feeling against him. Yet he was a well-edu-cated, superior man; wealthy, and liberal iu his dealings, ns all who had any business transactions with him were ever ready to admit. Now this ugly man had, strange to relate, a most beautiful wife. She was dark-haired, with soft gray eyes that beamed with intelligence and goodnature. Her movements were full of natural grace; her voice low-toned and musical; and a sweet smile lent a most bewitching charm to her lovely features. Her husband, I could see, carried her on his hands. His distress of mind know no bounds when she happened to make any trifling complaint regarding the state of her health. Every wisli of hers was a command; find; while lie seemed repelling and heartless to all tho world, he showed her the utmost love, the most self-sacri-lieing devotion. As far us I could judge, she was deeply grateful for his tenderness, iwid contented with her lot in life—as/arasl could judge, I repeat. As the young wife was naturally delicate, I was often summoned to her aid, and it was thus our acquaintance began. Her sufferings were of a nervous nurture; therefore I recommended her to take more frequent exorcise in tho open air, and try and amuse her mind a little by society. “ Whai are you thinking of, doctor? - ’ she cried quo day, when I was again urging this p. iut. ' “ Society ! My husband hates it !”< “He will waive his objections to it when he learns thatyour medical attendant considers it necessary for your health to mix more with people.” She shook her head, aud I proceeded—- “ This solitude feeds your nervousness,” added I. “I will speak to Mr. Danesbrook about it.” “Oh, pray don’t do that!” entreated she. “ You would only make him sad and uncomfortable.” But I paid no attention to this, for I considered it my duty to represent her case truly to her good husband. ‘‘ If you advise her to mix more with society,” he returned, with more composure than I gave him credit for, “ I shall be the last to object to it, though I must confess I am no lover of it. I shall, however, sacrifice my feelings for a time, and try to amuse her.” Aud ho kept his promise in this respect; and people were not a little surprised when Danesbrook aud his wife made tbeir appearance together in several drawing-rooms, to return some long-standing calls, and contracting new friendships. Everybody was as charmed with Maud Dnnesbrook’s manners as they were displeased with his; for they could not teach themselves to overcome his unsightly exterior. Nevertheless, there were two or three families with whom Mr. Danesbrook appeared to be on a more friendly footing. One of these was the widow of a military officer, and his nearest neighbor, who entertained a real attachment for Mrs. Danesbrook, and who took her husband into the bargain, notwithstanding that lie was not to her mind, either. But the force of habit soon made itself felt here, for the good-natured old lady quickly learned to regard the gentleman as a friend, and to very much enjoy his conversation,, for his mind was highly cultivated. Now, tho widow had a son (her only child) in the army. His regiment was stationed in London, where the young man led a most disreputable life. But his mother loved him with all a mother’s tenderness, although he had caused her many a bitter pang by his dissolute conduct.

He was reckoned to be one of the handsomest and mofjt notorious men about town, and the discreditable tales current respecting him were beyond count, and of a complexion not to be mentioned here. I heard that he was neatiy being dismissed from the service through his faulty behavior. His mother, however, had huriied to town and, exerting all the interest she possessed in certain influential quarter's mauaged to snatch him from the disgrace then threatening him. In order to remove him from the evil influence of bail companions, his mother persuaded him to exchange into another regiment, stationed in a quieter place. Before he joined it the widow begged him to come and spend Christmas with her at her home in Surrey. A trifling change had taken place in he Danesbrooks’ household in the meanime. When I paid my patient a visit I found a young girl staying —fvitli her, who was introduced to me as a distant relative who had consented to be a companion to Mrs. Danesbrook tiLj. she should have recovered fxoxq her ner? v-428 depression of spirit, |his girl’*, gW Julia, gnd th*

brilliant brunette, with her red lips, black eyes, and rather coquettish manner, formed a decided contrast to the gentle-eyed Maud. "Always in high spirits, she seemed destined to work a great change in Mrs. Daneshrook’s quiet household. I was quite delighted at having succeeded in making my eccentric friend more sociable. The young wife seemed to be very grateful to me, also, and daily showed more confidence in me, treating me more as a friend than a family doctor. By-and-by she began to teU me about her past life, and her domestic affairs—of her youth, and how she became acquainted with her husband, on an occasion which explained the high esteem in which she held him, and the love she seemed to bear him. According to her account, her husband, who was very wealthy, had saved her father from a ruinous bankruptcy, and her whole family from poverty, by the greatest sacrifices on his part. “ I was quite a child then,” added she, “and, childlike, thought a great deal of personal beauty. Soon, however, I grew accustomed to Denis’ appearance, and, in time, beoame quite indifferent to it. The older I grew, the more I recognized his worth, his goodness of heart, and appreciated and honored his character. A peculiar sadness, which I attributed to his bitter experiences of life, filled me with pity for him, which soon turned into love. So, when he asked me for my hand, I gave it to him, with the most sincere affection, and with a wish to make him as happy as I knew he deserved to be.” In spite of this frank, and, as I firmly believed, truthful confession, I still doubted her happiness, and the following incidents seemed to confirm my suspicions in that respect: Christmas was approaching, and I had received an invitation from Danesbrook to assist in a grand festival, to which he was going to treat all his farmer-tenants. He threw open all his large rooms, decorated them expensively, and had summoned a capital brass band from London. He threw himself Jieart and soul into the occasion, and every one about rendered him their best assistance. At length the eventful evening arrived. The earth was covered with deep snow, and everything was seasonable and agreeable. Carriages bearing rich neighbors, on one hand, came bowling along; then, on the other, light carts and wagons rattled up to and discharged their contents at the hospitable door, now opened wide to all. Led by the agent of the estate—a still youthful man—a procession of farmers, their wives and daughters, followed by scores of field-workers—men with horuy hands and simple minds—was formed, and entered a large saloon, were presented in due form to the landlord and his wife, the generous donors of the feast. Among the assembled guests I noticed Mrs. Cottrell and her son Claude, who certainly justified the report of his beauty which had preceded him. The Lieutenant was assuredly a very handsome man, a perfect dancer, and possessed that degree of boldness which most women are inclined to admire in one of the opposite sex. In town he had made conquests wherever ho appeared, and Julia Ley land was especially charmed with him. They danced often together, and they indulged in much merriment.

Mrs. Danesbrook also mixed among the dancers. She, too, danced several times with the fascinating Lieutenant, while her husband stood moodily in a comer, following the pair about everywhere with his lowering glances. I could not remain till the end myself, so I asked the agent to order my carriage brought round unknown to all, and stole away uuperceived. “I am sorry Mr. Ormond, to go away so soon,” I observed to the agent, as I shook hands with him ou the stairs: but I have a patient who expects a visit from me before I retire for the night.” “ I think you lucky in being able to get away, doctor,” returned the agent, ill-lmmoredly. “I wish the whole thing were over!” “Really? I fancied you wore amusing yourself wonderfully.” “A nice amusement!” growled the other. “Every one has been looking forward to this Christmas festival for months past, and now that fellow comes here and spoils all!” “Aha!” thought I within myself, “ this fellow is jealous of the handsome officer? Ah, I see; he has fixed his affections on Miss Julia—a hopeless case, I should say; for, if I mistake not, she will aim at higher game than Mr. Daneshrook’s land agent!” When I next visited Shrop Hall, I found Mr. Danesbrook looking more gloomy than usual, his wife suffering from her old complaint, depression of spirit, and light-hearted Julia met me with swollen eyelids. As soon as I was alone with my patient, she told me that thero had been some angry words in tho family on account of Lieut. Cottrell, who had, according to Mrs. Danesbrook’s story, been flirting with Julia, who had been persuaded to meet him in the park grounds. “Yes, doctor, secretly did the imprudent girl do so,” continued my patient. “ Mr. Danesbrook’s agent, who is really passionately attached to J ulia, who, you must understand, has not a penny in the world, followed her, witnessed the meeting, and heard the Lieutenant and her appoint another for the morrow on the same spot. Full of jealous feeling, Mr. Ormond flew to my husband aud told him all; whereupon Mr. Danesbrook at once sent for the gentleman and demanded from him an explanation. Then, there ensued a very painful scene between the two men, who used the most insulting language to one another. At last my husband ordered him to quit the house, adding that he was never to enter it again, and from that moment lie (my husband) would put an end to all further communication between the two families. The poor agent has been discharged on account of these doings, and Julia has been threatened to be sent back home.

Now, unfortunately, this story, with the usual exaggerations, traveled abroad, and awakened afresh the scarce-ly-sleeping prejudice against Ugly Danesbrook. Strange to relate, the whole blame of the affair was cast upon the man whose only object was to protect the honor of. his house, instead of upon the dissipated young officer, who had sought to lead an inexperienced, giddy girl astray. It was generally believed that Danesbrook fancied the Lieutenant to be in love with his own beautiful wife, and that he only pretended a passion l'ov the girl in order to avert suspicion from the true object of his affection. This belief, fixed firmly in the husband’s breast, people said, had alone brought about the quarrel. In fact, the wildest reports were in circulation with regard to the late interview between the two men, and people declared that Danesbrook had uttered terrible threats, swearing that he would some day have his revenge. Although the information given me by my fair patient was very different, I felt more inclined to credit public report, as my own eyes had witnessed proofs of Daaesbrook’s frightful jealousy. But I was secretly rejoiced that the matter had reached the end it had, as I felt sure that the owner of Shrop Hall was the last person in the world for anyone to attempt to wrong or trifle ■with. One morning early, a mounted mes-. senger from the Danesbrooks came to, w all haste to th'eir house. The told m that a terrible

tragedy had oocurred there. But his words were so disconnected I could not understand them; all I could gather from them was that some person had received a dangerous wound—that there had been an attempt to murder somebody. I found the house in the wildest confusion and alarm; Mr. Danesbrook already in the hands of a couple of policemen, and his wife in violent hysterics. The inspector of police who was present begged me to at once examine Hie wounds of Lieut. Cottrell, who had been found bleeding and insensible close to Shrop HalL Nobody doubted that this was the work of an intended assassin, and that Danesbrook was the guilty man. Pale and disfigured lay the handsome young man who, a few weeks ago, had been the life and soul of that Christmas party. At his feet sat his mother, who had been summoned to his side. Poor creature, she filled me with the greatest pity 1 I approached tbe wounded man, who showed no sign of life save a low, irregular breathing. On closer examination, I discovered a wound on his head. I fancied the ball must have entered the brain; and in that case there was, of course, no earthly hope for him. The inspector asked me a score or more of questions respecting the state of my patient, but I remained reticent, and refused to suffer my eyes even to answer him. One of the male domestics volunteered the following statement : He stated that he had been aroused out of his sleep by the barking of one of the house-dogs, and that he had risen, fearing lest some one was trying to enter the house for an evil purpose. He opened the principal door, and looked round about, throwing around the rays of his lighted lantern, which he held aloft over his head. But, as it was bright moonlight, he soon found his lantern useless, and so cast it away from him. By and by, close by the grand portico, he distinctly saw a dark figure creeping among the laurel bushes. Before, however, he could reach him, another figure, in whom he fancied he recognized his master, had met the first man. Then he heard angry voices, and next a shot, upon which the first man dropped to the ground, while the other vanished he knew not whither. The whole matter had not occupied more than a few minutes; and, on hastening toward the scene of the catastrophe, he found the young Lieutenant lying in a pool of blood. Upon his cry for help, and after repeated ringings at the door-bell, his master, dressed, and armed with a revolver, stepped forth to him. After hearing this story, the inspector ordered Danesbrook to enter a vehicle waiting for him. The gentleman repeated over and over again his protestations of innocence; but no attention was paid to him, and he was carried off to prison. I myself remained behind to comfort and attend to the wants of the unhappy wife and the wounded man. As Mrs. Cottrell insisted upon removing her son, a litter was prepared and brought, and the almost-dying officer was placed upon it, and accompanied by me to his mother’s dwelling. His further treatment, if such could be of any possible use, I resigned into the hands of the lady’s own doctor. Everybody seemed convinced of Danesbrook’s guilt except his own wife, who vouched for his innocence, and thus convinced me of her deep attachment for her husband; showing that our suspicions with regard to the young Lieutenant were entirely without foundation. As soon as she had recovered herself she left home, and engaged lodgings in the town, in tbe prison of which her Uuuband yt no oonfinod. As often as she was permitted to do so she visited him, and she exerted all her means in order to free him from his captivity. She offered a considerable bail for him —but that, of course, was not accepted. Every one shared the general prejudice against the unfortunate prisoner. Under these circumstances it seemed almost certain that the j ury would bring him in “guilty,” and, in that case, Danesbrook would either be sentenced to life-long banishment, or have to meet an awful death at the executioner’s hands. A few weeks before the trial was to take place, the young officer’s doctor came to see me, and made some interesting facts known to me respecting the case of the wounded man, who was, contrary to all expectation, still alive but in constant danger. My colleague begged me to attend a consultation with him and a celebrated surgeon, whom he had already summoned. At the appointed time, I proceeded to Mrs. Cottrell’s residence, where I found both the surgeons waiting. We entered the darkened chamber, in order to satisfy ourselves more surely as to the state of the young man, who presented to us a sorrowful picture, such as I prayed never to see again. His consciousness was almost entirely gone. His right side was wholly paralyzed; so, also, was his tongue, which could utter only unintelligible sounds. He knew neither his mother nor any other person. After a long and careful examination of the patient, the London surgeon drew us apart. He proposed performing a certain operation upon him, at which I and my colleague shook our heads. “ He will never survive it,” I said. “ Never !” chimed my colleague, with an air of conviction.

“ We will do our best to make him,” answered the great man. “If his mother consents to it, it had better be done at once.” Of course, Mrs. Cottrell snatched at the proposal, as it afforded her a faint ray of hope; and the operation was performed, and, as I thought, successfully. We dared to hope now, although the danger was by no means past. Meanwhile Danesbrook’s trial was fast approaching. He was still in prison; but his position was not so perilous now, as his supposed victim still lived. Yet the Lieutenant’s complete recovery was a matter of great doubt iu all our minds. An agent of the law had waited upon me, in order to learn from me whether the young man would be in a condition to appear us principal witness against the prisoner. After talking over the matter with my colleague, I answered in the affirmative. In consequence of this, a solicitor accompanied me to the Cottrells’ residence. The invalid was still under my care, and I felt it requisite for me to be present at this interview, in order to prevent his being over-excited in any way. In our presence the mother prepared her son for the object of our visit. At first he seemed hardly to comprehend her; but after a time our questions awakened his slumbering memory, and his recollections became livelier each moment; his replies clearer and more decided. We were all most eager to hear his statement —a statement which would confirm the guilt or otherwise of Ugly Danesbrook. ‘‘ What were you loitering about Shrop Hall for on tliat memorable night?” asked the lawyer, after a few introductory words. “ I must impress upon your mind the necessity of speaking the truth, as you will have to swear to your words. ” “ I was there tomeetsome one,” replied the Lieutenant, after some hesitation. 5 “At midnight? Whom were you there I ** meet‘V ? f “ A woma» ? § gbexi name an 4 honor

are at stake. Yon must, therefore, excuse my making a confession that would compromise a third person. ” “ The law admits of no sort of reservations. Yon most honestly disclose everything.” For a minute the young man remained silent He was evidently at a loss what to say. We all of ns felt convinced that it was the name of Mrs. Danesbrook that he was desirous of shielding. “ Tell the truth, Claude!” entreated his mother, who was present. “Who was this woman with whom you had an assignation?” “Julia Leyland,” murmured the son, in almost unintelligible tones. “Julia Leyland 1” repeated all, in marked surprise. “Mtb. Danesbrook’s young companion ?” questioned the lawyer. “ The same,” acknowledged the Lieutenant. “I had begged her to meet me in the park that night, as Mr. Danesbrook had refused me admission to his house in consequence of a quarrel we had with one another.” “And did Mr. Danesbrook meet you, and ask your business on his grounds ?” “ The person whom I so unexpectedly enoountered there was not Mr. Danesbrook,” the Lieutenant rejoined. “ Reflect well over what you say,” remarked the questioner; “ and remember that everything depends upon your evidence. ” ‘ ‘ Oh, I know what lam talking about, and am sure that the person I met on that night was not the owner of Shrop Hall, but another.” “Another I Who could it have been, if it were not Mr. Danesbrook ?” “The agent, who had been dismissed, ’ ’ Claude replied. We all started in amazement. “Yes, the man in love with Miss Leyland, and lay in wait for me. I had offended him a few days before, and, enraged with jealousy, he barred my way; and, as tried to push him aside, he fired a pistol at me. I remember dropping upon the ground, and nothing more.” “You are certain of what you say? You can swear that it was the discharged agent, Ormond, who fired the pistol at you?” “lean and will do so,” replied the Lieutenant. “ You have preserved an innocent man from a disgraceful punishment,” I said to him, feeling thankful, for Mrs. Danesbrook’s sake, that her husband was guiltless. The Lieutenant appeared to me like one who had been awakened from a death-like trance, taking up his thoughts from the time at which he had fallen asleep, as if he had only been dozing for a few hours, and as though the workings of his mind had scarcely been disturbed. I fancied that his memory, after it had been once awakened, had gained rather than lost its power—at least as far as the occurrences of that night were concerned. The last impressions made upon him were pictured, after the temporary rest his brain had received, even more vividly before his minds eye than they would otherwise have been; for do not all know that a lesson learnt over-night returns with renewed force and perfection on the following morning, after we have given our brains a rest ? But I will not pause to explain this strange pathological fact, any more than I will attempt to describe Mrs. Danesbrook’s joy Avhen the young Lieutenant’s evidence was communicated to her. When I saw her radiant countenance, her soft eyes raised devoutly upward, and her hands clasped as if in prayer, I knew that she loved her husband truly, aud that, in spite of his ugliness, he deserved her love. I need hardly Bay *that the prisoner was at once released. The whole neighborhood, ashamed of its prejudice, was not slow to prove the sympathy and respect it really felt for Die luiig-alLiuntil man. Mrs. Cottrell, too, paid him a visit, and rendered him the apology to which he was entitled. Notwithstanding the successful operation, Lieut. Cottrell died a few months afterward. The real murderer, for such he may be called, managed to get off safely to America, where he wrote a full confession to his late employer, and to Julia Leyland, who deeply suffered for her thoughtlessness and folly.