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TITLE: A Beautiful Con Artist By Jennifer Langley 09/27/08 |
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A young stately woman sat on a settee in a beautifully decorated parlor with a young woman of about her age. They were both richly dressed, and both beautiful to behold.
One was named Anna, and the other Katy. Katy had invited Anna over for the summer with some other houseguests who had agreed to do nothing that summer but enjoy each other’s company.
Anna was Katy’s special friend, and together they plotted, planned, gossiped, and told each other the secrets of their hearts. It was this that Katy did that lazy summer afternoon as she sat whispering into Anna’s ear.
If one might have looked afar off, they would have seen one woman’s countenance beaming, and the others turn white with what looked like irritation. But it was only for a moment, and then it was replaced with a feigned look of satisfaction.
Awhile later, they both rose, and went out into the garden to join the rest of the guests, which consisted of, two other young women, both bonny and happy, and three men, who were building castles in the air that summer, some of which actually were on stable ground.
They all sat in different attitudes, but all lazily surveying one another as they sat on the lawn in the bright garden in early June. The other two young ladies, who’s names were, Jane and Rose, talked gaily of the coming dance tomorrow night in the grove just over the hill.
The three men, Jack, Robert, and Hayes listened with avid interest as they surveyed the bonny young ladies, who talked with interest of each passing subject.
Anna lay on the grass with her head pillowed in her arm, with her dark brown ringlets attractively surrounding her face. She listened to the conversation with no interest, but thought of the thing, which prevailed, over all her thoughts.
Her cheek grew red, and then her eyes flashed, but she hid it well. She pretended to smile, and laugh with all the other girls, and pretended that she felt as light as a bird.
Katy would glance at her confidingly once in awhile, and she would return the glance with a bright smile which seemed to assure Katy of total secrecy. Who would have guessed that Anna’s heart was not bright? That her eyes did not grow bright with mirth, and her cheeks grow red with the heat of the day.
“I propose we all take a stroll around the public park!” Rose proposed with enthusiasm, after sitting too long in one attitude.
“Oh yes! Lets!” Jane said, instantly agreeing.
“Well, if you girls would like.” Hayes said rising and offering his arm to Rose, who took it without hesitation.
The same did Jack to Jane, and blushing she took his arm so generously offered. Robert instantly offered his arm to Katy, and they all walked down the shady lane.
Anna walked behind, quite forgotten in the subjects they found so amusing ahead. They looked so happy, so young and innocent, as they walked, each with a new found love in one’s heart.
Anna was not lonely though she was forgotten. The solitude was welcome, and the thoughts which roved through her head, held her captive. Her dangerous eyes rested on one person most interesting and desirable to her as he walked down the lane, looking into someone else’s enchanting eyes.
They spent the evening in one another’s company, choosing to stay in rather than go out. The bright firelight, and the gay atmosphere induced all into its power.
“Let us put on a play!” Jane announced, when the room grew still for a moment.
All found the idea appealing, but they were at a loss to what they would play. Anna rose from the couch on which she had been laying.
“For all present, I think that Shakespeare would be most fitting.” She said.
“Oh, I had quite forgotten about you Anna, you remained so quiet this evening.” Rose said with amusement.
“Jane’s sudden idea about a play suddenly aroused my sleepy attitude.” Anna said with a hint of annoyance.
“I think that Shakespeare is a perfectly splendid idea.” Jane said merrily, already getting everyone to gather dresses from the trunks in the old attic.
The merry party decided on Antony and Cleopatra, and selected a love scene. For that was the song that played in their hearts most melodically. They all dressed in bright attire, and in rich jewels that adorned their hair, and hung on their necks.
Rose and Hayes played in this scene. Hayes played Antony, and Rose, Cleopatra. Rose was clad in a bright green garment that reached the floor in folds. Her delicate complexion went well with the color, and her pink cheeks complimented it. Her long golden hair fell below her knees in soft curls all about her.
Antony was clad in white stockings, and blue knickers, with a white blouse. His dark eyes danced merrily as they looked up at Cleopatra, trying so hard to play her part without bursting into a gale of laughter at the ridiculous clothing.
But they played it well. Antony kneeled at Cleopatra’s feet, proclaiming in the most animated language his love for her. She accepted it with her own eloquent speech, as she embraced him, the scene ended with loud applause from the onlookers.
Robert took his scene with Katy. They both played excellently the part of two lovers. They both had the flashing eyes, and the delicately pink cheeks to have been lovers in true life.
Anna watched with her mouth set in a hard straight line, and her eyes bright with a flame, as she watched the two star crossed lovers speak poems.
As Anna sat watching the couple perform, she silently vowed to herself that she would be happy at all costs, and secure the heart she most wished to have.
They finished after they had all taken their turn playing, and returned to the parlor to take refreshments, and laugh over their silly antics, but to the young people, they secretly viewed them as meaningful, and each young girl had a flutter in her heart as she looked on the one he or she adored most.
Anna joined in the revels also, laughing and talking with more fervor than usual. She glanced at Katy smiling brightly, with no regret of her evil plan, as she looked on that young face.
The next morning, Anna woke with a determined will, and a cold heart. She dressed, and joined the others at breakfast, and afterwards summoned Katy for a secret talk on the small porch away from all the others.
“My dear Katy,” Anna said with assumed kindness, “I will help you win the heart that you most long for.”
“But how can you win the heart when it must be won by me alone?”
“All lovers must have a word from a friend, to get them to take the right path.” Anna said, clasping Katy’s warm hand.
“I trust you Anna, but how do I know this will be for good, and not discourage his tender heart?”
“You just said that you trust me.”
“Yes, but I hold most dear his heart, and I wish not to take the wrong path in this tender matter.” Katy said.
“You are a dear friend Katy, and I wish to see my dear friend’s heart secured by someone who wholly deserves her.”
“Yes, I will trust you dear friend, but how will you win him to me?”
“That my dear, you must wait and see to find the results.”
Katy wholly trusted her friend, and pledged her heart, and the one she most held dear to her.
“Trust me, and let me work in a way that will be most effective. Do everything that I tell you.” Anna said sweetly, and in a way that Katy wholly trusted.
So, Anna whispered the instructions into Katy’s ear, lest anyone overhear the evil plan. The two girls went to join the guests after they had talked, one heart nervous, and the other set with an evil plan.
They all went out to walk on the grove, each contemplating the dance that night. Katy took leave, complaining of an aching head. Roger immediately said that he would stay with her, but Katy urged him to join the others, or she would be unhappy.
So he left reluctantly and joined the others. Anna set about at once to capture him. All of the other couples had taken separate ways, and walked alone, and so did Anna with Robert.
Robert’s heart strayed to that beautiful face which so often found its way into his thoughts, but Anna brought his heart back to her presence with mention of that dear one.
“Robert, I think I know where your thoughts dwell,” Anna boldly conjectured. “Do I do wrong to guess that it is not here on this hill with me?”
“Ah, you have guessed true, dear Anna.” Robert said with blushing cheeks.
“Robert, I know Katy like a sister, and I must speak to you upon this matter.”
“Do you come to tell me not to take away your dear friend?” Robert asked with merriment.
But Anna remained serious, and her tone was sharp. “I come not only to do that, but to warn you before you foolishly give your heart away.
“Foolish you say? How can you say this?” Robert exclaimed, his eyes flashing.
“I know the secrets that she has revealed to no one but me.” Anna said with a touch of triumph.
“But how can these foolish girls’ secrets mar the love I have for her?”
“Not ruin the love Robert, but keep you from making a mistake that can never be recovered.”
“I must know this secret to decide myself whether it will make any difference in my chance with her!”
“I will tell you Robert, all there is to know, but you first must promise you will not hate me for these words.”
“I promise!” He said with fear in his eyes.
“Katy was not always respectable, her life is tainted with a dreadful secret. One that I think will mar any man’s regard for her.” They both sat down on the grass of the hill.
“She was once low in society, so low that no man in slightly higher society would look at her, nor any woman have pity on her. But she then got a job as a maid, and rose to a slightly higher level. She was working in a respectable house, when a rich young man took notice of her, and convinced Katy to marry him. She agreed, and they were married soon after.
“They soon had a baby girl who they named Isabella. Katy adored the baby girl, and so did her husband. But the happy times did not stay with them. Katy’s husband lost his money in a bad deal, which included stocks, and they were left out on the streets. Katy soon grew to despise her husband for dragging her into this bad fortune when she could have been employed, so she left her husband, and with the baby came to Madame Harris’ house who was her mother’s friend. Madame Harris’ took her and the baby in, and here Katy has resided ever since, still married to her husband, and with the baby Isabella hidden away.”
Anna finished her story with triumph, and watched Robert as he breathed irregularly, and his face turned white with shock. “But how can this be!?”
“You must believe me Robert, for these words are truth.”
Roberts face grew angry, “How could she deceive me?!”
“She wishes to make a new start.” Anna said, feeling a pang of regret for what she had done, but still her selfish heart had hold of her.
“But how can she be married, and hope to enrapture my heart with her own?”
“She wishes to forget the dreadful past, and hope that the marriage will disappear somehow.”
“I must leave, I cannot stay here where the company is so disagreeable.”
“I knew that you would see the way that it must be, and that your love for her would not blind you to the truth. Unless she divorces him, she is not free from her former marriage and even when she does, she cannot ever erase the truth, for her child holds it.”
The couples started towards them, laughing merrily. “I cannot be seen like this, my face would tell all.”
“Yes, hide yourself quickly, and I will make an excuse for your sudden absence.” She said, rising from the grass.
Robert walked quickly away, as the couples approached with merry faces, unaware of the conversation that had just killed the hope of one, and given the other an evil advantage.
“Where has Robert gone so quickly?” Jane asked, hanging on Jack’s arm.
“Doubtless to see the one who makes his happiness complete.” Jack interjected laughingly.
They all took this as an answer, and walked lazily back to the house to ready themselves for that evening.
Anna felt that she had done the mission she had set out to do, but did not find satisfaction in it as she had thought she would.
Katy came out of her room, claiming that her head was much better, and that she would join all of them that evening. All of the party was glad, for Katy was a favorite among them.
Immediately Katy noticed Robert’s absence, and questioned Anna. “I’m afraid that I must tell you the dreadful truth Katy.”
“Has he left us on sudden business?” Katy said with fear in her eyes.
“Worse than that I’m afraid, much worse. For when I spoke of love, he said that he could not return the feeling, and must leave so that he would not burden you with his now unwelcome presence.”
Katy sat as one stunned, and her face turned as white as chalk, “How can this be, when every look and word did not disguise his regard for me?”
“His true character has been revealed Katy, he has taken advantage of you!”
Katy fainted suddenly, and was put to bed. She remained there all night. The physician came, announcing that she had a terrible fever.
No one went out that night, but stayed in the parlor whispering prayers, intermingled with tears.
Anna stayed in her room walking back and forth, her eyes lit with fire, and her handkerchief twisted in her hands.
“I will win this battle of love, I will make Robert love me in his lost love. Katy will forget this lost love and move on.” She thought to herself.
All in that house passed a sleepless night, filled with dark dreams, and dark phantoms. In the early morning before dawn, a dreadful wailing reached the sleepers ears, and they rose with a dark foreboding in each of their hearts.
They rushed to Katy’s room, and found Madame Harris wringing her hands over the white and lifeless face of Katy.
The girls all closed their eyes, and got on their knees and wrung their hands. Anna came and saw the lifeless body, saw the women and the men crying tears of anguish and joined them with a heart full of regret.
That afternoon they laid Katy in her coffin, and held a funeral. They all returned to the house, and sat in each other’s company, comforting Madame Harris as best they could.
Anna sat silent in the corner of the parlor. “Shall I run away to escape this bitter memory, or should I wait with the others?” She thought.
Anna’s heart was cold, still pursuing the one she longed to win. Robert had fled that last afternoon, but a telegram had been sent to his parents telling him of Katy’s death.
Still Katy’s dead face haunted Anna, bringing back the words she had used to destroy her. This young girl, innocent of the crimes Anna had convicted her of, rested in a cold grave, clothed in a white shroud.
A telegram came back that evening from Robert's parents with these words:
Robert returned to us, with the look of death on his face. Your telegram reached us, and he was found the next morning, hung from the ceiling of his bedroom. May God have mercy on us all!
Everyone cried, and wrung their hands, asking God for his mercy, and to take the evil curse away, that he had brought to them. Anna snuck away with the pallor of death herself.
She went out onto the moors, and cried into the wind, asking God to take her away from this awful earth, and from the reminders of the two lives she had ruined.
She went away, and no one ever heard of Anna again. But there were some rumors that she came to live in Ireland, and set up an orphanage for children, but that she never married.
But these are only rumors, and one can only guess that while she lived, her punishment for her evil deed was forever.
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