Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-05-08
MAY 8, 1851:

(half way round down the back, and at several
portions of the body. At one point between
the shoulders the inflammation seemed TO have
gathered, and several points, on being opened,
exhibited hard skin and mucous substance
beneath. The physician said he was entirely at
fault in ascribing, or attempting to ascrlbe, the
singular death to any cause he knew Of. That
he had never met with, or read Of, any sudden
demise with such symptoms. We attended to
the burial Of M. Vairenn's body,
About month afterwards wes sitting in my
room, thinking of this heart-rending tragedy,
which still haunted my brain with its ghostly
features and suggestions. My servant inter-
rupted my reverie by bringing me my file OF
German periodicals. The very first review
opened to was headed an. Pentern's Thoughts
on the Electric Agent Pentefn surely that
was M. Vairenn's uncle, of Mentz. | laid it
-asias 7for the@ights reading, and passed oA 70
some of the newspapers. The very first edto-
rial paragraph that met my eye in the Zeitung
was a statement that Pentern had been elected
to the Presidency Of the Institute at Wurtzburg
OH the Mayne, in consideration of the power
displayed by his new Treatise on Electricity,
joined with compliments to his work. There
seemed to be some vague and agtatlng latent
association in my mind with these announce
ments. picked up the review, and read on
untiI had 6n;sbn1 twn M rnc Mr. pantnrns
work was the same that Vairenn had read 10 me
in his study With really appalling effect, the
truth flashed on me intuitiyely: | was convinced
that NJ Pentern had been in some way connect
ed with my friends death. determined 10 pros
ecute the investigation; and for this intent,
wrote on to the publishers for the treaties Itself,
in order to see the truth of my first discovery
from extracts in the Review confirmed thereby.
l Immediately set to thinking over the matter,
and very early on the following day set off for
my late friends cottage. first settled in my
mind that M. Vairenn had died somehow by his
uncles hand; and the motive of the latter was
to secure the essay on electricity for his own,
which had probably been read to him in conf
dence.
He was known TO have had secret ill-feeling
toward his nephew when they were together at
Mentz; there was motive enough surely. But
it was fact that M. Pentern had gone off the
day before Vairenn died; and that, too, accord
ing to his sisters account, in the morning. 1t
was true, also, as learned of the same source,
that NJ. Vairenn had been away to friends
house, seven miles distant, for two days before
his uncle left, and had only returned the morn
ing he left, about two hours BEFORE | asked his
sister how Pentern was occupied during his
nephew's absence, informing her of my suspl.
cions as to my friends death she replied thai
he rarely left the study. asked her where NJ
Vairenn was on the remnant of the day Of NJ
Reniern's daparture--and whether he had beer
in his study. She said that having been absent
so long he had remained with her in the parol
until dinner-tme, that in the afternoon he hat
gone with fishing party on the lake, and hat
not returned till bed time-he had only gont
in his study moment for his tackle, before tn,
next fatal day.
The body Of NJ. Vairenn bore no marks o
violence; if NJ. Pentern had been instrumental
in his death it must have been by means of poisol
But he must either have administered this b,
brbing servant, or by some indirect metho
have given it himself-this part of the train o
conclusions was very barren. | asked Elean
if they had taken glass of wine together o.
the day Of Pentern's leaving. No. If NJ. Vair
enn had eaten anything during the day-an,
what. On reflection she said she really beliey
ed he had not tasted a mouthfu in the house 70
five days before his death He had eaten n
dinner on the day his uncle left, excuslng him
self by saying he had taken a lunch at the Ho
tel des Voyageurs, three miles above, he has
come from the lake at bed time and had gon,
to bed on the next morning he had gone int
his study before taking coffee and had not COM
out again. To support my theory, then, it mus
be found that NJ. Pentern had arranged poisoI
of some description in the study, where HI
knew it would have effect in the regular cour
of Vairenn's customs. The scroll on which th'
Treatise of Electricity was written was in Sc
cret drawer; in all probability he had arranged
it in connection with the escrtoir containing
this drawer, so that it should have effect onl.
when the paper was sought. asked now to bt
shown into the study, which they told me wa
precisely as it was the morning of Vairenn'
burial and so found it. commenced looking
about. The escritolr, if it remained untouchet
had not been opened by Vairenn; approached
it; touched the spring of the drawer, and foun
it empty was convinced of my suspicion
My thoughts now ranged about the room to dis
cover the medium of death rackcd my brai
vainly, and as twilight was casting thick shaC
ow on the dial of the western window | was a
most in despair. To collect my thoughts for
final effort, threw myself into NJ. Vairenn
chair.
Oh, God !" cried Eeann, at that momeI
entering the door, and supporting herself b
it {" what ails you How much like him yo
look !"
: had thrown myself in M. Varenn'a chaiI
but no sooner had done so, than found kee
pang between my shoulders; sprang forwal
| in pan and EIeann, entering at the time, WI
! shocked at the resemblance between myself,
r the time, and her brother, when she found hi
4 dead. The remark struck me; kept my pos
= ton and observed it; in one instant the enti
e secret was revealed rose up, although
$ pain.
= The chair in which sat was one Of velv
cushioning, of curious ouken-carving on the leg
: arms, and back; the velvet thickly wodded
# as far as the back Of the head. | have said tn
if the secret was revealed to my senses, which n
$ understanding was at fault in inventing ca