Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1865-04-05
agreed that your proposal is one which
cannot be entertained.
Il am, sir, your ohedient servant,
LAURENCE ARNOLD"

cannot be entertained
Il am, sir, your ohedient servant,
LAURENCE ARNOLD"
This cold, curt reply to nv letters
strucl, upon NY heart like lead. Whatin
the world could be the explanation Of It's
chilly tone and Iaconic style =? TO this
question my suspicious supplied the read ?
answer
The servants had done IT, I had offend
ed them, betraying at the same time the
fact of my MYSTERIOUS visions They had
taken their vengeace by repoeting me in
the village as man subjcc. to insane de-
lusions Perhaps they were right At
any rate | knew how readily such reports
would ay about; how likely they were al
ready to have reached the cars of Mr.
Arnold and his family
As my body gradually recovered from
the effects of the overdose my spirits re-
vived. 1T evening l endeavored dispas-
sionately to review all that had occurred,
and to resolve upon some sensible and de-
cisive line of action was deferred from
searching the house from end to end only
by the remembrance that the servants
would certainly take such an act as fresh
evidence Of my madness; and many an
other scheme for the solution of the enig-
ma fitted through my brain
The sudden recollection of the case Of q
certain English nobleman, whose end had
been foretold to him, | remembered, In \
vision somewhat similar to my own once
more depressed and unnerved me and
was struggling hard against this reaction,
when my attention was arrested by q
knock at the front door
4 few minutes afterward a card was
brought 70 me. The gentleman whose
name it bore had inquired for the master
Of the house but, learning his absence,
he asked to see any one who might be
considered to represent him.
| started at the sight Of the name which
was familiar to me Alfred Endcrby was
a young physician who, with his father,
conducted a private luEatic asylum. He
had formerly been an intimate friend Of
mine; but some time had elapsed since
our last meeting.
was annoyed and almost alarmed
when | first realized who had arrived
thinking that some oficious Healthfcld
friend, having heard os my spectral visit
E,,l
ed mad doctor" to my aid But upon
reflection this seemed so unlikely, and,
further, as Endcrby came into the room
his surprise and delight at seeing me were
so unmistakable, that quietly laid aside
my suspicious, and gave him a most hearty
welcome.
He now inquired the cause of my sorry
appearance The question led me fully
to narratc the circumstances which dur
ing the last day or two, had been giving
me so much uneasiness; and tho relief
which it afforded nc to do so wa5 great
and immediate
He listened with an interest which
mauifcstly increased as I proceeded. The
earnest attention, indeed, with which he
heard the story, and the deep thought
which it seemed to awaken in his mind
surprised me. | concluded my narration
by saying So, now, my dear fellow
do, if you can, enlighten me as to these
strange visitations. At any rate, ! hope
you viii not do as people here have done
-as | myself have once or twice been in
clined to do-pronounce me madmau."
"You arc rs sane as am" was The
reply.
Well" 1 said, at is comfort to be
told that by SO experienced judge as
yourself
/ think" said the young physician, ii
is in my power to give you further com
fort still, to clear up altogether the per
plexity under which you have been labor
ing.
opened my eyes ihcredulousiy.
"Yes," continued Enderby, "such is the
fact indeed Let me tell you frs. that
your own story relieves me from doubt
full anxiety which it has been the object
Of my journey to dispel In return to this
good service | undertake, in making known
to you that object, to deliver you from
your own difficulty
1 drew my chair to the Doctors side
for he spoke in an undert0ne.
You remember, probably be began
"a family named Merivale, who formerly
resided, as | am told, in this very house 2
Certainly" / answered; Sin my boy
hood the daughters were often my com
Fanions."
"About ten years since, my friend con
tinued, at date later, | believe, than thai
at which you and your friends left the vi
lage, this family met with reyerses Of for.
tune. The ruin. in fact, was complete
They left the place, and sale was held
at this house. Will briefly 20 through
all the circumstances, although with many
of them you may already be familiar.
'sThe Merivales felt the bow keenly-
The father and mother both died within
year Of the date Of their misfortupr 3 az,