Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1867-01-18


just then and there, when st. Victor
!, laughed that subtle laugh and his sis
ter vaoantly destroyed the red flower
! IA conviction rushed into the physi
clans mind, or rather, we may say
pierced it through like a ray of Gghi
in a darkened room.
Instantly all was clear to him. From
that moment he was cool and watchful
/ but so panied with this sudden knOwl.
I edge of the true state of the case thai
he wished himself well out of thai
splendid house, back in his own drea-
Il ~ office. He wished himself away
/ because he already loved these young
people, and his sympathy with them
was too keen to allow him further tC
enjoy himself; yet, in all his medical
/ experience, he had never been so IN
| terested with a professional interest
As a physician, he felt keen pleasure
as a friend a keen pain. His faculties
each sprang to its post, awaiting the
next development of the scene.
While Mr.. Marchand was giving
some order to his steward, the beauti-
Il ful girl at his other hand leaned to-
ward him, and also whispered conf
dentially in his ear DR. Graham, il
you really are my brothers friend,
pray you watch him closely, and tell
me at some future time If you have
any fears-any suspicious of-Oh, /
implOTe you, sir, do not deceive me :!
Her eyes we're filed with tears, her
voice chOked.
The thing was absurd. Its ludicrous
| aspect struck the listener, almost fore
ing him to laugh while the tears, at
the same time, arose responsive in
in his own eyes.
A clock on the mantel rhimed nine
/ The steward placed on the board the
last delicacies of the feast,-Neapoli-
tan creams and orange-W8ter ice.
Edith chooses luscious things like
/ creams. remarked her brother
Which viii you have docter ? As
for me, / prefer ices they cool my
warm blood, which is fierce like trO-
pie air. All, this is delicious [ am
/ feverish, I believe ; and the scent of
the orange brings back visions of our
dear island home"
| He paused, as if his mind were again
on the vine-clad hills of the blessed
| isle. Then he spoke, suddenly
Edith, have some of this p
| She smiled, shaking her head.
But you mast You need it. Don
you agree with me, doctor, that it Is
just what she requires p
He spoke In a rising key, with a rap
/ id accent. Edith reached forth her
hand, and took the little dish of or
ange ice. 1t shook ike lily In the
wind but she said, softly and with
apparent ealmnesss,-
/ Anything to please you, brother.
[ will choose this every day # you
/ think it good for me,
He gave her a satisfied look Then
there was a brief silence which their
4 guest was about to dissipate with a
playful remark, when st, Victor turn
ed abruptly to the steward, -.
Thompson" " he cried. now bring
in the skeleton r
What, sir ~ stammered the aston
ished servant.
Bring in the skeleton. I said. Do
you not know that the Egyptians al
ways crown their feasts with death s
head :? Bring it in, / say, and place it
i there r.
Half-rising in his seat, he pointed
to the vacant space behind his sisters
/ chair.
/ The man now smiled, thinking his
master jested but his expression
grew more questioning and anxious as
the bright eyes turned upon him gilt
teriBg in anger.
Why am l not obeyed Bring in
the skeleton, I repeat. and place it be-
/ hind my sisters chair 1t is in the
! house you will have no difficulty in
finding it. 1t has lUrked here long. l
have been aware of its presence these
many mOuths,-alWays following, fol-
lowing my dear Edith shadow in
her steps You see how young and
fair she Is but it is all holloW-ashes
F-cofin- dust! She does not know Of
it she has never even turned her
head when it lurked behind her but
tonight she must make its acquain-
tance. 1t will not longer be put off.
/ Our feast Is nearly over. Bring it in,
4 Thomson. and we will salute it.
I The steward, with a puzzled look,
turned from one to another of the
company. Miss Marchand had risen
to her feet, and was regarding her
brother with terrified eyes, stretching
out her hands toward him. The doc
tor, too, arose, not in excitement, but
with commiDgled pain and resolution
stamped upon his features ! while his
gaze rested upon the face of St Vic
tor until the eyes of the young man
+ were riveted and arrested by the doc
tors demeanOr. A flush then diffused
itself gradually over Marchand's pale
couutenance his thin nostrils quiver-
ed his fingers tWitched and tTembled
aud sought his bosom, as if in search
of something concealed there, Then
/ he laughed once more that short, ner-
yous laugh so significant to the physi-
clan ears, and cried, in a high tone
80, Edith, you did not know thai
you were going mad ? I did. I've
watched you night and day this lODg
time have all along been afraid il
would end as 1t has-On Christmas
night That was the day our father
tried to murder our mother. An an,
niyersary, then, we have tonight cele
brated. Ha, ha And you didn,t
know the skeleton was awaiting ad
mittance to the banquet
His eyes cleaned with a light at
E once of delight and with malice bu
, he quietly added -
But I shall not harm you, you de-
mented thing, you beautiful insanity
! There doctor, didn't I tell you tC
: watch her-tO read her--to compre
: hend the subtitle thing So full o.
2 art and duplicity But look at hel
n0W-nOlC one is as MAD as the ser
= pent which has poisoned itself with it'
Il own fangs-mad-mad o God ! hal
: it come to this2 But knew it-kneV
, the skeleton was her skeleton-th,
bones without her beautiful flesh
! We've had enough of it now. TAX,
| 1t away, Thompsou,--hurry it away Z
4 Appear TO obey him. Pretend that
5 you take something from the room,
] said DIR. Graham, in an undertoGe, Il
i, the servant, while 81. Vietor's eyes
t were fixed glaring and lurid upon hi'
a trembling, agonized, speeehless sister
a The skeleton had, in truth appeared
3 at the Christmas feast.
Laying his hand firmly upon tht
t young mans wrist the doctor said
Mr.. Marchand, you're not well to
| night. You are Over-tatigued. Shal
we 60 up stairs p
st. Victor's quickly flashing gaz
was met By that clear, resolute, almos
b fierce response in the physician's eye
before which he hesitated, then shrank
I The mad man had his master befor