The weekly Panola star. [volume] (Panola, Miss.) 1857-1881, 1870-10-22
now I ESCAPED A MADHOUsE.

HUN 4 n
"bnd so you are going 10 New York,
DscarS"
Nv brother. in.law, Cyril Pomeroy,
ssked the question. We were alone In
he great old. fashioned sitting room at
Daklands, Just as the twilight OF a windy
December afternoon was beginning to
6ood the apartment in slowly deepening
5haiow.
ayes" | answered, oarelessly. "Has
Eleanor told YOU Of my intention, Cyril :
believe | mentioned 1t to her yesterday"
"She spoke of it." was the reply. at
Isther surprised mo. You are so fond OF
eading q solitary life here in this gloomy
bd house-so unlike myself, Oscar, who
I'm perpetually making flying visits to
own-thst l could hardly credit the in.
brmstion about your leaving US, " for
day or two"
NV brother.in. laws words annoyed me,
Ind annoyance kept me silent for several
noments after he had uttered them. Cyril
Pomeroy's flying visits to town" were
lew of the many features Of his languid,
honchalant Incidence; and in the cool
kffrontery which he exhibited during the
bast year, u~surping, 81 to speak, a
place in my household, was thoroughly
istsstefal to my sense of leg proprietor
3hip at 0sklauds. .
To Eleanor Pomeroy, his wife, and my
bwn half. sister, | was by no means un'
willing to offer the comforts of a home. 1t
Is true that little affection ever existed be-
tween us, her character being Of a world
Ely, fippant sort, and then, on the other
hand, the act of my father having totally
disinherited her in his will because Of
what he termed her Glow marriage with
b penniless adventurer," made compass
bon the motive for my present brotherly
Did and support.
With her husband, however, the case
vas decidedly different. / had no objec.
lion to be the means of separating himself
md wife. In consideration, however, OF
10 entire dependence upon my income,
had often occurred to me that some effort
Cyril Pomeroy towards the attainment
a personal livelihood, would materially
fssen the obligation under which he now
kood to me, and have banisbed from my
plnd a rather troublesome conviction
pat was most sadly imposed upon,
Ne have all heard the story of the beggar
pho rode the free horse to death. Per.
pnating, in the present instance, that i'll
ped animal, | wa disposed to rebel
gainst such barbarous e~questrianism.
"Yes, Cyril" | remarked presently, 81
ptend leaving Oakland for perhaps thu
pace of . week. | have become tired o.
pc country, and wish a little metropoli
IN recreation"
."Do you intend staying with somt
$iends in the city?"
VI have no friends there. For q mar
Pho has spent half his life In Europe, 1t II
Gardly extraordinary that such should b.
be case"
"Very true, brother.in law" he an
wered, in an absent, musing tone, "bu'
pu have acquaintance, Oscar, 0 fcourse.'
"None whatever. The word acquaint
bee would apply to most of the people
Rve ever met in Europe far better, per
bps, than the i'll defined term, friend"
aBy Jove, Oscar" said Cyril, with
lwn, "you are the most out and-out cyni,
has ever been my lot to behold. Pray
pay inquire your idea Of what a frient
eally is"
Somebody defines gratitude" I an
Swered, las a lively sense of favors t
ome, think friendship might suit al
31actly similar definition"
~ believe you are half right" sai(
Cyril, with another of those characterist
kyawns, "Butdon'tyo think, he added
that past favors produce something
Permanent in the way of gratitude ant
{~iendships"
Possibly" l said, not caring to holt
n ethical discussion with a man Of Cyri
Pomeroy's frivolous temperament. Then
q q recollection suddenly crossed m,
mind, | continued with more earnestnes'
There Is n man in the world whom
firmly believe to be my frlend-that Is
believe him to be sincerely grateful 70
sn act of kindness formerly rendered
and that man l have never seen."
Never seen,n he repeated.
"Wemet in darkness and so separated,
replied, with q laugh. "If you want tn
|fory, Cyril, here it is in a nutshell:
Several years ago, while / was trave
ing at night, ala diligence from Lsusann
% Guerdon both, as you are aware, pei
aaAps, being places much affected by a.
sssas tourists-our conveyance accosteds
Ne outskirts of the second town asecon
!. algence, bound upon precisely the oppt
Ieroute. II had passed, however, and tn
afiver, having descended from his sea-
vac arguing violently, in the most execrs
oe French, with some one inside. Asw
aad also halted to ascertain the cause
N ne dis .urbance, I was able to listen a
entively for . few minutes, during whic
|. ame the subject of the vehement discul
" non gradually made itself clear.
II "A passenger, having forgotten b
pocket book, was DESTROYS of having II
lflver return to the hotel in Guerdol
Where he had been 30 unfortunate as !
e leave 1t. This the driver refused to d
y the distance back to the hotel woul
eiuse no slight delay. To which the pas
slger-he was, doubtless, the only one
me vehicle-frmly replied that he woul
y unable to pay the fare unless the :
urn was made, at the same time refusir
h slight from the diligence, as 1t was
n as.ter of great Importance to him TO l
+ y Lausanne ct Q certain hour on the Il
owing morning. Whereupon the drive
ssao was at best q lubberly, ~ill-natur'
0ot became furious and impairment
10 settle the quarrel, l jumped fro
~ vehicle and approached that In viii
me Stranger (wlrose accents, BY the wa
usgested his being al hmerican) "
MMased. The night wal intensely dark,
/. nst when / approached and addressed
I'm 4 fevv awnaratorv uorda. and tn