The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-07-08
Misfrll
TWO SCHEMES THWARTED.

Oaklands, Just rs the twilight of u wintr,
December afternoon was beginning u
flood the apartment with slowly-dccpcnins
shadows.
Yes answered. carelessly. Has FL
eanor told you of my intention, Cyril?
mentioned Il to her. yesterday
she spoke of it. was the reply, and i
rather surprised me. You are 50 fond o
leading n solitary existence here in this
gloomy old house-so unlike myself. Os.
car. who am perpetually making flying
visits 10 tOwn-that could scarcely credit
the information about your leaving us even
for day or two.'
Ny brother-in-law's words annoyed me,
and annoyance kept me silent for several
moments after he had uttered them. Cy'
ril Pomeroy's flying visits to town were
few Of the many features OF his lanSnid
nonchalant Incidence; and the cool eifron,
terry which he had exhibited during the
past year. usurping. so TO speak. place In
my household. was Thoroughly distastefnl
tn my sense Of legal proprietorship nj
Oaklands. To Eleanor Pomeroy. his wife
and nv own half-sister was by no means
unwilling TO offer the comforts Of n home,
Ii Is true that little affection had ever ex'
isted between us, her character being ol
a worldly-flippant sort, and our pursuits
In life differing widely; but then, on the
other hand. the fact Of my father having
totally disinherited her in his will, because
Of what he termed her low marriages with
n pennilcss adventurer,' made compassion
the motive Of INV present brotherly aid
and support. With her husband, how.
ever, the case was decidedly different.
had no objections to his residence at Oak
ar,ting himself and wife. In consideration
however. of his entire dependence upon
my income, IL had often occurrpd to me
that some effort ON Cyril Pomeroy's par.
toward AN attainment of n personal live
lihoOd, would have materially lessenet
the obligations under which he now stood
~ me, and have banished from my mind
n rather troublesome conviction that was
being most sadly imposed upon. We
have all heard the story of the beggai
who rode the free horse 10 death. Per-
sonating in the present instance. that i'll.
used animal, l was disposed To rebel
against such barhrous equcstrianism.
Yes. Cyril | remarked presently, 4
intend leaving Oakland for perhaps the
space of week. have become tired o
the country, and wish a little metropolitan
recreation
DO you intend staying with some frient
in the city?
Il have no friends there. For u man
who has spent more than half his life ir
Europe Il Is hardly extraordinary that such
should be the case
Very truc,' my brothcr-in-law answer
ell. in musing, absent tone: hut you
have acquaintanccs, Oscar, of course
None whatever. Tho word acquain.
lance would apply to most Of the people
have ever met In Europe far better per-
haps than that ill-deincd term. friend
by Jove.. Oscar said Cyril, with .
yawn. You are the most out-and-out cyni'
II has ever been my lot To behold. Pray
may l inquire your idea of what u irient
really is?'
Somebody defines gratitude answer
ell. ms "a lively sense Of flvors to come.
think friendship might suit an exactl!
similar definition
Il believe YOU are half right said Cyril
with another of his characteristic yawns
But don't YOU think he added. that pas
f,yors now and then produce something
permanent in the way Of gratitude ant
friendship?'
Possibly said. not caring to hold an
ethical discussion with man OF Cyri
Pomeroy's frivolous temperament Then
rs recollection suddenly crossed my mind
IcOntinucd. with more carnestness: Their
Is one man in the world whom l firml.
believe tn be my friend-that is l believe
him to be sincerely grateful for an act o
kindness formerly rendered; and that MAJ
have never seem
Cyril looked ut me with an expression
Of astonishment
Never scent he repeated.
No; we met in the darkness, and Sc
separated replied. with u laugh. 'lfyor
want my story, Cyril, here it is in nut
shcllr
Several years ago. while happened tc
he travelling ny night Ia diligence from
Lausanne To Guer,ion-both, as YOU ART
aware, perhaps, being places much affect
ell by all Swiss tourists-our conyeyanc,
accosted. ut the out skirts of the latter
town. second diligence bound upon pre-
cisely the opposite route. IL had passet
however. and the driver, having dc
scenicd from his seat, WAS urging violent
IN, in the most eXecr,ble French. viii
some one inside. As we had also halte'
to learn the cause Of the disturbance,
was able to listen attcntively for few
minutes. during which time the subject o
the vehement discussion gradually made
itself clear.
A passenger having forgotten his pock
et-bOok, was deSirous Of having the driver
return tn the hotel in Guer,lon where h,
had been 80 unfortunate rs To leave IL
This the driver refused to do, rs tho dis
tance back to the hotel would cause me-
slight delay. To which the passenger
he was doubtless the only one in the yehi
cle-iirmly replied that he would he un
able To paw his fare unless the return wa
made. mt the same time refusing 10 alighi
from his diligence. as II was matter q
great Importance To him to be in Laus
anne at n certain hour ON the following
morning. Whereupon the driver. wh6
WAS NJ DtSt. ~ iuDocriN, H-VHIVtcu oOi
became furious and impertinent.
To settle the quarrel l jumped from my
vehicle. and approached that in which the
stranger (whoso accent. by-the-way, sug
gcstcd his being an American) was seat
ed. Tho night was Intensely dark, Sc
that when addressed To him few cx
p,anatory words, and then passed hand
ful of Swiss coins through tho window o.
the diligence neither WAS able to catch
even glimpse of the others face. The
voice with which he thanked me. how,
ever, WAS one in which the deepest graft
tude was unmist,kably evident. have 8
vivid recollection Of his last woris q
moment before returned to my own dill.
gcnce.
Ian journeying TO Lausanne he said
.on a matter Of life and death. Whoever
you are. stranger. may God bless YOU
That is the story, Cyril l continued
and somehow I believe the man who
spoke those words Mt parting 10 be genui.
nelly my sincere friend. though In the
cotr<., ar all amman yrrl,ahilify Wa sball