The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-07-08
ion between Cyril and myself was inter

ton between Cyril ana mySeu was inter-
rupt,'d.
Rather late that evening. while sal
reading in the library. my sister Eleanor
Joined me, contrary to her usual custom,
In the same apartment. There had never
been positive coldness between Mrs Pom
eroy and myself. n sort of mutual agree
ment not TO disagree always, showing It.
self in our behavior each towards each.
Personally. my sister was rather hand
some woman. tall, well-moulded, and oi
the brunette typo; her face, however. had
u severity of outline not altogether pleas
ing-or. so the calm regularity OF its fca-
lures oflen impressed me.
Tonight Elcanor's manner differed
greatly from its usual quiet politcncss.
Indeed, n sort of aiIectionate warmth
seemed to difiIuse itself through her tones,
rs she said earnestly:
4 am glad you intend going to town
for few days. Oscar. You certainly
need the change. A little holiday from
those dreadfully philosophical books you
are SO fond of reading will, Am sure.
benefit you immensely. was saying To
Cyril only short time ago, that I sincere
ly wished you would regard the suggcs-
tons l have lately been making about
this same trip which you now mediate.
brother. They were very timid suggcs-
tions.' she added. with smile, but fiat
ter n: :yself you have understood them.'
was on the point of saying word or
two with regard tn the suddenness Of my
sisters real or assumed interest In my af-
fairs, but checked the impulse, and mere
ly answered.:
Il have noticed y slight anxiety on your
part. Eleanor, for me to vary these lonely
habits of mine with little city gaiety.
You will certainly start to morrow
she asked.
Certainly / replied.
A few more words followed, and then
Eleanor rose 10 leave the library. Paus-
ing on the threshold. however, she asked
.And about DIR. Pomeroy, Oscar-Cy-
ril's brother. l mean. You will pay him
n visit this time, won't you? You recol-
lect how earnestly asked you to do so
when you last went to town"
Yes, Eleanor said, 'and also recol-
lect how refused TO grant your wish. 1
never could quite understand your eager
ness to have me visit DIR. PomerOy, know
ing rs you do my disinclination toward
making new acquaintanccs.'
My gaze was fixed rather keenly on
Eleanor's face while spakc these words,
and without returning il directly, she
hastily answered.:
Both Cyril's and my own reason for
urging you tO visit the Doctor was simply
because we felt assured that you would
like him. He is u man Of culture and
education, has spent several years In
European travel. and converses fluently
on almost every topic. He has heard
Cyril and myself speak of you, Oscar,
and has more than once requested an in
troduction.'
Very WELL I said after moments
hesitation. to please your caprice, Elean'
or, I will pay u call upon this entertain
ing gentleman. Ask Cyril, by-the-way.
to give me an Introductory note to him
before leave
On the following morning the note was
handed to me by my brother-in-law. My
consent To visit DIR. Pomcroy had evident.
" gr,tifed both himself and wife, though
their singular interest in this matter wa'
not little puzzling and mysterious.
On the fourth day after my arrival In
New York. ! left the hotel Mt which
was staying. and entered carriage FOL
the purpose of being driven to the resi-
dence of Cyril's brother-one situated nj
quite distance from the city proper
and in the suburban settlement, II | may
so term 1t, of Manhattanvillc. The
drive was q long and rather tedious ono
and at length terminated before a large
and imposing house built of granite. and
situated in lonely portion of the road
which il faced.
Knowing that DR.. Pomeroy was the
proprietor of what Cyril called private
sanitorium. or refuge for invalids, l was
still little surprised Mt tho spacious
building of which now found him m
occupant. Being ushered into n hand
somely furnished drawing-room, by u re-
spectacle looking man-servant, who an.
swered my summons mt the door, had
To wait but n few minutes for tho doctor
to make his appearance. l had sent tc
him in place of card Cyrils letter o
introduction. aud he entered with Its
broken envelope in his hand, smiling cor,
daily, the very picture of q genial and
| gentlemanly host.
I found little resemblance between DR.
Pomeroy and his brother ut Oaklands, In
either physical or mental sense. His
manners had none of Cyrils languor, be
ing briskly viracious, and ut the same
time easy and polished. The beginning
cf our conversation was unattended by
any of those awkward pauses, which Sc
frequently occur between strangers. DIR,
Pomeroy. before / was aware Of the
fact, had drawn me from the niche oI
my customary reserve, so to speak. and
l was listening with attention, while
freely discussed the subject Of nv late ex.
tensive travels in Europe. We spoke
principally Of Switzerland, topic on
which found the doctor no less OF an
enthusiast than myself. His questions
concerning the especial portions of Swift
zcrland which had visited in my tour
through that most charming of CO. ntries,
were. noticed, both frequently and earn
estly asked. l recollect when our talk
touched upon Gucr,len. narrlting the lit
tie incident Of my beiriending the strlng-
er in the diligence, u story which the
reader has already hcarl. At its conclu-
sion rose Ia 90, feeling that my two
hours In DIR. Poneroy's society had been
most agreeably spent.
Il am going to request n favor Of You,
the doctor remarked. politely notionins
me to resume my seat: 81 wish to
write few lines Ia my brother. Cyril,
and shall ask You. please. to be the bearer
Of them. l shall not detain you long,
he added. approaching small writing
table in one corner Of the apartment. In
the meanwhile, let me furnish you with
book Of Swiss prints, which l am sure
will pleasantly occupy your few moments
Of waiting
While speaking. the door touched a
hand bell on the writing-table before him.
The instrument gave forth n clear. sharp,
metallic sound, and almost instantaneous
" its summons WAS answered by the
quick opening Of n door Mt tho further end
Of the room.
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