Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1875-09-09

rounds and found the Pomfret carriage
waiting at my door for me it was relief.
All my interests seemed synonymous with
those of my new acquaintance, and the
demands of others subordinate.
Drive fast said, somewhat to the
coachman surprise i but ii was six O'Clock
before we arrived at the mansion.
Ii had rained hard during the day, and
the roads were bad
As gave the servant my hat in the hall,
Miss Pomfret came downstairs.
hope you have not waited dinner
for me- | said
1--WE have not dined," she answered
my brother has not come down."
She looked far from happy, ! thought
yet the serenity of her appearance / had
never yet seen entirely disturbed. There
was nothing remarkable about her but her
habitual silence, and the mournful and alb.
sent expression of her eyes, which OBJ
served for the second time.
/ went to my room TO arrange my dress.
In less than half an hour servant called
me to dinner.
| met Mr.. and Miss Pomfret IN the din
ing-room The young man was deadly
pale, and yet appeared to be nervous and
excited Fearing that something had
happened to distress him during my abb
sence | glanced narrowly at Miss Pom
fret was surprised at her heightened
color and the nervousness with which she
presided at the table Other guests were
present, several gentlemen and lady,
evidently persons of wealth and distinc-
ton yet wondered that her high breed.
ing did cot place her entirely AT ease, She
was inattentive and nervous TO a marked
extent,
Mr.. Pomfret was at first silent but en-.
tered into conversation at last, and spoke
tedly--indeed, with almost bolster
Gus mirth. Looking at his flushed brow
i gave sigh for the inward misery sus-
pected
More wine, Mr. Courtneyp he said to
one of the gentlemen Let us drink
freely-drink to forgetfulness-to Oblivion
of lifer'
There were deprecating EXPLANATIONS.
"Whatr' exclaimed Pomfret, starting To
his feet, do you wonder that gave that
toast' You think, then, that | am hap
Ply MANI"
He tossed off the wine, motioning the
Others to do the same; but we all sat mo-
tionleSs, looking at him, His manner
was excited-almost frenzied.
You think so? Ha, hal" laughing
wildly. Why, the beggar at my door Is
more to be envied than |, for there is a
curse upon me! A skeleton sits at my
daily boards here among us nowl Do
you not see it, No, no; you are blinds
Heavens! the air is fun of invisible
demons, dancing for joyl They gloat in
my miseryr
At tina, moment the truth flashed upon
me. left my seat and drew near to Pom.
fret, whispering word to the butler, who
was an intelligent and powerful man. Pom.
fret stood gazing fixedly into the air, the
empty glass in his extended hand.
Mr.. Pomfret, said, gently, trying to
catch his eye for mastery, you have
forgotten yourself; you have taken too
much wine. Let me accompany you to
your room"
Forget! cannot--forgetl" he said, IN
pathetic despair. My skeleton is before
me. There she sits--my sister. You see
her fair hair, her blue eyes like my moth
er's She thinks she will escape itso; but
she never will-never, never! The skele-
ton grins under her fair cheek, looks out
of her eyes, laughs on her lip. You see
il in her every motion. God! IL is coming
upon me. will fight to my DEATH
Mss Pomfret had arisen, and was ap.
preaching him. In her solicitude she did
not fear MN. motioned her away, but
she would not obey, and as she came near
er he sprang upon her, bending her back
rs if she were areed her agonized screams
rang through the room.
We sprang upon him, tore off his hold +,
bound him hand and foot, Already had
the rabid howl broken from his lips. lie
was frothing, raging, senseless.
When he was taken from the room, ana
all that could be done for him admins
tered In his chamber, when all the guests
had gone, and the frightened servants were
all at work under my directions, | heard
an agonized weeping. II cut my heart
like knife; recognized the tones OF En-
ma Pomfret's voice.
II was midnight before sought her out.
Her brothers raving was subdued by the
influence of powerful narcotic, but 1t
was only temporary alienation.
She lay on the library sofa. The room
was perfectly still, but ! could sec the
simmer of her dress in the dim light. !
bent over her and saw the heavy lids dart
from the fixed and mourntul eyes. put
my hand on her forehead; il was cold rs
marble.
Miss Pomfret," said. "let me give
you little care"
She murmured few words expressive
of her indifference, and / saw that she
seemed unconscious of all did. ! adj
ministered wine, ordered fire and drew
the sofa before IL; still the frigid misery
Of her face did not soften.
You must not get ILL., j said, watch.
ing her with great anxiety; VI shall
want you TO help me take care OF your
BROTHER
NO help will avail" she said apa-
thetically. Let me, too, die II will.
The utter despair Of her words forced
me to silence. Suddenly she broke into
fearless moaning, repeating her brothers
name.
oh, RAJ, my darling brother" she
sobbed " nothing more for you In life
but bars and chains. So good, so true, 80
tender TO me, and you will never know me
againl Help for him." turning to me,
/" did not my father do so, and his father
before him, and have | not long known
that there Is no help for Pomiret when
the curse Of his family oycrtakcs him
You can do no good. DR.. Leroy; you had
q .s.4