The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1875-09-02


She smiled a little, and tasted it ;
butt saw that she was trembling very
much.
"Good child" he said, playfully /;
then suddenly he rose from the table
and threw himself into another chair.
"Are you III, RAJ ," asked Emma
starting D her feet.
"No, but my head aches terribly" /"
pressing his hands to both sides OF his
forehead. Then, seeming to recover
himself, he added, "I hope you will
excuse me. seemed to be losing my
eenses. II SIR. Richmond will excuse
me for moment, will retire to my
ROOM"
"Iset me accompany you ~ I ex.
claimed. II may be sunsiroke."
forgot that might be revealing
my professional character, as I ae-
eOmpanied him to a chamber, and
examined his condition.
Miss Pomfret came in, bent over
her brother, and parted the hair upon
his forehead.
"Is he going 20 be ill?" she asked
me.
"No, think not" / answered,
somewhatsat loss for q moment
under her clear eyes.
As she sat there, caressing his fore
head, he fell into deep sleep.
Sne closed the window beside the
bed softly, and We went down stairs.
Though had not mad a fever. it is
true that WAS not well, and 1 did
not entertain the idea of returning
home that night. When Miss Pomfret
asked me if ] would enter the library
I asked TO be shown my room. Not
only was / exhausted in body, but
shrank from q tete-z-tefe with her !;
my false position was embarrassing I;
and / was not prepared for my part.
NJ Y room was a perfect boudOir OF
luxury, aud lay awake for long
time watching the moonlight SHIN
mer on the lace curtains. At last il
crept up to q picture npOn the wall.
It WAS the portrait of man. / had
not noticed il at ali before | eXtin-
guisned my light. Itseemed to CLEAN
out suddenly upon the wall as ]
caught sight OF it. L spraHg up on
my elbow to look at it.
A remarkable alert, nervous figure
of q gentleman, not more than 80
years old, with a pale, delicate, and
sweet countenance. The eyes were
very large and melancholy ; and l
thought detected in them a slight
wiidnes of expression. There was
something Winning and fascinating
in the face. It was beautifully paint
ed, aud seemed fixed on mine, and to
gaze down on me with = baffi ing
meaning which thrilled me. As l
sank back, still felt them watching
me-
Still half conscious of the portrait,
I fell into an uneasy slamber.
could not have slept long, when /
was awakened by q slight noise near
me. l half opensd, then closed my
eyes, for / saw that some one was
looking at me.
1t was a woman. She had long fair
hair unbound, and lighted taper in
her hand. thought it was Miss
POmfret.
had no idea what il meant; / on
ly felt that l must not stir /; that |
must counterfeit sleep. IL must have
been for nearly five minutes that she
stood and looked at me. Then she
turned softly away, aud after glanc-
ing about the room, looked up at the
picture on the wall. [ opened my
eyes andswatehed her. Her face was
too sad for tears she sighed heavily,
and turned slowly away. saw, as
she went, that it was Mics POmfret.
She closed the door softly; then all
was quiet. A thought flashed over
me as lay. The girls brain was af-
feeted.
l could not sleep after that; I was
50 excited with my discovery. Her
case was evidently rare one; its
symptoms almost too subtle for dis
covery, but now / had the clue |
could soon determine an opinion. 1t
was plain that this was what the
brother limited at-what he feared.
remember with what suspicion she
had regarded me for a moment the
previous evening, and how nervous
and anxIous she had repeatedly sp-
peared later. Was she conscious of
her own weakness, then ? 1 wonder
ed what her motive was in coming to
my room, resolving that if / remain
ed at South Clyde another night /
would lock my door.
Quite early, and not very much re-
freshed, / found my way to the break
fast room the next morning. Pom
fret, in a rich dressing gown, was
walking to and fro. He greeted me
in subdued manner, and then COM
menced to walk to and fro again in
an absent and pre-Occupied manner.
was silent, for felt the impOr-
tance Of my subject, and unwilling to
breach it while the servant went in
aud out laying the cloth for breafast.
At last said, "Shall we take stroll
in the garden, MIR. PJmfret ?"
He lifted his eyes to mine with
such look of intense pain that | was
startled.
1--WE shall have time for little
chat, shall we not, before breakfast ?"
l asked.
"Yes-oh, yes" he answsred hur-
richly.
He seemed so agitated that I pitied
him. He diyined that / had made a
discovery, and dreaded the revelation
of it. He took his hat in his hand
but did not put it on we went down
the steps, saw that there was q few
erish color upon his cheeks, and he
seemed to court the dewy morning
breeze, which was very fresh and rath-
er chilled me.
We walked the length of a long
psth edged with pansies and pinks
before the silence was broken.
"I have made a discovery" | said,
at last.
He flashed upon me an inexpress-
ible look-furtive, defiant, fearful and
something more.
VI am sorry, very sorry TO pam
yOu," / said, "but you probably al
ready anticipate what L believe /
have divined-that your sisters mind
is affected"
He grew very pale; and yet l
thought he breathed easier than he
had done a moment before. But he
was very much agitated, and sat
down upon rustic bench, crushing
his hat with trembling hands.
"Before proceed to any measures,
1 would like you to tell me anything
of your family history which bears
upon the matter" / said. ''If this
disease Is hereditary"
at is-it is % he interrupted eager
ly. "My father died inssne-my
grandfather, also"
"The tendency is on your fathers
side of the family, then ?"
"Yes. Ny mother was singuarl,'
healthful in mind and body. MOI
robust, but souna and even-lemprr-
ed.n
"She was blonde 9'
Yes" tiisf
"Your father was dark complex
iOned and of a nervous tempera-
ment?n
"He was ?n
''Is that a portrait of him which
hangs in the room l occupied last
night ?"
As expected, he replied in the af-
firmative. had already noticed the
resem blance in the whole appearance
OF the young msn. The same ele-
CANT, active figure the same brill
iant. Inelancholy face
at Is frightfnl mslady t. have ia
q family" he said, trembling. He
looked toward the house, and his
glance wandered to one of the upper
windows.
"rhat window is barrel on the in
side" ," he said, in low tone.
"FOr what reason ?'i
"My father died there" he almost
whispered. He trembled so that |
reseated him and laid my hand upon