Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1875-01-16

last night was known hereby that namel"
Bogus, bogus" answered the man,
turning to the piano and drumming with
his hand.
Where is he, and where is his
family"
"How should know3 They treated
me i'll; but now that 1 am restored to nay
rights they may escape-yes, they may
escape" He said this with a dreamy
air, and still drumming.
knew not what to think, what to do.
Could this mans story be true? Ger
tain it was that the Dithmars, one aud
ALL had flown, and that was in favor of
its truth; besides, 1 remembered the
effect on the family Of the intruder's
first appearance-the blank amazement,
the utter crush, Dithmar's unquestion-
ing submission, the dismissal of the
guests, Mary's last words at parting with
me-and 1, too, began to admit suspicion
and doubt Then I reflected that this
was cruel and unkind in me, and i'll
second I bethought me of legal aid.
just at that instant one of the outer
windows was raised from without and at
it appeared the head and shoulders of
Duff.
"Hallo - cried the worthy, "what's
up?"
went to him and whispered
"Not a word Come in and watch
this man until [ return"
Duff, amazed, and not knowing what
to make of the aspect of things, obeyed.
ran for the constable. L found that
officer, and armed with the requisite au-
thority, we were soon on our way back
to the Dithmar mansion to solve the
problem that had been presented by
law. At the door, much to my surprise
and JOY, met Mrs. Dithmar in her bon
net.
"Mr. Simpson" " said she, in voice
that yet had tremble in it !; ''I am SO
glad you've come. It's all over; he's
gone. :"
| dismissed the constable on Mrs.
Dithmar's assurance that there was no
further need of his services, and went
in. Duff and the lady were the only
persons present. My late companion,
the intruder, was nowhere to be seen.
"What's become of him ?" I asked.
Duff made answer with laugh:
" His keepers took him off. "
"What9" cried I, with a look that
demanded explanation.
Mr.. Simpson" said Mrs. Dithmar,
that poor creature who has SO sorely
troubled us is my husbands demented
brother. He has been confined in lu-
matte asylum for some years, and none
of our children have ever seen him be-
fore. Yesterday he escaped and came
direct to N, and at night, attracted
by the lights, he broke in upon us here.
His coming to our house was purely ac-
cidental, for he did not know, until he
saw us, that we resided at N. Once
among us, his malady (Which takes the
form you saw broke out afresh; and
knowing from experience that the poor
man is sometimes as fierce and blood
thirsty as savage, we dismissed the
guests and then left the house tempora-
rily, while Mr.. Dithmar went to the asy-
lum for the keepers. Fearing to alarm
or arouse the maniac, we let the lights
burn, and left him in possession. The
rest is soon told. The keepers, Mr..
Dithmar and the lunatic, have Just this
instant gone, and now, if you please,
you and Mr.. Duff may go and bring the
girls home. They are at Els, on the
main street"
Thus ended the strange story-the
curious adventure that sprang out of the
"Ball at Dithmar's and now, after
lapse of years as [ think of it, [ shudder
as l speculate on what might have
CHANGED had fortune not favored me
while / was alone with him and was
serving with all my might to irritate a
dangerous and unscrupulous maniac.