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

The breakfast bell jingied. and III
turned quickly.
''Let rs go in. Emma will mis-
us"
"HOw much he looks like his faith
err" l thought again ,as he seated him
self at the table.
For the delicate aud brilliant smile
came back in his sisters presence
HIS manner, with its singular atten
tiOn for her, was 3 study. / Could no
but admire them both. At last we
rose from the table.
Miss POmfret went tn the window,
where she stood feeding 9 gOldfinch
between the bars Of his cage, with
sugar; yet felt that she heard every
word her brother said
"I will send you by the earrisge, y
he said, in a low voice. "You will
not fall to return with il at any hour
you may choose It is at your dis.
| pOsal."
"I will return" I answered as
quietly as possible.
"Emma," said the young gentle
man. 'I shall ba engaged In my
chamber all day. do not wish to be
disturbed until our hour of dining,
have writing to do. / shall probably
! finish it by O'Clock. I" looking at his
watch.
"ShalI send up luncheon ?"
mo do not disturb me Ou any ae-
cOunt-li
every well, :" she answered.
Her voice was singularly placid
and sweet, I turned to look at her as
left the room. She looked so small,
so fairy like, so appealing lovely, that
invOluntarily paused. Her cheek
was very pale | had observed that
when she first came down. Now !
thought she looked into my face with
an expression OF sadness and sOrrOw-
full appeal. 1t was very strange, but
there was nothing in her appearance
to warrant the suspicion / had regard
ing her.
al am afraid you anticipate a lone
ly day, Miss POmfret ?'' said.
She shook her heal with a faint
smile. 81 am used to being alone. 1
don't mimi it."
"Can | execute auy commission for
you in town ?''
"No, thank you; / neeI nothing"
she answered.
She sat down on little lounge OF
rose-cOiOred velvet, her white dress
sweeping the floor, and = tiny Blen-
beim spaniel leaping after the long
tassels which depended therefroU.
Her face was bent down to him, but
there was a smile upon It.
"Fhere are some sorrows which
even wealth cannot alleviate" said
to myself; and went away with an
aching heart.
She was SD young, so lOvable, it
seemed hard indeed, for the brother
to bear. | thought, if she were my
sister, that it would break my heart.
L thought of the matter sc its worst,
and wondered what he could do with
out her.
/ could not decide yet what course
it was best for me to take; but / was
determined that no power of mine
should be spared to save the happi-
ness of this young and lovely girl. /
was 81 lost in thought upon the sub
ject that the days duties were irksOme
TO me, and when returned from my
rounds and found the Pomfret car
riage waiting at my door for me, it
was relief. All my interests seemed
synonymous with those of my new
acquaintances, and the demands of
others subordinate.
"Drive fast" said, somewhat tn
the coaohmsn's surprise but it was
o'clock before we arrived at the man.
sion.
1t had rained hard during the day
and the roads were bad.
As gave the servant my hat ia
the hall, Miss POmfret came down
stairs.
'I hope you have not wait .I dinner
for me !" 1 said.
"We have not dined," she an
swered T; my brother has not come
down."
She looked far from happy, /
thought; yet the serenity of her APP
pearance L had never yet seen entire
~ disturbed. There was nothing re-
markable about her but her habituai
silence, and the mOnrnful and absent
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 q
servant called me to dinner.
/ met Mr.. and Miss Pnmfret in the
dinning-roOm. The young man was
deadly pale, and yet appeared nerv-
ous and excited. Fearing that some
thing hSd happened to distress him
during my absence, glanced narrow
ly aI Miss POmfret. / was surprised
at her heightened color, and the nerv-
business with which she presided at
the table. Other guests were present,
several gentlemen and lady, evil
IDENTIFY persons of wealth and dissinc-
ton yet l wondered that her high
breeding did not place her entirely at
ease. She was inattentive and ner-
voUs 10 a marked extent.
Mr.. POmfret was at first silent, but
entered into eOversatiOn at last, and
spoke animatedly-indeed, with al
most bOisterOus mirth. Looking at
his flushed brow, l gave a sigh for the
inward misery / suspected.
"MUre wine, Mr.. Courtney !" he
said to one OF the gentlemen. "Let
US drink freely-drink to forgetfulness
to oblivion of life !'i
There were deprecating exelama-
tiOns.
"What % exclaimed P0mfret, start
ing 10 his feet; "dO YOU wonder that
I gave that toast? You think, then,
1 am happy man ?"
He tossed off the wine, mOtiOning
the others to do the same but we sli
sat motlonless, looking at him. His
manner was exeitAd-almOst frenZied.
"You think so? Hs, ha % laugh
ing wildly. "Why, the beggar at my
door is more to be envied than /, for
there is curse upon me A skeleton
sits at my daily boards here among
us now : Do you not see it =? No,
no; you are blind ! Heavens the
air is full of invisible demons, dancing
for joy They glOat in my misery p'
At that moment the truth flashed
upon me. left my seat and drew
near to POmfret, whispering q word
to the butler, who was an intelligent
and powerful mas. POmfret stood
gazing fixedly into the air, the empty
glass in his extended hand.
"Mr. POmfret," said, gently try
ing to catch his eye for mastery.
'YOu have forgotten yourself you
| have taken too much wine. Let me
accompany you to your room."
"FOrget 1 cannot forget pp he said
in pathetic despair. "My skeleton is
before me. There she sits-my sis
ter. You see her fair hair, her blue
eyes like my mothers. She thinks
she will escape it so but she never
will-never, never The skeleton
grins under her fair cheek, looks out
of her eyes, laughs on her lip. You
see it in her every motion. God it is
coming upon me. will fight to my
death.n
Miss Pomfret had arisen, and was
approaching him. In her sOlicitude
she did not fear him. l mOtioned her
away, but she would not obey, and IS
she came nearer he sprang upon her.
bending her back as IL she were 8
/ reed her agonized screams rang
through the room.
We sprang upon him, tore off his
hold, hound him hand and foot
Already had the rabid howl broken
from his lips. He was frothiug, rag
ing, senseless.
When he was taken from the room,
and all that could be done for him ad.
ministered in his chamber, when al
the guests had gone, and the fright
ened servants were all at work under
my directions, I heard an ag0Eized
weeping. 1t cut my heart like 6
knife recognized the tones OF EN-
1 ma POmfret's voice.