New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-03-19


the roads were bad.
As I gave the servant my hat in'the
hall, Miss Pomfret come down stairs.
Il hope you have not waited dinner fer
mev' Isaid.
I'VE have not dined," she answered;
''my brother has not come down."
She looked far from happy, thought;
yet the serenity Of her appearance I had
never yet seen entirely disturbed. There
was nothing remarkable about her but
hor habitual silence and the mournful
and absent expression of her eyes, which
observed for the second time.
went to my room to arrange my
dress. In less than half an hour ser
want called me to dinner.
met Mr.. aud Miss Pomfret in the
diningroom. The young man was deadly
pale, and yet appeared nervous and ex-
cited. Fearing that something had hap
pened to distress him during my absence.
/ glanced narrowly at Miss Pomfret. I
was surprised ct her heightened color,
and the nervousness with which she pre-
sided 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 not place her entirely at ease.
She was inattentive and nervous to .
marked extent.
Mr.. Pomfret was at first silent, but en-
tered into conversation at last, and spoke
animatedly-indeed, with almost bolster
Gus mirth. Looking at bis flushed brow,
1 gave . sigh for the inward misery sus-
pected.
"More wine, Mr.. Courtney he said to
ono of the gentlemen. ''Let us drink
freely-drink to forgetfulness-to oblivion
of lite i"
There were deprecating ordinations.
"What9" exclaimed Pomfret, starting
to his feet; ''do you wonder that gave
that toast? You think, then, I am q
happy man ?"
He tossed off the wine. motioning the
others to do the same; but we all sat mo-
tionless, looking at him. His manner
was exoited-almost frenzied.
"You think sol Hs, ha" laughing
wildly. "Why, the beggar at my door is
more to be envied than I, for there is q
curse upon me! A skeleton sits at my
daily boards here among Us now Do
Won not see it, No, NO; you are blind |!
Heayens the cir is full Of invisible de-
mons, dancing for joy! They gloat in my
misery!'
At that moment the truth flashed upon
me. left my seat and drew near to
Pomfret, whispering word to the butler,
who was an intelligent and powerful man.
Pomfret stood gazing f1edly 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
Forget! 1 can not forget !" he said,
in pathetic despair. MY skeleton is be-
fore me. There she sits-my sister. 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. I will fight to my
death"
Miss Pomfret had arisen and was ap-
him. In her solicitude she did
not fear him. l motioned her away, but
she would not obey, and as she came
nearer he sprang upon her, bending her
back as if shs were q reed; her agonized
screams rang through the room.
We sprang upon him, tore of his hold.
bound him hand and foot. Already had
the rabid howl broken from his lips. He
was frothing, raging, senseless.
When he was taken from the room, and
all that could be done for him admins
tered in his chamber, when all the guests
had gone, and the frightened servants
we're all at work under my directions,
heard an agonized weeping. 1t cut my
heart like knife; heard the tones of
Emma Pomfret's voice.
It was midnight before l sought her
out. Her brothers raving was subdued
by the influence of powerful narcotic,
but it was only temporary alienation.
She lay on the library sofa. The room
was perfectly still, hut could see the
simmer of her dress in the dim light l
bent over her. and saw the heavy lids
dart from the fixed and mournful eyes. l
put my hand on her forehead; 1t was cold
as marble.
.N1iss Pomfret," said. "let me give
you a little care"
She murmured few words expressive
of her indifference, and l saw that she
seemed unconscious of all did. ad-
ministered wine, ordered fire, and drew
the sofa before it; still the frigid misery
of her face did not soften.
"You mus. rot get H." said, watch
ing her with great secret anxiety; 81 shall
want you to help me take care of your
brother"
"No help will avail" she said, apathe-
tically. ''Let ne, too, die if will.
The utter despair of her words forced
me to silence. Suddenly she broke into
fearless moaning, repeating her brothers
name.
"Oh, Ral. my darling brother" she
sobbed; nothing more for you in life but
bars and chains. So good, SO true, so
tender to me, and you will never know
me again. Help for him" turning to me,
''did not my father do SO, and his father
before him, and have I not long known
that there is no help for Pomfret when
the curse of his family overtakes him?
You can do no good, DR.. Leroy; you had
best leave US to our despair"
She knew me, then; but hardly gave
that matter thought. l fixed my eyes
upon her face and said: 81
shall not leave you, because I love your
brother. l offered him my friendship be-
fore this attliction came, and he shall
have it now. I shall tend him to the
last"
For the first time she seemed to give me
her attention.
"Will you let me be your friend?" 1
said, after pause, taking the little. cold
hand.
eff you WILL" she syallabled.
could not persuade her to 60 to rest,
SO 1 remained by her talking.
II knew who you we're from the first,
she said Il have long known Rails delu-
sion, that l needed watching; he strug-