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

We were walking toward the house.
Nv companion was . young man ofabout
tventv. {brr. very hAndsome, with = pale
face. of remarkable sweetness.
1--WE must 60 in directly" he. said. Il
can not stop to talk with you here. My
sister my be observing us from window.
Understand. you are not q physician, bui
Mr.. Richmond. Here we are; be quite at
your ease, now"
He had preceded me into the hall. and
flinging open Q door. ushered me into 9
| quiet, elegant room. where Lady sat 81
work. She was petite and graceful, with
Q very sweet and gracious manner. one
dropped her work, and came forward q
little anx;ously, thought.
s.My sister, Miss Pomfret, Mr.. Rich
mond. Emma, please order tea imme-
diately.
ayes, "she answered. and passed quietly
from the room.
"You have seen her now" said Mr..
Pomfret, Immediately that she was gone
"What is your first IMPRESSION"
''She is very lovely young lady, and
appears quite we'll" I answered. q little
bewildered.
"Observe her closely" he whispered,
for her light step was on the threshold
again.
She was followed by Q servant. who
placed light in the globe of alabastez
swinging from the ceiling, and retired.
''Tea will be served Immediately, Raj.
We have had very warm day, Mr.. Rich
mond, she said, crossing the room to
draw q curtain near me.
1.-THE July heat has been oppressive in
the town. said, ''but you can know
little of the severe weather here"
SIS the fever still prevalent in the
town." she asked.
II believe there have been no new cases
within few days." stammered, and to
change the subject, rose and examined
| the pictures, and 80 led the conversation
to other matters; but was far from being
at ease in q false position, and took adj
vantage of the first opportunity to ask Mr..
Pomfret if his sister supposed me to be
recovering from q fever.
eyes, he answered, 'tand as thought
it might be necessary, I intimated the pos
sibility of your remaining with US for .
little time. Will it be possible?"
II think not 1 have patients in town
who require my daily attendance"
s.But I will have you taken in every day
by the carriage" he replied eagerly.
The servant had brought in tea, and
Miss Pomfret had been giving him some
directions; but now she glanced toward
US nervously, thought as she announced
tea.
We seated ourselves at the table. Miss
Pomfret drank her tea composedly; her
brother ordered iced sherbet, and partook
of little else.
''The hot weather takes away my taste,
and I don't think it is good for you to
drink that hot tea, Emma" said Pomfret
'.You had much better have . glass of
this" and he passed her goblet of the
sherbet.
As she took it l saw that her little white
hand trembled. A moment later he OBJ
served that she did not drink it.
"Isn't sweet enough" he asked. Then
with q merry. winning smile, he held it to
her lips s'To please mel" he murmured.
She smiled q little, and tasted it; but I
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.
'sAre you ill. Rail-" asked Emma start
ing to her feet.
'.No. but my head aches terribly"
pressing his hands to both sides OF his
forehead. Then, seeming to recover HIM
self, he added. 81 hope you will excuse
me. seemed to be losing my senses. If
MIR. Richmond will excuse me for mo-
ment, will retire to my ROOM"
''Let me accompany you" exclaimed,
sit may be sunstroke."
I forgot that might be revealing my
professional character. as 1 accompanied
him to chamber, and examined his con-
dition. .
Miss Pomfret came in, bent over her
brother. and parted the hair upon his
forehead.
SIS be going to be ILL.," she asked me.
mo, l think not" answered some
what at loss for q moment, under her
clear eyes,
As she sat there, caressing his FORE
head, he fell into deep sleep.
She closed the window beside the bed
softly, and We went down stairs.
Though I had not had fever. it is true
that was not we'll, and I did not enter
tain the idea of returning home that night.
enter the library, asked to be shown my
room. Not only was I exhausted in body,
but shrank from q tete-a-tete with her;
my false position was embarrassing, and
l was not prepared for my part.
My room was perfect boudoir of lux
ury, and l lay awake for q long time
watching the moonlight simmer on the
lace curtains. At last it crept up to pic
ture upon the wall.
1t was the portrait of q man. had
not noticed it at all before extinguished
my light. 1t seemed to CLEAN out sud-
denly upon the wall as I caught sight of
it. Isprang up on my elbow to look at it.
A remarkably alert, nervous figure OF a
gentleman, not more than thirty years
old, with pale, delicate and sweet coun-
tenance. The eyes weresyery large and
melancholy; and thought 1 detected in
them a slight wildness of expression.
There was something winning and fascin-
ating in the face. It was beautifully
painted, and seemed endowed with life.
Its eyes seemed fixed on mine, and to
gaze down on me with battling meaning
which thrilled me. As l sank back,
still felt them watching me.
Still half conscious of the portrait,
fell into an uneasy slumber
could not have slept long, when I was
awakened by slight noise near me. l
half opened, then closed my eyes, for 1
saw that some one was looking at me.
It was q woman. She had long fair
hair unbound, and lighted taper in her
hand. I Thought it was Miss Pomfret.
had no idea what it meant; only felt
that must not stir; that must counter
felt sleep. 1t must have been for nearly
five minutes that she stood looking at me.
Then she turned softly away, and after
glancing about the room, looked up at the
picture on the wall. / opened my eyes
and watched her. Her face was too sad
e.. Aoo~,. che <:vl>ol ho.,,;1x- orI