The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1881-05-27

returned from one OF his vagrant out
breaks.
"On his first night at the asylum he
became excited by finding himself in a
strange place. It was necessary to give
him composing draught. On going TO
bed he was purposely not prevented
from hiding his waistcoat under the pill
low as usual.
"When the sedative had produced
its effect the attendant easily possessed
himself Of the hidden garment. It was
the plain duty Of the master of the
house to make sure that nothing likely
to be turned to evil uses we're concealed
by patient. The seal which had
secured the envelope was found on ex-
animation to have been broken. u'i
"I would not have broken the seal
myself our host added. But, as things
were, I thought it my duty to look at
the Enclosures. They refer to private
affairs of Mr.. Winterfeld in which he
Is deeply interested, and they ought to
fave been long since placed in his pos
session. I need scarcely say that con-
slider myself bound to preserve the
strictest silence as to what I have read.
An envelope containing some blank
sheets OF paper was put back in the
boys waiscoat, so that he might feel il
in its place under the lining when he
woke. The original envelope and in
closures with statement of circum-
stances signed by my assistant and my.
self have been secured under another
cover, sealed with my own seal. have
done my best to discover Mr.. Bernard
Winterield. He appears not to live in
London. At least, failed to find his
name in the directory. I wrote next,
mentioning what had happened, to the
English gentleman to whom send re-
ports of the lads health. He couldn't
help me. A second letter to the French
ladies only produced the same result.
I own I should be glad to get rid of my
responsibility on honorable terms
"All this was said in the boys pres
ence. He lay listening to it as if it had
been story told Of some one else.
could not resist the useless desire TO
question him. Not speaking French
myself-although can read the lam
guage-I asked Doctor wybrow and his
friend to interpret for me.
My questions led to nothing. 10
French boy knew no more about the
letter than did.
"There was no discoverable motive,
mind, for suspecting him Of imposing
on us. When said.
"'Perhsps you stole it p he answered,
quite composedly:
"'Very likely; they tell me I have
been mad; I don't remember it myself;
but mad people do strange things'
II tried him again: -ott
"'And then you kept them hidden.
thinking they might be of some use to
you? Or, perhaps, feeling ashamed Of
what you had done, and meaning to re.
store them if you got the opportunity
"'You know best, SIR
"The same result followed when we
tried to find out where he had been, and
what people had taken care of him,
during his Last vagrant escape from
home. 1t was new revelation to him
that he had been anywhere. With evil
dent interest, he applied to us to tell
him where he had wandered to, and
what people he had scent =,
$50 our last attempts at enlighten-
msnt ended. We came to the final
question of how to place the papers,
with the least possible loss OF time, in
Mr.. Winterfeld's hands. -
"His absence in Paris having been
mentioned. stated plainly my own
position toward him at the present time.
"'Mr. wihterfeld has made an ar-
pointment with me to call in few days
| at his hotel in London I said. Il shall
probably be.the first friend who sess him
on his return from Paris. Il you will
trust me with your sealed pASkst, in
consideration of these circumstances, ]
will give you formal receipt for it in
Doctor Wybrow's presence, and I viii
add any written pledge that you may 70.
quire on my part, acting as Mr.. Winter
fields representative and friend. Per.
haps you would like a reference as well
"He made courteous reply
"'A friend of Doctor Wybrow's,' y
said, requires no other reference
| "'Ercuse me- persisted, Il had the
honor Of meeting Doetor Wybrow for the
first time yesterday Rwmit me to refel
you to Lord Loring, who has long know
me as his spiritual director and friend.
| "This account OF myself settled thu
matter. wrote the necessary seeuri
ties, and I have all the papers lying be
fore me ON my desk at this moment.
"You remember how seals wer'
broken aud impressed again, at tn
Roman postofice, in the revolutionar,
days when we were both young men
Thanks to the knowledge then obtained
the extraordinary events which ono
associated Mr.. Winterfeld and Mis-
Eyrecourt are at last plainly revealed t.
J me. Copies of the papers are in m
, possession, and the originals are scale
, again with the crest Of the proprietor Q
, the asylum, as if nothing had hal
I pened.
az don't propose 10 make any prem
/ tnre use of the information which 1 hay
4 obtained. The first and foremol
! necessity, as have already reminde
!. you, is to give Penrose the undisturbe
q opportunity Of completing the ccove
. sion Of Romayne.