Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-04-03


 he can't be much over five-and-thirty. And yet he'd no sooner accepted me, so to speak, ns the friend of dear old Dr. Thorndylxe than he gave me a royal welcome. Why, bless your soul, Sylvan, feel like commencing practice already as New York physician. And then Clyde is so good in matters which man of his professional note might naturally overlook. He's promised to use his infiuence"-Gerald paused. His brothers eyelids had closed, dead- pale against the equal pallor of his checks.
 "Well? He's promised to use his in- 1uence?"
 Dreamily speaking, Sylvan had un- closed his eyes. But Gerald did not meet their look, though he answered, with an off-hand air, certain sentences which were really no answer at all
 ''Oh, I mean that In a general sort of fashion he's so extremely good. He cheers me up; he makes me feel as if were not truly the mere neophyte in medicine that an."
 A silence came, and then Sylvan queried, with extreme somberness of tone: And what does he say of the manuscript that father left, Gerald? Didn't you tell me you were going to consult him about it?''
 "I did think of doing so," returned Gerald, as he pulled at his yellow nous tache and cordially hated the lie that he was acting. But the fact is, Sylvan, Clyde is so dreadfully busy, don't you know, and-er-all that kind of thing" Here was a very lame winding-up of what Gerald believed a sentence that might provoke his brothers keen curi- osity. But Sylvan only let his eyelids once more wearily droop and his head sink deeper into the pillow, as he said: 'And you yourself have not cared to study it out alone, suppose?"
 The question was so Hstlessly given that Gerald felt he could perhaps let it safely pass without a response. He waited a little while, regarding his broth CTS blanched face as though any new in- stant might bring to 1t the sudden look of inquiry which he preferred not to see. But no such look broke Sylvan's apathy. After a short time, Gerald felt the sick mans pulse. This act did not alter the evident slumber into which he had fallen. It was a weak pulse, Ger aid decided, and yet not abnorma1ly so. The young man remembered that Dr. Clyde had but recently decided Sylvan's | latest condition to be one of nervous exhaustion, cerebral in its immediate origin, and yet not of necessity serious. But his first illness had been serious. Gerald had arrived at the home of his brother to find him the prey of a brain fever which threatened his life. It was a wretched shock, that meeting, and 1t bore, soon afterward, what to this gen. ial young pilgrim from far-away Cam bridge proved bitter-tasting fruit.
 "An zest and flavor have gone out of my life," Sylvan soon told his brother. The story which was presently unfolded had the effect of a tragedy divided into acts, for it was more than once inter rupted by either piteous delirium OF silencing fatigue. Gerald first marveled at the flight of Lucia, and then caught himself sympathizing with her in the course that she had taken. He came across photograph of her which bore her name and fond phrase written un- derneath it. Studying the face with some attention, he grew convinced that 1t betrayed in molding and lines of feature spirit of strength and delicacy strangely mingled. Yes, he decided, here was just the woman to resent such imbecility as her husband has shown and desert him, half through loathing and half through despair. For Gerald, having learned from his brother pre- cisely with what sort of opposition he had met his wife when she desired to carry out the wishes of the dead, stood amazed before a confession of narrow mindedness which past experiences & IIturr,urtrr,,,