Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1891-11-19

am, by his rapid and yet radical change"
Fate, for all they may claim who in
sist on the detached and zigzag modes
of her workings, now and then helps to
construct what we cali drama with a
terrible skill. Clyde's letter, which in
ordinary circumstances would have sum-
moned Thorndyke promptly to New
York. reached him but single day be-
fore the breaking-out of that huge and
disastrous fire whose ravages flung in
ruin almost all there was of Chicago x-
cept her matchless fortitude and thrift.
Naturally Thorndyke did not come on
to New York. Gerald, as we know, re-
manned for several days in mental tur-
moil At last he went to see his broth
er, but went with the fixed determine
ton to keep silence regarding all that
lately had passed. Had he not deemed
it far more prudent TO tell Sylvan moth
ing with respect to his chemical efforts?
The elixir had surely wrought pain
enough with his brother as affairs now
stood And to inform him of these re-
cent almost lurid happenings!-would
it not be like new fret given wound
that was already fraught with ache?
..If | ever make Perdita my wise"
Gerald meditated, just before he rang
the bell at his brothers door, 81 will of
course let him know my intent. But
more than this he need never learn. He
would hold it a gross impiety, no doubt,
for me to have thwarted what he deems
the sacred laws of death. If Perdita
never recalls her name and her past,
shall invent both for her (why not?)
when she becomes actually my own"
- Viii iofr mod
plainly betol1en just that curious mad
ness which Clyde had endeavored to
portray in the letter he had sent Thorn
dyke Poor Gerald had drunken of no
palpable elixir, yet that which he be-
lieved himself miraculously to have
composed had proved true love-po-
ton, forceful as any which legend
would have us accept in its records of
the classic or medieval philtres. There
are many kinds of sane madness under
| the visiting moon. His tinted the
| autumn air with Elusive rose and
| charged his young spirit with divine
sort of inebriety that was, after al, slight
matter for surprise. His fathers be-
quest had in the first place addressed
| imagination like voice at once clarion
| and persuasive. Then had come the
intensity and severity of effort and
| search. Afterward, to a soul fred by
enthusiasm and hope, had dawned, in
| fair, palpable, feminine shape, that
victory which at times had seemed re-
mote from his reach as its Outmost
planet from the sun. The grace and
beauty of her whom he had chosen fan
cifully to call Perdita were sponsors of
passion whose birth environment
richly aided. They were like just that
needful stage of twilight which lures
the inevitable star.
No sooner had Gerald met his brother
than the air grew ungenial and harsh.
Sylvan looked i'll but had the manner of
one who will play invalid no longer,
cost what it may.
81 do so hope you'll pardon my stay
ing away from you all this time" said
| Gerald but the truth is, have had
a dreadful cold, with severe attacks of
headache Che wondered if he were not
blushing at his own desperate lie as he
spoke it, land so have been
a prevented from COM
ing. But I'm glad enough to find you
up n about. You've not left the house
since, suppose?"
Yes replied Sylvan, shortly, i've
been out several times" A grim smile
crept along the pale curve of his lips.
'sI've had something to take me out. L
was right as to that devilish Calderly
woman" And then he went on to re-
count just what had been disclosed by
Lucia's aunt.
Its most unhappy thing" said
Gerald, guiltily conscious of the cold
ness with which he had istened-of the
absorption which vetoed and blighted
his proper sympathy. ''And SO at last
you have sought the aid of detectives?
Eyes. And in way these tidings
have done me good. I mean physically
and mentally both. The mind has a
, definite purpose to carry out, the body
is spurred into aiding it. I realize now
that the accursed manuscript our father
willed to me drove poor Lucia insane
I've no longer a shadow of il1-feeline
against her; I've nothing but pity
toward her, blent with an enormous de
: sire to discover the poor child's where
abouts.'
II can understand that said Gerald
81 can understand it only too well!'
: "And I've one other desire" pursued
Sylvan, with knit brows and almost E
savage accent: s'To destroy both the
, manuscript and the letter"
Destroy them!'' exclaimed Gerald.
Eyes. Callit superstition if you will
No doubt it is. But want to see the
| devilish papers really burned, as once
} pretended to burn them before my
wife's eyes. Then they can breed nt
further trouble. Give them to me.
should have sent to you for them Thu
4 very day if you hadn't come here.
2 dream of them in what sleep am able
t to get-of them and of her. Give then
to me"
He held out one hand, rising and ap
preaching his brother. Gerald, Still
2 seated. stared up at him for few
D seconds. Then, while swiftly rejecting
< that he could not remember by any pos
sibilitv the complicated and abstrus
: formula if the sheets which contalne'
I IL were lost, he let a nervous 1argl
e leave his lips and answered:
ssI haven't them here. l don't carr.
them about with me. Why should L?
0 but you'll get them-send them
bring them, perhaps; and at once?"
: Gerald bit his lip. ''Not long ago.
d he said you thought it would be
? dissertation, blasphemy, to destro.
them"
81 did-yes. But think this no long
: er. want the whole testimony OF GU
u parent's foolish endeavor swept INT
nothingness."
u You call it foolish endeavor!' brok
L Co~,Il &C ba IN tY1rn rose. ssYOu'r