San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-03-24

might do him more harm than good.
Tomorrow, if he is strong enough, we
will go to town and see some physician
of authority"
Brenda gave a slight sarcastic smile.
81 disagree with you," she said, and
shall send for DIR. Southgate."
Natalie rose haughtily from the chair
beside her husband. "You shall not set
your will against mine" she said. You
are always delighting in opposite views
to my own. Ever since l married Louis
you have seen fit to treat me with either
concealed or open insult"
Just then Louis opened his dark eyes
and Brenda saw, as they fixed themselves
ON hers, that they burned like diamonds.
Louis" she exclaimed, fastening to-
ward him; do not you sanction my
sending for DR.. Southgate?"
NO" he answered. But while Brenda
started back in despair at this unwel-
come reply he put forth his hand with
a slight, unmistakable motion. Brenda
at once seized the hand between both her
own and sank down at his side
She perceived the next instant that he
was more i'll than she had ever seen him.
Across Brenda's shoulder he looked at
his wife.
Natalie, he said, in voice that was
husky, and yet contained a ring of COM
mand, II wish to speak few words
with my sister. You yourself can go
and tell them that the bell which heard
Brenda ring need not be answered. Do
you understand me? Ihope that you do"
Those last two brief sentences had not
8 sign of menace, and yet there was
something in their low emphasis that
made the color slip from Natalie's cheeks.
Dear Louis" she broke forth mo-
ment afterward, however in tender,
persuasive tones, "you had best not
talk with any one this evening! To-
morrow
do as desire you," Louis inter
rupted. His voice was not much above
whisper, but Brenda recoiled from
him as she heard it, so unlike his usual
self did it seem, so compelling, so COM
mandant, and yet so terribly tranquil.
Natalie went to one of the doors and
slowly opened it. She disappeared slow
ly, too, as if some magnetic form were
insisting upon the exit.
Louis hand trembled a little now in
Brenda's hold. But soon it lay there
quite still again. He presently spoke, but
as if with intentional caution against a
possible listener. Brenda, leaning for
ward so that his breath almost swept
her cheeks, was just able to hear each
word as it fell from his pale and slightly
twitching lips.
"My sister, have wronged you very
much. Yes-I see this-now, when death
has laid hold of me and there may be
only few hours left me to live. Brenda
don't start like that-it is nothing, this
change we call death. But to die as
am dying is an exquisite comfort
| would not live on, Brenda, for an empire.
| My part of life is done-utterly done.
have loved that woman, Natalie Leve-
ridge, with an immense passion, an i'm
| mense constancy. What forced her to
tell me the other evening there's no need
of my telling you. You are mere girl;
you could not avenge me. But all has
grown clear to me, and know beyond a
doubt that some one else will.
Some one else? Oh, Louis
Hush, Brenda. You see how weak l
am. Ny brain seems to swim now. There
is a paper here in my breast pocket.
Reach Up your hand. Take it and hide
it as though your own life depended on
its jealous concealment. Have you found
it, Brenda?
Yes, Louis, yes"
Have you hidden it,"
"Yes-yes."
Nov, remember. When | am laid
in my coffin-not until then-get a
chance to place it against my heart just
as you found it placed a minute ago.
Don't let her see you. But Gerald will
come; he will come the day of the fu-
neral, even if something should delay
Linn from the funeral itself. And then
as soon as you and he shall meet tell him
where you put the paper. Will you
swear to me, Brenda, that you will carry
out this wish of mine?
Yes, Louis, | will swear with my
whole soull But
THE paper is sealed close, as you will
see, and bears no inscription. 1t is some
thing wrote yesterday. have been in
fearful suffering for hours past, but l
have guarded this even from her. And
don't grieve much for me, Brenda. I'm
thousandfold happier at going than
staying. To live now would only be one
prolonged anguish. Some day | think
that Gerald will make everything clear
to you. He will find out. Never mind
how. He can't tell you yet, even if you
ask him. He will simply listen to you