Iron County register., 1891-11-26

SHE SANK TO THE FLOOR.
closed. Gerald turned to the clergyman
with smile.
"Just excuse me for a moment,
please" he said. 81 promise you I'll
return directly. haven't got frightened
enough to run away"
He quilted the room by a side door,
passed through the hall, and speedily
came into the presence of his brother.
He was smiling, and instantly put
forth his hand. 1t seemed impossible
that he should hold shadow of malice,
that morning, toward any human being
and least of all, toward one SO near OF
kin.
But Sylvan took no notice of the
outstretched hand. He was extremely
pale, and the lung-malady that threat
ened him was palmer, now, in his
CLASSY eye and hollow cheek.
81 would not have come here" he
said, ''if it had not been for most
extraordinary matter. In their searches
for my wife the two detectives / en-
ployed appear to have been very keen.
They insist upon it that they have
aid, believe, from one of it's servants
a certain female whom they believe
may very possibly be Lucia
Gerald thought of his delayed mar
riage. Besides, his brother had just
behaved with insolence in refusing to
take his hand. He half turned away,
with slight curl of the lip.
Il know very few of the other people
in this house. You should make in
quiries of the landlady here. Mrs.
Brawne is her name"
81 preferred to make inquiries of you, 81
said Sylvan. 81 preferred it because
have learned that the lady whom the
officers have suspected of being Lucia
is in a certain way under your protec-
ton and that of DIR. Clyde"
Gerald started, frowned, flushed and
then grew deadly pale.
''She has entirely lost her memory"
pursued Sylvan, "and-'
"Stop there!' broke in Gerald. He
spoke as if cord girt his throat.
"What deviltry is this?" he went on,
gaspingly. "Who dared to tell you
such lie?'
He stood staring at Sylvan with fix
ity that was full of both defiance and
bewilderment.
Il have mentioned my informants, -
replied his brother, coldly. Perhaps
they are mistaken; they have not
claimed infallibility; but 1 am sure
they have not dealt in falsehood."
A sudden impulse as of desperation
took hold of Gerald. 1.-The lady to
whom you have so distinctly referred -
he said, sis here. Look for yourself. %
And quietly, but with speed, he I'M
closed the folding doors.
In a moment the two rooms became
as one. Gerald moved forward, his
brother following.
She whom they sought stood, just
then, between the clergyman and Clyde.
Mrs. Brawne, with commonplace
visage and a queer, festive fiutter about
her toilet, was slightly in the back
ground.
Having approached within few steps
of the woman he meant to marry that
morning, Gerald drew back and indicated
Sylvan by quick wave Of his hand.
This" he said, looking straight at
Perdita, sis my brother
She grew very white, and remained
for few seconds motionless, with her
gaze on Sylvan's face. Then she sprang
to Gerald and clutched his arm.
"Your-your brother?" she questioned.
"Yes," said Gerald.
She had not taken her eyes from
Sylvan Clyde, who watched her now,
never forgot the surge of intelligence
mixed with frightful agony that soon
swept across her features. In another
instant her clasp on Gerald's arm
loosened. She staggered toward Sylvan.
Her eyes had now the look OF being
dragged from their sockets. Her frail,
pure throat became scanned with lines
as of straining thews.
''Oh. my God!' she cried. 'Jt all
comes back! II renaem6er."'
In that one last word rang out such
anguish as a perishing soul might utter
if damned by sense OF either Its own
despair, misfortune or disgrace
"Lucia." exclaimed Sylvan. He ad-
vanced as though to meet her. But
even then she sank to the floor-sank
with collapse so quick and terrible that
no arm of those rear by had enough
mingled force and swiftness to break
her fall Gerald was the first to raise
her, and as he did so wild cry OF sorrow
broke from his lips He had told him
self, in that single fleet glance at her
bluishly altered face, that she had
ceased to live. And soon after
ward, when she had been borne to
sofa, Clyde bent over her and verified
the ghastly conviction.
Her heart has been feeble for weeks,
he said, when no CLEAN of doubt as to
her death longer dwelt with him. Ris-
ing from the sofa, he gazed with great
gentleness and compassion at Sylvan,
saying:
''She was your wife. thca?"
YES" answered Sylvan.
AT this point Gerald tore something
from an inner pocket. 1.-The manu-
script and the letter. he cried, in a
voice throbbing with misery. Take
them-burn them! you are right; they
are accursedl"
Sylvan received the envelope in
dazed way, with shaking hand. The
morning. in spite OF its sunshine, had
been somewhat chill: a fire Of big black