Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-04-09

aid, believe, from one Of its 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.
 "I know very few of the other people in this house. You should make in- ouiries of the landlady here. Mrs. Brawne is her namc."
 "I preferred to make inquiries ofyou, " said Sylvan. "I preferred 1t because have learned that the lady whom the officers have suspected of being Lucia is in a a'certain way under your protec- ton and that of Dr. Clyde"
 Gerald started, drowned, 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 a fix ity that was full of both defiance and bewilderment.
 "I have mentioned my informants,' '' replied his brother, coldly. Perhaps they are mistaken; they have not claimed infallibility; but I 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, ''is here. Look for yourself" !" And quietly, but with speed, he un- closed the folding doors.
 In moment the two rooms became as one. Gerald moved forward, his brother following.
 She whom they sought stood, just Mrs. Brawne, with commonplace visage and queer, festive flutter 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 a quick wave of his hand.
 "This," he said, looking straight at Perdita, ''is my brother"
 She grew very white, and remained for few seconds motionless, with her gaze on Sylvan's face. Then she sprans to Gerald and clutched his arm.
 "Your-your 6rother?" 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.
 "Ohi my God!'' she cried. "It all comes back! IT rememberl"
 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.
 "Lucial" exclaimed Sylvan. He ad. vanced as though to meet her. But even then she sank to the door-sank with collapse so quick and terrible that no arm of those near by had enough mingled force and swiftness to break her fall. Gerald was the first to raise ] her, and as he did so a 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 a sofa, Clyde bent over her and verified the ghastly conviction.
 "Her heart has been feeble for weeks, ' he said, when no gleam 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, then?"
 "Yes," answered Sylvan.
 At this point Gerald tore something from an inner pocket. '"The manu- script and the letterl'' he cried, in a voice throbbing with misery. '"Take them-burn theml you are right; they are accursedr'
 Sylvan received the envelope in a dazed way, with shaking hand. The morning, in spite of its sunshine, had been somewhat chill; a fire of big black coal-bloclSs flashed and crackled below the nantel. Sylvan examined the papers