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

brother now. She put out her hand and
let 1t rest on his shoulder Louis" she
said, 81 sometimes think you no longer
care for me the least in the world"
He shook his head, with a cold COM
preston of the lips. "Ah, Brenda" he
murmured, "you are to blame for what
ever change may have come between Ms.
Il, Louis? No. no; you are quite
wrong"
I'm wholly right" be contradicted.
How do you treat my wife?" he went
on, with mournful reproach. She is
worthy of your love and devotion, but
you give her only neglect and rudeness."
Brenda felt her face flush "Oh, Louis"
she exclaimed, eff you would only rea-
lie that what you call neglect and rude
ness is the sternest self discipline"
He flung her hand from his shoulder
and met with a scowl her pleading eyes.
Brenda" he said, "how dare you,
What right have YOU to assume, as you
do, that my wife is beneath your respect
full treatment?
The girls lips moved, but she said
nothing. Had she not perhaps already
said far too much for her brothers health
and mental peace?
"Brenda!" again cried Louis, and his
eyes flashed with anger, you can no
longer live in this house, There SEEM
ed to have been something about his sis
ter's recent silence that had acted upon
him more strikingly than her speech.
"No: Shadyshore is mine, and shall be
master here. You have your own fort
une. Spend it as you please and where
you please. I've borne with your scan
dalous actions long enough | give you
Just one week in which TO make your
preparations; after that go you must!
Brenda had grown very pale by the
time that Louis had ended. Horror at
the thought of leaving her brother with
Natalie now made her desperate.
You tell me that wrong your wife,
Louis" she said in choked tone. But,
all, how does she wrong you? With
whom is she walking the lawn now, at
this very moment? Who is the man she
calls Archibald and what right has he
to be here as her clandestine associate?
Let me tell you the words that | have
Just heard her speak to this man." and
then Brenda gave those words with I'M
erring literalness.
II can't believe this" faltered Louis
when she had finished. He looked stead
lily into his sisters face for an instant.
And yet, Brenda, have always known
you to be so truthful
Il swear to YOU" said Brenda, that
have told you nothing but the absolute
| truth
He caught her hand in his own thin
| and feverish one. "Oh, forgive mel"
came his response. Il have been unjust
to you! Perhaps your fears, your doubts
were, after all-but no, MOI" he sudden
| ly broke off, and then for moment he
agony. "Ah, my God! he soon pursued,
IF it We're possible that she is faithless
to me! But, Brenda, not a syllable to
her! Promise me this! 1t may be that
she is altogether innocent And yet she
has told me SO mgch-everything, in
fact-about her past, and | have never
even heard her mention the name of
And pray, Brenda, keep silent. Say
nothing whatever, leaving all to me- and
and forgiving me, hope, as IL do
not deserve to be forgiven"
For answer Brenda impetuOusly threw
both arms around her brothers neck.
"Oh, Louis, she cried. Heaven knows
that I've hated to tell you these thingsl
| have no wish to quarrel with your wife.
should so have loved her, Louis, if only
but never mind. You have my prom
| ise. And yet if Natalie should attack
me ! can't be sure just how calmly
| shall receive her"
But Natalie made no attack. What
ever soon passed between herself and
Louis was spoken behind closed doors.
'She will tell him some falsehood,
no doubt" unused Brenda, land he will
believe it and turn once more against
me-" For two or three days poor Brenda
waited some such development, but none
came. Louis failed to give her the
slightest confidence on the subject Of his
sife's avowals. though an interview of
this kind was eagerly and lOngingly ex-
pected Louis appearance and deport-
ment were meanwhile detection itself.
He showed no longer a sign of fondness
toward Natalie, and Brenda perceived
that her sister-in- law labored under Wis
ible annoyance or worriment, it was
hard to tell precisely which.
Shortly after dinner time one sultry,
l;falaSS avaDino q servant came TO Bren-
da and told her that Mr.. Bond had sud
denly been taken very i'll. Hurrying to
her brothers apartment Brenda found