Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-04-08


 moil. At last he went to See his broth CT, but went with the fixed determina- ton to keep silence regarding all that lately had passed. Had he not deemed 1t far moro prudent to tell Sylvan noth- 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 1t not be like a new fret given wound that was already fraught with ache?
 ''If ever make Perdita my wife" Gerald meditated, just before he rang the bell at his brothers door, "I will of course let him know my intent. But more than this he need never learn. He would hold it n gross impiety, no douot' 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."
 All of which introspective mood plainly betolzen 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 a true love-po- tion. forceful as any which legend would havr us accept in it's records of the classic or medieval philtres. There are many kinds of sane madness under the visiting moon. His tinted the autumn air with illusive rose and charged his young spirit with a divine sort of inebriety that was, after all. slight
 leo 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 fired 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 ana beauty of her whom he had chosen fam cifully to call Perdita were sponsors of a 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 grow ungenia1 and harsh. Sylvan looked i'll but had the manner of one who will play invalid no longer, cost what 1t may.
 "I 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. "I've had something to take me out.
 was right as to that devilish Calder woman" And then he went on to TO count just what had been disclosed by Lucia's aunt
 "It's a most unhappy thing" said Gerald, guiltily conscious Of the cold ness with which he had listened-of tho absorption which vetoed and blighted his proper sympathy. And so at last you have sought the aid of detectives?'
 "Yes. And in a way these tidings have done me good l mean physically and mentally both. The mind has 2 definite purpose to carry out, the body is spurred into aiding it. I realize now that the accursed manuscript our father | willed to mo drove poor Lucia insane { I've no longer a shadow of ill-feelina against her; I've nothing but pity toward her, blent with an enormous de sire to discover the poor childs where abouts."
 II can understand that" said Gerald
 "I can understand it only too well!'
 And I've one other desire," pursued
 Sylvan, with knit brows and almost { savage accent: "To destroy both the manuscript and the letter."
 "Destroy them!" exclaimed Gerald.
 "Yes. Call it superstition if you will
 No doubt it Is. But I want to see tho devilish papers really burned, as onc'
 pretended to burn them before my
 wife's eyes. Then they can breed nH
 further trouble. Give them to me.
 should have sent to you for them thi
 very day if you hadn't come here.
 dream of them in what sleep l am able
 to ret-of them and of her. Give then
 to me-"
 He held out one hand, rising and ap
 preaching his brother. Gerald, stil
 seated, stared up at him for a fev ! seconds. Then, while swiftly refectine
 that he could not remember by any pos
 sibility the complicated and abstrus formula if the sheets which containe' 1t were lost, he let nervous laugl leave his lips and answered:
 "I haven't them here. I don't carr. : them about with me. Why should |? But you'll get them-send them
 bring them, perhaps; and at once?" Gerald bit his lip. Not long ago, he said, ''you thought it would be desecration. blasphemy, to destro.
 them"
 . "I did-yes. But think this no long : CT. wSnt the whole testimony of ou parents foolish endeavor swept int
 nothingness.
 . "You call it foolish endeavor" brok from Gerald as he in turn rose. "You'r wrong in that-absolutely wrong" Fl ! ..>al.@ ,,,;kh l,aof fho,,oh not yet in ar