The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-18

Once more she would try persuasion.
Once more she did
For several days the friends who came to
her noticed that she had an absent and
febrlIe manner. One or two of them, who
were feminine, went away with the deduc-
ton that peculiarly domestic illness was
approaching and that it was high time
some proof of her happy bond with Syl-
van should bring its welcome change.
One Lady even murmured sentence of
this import in Lricia's ear. ''How little
she dreams what thralls and clouds me, !"
her nearer thought. That very evening
perhaps an hour after their almost silent
dinner together, she appeared at sylvan
SIDE as he wrote, as our lawyers do when
they have quilted their downtown" dis
trpctions, and while he used for desk the
very cabinet whose two locked, drawers
made so heavy an onus on her mental
peace. Lucia was by this time excessively
disturbed and eager. She did not know
whether she could properly control her.
self throughout the coming interview,
and she was quite clearly aware that her
husband now awaited some sort of distinct
rebellious oufburst.
Lit came, and it came almost before Lucia
was herself aware of it's advent.
Il will permit no further queries from
YOU" she heard him say, after she had
seen him also rise from his desk, and while,
at the same time, she was but dimly,
unanimously conscious of the words with
which she had just addressed him.
They looked at one another, both stand
ing, there in the small, vaguelit room, with
Its rows of mauve-tinted legal books ON
every side.
II don't wish to seem over-trouble-
some, Sylvan, she broke silence, with a
sort OF semi-stammering apology. "And
yet"
And vet you are very troublesome, in
deed, my dear" he announced, with a
naughty curtness which made my, DEAR
ring IN sorry satire. 81 have informed
you more than once that / cannot satisfy
your singular craving"
1T is not that" she said, with heat, yet
with self-repression, too. sit is a natural
desire. | simply demand of you that you
shall permit the worth or worthlessness of
your fathers discovery to become known
by us both"
THAT will not do" he replied.
"You will not do it? you will not ?"
Lucia broke forth, flushing and slipping
nearer to him. "Ah,'' she went on, "you
have the manuscript concealed, no doubt,
in this very room!S
eff have, he shot back, bitterly, "what
then? Do you wish to play the thief and
steal 1t from me?"
She laid her hand on his arm. II wish
sell p' '-' A''isei' tue sisef u sooo couh-
He shook her hand from his arm at this.
1.-THE DEVILS own counsel" he muttered.
"Sylvani" she breathed, a little gasp
ingly. This is the first time you have
ever insulted meI'
You drive me to it."
II seek to dissuade you from casting a
slur on your fathers memory
My fathers memory! Pah! What do
you care for that? You want the drug
the discovery as you call it. And it's all
the merest riff-raff of a clever mans decay
ing Notwithstanding more.'
His tones were very acrid; he seemed
transformed from his usual mild self. She
watched him for a second or two, with her
eyes MOSTLY shining and CULVER of her
lower lip.
eff you so believe it, Sylvan, then why
do you hide it like this?'
Because it's an outrage against God
I've SAID so to you before, why make me
say il AGAIN."
Yes, you've said it before. But how can
your fathers wish or design be an outrage
against God when, as You yourself con-
cede, the brain that comprised the whole
idea was in state of semli-ruin? Oh, Syl-
van, let us test the truth or falsity of that
avowal" Again she put her hand ont
toward him, and this time she rested it on
his shoulder. But he repulsed her with
an excessive rudeneSs, and she now saw on
his working features the kind of pallor
that was easy to explain as wrath
''You wish TO tempt mel" he cried; ''you
cannot succeed. My mother long ago
taught me"
ooh, your motheri" she flashed. 81
knew it was she" Then her voice sud-
denly trembled and softened. ''Sylvan
! thought you loved me- You've so often
said that you did. What I ask is such a
little thing, after all
What you ask, he retorted. lis large
and shameless thing. If loved you as
God himself loves his children land NAV
the hlasphemy be pardoned me , should
never yield to this desire of yours
neverl'
The next moment she saw that he was
intensely agitated. His Keeling step dis
closed this, as he advanced toward the
desk at which he had been seated. From
packet he drew bunch of keys, and
with shaking grasp thrust one of them
into the lock OF lower drawer Swiftly
he drew forth a long and somewhat diugy
envelope, which Lucia seemed to recognize
the instant it met her gaze.
Sprlnging erect and facing her, he
waved In air the object he had secured.
Il am going to burn this" he proceed
ed; Ito burn this before your sight Look"
She peered at the written name for brief
while, and then he withdrew it lust as her
quick sweep of one hand sought to tear il
from his clasp. He sped toward the gas
burner, that in cone of green shade IL
lumined his desk. See" came his next
word, Il give it to the oblivion it