The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1891-03-28

alone. Gerald's lips found their way to
hers, and the kiss that followed was one
Of betrothal. as both silently understood.
81 have so much to tell you," faltered
Brenda, looking about her with nervous
glances. but there will always be the
thought that she Is listening. It is such
q lovely afternoon. Let us walk out I'M
der the fir trees"
Their walk lasted until nearly dusk.
Finally. with u binding headache caused
by grief and excitement, Brenda redi-
rected her steps toward the house.
"And you tell me-" said Gerald, as he
walked ruininatively at her side, that
DR.. Southgate declared your brother
died Of heart diseaseY'
ayes. He wrote that on the certifi-
cate; | saw the two words myself"
"But you yourself thing
ooh, | think nothing, because I've not
q vestige of proof"
Gerald was silent for some little time.
He would have liked to tell Brenda the
reason her brother had caused her to
place that paper in his coffin, but re-
membrance of his oath forbade. After
once having made the midnight visit to
Louis tomb he would be privileged to
speak of it. but before doing so the
terms of that curious, whimsical COM
pact precluded all reference to his in
tended act.
"You. too, seemed mystified by his
having bid me to conceal that paper in
side his coffin" said Brenda. you can
not guess, can you, Gerald, what it
containst'
"No. | a not" replied Gerald, glad
to answer so directly. "Unless," he
went on, "a list Of accusations against
his wife is to be found there"
"Oh, | have thought of that" said
Brenda, "but surely II Louis had wished
that you should see the paper he would
not have
The words died on her lips, for just
then, while they were ascending the
piazza steps, Natalie came forward from
the inner hall. Her mourning did not
become her as it did Brenda, and, be-
side the extreme pallor of her face,
there was a certain wildness noticeable
In her odd hued eyes.
She dropped her gaze before Gerald's
direct one. A significant silence now
ensued. which Brenda suddenly broke.
She put out her hand to Gerald. Good
by" she murmured; 81 am worn out
for today. | must lie down. You will
come tomorrow
"To-morrow-surely," he said, press
ing her hand. She at once glided past
her sister-in-law and disappeared into the
hall.
Gerald waited a moment for Natalie
to speak: then, seeing that she looked
both embarrassed and agitated, he said;
81 was very sorry not to have seen the
last of poor Louis"
Natalie seemed furtively to gnaw her
under lip. Then she threw back her
delicate head with a little blending of
scorn and sadness. "Oh, if You had but
come here "A few hours sooner, Mr.. Rave.
low she exclaimed, II believe that even
you might have consented to side with
me-yes. me, the wife of your friend
against the treatment ! have been forced
to receive from Brenda"
"What treatment asked Gerald. "a
have heard that you wished to keep 9
physician from visiting your husband,
ever while You knew him to be in the
agonies Of DEATH
81 did not know it!' she burst ont,
clinching both her slim hands as they
hung at her sides. Il never dreamed he
was dying! How should | dream sol
He had been i'll and ailing-he had had
such attacks before. and | wished n New
York doctor of reputation to see him
instead of some-some mere country
ignpramus." Here she sank into ont
of the bamboo chairs that We're scat
tered about the piazza, and looked a
Gerald with a mixture of imperi
BUSINESS and malice. 81 have only
this to tell you. Gerald Ravelow," sh,
continued: ''you may be as much il
love with Brenda Bond as you please
but if my husband has left you an ex
ecutor of his estate-and | dare say tina
he has--then | shall demand that a full
settlement of it shall be made as speed
lily as possible, giving me the share t,
which ! am entitled, for | wish to leav'
this country and escape from all furtheI
insolence at the hands of this arrogan
; sister. Yes. ! wish to go back to Eng
land"-
with Archibald!" asked Gerald
making the two sharp words cut her un
finished sentence like the swift stroke o
J a knife.
: She started terribly. and then stare'
? at him. ''How do you know? What d,
you know she began to stammer.
3 He gave a brief, cold laugh. "Oh
I'm a great deal more ignorant than
should like to be-" he answered. Ant
then, feeling that to stay and talk will
! her like this might be to place within
J her power some hint Of u certain secre
! it was both his duty and his desire jeal
ously to guard for the present, h
: slightly lifted his hat, murmured "Goo'
/, evening"" and passed at II rapid pac
! down the piazza steps.
Tomorrow will be time enough TO
!. action" he thought, as he hurried acros
the twilight lit lawns. A dread which h
IL