San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-03-23
CHAPTER Ii.


he learned from his mother that rumors
had reached her of how Louis Bond had
placed himself in the hands, as it were,
of three or four. spiritualistic mediums,
and had become confirmed devotee Of
their theories. Then, soon afterward,
another letter from Mrs. Ravelow told
him of how Brenda had been to see her
at that lady's home in New York, and
had wept plenteous and most pathetic
tears over the infatuation of Louis. "It
seems" wrote Gerald's mother, that
there is a certain clairvoyant, named
Mrs. Leyeridge. who has acquired great
control over your friend. Brenda has
seen her once at meeting. where she
spoke in real or fictitious trance, and
describes her as strikingly beautiful,
with slight foreign accent and voice
full of the most dulcet cadences"
A little while after his graduation, in
the following June, Gerald met this
Mrs Leveridge. He had no sooner seen
and talked with her than he realized
that she was odious. Not that she was
without beauty of certain sensuous
type, but her green-gray eyes hid lights
that repealed him. and in the coils of her
glossy auburn hair he seemed to see sug-
gestions Of serpentine temperament.
She had given it out in q vague way that
she was by birth hungarian, though
about all her past chung the haze Of
decided uncertainty. Almost from the
first moment that she and Gerald uet
an antagonism developed itself between
them. Mrs. Leveridge appeared to
realize that her sway over Louis would
now be disputed, and that Brenda had
secured an ally. Still Brenda and Gerald
soon fell into dispute concerning this
very question of their confederacy. "l So
| are doing nothing to take my brothtr"
from the clutches of that horTid woman
she at length said. 1t is SO disappoint-
ing. thought yOu would use Nour in
huence."
What more can do than I've alhlady
done? queried Gerald. Louis is in
fatuated. If you attempt to speak tbs
truth about Mrs. Leveridge he receives
your words almost in the sense of per-
sonal insult"
Brenda tossed her head. You should
disillusion him!" she exclaimed. Yes.
you should If you were not INDECENT
about the matter you would!'
Gerald bit his lip. "Do you want ms
to make myself absurd both in your
brothers eyes and my own" he said.
Brenda gave a bitter little smile. 81
want you to show that you have some
human compassion she answered. "Oh,
not for myself-indeed, no! For him
~'hOm you once told me that you truly
loved!"
1t was on the verge Of G2r&l3's tongue
to say, Not half so much as love yor,"
but one of the moods that visit lovers
prevented this sentiment from being ut
tered. Il suppose Louis is at least mod
erately sane" he said, however: and then
followed some words on both sides which
were hostile, it not positively angry.
Brenda reproached herself after Gerald
had gone away, and saw repentGNtly her
own rashness. But Gerald, stung to the
quick by her unjust treatment of him,
and feeling exaSpsTated by the adverse
spirit in which Louis had received his
counsols, took passage not long after
ward for Europe, and remained there
almost q whole year.
During this time Mrs. Levcri7ge be
cams the wife OF Louis Bond. Brenda
suffered the keenest pain at beng
obliged to welcome Gcneath her own and
her brothers roof ii woman for whom
she had only doubt, suspicion AID con
tempt. Her deep affection for Louis
alone deferred her from leaving him
and going to live in the conpanionship
of relative Poor, high spirited Bren-
da suffered untold pangsa5 months Gid
ed along. The trance state OF L-r
new sister-in-law had struck her from
the first as rank huIubug. Louis still
believed in them. and would soiGatineS
openly declare his allegiance to their
potency. In New York it was unpleas-
ant enough for Brenda to occupy the
same house with her brothers wife, but
at Shadyshore it was ten times worse.
The girl strove to curb her temper, and
succeeded. Mrs. Bond had saemipgly
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