The herald., 1893-06-05

pain he was suffering was intense. He
could feel the warm blood trickling over
bis hand, dyeing the bosom OF his shirt
vivid red. =
His eyes fell upon hts trembling hand,
which still clutched the pistol It was
not smoking, and suddenly there echoed
in Wyndam's ear the dull fall Of the
hammer. He reali5ed that ho'was not
shot; that the pistol had been unioaded.
The mirror, which he faced, uninerci-
fully reflected him. The cplor had lied
from his facei his eyes were fxed and
distendsd; liis lips were twitching He
gave some coutenptuous COMMUNICATION
to the abject figure, failing. to realize i'm
mediately thzt it was himself.
The weapon dropped from his nerveless
fingers, and he buried his face in his
hands. He continued to sit in his hud-
died position for some time, then, after
several frtiitless attempts, got to his feet.
He groped his way blindly 70 the car
tridges, and when he at last had the box
IN his hand slowly retraced his steps to
the pistol, which lay upon the floor. He
lowered his hand for it, but he could not
pick it up. He had lost control of his
fingers. He drew himself erect and
wiped away the cold perspiration which
had broken out on his brow.
Great God,' he whispered, what a
coward a1n!'
| Hecarefully smoothed the anguish from
his face, and once again bent for the re-
volver. This time he Was able to con
vey it to the table. EIe endeavored to re-
load it. but could not.
''I shall rest for time," he meditated,
dragging himself to chair SIT is true
told him should end it al within the
hour, but there is-no pressing hurry, and
my worst enemy would not wish to
shorten these extra moments"
I His eyes wandered aiinlessly about the
room, but finally rested upon long en-
velope which lay upon his desk. It was
directed to him in an unfamiliar hand
In one corner was the name and address
Of prominent firm Of lawyers. He
] had noticed it previously, bnt had not
I opened it. Now, wishing to divert his
mind, he incnriousIy broke the seal.
1twas a lengthy communication, but
from his brief glance he CLEANED that
through the death, ,of his mothers only
brothe5 hDand his brother were joint
heirs to aM enormous fortune. He re-
stored the letter to its envelope. The in
telhgence seemed an unnecessarily cruel
taunt of fate. TIis riches or bis poverty
could not nov concern him.
"And to think of it all reYerting to
Howard" he muttered. ''F1e will not
know how to useit; he. will be more I'M
comfortable than pleased. He becomes
heir to 10 times what should originally
have been His through one mans perfidy,
and because | ana that mans son, and
because it is a just lssw that the sins of
the father shall be visited on the chill
dren must suffer There is but one
copsoiation--.no one knows, or ever can
know, the depth of or fathers baseness
I but ourselves"
It suddenly flashed upon him that the
knowledge had now narrowed down to
! himself BE turhed the envelope over
chressingly, fspeating softly mo one
on earth knows but myself.
He seemed to derive certain satisfac-
tion from The, words.
eWere we right in SO summarily de-
cidinlg that only throughour death conld
restitution be mades' he demanded.
Howard would be far more content if
left with his books and a modest COM
potency. The control of vast wealth
would be nothing but burden to MIN.
OF course he could not be given what is
rightfully his without creating suspicion,
and that must beavoided, but we cam
He went no further, for he was again
confronted by his brothers. death. He
once more extended his hand to the re-
volver, and all his lately acquired re-
pose vanished. His face hardened; a
look Of subtle cunning crept about his
lips.
perhaps it is as WELL" he urged
sHe would never have been at peace, for
he had an Exaggerated idea of honor. If
determine to live" he pursued, 81 shall
resolutely thrust from me the remem-
brance of what we discovered There
will be nobody, nothing, to remind me
of it, and even to myself shall appear
as much man of honor as before we
happened upon these papers.
With dogged frmness he replaced the
cartridges and revolver in their compart-
ment. No sign Of the conflict which had
ragged remained.
It had grown late, and he carefully
dressed for dinner. Once or twice his
thoughts lowered over the motionless
form lying in his brothers room. It
would be necessary for him to feign sur
prise when the servants found the body,
but he impressed upon himself the fact
that he must be cautious not to overact
his role.
He had dressed without his valet's
help, but as he was about to leave the
room he heard him in the corridor. He
advanced toward the door, smiling lit
tle IS if pleased at having got along
without the mans assistance.
He opened the door, then retreated
step, as did also the man on the thresh-
old.
The two brothers, both carefully
dressed, stood face to face. S.
Wolf in ATgonaut
= T., A.