The Globe-republican., 1893-01-13
which somehow ended by resting on the
slumberous face of Conrad.

WHICH somehow enQeQ Dy resting on the
slumberous face of Conrad.
No, she exclaimed, with great ardor,
and with wild, wistful light flashing
forth at me from her sweet, blue eyes.
Then, in another instant, she had burst
into tears, and darted from the room,
I sat dazed, dubious, vaguely thrilled,
knew not why. The keenness of her
tones had Weakened Conrad, who asked
of me:
Victor, what is it? Was Linda angry
at you, hurrying off like that"
"Oh, no." I answered, though alb
sently, with the tips of my lips, as it
were.
He seemed satisfied with the answer
and let his head sink again on my
shoulder. I slowly turned and regarded
him, he being unconscious that did so.
And then terrible thing happened.
Momentarily and yet with intense
acuteness there came across me shud-
dering detestation of this frail creature
whose life was 80 indissolubly linked to
mine. The impulse that seized me was,
I suppose, a murderous one. If it had
lasted, If some wave of ethical and fra
ternal potency had not soon swept it
aside, God knows what might have
happened!
AS it was, the re-humanizing change
took place, and l presently found my
self still seated at my brothers. side,
with an altered and remorseful spirit
and with cold beads Of sweat clustering
on cheeks and brow
Still, the hour sent, so to speak, its
lasting reverberations through my life.
did not cease to regard Conrad both
with tenderness and pity; but the love
which now knew that felt for Linda
Schreiner controlled me with novel
stress. must here admit that it left
behind it certain strange residuum Of
cruelty toward Conrad.
And yet, was I so wholly blamable?
If the severance was effected between
him and me. my own peril would be i'm
mense. I had become sure that my
chances Of survival. in such a case,
would be about one in ten. Yet this
love for Linda, mixed with joyous
glimmering of faith in her possible love
Fer me, set my heart throbbing with q
sort OF divine courage.
-Divine?" m ny will ask. And why?"
they will further urge, since it was
essentially selfish?" l 6 ant that self
ishness had much to do with it, aud yet
what love except the loftier altruistic
low. is unconcerned with egoism? A
passion like mine is not, nor ever was.
And swiftly, even horribly, as may
add, my love for this charming girl had
blossomed into q passion.
Almost whenever Linda and I held
conferences after this used my power
over Conrsd-hypnotic mesmeric, what
ever one pleases to call 1t. Not word
Of confession ever left my lips. But BY
suggestion, by innuendo, am certain
that must have spoken. Whether che
understood me or no, cannot tell. It
seems to me now that she understood
perfectly. All this time I was possessed
by Q prophetic sensation that sooner or
later my repre- sed fervor Of sentiment
must break bounds in terms Of trans
port and avowal.
Olaf Aveling held several converse
lions with me after this. and ct last I
could no longer endure the knowledge
of his evident yet concealed purpose.
One day I exerted my influence over
Conrad, while the young physician was
present, yet it wholly failed, as now and
then it had previously failed.
Conrad grew nervous, petulant, even
peevish. You want to say something
that You prefer shouldn't hear" he
declared. I've often thought this be-
fore. but now It's very clear to me.
You've been hiding things from me for
. good while past. Oh. I've sesa and