Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1894-03-28

~"
The kiss that foIto,ocd ,oas one of be
trothdL
She dropped her gaze before Geralds
direct one. A significant silence now
ensued, which Brenda suddenly. broke.
She put out her hand to Gerald. "Good-
by" she murmured; II am worn out
for today. | must he 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 moment for Natalie
to speak; then, seeing that she looked
both embarrassed and agitated, he said;
II 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 little blending of
scorn and sadness. "Oh, if you had but
come here few hours sooner, Mr.. Rave
low," she exclaimed, "Tbelieve 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. 81
have heard that you wished to keep q
physician from visiting your husband,
even while you knew him to be in the
agonies of DEATH"
II did not know It'll" she burst out,
Ill hot has, Of, hands thav
hung at her sides. "Inever dreamed he
was dyingl How should | dream so?
He had been i'll and ailing-he had had
such attacks before. and | wished New
York doctor Of reputation to see him
instead of some-some mere country
ignoramus" Here she sank into one
of the bamboo chairs that were scat
tered about the piazza and looked at
Gerald with mixture of imperi-
BUSINESS and malice. II have only
this to tell you, Gerald Ravelow," she
continued; "you may be as much in
love with Brenda Bond as you please,
but if my husband has left you an ex-
ecutor of his estate-and dare say that
he has--then shall demand that full
settlement of it shall be made as speed
lily as possible, giving me the share to
which am entitled, for wish to leave
this country and escape from all further
insolence at the hands of this arrogant
sister. Yes. ! wish to go back to Eng
land"-
with ArchibaldY" asked Gerald,
making the two sharp words cut her I'M
finished sentence like the swift stroke Of
knife.
She started terribly, and then stared
at him. "How 90 you know? What do
you know" she began to stammer.
He gave brief, cold laugh. "Oh,
I'm great deal more ignorant than
should like to be-" he answered. And
then, feeling that to stay and talk with
her like this might be to place within
her power some hint of certain secret
1t was both his duty and his desire jeal
ously to guard for the present, he
slightly lifted his hat, niurmured "Good
evening"" and passed at a rapid pace
down the piazza steps,
Tomorrow will be time enough for
action" he thought, as he hurried across
the twilight lit lawns. A dread which he
could not dismiss, however, assailed him
with regard to Brenda. Was it safe for
her to pass another night at Shadyshore
with the hatred of Natalie vigilant and
asserted. But soon Gerald smiled at his
own fears. Whatever evil this widow
of Louis Bond might already have
done 1t was sure that she would put no
future obstacle between herself and the
possession of noble fortune. Policy
would be the potent motive to keep her
from all immediate mischief
For the first time in his life Gerald
felt beset by sense of "nerves." He
would almost rather have lost hand
than violate his oath to the dead, but
this oath had Of late entered his memory
with an altogether novel series of thrills.
By II o'clock that evening he found
himself in u most perturbed condition.
His own home, SO closely adjoining the
larger estate of the Bonds, had been
left in charge of an old couple whom his
sudden appearance had greatly surprised
After doing what they could for his en-
tertainment these two custodians had
retired to bed at Gerald's urgent behest.
The evening outside was full of soft
breezes and scintillant starlight-sum-
mer darkness, with just the least autumn
nal touch to it. To reach the Shady
: shore vault would require walk of not
more than ten or fifteen minutes. Gerald
had secured the key, having long ago
placed it in certain drawer, which he
had now but to open for the purpose of
laying his hands on what they sought.
He had supplied himself with two or
three candles and box of matches. All
was ready. His heart beat queerly as
he began his little journey across lots
and by dark clusters of lonely foliage.
The CHASTITY character of his undertaking
was not its only drawback. He seemed
to see, again and again, before he reached
the vault forms dart out upon. him with
vetoing gestures, accusative eyes. And
how could he explain his trespassing |