Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1894-03-21
A Dead Mans Vengeance.
By EDGAR FAWOETT.

house she entered the still, vacant. lamp
lit drawing room. For some time she
sat there, with her eyes fixed on the floor
and her face pale and determined Then
she rose and went to find her brother
He was up stairs in the library, lying on
a great leathern lounge and apparently
sleeping. But he gave quick, nervous
start as Brenda approached him, and
lifted himself into a half sitting posture.
"Oh, it's you, Brenda" he said. Il
thought you were Natalie. Where is she?
Have you seen her lately?"
mot very long ago." answered Bren-
da. She was standing close beside her
brother now. She put out her hand and
let it rest ON his shoulder Louis" she
said, 81 sometimes think you no longer
care for me the least in the world"
He shook his head, with cold com
preston of the lips. "Ah, Brenda" he
murmured, ''you are to blame for what
ever change may have come between u.s.
II, Louis2 No, no; You are quite
wrong"
"Pm wholly right" he contradicted.
"How do you treat my wife2' he went
on, with mournful reproach. She is
worthy of your love and devotion, but
You give her only neglect and rudeness.
Brenda felt her face flush. "Oh, Louis
she exclaimed, "if you would only rea-
lie that what you call neglect and rude
ness is the sternest self discipline"
He flung her hand from his shoulder
and met with scowl her pleading eyes.
Brenda" he said, show dare you?
What right have you to assume, as you
do, that my wife is beneath your respect
full treatment"
The girls lips moved, but she said
nothing Had she not perhaps already
said far too much for her brothers health
and mental peace?
"Brendal" again cried Louis, and his
eyes flashed with anger, you can no
longer live in this housed" There SEEM
ed to have been something about his Sis
ter's recent silence that had acted upon
him more strikingly than her speech.
"No; Shadyshore is mine, and shall be
master here. You have your own fort
une Spend it as you please and where
you please. I've borne with your scan
dalous actions long enough. give you
just one week in which to make your
preparations; after that go you mustl"
Brenda had grown very pale by the
time that Louis had ended. Horror at
the thought of leaving her brother with
Natalie now made her desperate.
"You tell me that wrong your wife.
Louis" she said in choked tone. But,
ah, how does she wrong you? With
whom is she walking the lawn now, at
this very moment? Who is the man she
calls Archibald and what right has he
to be here as her clandestine associate?
Let me tell you the words that | have
just heard her speak to this man." and
then Brenda gave those words with I'M
erring literalness.
I'll can't believe this" faltered Louis
when she had finished. He looked stead
lily into his sisters face for an instant.
And yet, Brenda, have always known
you to be so truthful
~ swear to you," said Brenda, that
have told you nothing but the absolute
truth"
He caught her hand in his own thin
and feyerish one. "Oh, forgive mel
came his response. II have been unjust
10 you! Perhaps your fears, your doubts
we're, after all-but no, mol" he sudden
y broke off, and then for moment he
covered his face like man in very great
agony. "Ah, my God" he soon pursued,
If it were possible that she is faithless
% me! But, Brenda, not a syllable to
leri Promise me this! 1t may be that
he is altogether innocent. And yet she
las told me so much-everything in
act-about her past, and have never
wen heard her mention the name of
Archibald-yes. am certain of it.
And pray, Brenda, keep silent. Say
Nothing whatever, leaving all to me, and
land forgiving ME, hope, as IL do
lot deserve to be forgiven!"
For answer Brenda impetuously threw
10Th arms around her brothers neck.
oh. Louis" she cried. Heaven knows
hat I've hated to tell you these things
have no wish to quarrel with your wife.
should so have loved her, Louis, if only
-but never mind. You have my prom
30. And yet if Natalie should attack
ne / can't be sure just how calmly
hall receive her."
But Natalie made no attack. What
yer soon passed between herself and
louis was spoken behind closed doors.
"She will tell him some falsehood.
10 doubt unused Brenda, "and he will
'elieve it and turn once more against
ne." For two or three days poor Brenda
waited some such development, but none
anne. Louis failed to give her the
lghtest confidence on the subject of his
vife's avowals, though an interview of
his kind was eagerly and longingly ex-
ected Louis appearance and deport-
aent were meanwhile detection itself.
lie showed no longer sign of fondness
oward Natalie, and Brenda perceived
hat her sister-in- law labored under Wis
Die annoyance or worriment, it was
ard to tell precisely which.
Shortly after dinner time one sultry,
feless evening servant came to Bren-
q and told her that Mr.. Bond had sud-