The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-07-17

two. Aquiles changed, also; he lost
| ve-ve; it was said that he had given
himself over rather wildly to roulette
for three weeks. His friends hoped
that he had left that long ago. No;
suddenly, monstrously, Aquiles was
going to pieces. Bias saw this,
stared, and felt his blood chilled.
What was that fascinating, unknow-
able connection between them?
Power of heaveni Could he not strive
to be something, to develop, and
stride out of worthlessness, without
this undermining of AquiIes? There
was some vile trick of fate here.
Anyhow, the woman had awakened
him. Some women force a mans
spirit onward like currents in the
battery of a motor. The motor can
not stop itself, except it break.
Bias began to have large ambi-
tions, and to apply them. He had
great wealth; he could do yet what
he had failed in, and infinitely more
The principle of all his life should
be the doing of good. just seeing
her once or twice had accomplished
that much. She lived in San Pedro,
the aristocratic suburb, with her
lonely old father, who had been a
Statesman, and who had some
times helped, sometimes hindered.
Diaz in the Great Task. To that
wide, low house of fountains and
tiled walls, came Bias. She received
him in room hung with paintings,
every one by a Mexican artist. Juan
de Dios PEAS poems lay on bronze
table. She believed in Mexico; in its
men, its future.
What, in Gods name, is the mat
ter with my brother?" cried he. in
low voice, whose fervOr cast the spell
on her again. She sat down, having
suddenly become paler. She held
fast to the arm of the big chair and
looked at him; her brow was very
high.
Change is the law of life" she said
sorrowfully.
LUZ -huNlSlbti. <AhVldlNld. llC
cried with pain, striding before her.
There is some dread fatality on us
you have seen it," He stopped,
and pointed at her fercely, his face
flaming. You have guessed-you
know! Do not deny it,
She trembled-she had guessed
that she loved him, that was all she
knew. She was like an Opheia bowed
before the not understood madness
of a Hamlet.
Il don't know what you mean," she
murmured.
"Mean!" he cried, in grief, stand
ing over her. 81 mean that l have
proved it at last. that | have cut this
mystery open with knife, and stared
into its vitals. My God! Adelaide,
am l mad? Mean? This only-that
| dare not stir hand or foot, but he
loses. | dare not progression he
goes back. l dare not rise-for he
sinks! We are not separate; we are
bound in some horrible union!"
She could not believe, nor comsre-
bend; but the horror fell on her,
too. He was gazing at her. his face
savage, but loved by her. Size gath
cred her powers first, longing to
soothe.
"4Ou are worn out with thinking"
she said, slowly. "Come-come to
me, every day. and let me talk to You.
Maybe l can help you. You lave let
the world grow abnormal for you"
The appeal in her words over
powered him. He rose and stretched
out his arms; she closed her eyes.
His love for her banished everything;
and he was whirled on to take her in
his embrace. But there, uprisen be-
fore him, came the face of his
brother, face newly dissolute, reck-
less, the face of man fiinging good
aside and marrying evil and death.
Bias had been astonished, crushed.
at seeing all that in the changed and
down-sinking Aquiles. No abandon
ment of the high, and seeking of
the low had ever been so swift, COM
plNbNs anu udtl JlllS
of Aquiles since Bias came back and
changed. The latter remembered
that Adelaide had been his brothers
inspiration, as she was now his. Bias
was priest enough to believe in the
damnation of Aquiles' soul, if his
ruin were not averted. Adelaide
could avert it-had done it before;
yet Bias was stealing Adelaida's
heart. He shrank back and went
away blinded.
Outside the sun shone. The mule
car scudded away in that winding
avenue of trees that leads to Guadala-
lara. He rubbed his brow. Was it
then some insane dream? This he
knew: He had once, long ago; pros
pered, and at that time Aquiles was
a nonentity. Later, Aquiles had
burst forth and accomplished; had
been spirit growing. Those were
the years wherein Bias had lain
helpless, even sluggishly vicious. The
hope of the woman's love had
spurred on his brother, but the wo-
man had suddenly turned toward
Bias, Weakened him. Bias had arisen,
L. l..