Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 February 1918 — HIS BROTHER [ARTICLE]

HIS BROTHER

By AGNES G. BROGAN.

(Copyright. 1918. Western Newspaper Union.) It was Ills brother. That made the great difference. Often he had read ■of tragedies and passed them by. But Barney—the bright lad, upon whom he had lavished every care, for whom he had made a life sacrifice —Barney, to die there in the Canadian wood where both had been happy together, and to die by his own volition! The disgrace which went before ■seemed naught in comparison with this bitter finale. It would be a simple matter to replace the money which Barney had dishonestly confiscated for his own use. Barney might have known that he, Dave, would forgive the forging of his name. Despondency alone could have driven the youth to the desperation of that last deed. The woman was to blame, of course. Dave was sure of that. How openly Barney had prated of his love for her. It had been to gain her favor that the man had taken sums vthlch could not be replaced. This last scribbled note told bow all costly gifts had been returned. “She don’t want me,” Barney ended, pathetically—‘‘and never did. There’s some unconscious charm about her , that draws every man—guess it’s in tier eyes.” The note had been in Barney’s pocket ; they brought that and his watch to Dave from the rock beside the whirlpool. “Good-by,” it ended. “I’m going to drown myself here.” Barney had always been impulsive, so Dave .excused various escapades of the past. To bring his young brother safely through these adventures had been Dave’s part. Perhaps a parent might have acted more wisely. Dave •didn't know: he had done his best. A desire possessed him to visit that lonely spot where he might come upon news of his brother’s last days —sd David went. The violets were purpling the hillsides, the well-remembered [wood was fragrant with promise, the waters hissed in the whirlpool from which the big man. turned with a shud<ler. Near by was the boulder where they used to sit smoking their pipes. Dave’s eyes widened in surprise. A woman sat there now —a beautiful woman, alone In all the solitude. Her bronze golden head was bent .above some gray knitting, and without apparent embarrassment she raised •clear gray eyes regarding the man before her, then her needles again •clicked methodically. But with that steady gaze enchantment came over Dave. Some influence', he knew not what, was persuading him to confide In this girl—to unburden the sorrow which he had borne in silence —to learn if she of the wise eye considered his indulgence and not Barney’s recklessness to blame. So, when she arose to go, he detained her with questions. “Had she heard of a tragedy here? Had she any knowledge of the young man who had come to this spot to lose bls life?” The girl had heard. She hesitated, ■evidently considering him a detective. “There was nothing that she knew but what had been told." Dave decided to stay for a time in the spot which held him in hopeful fascination. As days went by he might learn more; some further message might be found. He obtained board at the oldtime stopping place and every morning, when lie made his Way to the boulder, he found the girl there before him. She made no excuse for her presence, nor changed her favorite place because of his Invasion. Dave leaned back upon a mound of pine needles, talking slowly, and as he had never talked before, of his life with Barney, the boy’s college days, his first venture into business. The girl, folding her knitting, would listen with thoughtful eyes upon him. The eyes stirred David’r. honest heart with an unaccountable longing. He knew ♦bat true love had found him at last, and winced at the pain of renunciation. The girl’s face grew white at the story of his love, and she did what no. one but this girl could have done—she bent very swiftly and kissed him. Then she was gone. When David came next morning to the boulder a piece of white paper fluttered beneath a weighted stone. Picking it up, he read one written line: “I,” said the note, “am the girl your brother loved." That was all. David’s throat smarted —his eyes burned. It was inconceivable. She and that heartless trifler the same! He must go away at once. But David did not go. The girl stood before him —her eyes again held hi£* “I could not help his loving me,” she said slowly. “I—did not wish it The gifts he would bring I returned." Suddenly her breath caught in a choking sob. She held out her arms. But David stood resolutely from her. “I believe you,” he answered firmly. “I love you; but with that thought between us” —he pointed to the foaming whirlpool—"we could never knew happiness." Then before them stood Barney— Barney, not an apparition, but in the flesh and smiling. “Take her Dave," he said softly. “She’s been waiting for a man like you, and no other could be good enough for her. Playing suicide was my dodge to get away. Guess she knew I’d come back, and has been waiting ’round to send me to you. I’m going to try for service —perhaps the army can make a man of me. Goodby!” For a moment Dave stood looking after his brother’s departing figure, then be put out bis hand to the gilt -Come," he said.