Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-08-21

more. I brooded over it during sleepless
nights.
My brave; strong souled brother in a
wicked woman's tolls! I pictured her.
golden haired and grand, but with a
cruel mouth and hard, beautiful eyes
that told of selfish, restless soul, and I
used to cry out in the darkness, 20,
Charley! Come away, come away"
The days and weeks and months pass
ed, and no letter came, although wrote
begging for one line.
worked fitfully but hard, and two of
the lecturers spoke kindly to me, and
hoped | was not oyertaxing myself. I
was. Work was my only relief and refuge.
! It was Christmas Eve, as I have men
toned, and five years after Charley's
departure.
was reading anatomy at the time,
and the porter, who had charge of the
dissecting room, used to allow me to 90
there in the evenings, which often did,
both because there was a good fire and
because could verify and illustrate my
readings by appeals to the diagrams and
subjects
This evening had come as usual.
There were but two subjects on the tables
la man and awoman-and I was desir-
GUS of doing good nights work. A
cheerful method Of spending Christmas
Eve, you will say.
But before commencing, however, sat
down to warm myself, and as. was fire.
quent with me under such circumstances,
my thoughts reverted to my brother.
How long thought OF MN I know
not, but at length with sigh of impotent
grief, turned away and stood beside the
table on which lay the male body.
Was it fancy or trick of the flicker
ing frelig ht, but surely the eyes were
open and looking at me?
A cold persplration broke out on my
brow--a dumb terror possessed my
soul.
1t was no fancy. The dead man sal
bolt upright and spoke, and oh !my God
as he did so I recognized Charley il
| those awful discolored lineaments.
"Alan!' The voice came low, hoarst
and distant, as from a grave. "Alan, little
brother!'
could not speak or move. My tongue
Glove to the roof Of my mouth, and fell
myself glued to the spot.
Then 1t spoke again, this time with ;
reproachful cadence: "Won:t you come
to me, little brother?'
found my muscular faculty, but no.
my voice. In speeches. terror advanced
and stood beside its-Charley -shoul-
der. It stretched out a hand, cold an6
clammy as death, and took mine and
shuddered involuntarily.
care you afraid of me, even YOU
Alan?'
"No," gasped. "No, Charley, but it's
so strange"
it laughed. Can I ever forget that
laugh? Swinburne talks of mans laugh
ter heard far down in hell.
That was it-far down, oh! SO fal
down! DE protundis.
eyes, it is strange, is it not, little
BROTHER it proceeded when its hollow
awful laugh was over. every strange
| that I, Charles Gordon, son of the late
Charles Alan Gordon, and confidential
clerk of the firm of Gayworthy, Gcddes 6
Co., should have followed in my fathers
footsteps and, after committing murder
and dying by poison self-administered il
a London street, should be promoted Il
serve science as subject in this hospital
Ha, ha, hal" and once again the mock
ing laugh rang ont,
"But don't be afraid. would not hur
you if could, Alan"- voice sounded
tender here, in spite of its hollow wierd
ness-~"I want to show you how it cam.
about. I can do that better than tel
you, but you must shut your eyes,"
In dumb obedience I did so and fel
the cold, dreadful hand touch my head.
| Then there rose up before my menta
vision ball room, blazing with light ant
beauty-in India, I was sure, from it
architectural characteristics and adjuncts
and the luxurient exotics which bloomet
on the piazza, of which a glimpse coult
be gained past the throng. There wer
officers present and their red uniform
and gold epaulettes added to the bril-
liancy and admiration of the scene.
And bright the lamps shone DER fair womel
and brave men.
Suddenly saw my brother standing
amid knot of takers. He was older
bigger and browner than when he lief
England and looked very handeome,
thought, IN his plain evening dress. II,
left his place as I first observed him, ap
parently at the request of gentlema an
and crossing the room stood before
lady. | raised my eyes to her face anc
started: It was she-the woman hac
pictured as Charley's bane. -.
There was the imperial form, the proud
face, peerlessly but cruelty beautiful, the
golden glory OF hair, the pitiless eyes
the voluptuous-I had almost said sen.
sual-mouth.
turned from her to Charley. I saw, as
he was introduced to- her, that his color
came and went, that his honest brown eyes
swan, that his voice was faltering and
low.
And she. saw it too. Over her face
there flashed a look of conscious power
and assured triumph. In answer to
something which my brother said she
bowed gracious assent, and in mo-
mcnt his arm was round her wiliowy
waist and they were gliding in the mazes
Of waltz
Then, amid a line of onlookers, 1
caught sight of face that I knew. 1t
was Aeuple - anu IL was QlSLOrCeQ With
an angry, envious scowl, almost identical
with that frown I had once seen on it as
his eyes followed my brother and his
beautiful partner.
Once again the hand of the dead
passed over my face, and at its cold touch
the bril- ht, warm vision vanished and the
scene was changed. 49, =
In a beautifully appointed and luxuri-
GUS room lady was reading-thc same
lovely, bancful woman who had danced
with my brother. She was dressed in a
cool, loose muslin, and the lazy languor
Of her attitude and expression were be-
witching as she half-reclined ON low
sofa and listlessly turned over the leaves
Of her book. The full outline Of her fig
ure and the dainty, clean poisc Of her
| shapely head were: apparent.
The door opened to admit a man, my
brother Charley; but, oh, so wonderfully
changed-so pale and haggard and care
worn. He strobe across the room and
flung himself on his knees before the wo
man on the sofa: who looked up with an
| .(:eso1nacol o.-,oa.:o..