Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1879-08-21

during the short afternoons, "a
three were often together, while on
read aloud. At twilight, a. the
gathered around the fire, Lee woul,
4 Jgin with his silvery tenor in th
college songs with which the hons
rang; or he would often, at sucl
times, sit silent, listening, with auie
, pleasure, to The merry banter con
stanly kept up between Shariie ant
Gene. He was Is much surprised
80 del GIFTED ut the mcrry flw O
Sharlie's wit. and tne quickuess will
which she replied 10 Genes mis-
ehIevons salies. Hers was one o.
those sympathetic natures which
though firm and changeless in theil
inner depths, take their surface col
oring from those with whom they
are associated; which are gay AID
quick with those Of like AZURE
quiet and sedate with tbs reserved
and serious. Thus, Lee bad never
called out this mischievous bright.
ness as Gene did, and it was new
pleasure to him 10 find that Sharlie
could DO go charming in this way.
A greater contrast could scarcely
exist than that between these two
brothers. La personal appearance,
il was az decided as ia mental char.
sc.erislics. Lee, though tall as
Gene, WAS slender and graceful, mis-
dark eyes were grave and deep, his
lips always little compressed under
his dark mustache, and his FORE
bead marked With slight frowu,
as of close thought. His manners
were quiet and elegant as Ches-
terfield's, and his voice never lost
it's gentleness of meditation in any
excitement. Gene was all restless.
ness, sparkle and life; Lee was the
perfection of gentlemanly quiet,
steadino ss and resolution.
When Lee had been home about
two weeks, and the time was fast
approaching for both brothers to
leave, Shariie stood one morning
reading, by the window. At least,
she had been reading; but DOW the
book was closed, aud her dark eyes
boxed dreamliy ou. seeing moth.
ing but the images called up by her
own thoughts. These were with
LIE and Gene MeLennan: but-O,
uDtathomsole mystery Of girls
heart were they more with the
betrothed or the brother? At last
with halt impatient sigh, she re-
GALE her attention to the book in
her hand 'Wbso sorrow is in man,
that will not fiually put itself to
sleep p she has just read from the
page before her, when the book is
closed again. She IS expecting Lee
every moment but it is not his
step which causes the emile on her
pretty lips, and the sudden glad
light in the hazel eyes.
Il was not expecting you this
morning, Gene she cries as he en-
ters-but che suddenly stops, at the
terrible change in him. What can
it mean ?-that dreadful paleness,
those set, quivering lips, and the
look of awful sorrow and compassion
10 the blue eyes? He holds out his
arms TO her, brokenIy,
30, Sharlie My poor little sis.
ter =
/ Four years have passed since that
dreadful morning when Gene bad
brought to her the news of Lees
sudden death, and, keeping back
his own crushing sorrow, ia his ten
der compassion for hers, had com
| forted and cared for her 1t is hard
still. after the healing touch of four
years, to remember shat fearful
time: tho dreadful sense of less /;
The great blank which seemed at
first to be left in her lite /; and afove
all, the constant feeling of remorse
and self-reproach, that her last
thoughts, before the dreadful news
came, had not been of him Over
and over 10 her memory had rung
mockingly the words she had oeen
reading. when 80 awfully interrupt
ed: What sorrow is in man, that
will not finally pnt itself to sleep p
and she had denied their truth,
passionately and bitterly, to her
heart. But impossible as it had
seemed then, that she should ever
be comforted, the years had done
their work and now she aud Gene
could speak of him, as they oftsn
bid in their long twilight talks, ten-
derby, with loving membrauee
of ali bis virtues, and entire forget.
fulness of any failings. In all these
years Gene had never been less to
her than in the first bitter DAYS
when he had bravely put aside his
Own grief, to fulfill the promise
made his dying brother TO comfort
Sharlie.' Never could brother have
been more devoted, more unselfish
and thoughtful; ard whsn she had
reused herself from the first shock
of sorrow, she had found it easy to
return his devotion with her ever
ready sympathy and interest. And
when the happy Ugh. came slowly
back to his blue eyes, and the heavy
cloud seemed lifted a little from
their lives, they had still been the
same 10 each other-always the
same. More than once had lt besn
in her power to make what the
world calls good match, for her
sweet face and winning ways won
admiration every where; bat she
had gently declinet every proposal,
unwilling to marry whom she did
not love. This afternoon, as she
sits again in the sitting-room, her
Singers are busy with some pretty
work-an embroidered smoking cap
and her thoughts are with Ea-
gene. She thinks of the many,
many happy hours they have spent
in reading, talking and thinking to
gether; of his pleasure in her So
ciety of his never failing, frequent
letters when away from her; of his
regular visits home for her sake.
She recalls her long illness, two
years ago, and how be came up ev-
cry day until she was out of dan.