The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1879-08-21

all.
Mr.. Temple asked me to dine with hlm
that evening and after dinner hc became
more confidential. He requested me not
to repeat what lie would now tell me, and
after my promising this, he said he was
sorry to say that my brother was in bad
way Hea,had fallen. in love, it seemed,
with beautiful woman who did not care
for him. He follow ed her everywhere
and neglected his business duties in his
infatuation, so that he would probably
lose his situation. Mr.. Temple told me
this with a grave face, but l could not
hclp p thinking he rather enjoyed it; al
though once as he spoke Of the ladv's
beauty, his brow bent in II irewn very
like anger. "a
After he left me was very miserable,
! and | never saw him again to ask him
more. l brooded over it during slccplcss
nights.
| My bravc;. strong souled brother in Il
wicked woman's tolls! I pictured her,
golden haired and grand, but with a
lcruel mouth and hard, beautiful eyes
that told Of a selfish restless soul, and
used to cry out in the darkness, 80,
! Charley. Come away, come away
The days and weeks and months pass
ed, and no letter came, although wrote
begging for one line.
| l worked titfully but hard, and two of
the lecturers spoke kindly to me, and
hoped I was not oycrtaxing myself. l
was. Work was my only relief and refuge.
1t was Christmas Eve, rs I have men
toned and five years after Charlcy's
| departure.
| l was reading anatomy at the time,
and the porter, who had charge Of the
disscctinc room, used to allow me to go
there in the evenings, which l often did,
both because there was 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
a man and woman--and | was dcsir
Gus of doing good nights work. A
cheerful method of spending Christmas
Eve, you will say.
| But before commencing, however / sat
down towarm myself, and as was fire.
qucnt with me under such circumstances,
my thoughts reverted to my brother.
| How long | thought OF nm | know
not, but at length with sigh of impotcnt
| grief, turned away and stood beside the
table on which lay the male body.
Was it fancy or trick Of the flicker
ing freight, 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 sat
bolt upright and spoke, and oh my God! !!
| as he did so l recognized Charley in
those awful discolored lineaments.
! "Aan!'' The voice came low, hoarsc
! and distant, as from grave. "Alan. little
| brother!'
l could not speak or move. My tongue
Glove to the roof of my mouth, and felt
myself glued to the spot.
Then 1t spoke again, this time with a
| reproachtul cadence: "Won you come
to me, little brother?'' .
l found my muscular faculty, but not
my voice. In speechess terror advanced
and stood beside lts-Charlcy 's-shoul
der. 1t stretched out hand, cold and
clammy as DEATH and took mine and |
shuddered involuntarily.
| "Are YOU afraid of me, even you,
| Alan9'
"No," gasped. "No, Charley, but ii s
so strange"
1t laughed Can l ever forget that
| lauga? Swinburne talks OF a mans laugh
ter heard far down in hell.
That was it-far down, oh. SO far
doan! De profundis.
eyes, it is strange, is it not, little
brother it proceeded when its hollow,
awful laugh was over. "Verys strange
that I, G, aries Gordon, son Of the late
Charles Alan Gordon, and confidential
clerk of the firm of Gayworthy, Geddes &
Co.. should have followed in my fathers
footsteps and, after committing murder
and dying by poison sclfadministered in
a London street, should DC promoted to
serve science as subject in this hospital?
Ha, ha, hap and once again the mock
ing laugh rang ont
'.But don't be afraid. Iwould not hurt
YOU if could, Alan"--thc voice sounded
tender here, in spite of its hollow wierd-
ness 81 want to show you how it came
about. can do that better than tell
YOU. but you must shut your eyes"
In dumb obedience did so and felt
the cold, dreadful hand touch my head.
Then there rose up before my mental
vision ball room, blazing swith light and
beautv-in India, | was sure, from its
architectural characteristics and adjuncts,
1 and the lluxurient exotics which bloomcd
on the piazza, of which glimpse could
be gained past the throng. There were
officers present and their red uniforms
and gold epaulettes added to the bril-
liancy and admiration Of the scene.
And bright the lamps shonc DER fair women
and brave men. -,
| Suddenly saw my brother standing
amid knot of takers. He was Older
bigger and browner than when he left
England and loo ed very handeome,
thought, IN his plain evening dress. He
left his place as / first observed him, ap-
parently ut the request of gentleman,
and crossing the room stood before a
lady. / raised my eyes to her face and
started. It was she-the Woman had
pictured as Charley's banc.
There was the imperial torn, the proud
|. face, peerlessly but cruelty beautiful, the
golden glory OF hair, the pitlless eyes
the voluptuous-I had almost said SEN
sual-mouth. tt @
l turned from her to Charley. saw, as
he was introduced to her, that his cOlo1
came ard went, that his honest brown eyes
swan, that his voice was faltering an6
low.
!, And she saw it too. Over her face
/ there flashed look Of conscious powe,