Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-08-17


lose his situation. Mr.. Temple told me
this with grave face, but I could not
help thinking he rather enjoyed it; al
though once as he spoke of the lady's
beauty, his brow bent in lrewn very
like anger.
After he left me was very miserable,
and never saw him again to ask him
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
used to cry out in the darkness, 30,
Charley! Come away, come away"
The days and weeks and months pass
ed, and no letter came, although wrote
begging for one line.
worked titfully but hard, and two of
the lecturers spoke kindly to me, and
hoped was not oyertaxing myself. I
was. Work was nv only relief and refuge
1t was Christmas Eve, as 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 20
there in the evenings, which I often did,
both because there was good fire and
because I could verify and illustrate my
readings by appeals to the diagrams and
subjects
This evening l had come as usual.
1>,,% II o%o
"a man and woman-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 him 1 know
not, but at length with a sigh of impotent
grief, I turned away and stood beside the
table on which lay the male body.
Was it fancy or trick of the flicker
ing frelig hit, but surely the eyes were
open and looking at me9
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 in
those awful discolored lineaments.
"Alan" The voice came low, hoarse
and distant, as from grave. sAlan, little
brother!
could not speak or move. My tongue
Glove to the roof of my mouth, and I felt
myself glued to the spot.
Then 1T spoke again, this time with a
reproachful cadence: "Won't you come
to me, little brother?'
I found my muscular faculty, but not
my voice. In speeches. terror advanced
and stood beside its-Charley Shout
der. 1t stretched out hand cold and
clammy as death, and took mine and /
shuddered involuntarily.
care you afraid of me, even you,
Alan9'
"No," gasped mo, Charley, but it's
so strange"
It laughed. Can I ever forget that
laugh? Swinburne talks of a mans laugh
ter heard far down in hell.
That was it-far down, oh! 50 far
down! De pr0fuadSs.
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, Geddes &
Co., should have followed in my fathers
footsteps and, after committing murder
and dying by poison self-administered in
London street, should be 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. would not hurt
you if could, Alan'-the voice sounded
tender here, in spite of it's hollow wierd-
ness ~ want to show you how it came
| about. can do that better than tell
you, but you must shut your eyes,"
In dumb obedience I did so and felt
the cold, dreadful hand touch my head.
Then there rose up before my mental
vision a ball room, blazing with light and
beauty-in India, I was sure, from its
architectural characteristics and adjuncts
| and the luxurient eXotics which bloomed
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 shone 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 looked very handeome,
thought, in his plain evening dress. He
lett his place as I first observed him, ap.
parently at the request Of a 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 form, the proud
face, peerlessly but cruelty beautiful, the
golden glory OF hair, the pitiless eyes
the voluptuous- had almost said sen.
sual- mouth.
turned from her to Charley. I saw, as
he was introduced to her, that his colol
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 power
and assured triumph. In answer tt
something which my brother said she
bowed gracious assent, and in a mo
ment his arm was round her wiliow1
waist and they were gliding in the maze:
Of waltz.
Then, amid line of onlookers,
caught sight Of a face that I knew. L
was Temples, and it was distorted will
an angry, envious scowl, almost identica
with that frown I had once seen on it az
his eyes followed my brother and hi.
beautiful partner.
| 0roo oro,, A., l,x.l r :