Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1881-12-30

organ entirely, but when my brother
Henry came home from Europe, the
year after it was opened, his intense
enjoyment surpassed even mine. And
this reminds me to ask you if you viii
allow me to present this same brother
of mine to you tomorrow. He will ar
rive here late tonight, and will be most
happy to escort US to st. Stephens,
where he is a regular at endant when
ever he visits New York"
| suppose Alice answered for me
that I should be happy to make ac-
quaintance with cur friends brother.
| was too bewildered to speak. The
strange likeness that made her face so
familiar to me at first sight, the name
Of the unknown brother, Henry, his IN
tense love for organ music-what could
it all mean? Was / now to meet him
again, to endure afresh all the misery
that the kindly hand of Time was only
Just beginning to hide amid the flowers
of resignation and contentment? L
passed the rest Of the day and night in
a state of feverish excitement. | would
ask no questions. If it were indeed he
that was about to see should meet him
as bravely as / had parted from him. He
was and could be nothing tome after this
one day; our paths might never cross
again-I could bear it.
At the appointed time Mrs. Gray
called for me, but came alone. Then
| realized how weak was: how | had
been hoping to see him, though l had
told myself we should meet as the
veriest strangers.
MY brother will meet us at the
church." said Mrs. Gray. : He was
obliged to go first to visit sick friend,
but he will not be detained long"
We reached the church just as the
service was beginning, and the first
strains of the magnificent Stabat
Master" of Pergholesc already issued
from the grand organ. The aisles were
crowded, but as we approached Mrs
Gray's pew she whispered, in a tone oi
relief: " How fortunate | see that my
brother has arrived before me and kept
our seats; but must defer the intro
duction Till after the service"
The gentleman stepped from the
pew to allow us to pass in, evidently
| listening intently all the while that 8
note Of the music should not be lost
He cast a careless glance on his sister;
companion-our eyes met. All | saw
was a look Of joy, of thankfulness, O
contentent. In my face, l believe, he
could read absolutely nothing. All
what hours those we're to mel But fol
the music could never have sat there
20 ,,af GO IVEyItQlU fa'
away The music, now walllng, nov
beseeching, now triumphant, rolled
| through the church like voice from
Heaven, banishing, for the time, al
thoughts Of earthly trials and tempta
tons. But it ended at last-the vespe
service was over.
As the crowd slowly dispersed we sa
list ming to the really beautiful marcel
o. > ethoven. Then Mrs. Gray begget
us to wait one moment, as she wished
to speak to some poor women VIII
were assisted and employed by her
AMI were now waiting for her. Sa
simply named us to each other, ant
left us. The f" one moment lengthene,
into an half-hour; the last notes OF tn
organ died away; only solitary wor
shipper knelt here and there in tn
lonely aisles.
And | was listening to "the old, oil
story" how, from the first day W
met, he had cared for me and me only
bat fettered by that uncongenial mar
riage into which he had entere,
thoughtlessly when mere boy, it wa
impossible for him to say one word
| l1x.oI flO irSf
and now he was free and had come t
seek me out, to ask me whether | re
membered him. And this time | hat
no need to tell Il falsehood.
When Mrs. Gray rejoined us sh
looked from one to another with
bright, loving smile. and whispered t
me: 81 never knew, until just as | wa
coming for you this afternoon, tina
you and Henry were old friends. Ma
| be your friend, also, Nelly, for hi
sake ?"
Then we walked slowly home in tn
twilight to Alice, who looked up, in
quiringly, as we entered the parlor to
gether. She must have seen at
glance that my sorrow was suddenl
lifted from my heart, and when | pre-
scented Mr. West as an cold friend from
Boston," the truth flashed upon her il
Il moment.
When he left me that evening ii
said: 81 cannot wait long for you, Ne
" Say all the good you can of me t
your dear sister, and persuade her t
give you to me very soon"
Alice was neither obdurate nor Sc
fish, and the next summer she joine
my husband and myself in a happ
wandering over Switzerland,