Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1886-05-13
GUYS CHORISTER.

and Guy was as completely in the dark as all
the rest. He scarcely waited TO hear the last
vibrations of the organ before he turned to
/ where the young singer had stood, only to
lind his place vacant. He passed through
the congratulating throng which surrounded
him, and sought, but sought In vain, for the
vanished boy. As he had come, so he had
departed. The chorlsters on being question
ed, one and all disclaimed any knowledge of
his whereabouts, and, more strangely, de-
clared that were they to meet him, they
should not recognize him. Every inquiry
seemed to be futile, and at last Guy Hallam
went home to his lodgings, with feeling Of
disappointment in his heart quite dispropor-
tionate to the occasion.
After all, he had achieved signal triumph,
and it was sheer absurdity, he reasoned, to
feel himself debarred from the full enjoy
ment of 1t because he who had so greatly
helped was not there to share it.
Waiting in his rooms he found his sister.
She took both his hands, and her calm eyes
l.lled with tears.
"Ah, Guy" she said simply, ~ thought it
was almost good enough for me to know your
genius; but find am much happier now
'!he world acknowledges it too"
lie kissed her tenderly.
"You have always helped me, my dear,
and have been a mother to me ever since we
lost our own. Most of the good that Is in me
| owe to you, and the greatest joy have in
my success comes from the knowledge that
very soon shall be able to offer you home
with me. 1t has been cruelty bitter to me to
feel indebted even to you, and to know that,
from my having spent your money, you have
mad to live on CHARITY"
"Fides's charity has been by no means
cold, Guy" returned his sister, smiling; "and
| should not like to leave her now, much as
love you. She has been so good to me-"
Was she thereY' he asked, turning away
abruptly and lifting, as if absently, the pho
tograph on the piano did she think well
of it?'
''She had a special engagement" his sister
answered, "and did not care to accompany
me"
There was sudden crash. The picture
had fallen, and the frame and glass were
broken.
1T does not matter, Theo," he said, as she
made movement to pick up the portrait;
"Iet it lie. 1t is valueless TO me-"
His sister smiled slightly. She seemed
curiously Obvious of the trouble in his face.
"Even were willing to leave Fides," she
resumed, IL know that home with you
would be only temporarily established. Now
that you have the ball at your feet and a
glorious future awaiting you, you will be sure
to marry soon; and then j should be turned
adrift again"
He sat down moodily and pushed away the
picture with his foot
II shall never marry" he declared.
Nonsense! Guy" she added, after a
pause, don't you think it would be good
thing to fulfil the old mans implied il not
expressed, desire, and try for Fides"
"Theo, can you imagine that l could ever
be guilty of so mean an action? You know
how by the terms of our grandfather's will,
she must If ask her-thank Heaven for that
'ifl-marry me, or forfeit her fortune. Sure
ly you must see how that precludes a man Of
honor from even thinking of it, Ordinary
fortune-hunters are bad enough, but the
bascst among them would not stoop to put a
girl into such false position. If | hated
her, could not, and, if | loved her"-his
voice softened, and he bent and picked up
the portrait-''if loved her thousand times
less, could / put before her the two alterna-
tives?"
but, if you loved her, Guy"-his sister
the happiness of your-and perhaps her-life
be sacrificed to the folly of an old and the
false pride q young man|
Better : rifce happiness than honor,
my dear, as YOU know as well as do, what
ever you may say. Let her keep her fortune
In peace ana contentment, never guessing
that anything could shake her in its posses
sion; and whatever she does, may Heaven
ha, no, sboll no Iah hxrtf
unless-unleSs-"
Unless what my foolish brother?"
''Unless / should know that she loved me-
There-it's ont now, Theo-what dare say
you have guessed long ago-that Fides is the
only girl have ever cared for or am ever
likely to love! But there is no use in talk
ing about it, and you must put away my Sc
cret in the farthest corner of your heart"
His sister crossed the room and laid her
hand on his hair
my poor boy" she said very gently, 81
thought knew the symptoms, and, though
am sure you are wrong, honor you for all
you say Tell me-" she went on abruptly
''who was that boy who sang so exquisitely
to-day? Is he Downbury ladp'
Her brother shook his head.
II wish knew. If were supersttious, L
should be inclined to say he was not mortal.
He came to me last night in the dusk, and this
morning he appeared and disappeared as by
enchantment."
"And his namep-Miss Hallan was max
ing preparations for departure.
."He calls himself Harry Sisson; but Curl
ously enough, he seems to be utterly I'M
known. Such voice as that can scarcely
waste its sweetness altogether on the desert
air; and yet"
"Yet dare say it is doomed to be cracked
in shouting the plough-horses, or choked
with the river-mists or something equally
unromantic. Now j must go, leaving you
my advice In the matter-which is, to be con-
tent with results, letting the means remain
uninvestigated."
"Uninvestigatedl / shall never be happy
till have found him. There is nothing on
earth l would not do for the boy who sang
my music as he did. l should be genuinely
unhappy If / thought l was never TO hear him
sing IL again. would do anything and go
anywhere to find him."
Goodbye, enthusiast Now that you be-
come excited, shall leave you. Blythe
way" she added, turning as she reached the
door, there is Harry Sisson at Deepdene,
who may be the one you are in search Of
VIII your feelings carry you so far as to
make you break your VOW and 90 up there to
look for him?'
Break his VOW and go to Deepdenel The
words haunted Guy Hallam when his sister
had left him-haunted him in the quiet twi-
light OF that summer evening and during the
days that followed il.
After all, had made no VOW never TO see
the old place again; and, now that each post
brought him letters from tmpresarios of all
Sorts containing offers of every kind of en-
gagement when he heard himself spoken of