Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-04-22
BROTHER AND SISTER.

&Will they acquit him" -
SCan they do otherwiseF
1Oh these iuriesI Who can tell what they
viii concluded know of a case in which,
"Do you think they could blame this man!'
IF there is any justice in the world, he viii
be liberated"
"Justicel Where is there such thingF7
So buzzed the eager voices OF the specta-
tors in the court room, from which the jury
had retired TO make up verdict IN the case
just tried.
Suddenly-as if every tongue had been
stricken with palsy-the voices ceased and
total silence ensued. The jury were return
ing to their places. The great assemblage
was breathlessly waiting the-verdict OF the
jury.
Then the quiet voice Of the foreman an
nounced: The defendant is not guiltyw
The terrible suspense was over. Every face
beamed with qualification.
Thank God, knew it would be So"
Look how pale he is
"He is crying"
The prisoner had seated himself, trembling
in every joint Of bis body. ! sudden weak
ness came over him. His face was buried in
his hands and he was sebbing convulsively
The sympathy for him must have been great,
for there was hardly an eye N that great
room that did not glisten with moisture.
Many drew their handkerchiefs ard burst
into joyful tears. In the midst Of this emo
ton the judge of the court declared the &C
cused to be free. Then young, fair and
delicate girl arose from the witness bench and
stepped slowly and hesitatingly toward the
young man, her hands groping in the air,
showing her to be blind, and her face BEAM
ing with happiness. But he saw her coming
and sprang up, fastening to meet her, with
outstretched arms. With a glad cry she sank
into his arms.
On the fourth floor of large suburban
building they lived A family of swallows
had sought the protection of the gable end OF
the roof above them, or they would have been
the highest dodgers in the house The birds,
however, were good neighbors. Early Of
mornings they showed their friendliness by
tapping with their bills upon the window
panes And they did not have long to wait
for the window to be opened and to have their
breakfast spread out for them on the sill by
the poor blind girl Each time she stood
while they were huttering over the food-and
raised her face TO heaven, whose light her
eyes seemed to feel, though they could not re-
ceive it or reflect it again
She was lovely creature. With wonderful
uistinctness were the outlines of her features
drawn, and from the golden locks, that fell
In s1lken waves over her shoulders, shone q
peculiar brilhancy as il TO make amends for
the exhausted springs Of her eyes When she
walked along the street with her head bowed
down on the arm OF her brother, no one would
suspect her to be blind, for she walked firmly
and confidently at his side. he was her staff,
her eyes, the very air she breathed. She lived
for him alone, and only valued life TO make
him happy. She was Is years old when
spell of scarlet fever robbed her of her sight.
The father, an humble laborer, died long ago,
and the mother quickly followed. Father and
mother both dead and the world roaring sea
of darkness.
She prayed earnestly then to God to take
her also, but strong, manly arm was thrown
around her neck. and an earnest. loving voice
said: Don't trouble, Marie: am with YOU
and viii never forsake you And be had kept
his word. No mother could have guarded her
child more lovingly, tenderly and carefully
than did this noble brother his Charge. To
anuse her, to bring smiles 10 her sad face
was the joy OF his life Years ago he thought
Of marrying: but when he thought OF Marie,
in her sad affection, he gave up the thought
entirely, for in his love for his sister his soul
had found an aim and happiness. His chief
pleasure was to sit in his easy chair of even
ings, after his days work was done, and listen
to her pratting voice or the music of her
piano, which was the only luxury in the mod
est apartments She had learned to play be-
fore the ClmeriGn night overlook her: and
ike spring flowers kept blooming in the
bloSsOm!ess winter time was her music to her,
symbol OF a past happiness, sweet re-
minder of the daylight OF her life. Her feel
ingS, which were too sad too heart breaking,
TO con1iue to any oue-which she even tried to
keep from herselt-were trusted often to the
sad railing strains of her instrument; in them
she lamented and wept. He understood toe
well the wordleSs language; and often when
Marie sighed and sobbed in respondent song
he would approach her, take the little soft
white hands from the keys and say:
Marie, why do you make my heart so
heavy,
Then she would pour out her feelings to
him Not on her account was she sad, she
would say, but because she was daily and
hourly robbiag him Of his freedom and hap
piness, and could do nothing for him in re-
turn for al his goodness.
Foolish child" he said once. when will
you learn that 1 owe everything to you. and
you are indebted 20 me for nothinga Am !
not the most contented man that ever lived!
Is not my home already more comfortable
and pleasant than any woman--no matter
how beautiful or rich she might be--could
make IT. Does my business lose anything
by my not dissi pating, ss most young men dol
Or DO you think could enjoy mysalf more
in the heated concert halls among the ele-
gantly dressed people than here in this COM
Portable chair. Or that the grand music
which don't understand would please me
better than your playingi No more of this
sadness, little sister; you hearT
II promise, Rudolph" she said, 81 viii not
be 50 again-no, never" So she spoke, and
her face looked bright and hopeful
he tried to make her keep her word, but
the gloomy thoughts would ever recur; and
the old woman Frau Stern, who lived on the
next floor below, and did the greater part Of
the simple domestic work for her, was obliged
to hear many lamentations
@Ah. an a poor useless creature" she
sighed constantly. HE las to work hard and
bear all the burthen for me, and spend his
earnings day after day, and can do nothing
TO help him.
~Nariechen," Frau Stern would say, con-
solingly, -dont talk that way. What could
your brother do without youi You are more
to him than a wife could be. II would not
suit him to marry; he is far too good for the
frivolous young ladies nowadays
Often had sac spoken such words OF solace-
ment to the poor orphan; but she only shook
her little head sadly, and would not be COM
forted