The Yale expositor., 1894-12-14

lie was very plle. therefore L WIS
hard and unsympathetic as stone. Its
not connected with nervousness L
said, laughing, because Lottie stood
close by.
PUT 1t down to that, If you will"
He spoke and looked steadily, but hesi-
tated all the same. The laugh had It's
effect. A minute more, and he had
thrown off his mock armor, and was
ready. He stepped into the arena, bow
ing in response to the murmur OF the
crowd--a large one.
The amphitheater was packed, and
] felt equal to brilliant performance.
Not so with Jim, apparently. lie TOOK
the first spell ut throwing, and his aim
was markedly bad-although the knives
always went wide Of the mark rather
than too near to it, He even omitted
his final trick altogether, and there
was but little applause when he stepped
up to take my place ut the board. And
/, while | felt easily able to vindicatc
our reputation, yet had queer, giddy
sensation for which l could not ae-
count. The lights danced; the faces
were blurred. Perhaps 1t was that.
having my eyes fixed on Jim as l toed
the mark. / saw that he wore those
Ycd berries in his vest as If in defiance.
| threw carefully, and threw well.
J. can remember that shout after shout
went up as, after liking narrow ana
exact circle of the knives about Jim's
head, like steel halo. / went on and
planted n blade between every finger
Of his outstretchcd hands. He stood
very still that last night. and ] thought
I could tell how he overcamc his ncrv-
BUSINESS when, happening TO look be-
| hind, | saw Lottie Somerset standing
at that side door. Her hands were
clasped; she appeared to be i'll suS-
| pense. And, at that irritating sight,
q wicked inspiration hOated into me.
| ] had three knives left. and Jim-Jim
stood there. his white throat so clear!
To check it l did not try, but took a
step or two forward, rs though cal
culating for my aim.
Jim" l called, so that he and no one
else could hear. had one OF the knives
in my hand. Jim! 1t can't go on
longer. Quick!-is she to be yours o.
mine?"
He seemed to grasp the situation, as
1 meant he should. His lips moved,
and l caught n faint Max" At that
dreadful moment he looked like some
martyr about TO die for his faith--but,
doubtless, it was my conscience sug-
gested that. He could not well escape,
for his waist was strapped to the board.
| Perhaps, too, my look paralyzed him.
felt desperate enough, knowing, duly,
that I contemplated riskinG life here
and soul hereafter out of love for n
woman who would never call me hus-
band. Just a second more / hesitated.
Then that vile inner voice whispered:
Throw
And l thrcw-for a spot Just above
those scarlet berries on his breast:
threw with unnaturally steady aim,
thought, and saw the blade culver in
In jim. ,. Then God was merciful
enough TO encompass my faculties with
an utter darkness.
When 1t partly lifted the arena and
the ring of faces had gone. i was ly.
ing on the bed in our own room. And
dreaming, surely, for there was n man
at the foot Of the bed, and when he
raised his face. 1t seemed as though L
was looking at my brother Jim. He
moved. 1t was Jim's voice that spoke.
And, oh, his eyes.
"Max-coward" came the two hol-
low syllables,
My own tongue was stiff. If / an
swered. it was with n look only. Truly
l believed that Jim's ghost had come to
| ne.
The same hollow voice sounded
again.
You need not speak; you need not
be afraid. know everything i only
waited to be sure that you should know
this. I've solved your problem. Two
brothers loved the same woman: ono
more than his own life; but the other
more than his immortal soul, 1t seems.
Ergo, no must have her, because his
love isis the stronger. That's it, but
there's n condition"
l had no fear yet only vague awe at
the intense realism OF the dream in
which this curly-headed man put n
hand to his forehead just us dead jim
used sometimes to do.
There's q condition. Ill leave the
way clear for you, but IL you marry
Lottie'-he whispered imprcssively as
he bent overland then discover that
your love was mere worthless passion;
why. then I shall come back and take
the revenge l might have now. mean,
Max 7 shall have the right then to win
her away from you, as think 1 could
have done a week ago"
"a week agor' he said. Had that
oblivion Of mind lasted week?
Turning away, he went on: That's
all, don't hesitate on my account. She
does not know-at least not what you
and l know; she thinks you are dying
of love for her; as, of course, you are;
and have-I mean. you have told her
rs much in your rawlings. Yes" answer
ing my look; "she has been here; she
will be here again, when she gets this
letter. e. Goodbye. Max"
He moved to the door, resolutcly,
and then for the first time | seemed to
realize that it was something more
than dream. I threw out my hands
and called weakly after him: Jim
one word. Jim"
For answer heard his footsteps on
the stairs. He was gone. And then
that darkness came upon me more
black than ever.
know now that the strange fever
/ lasted altogether about three weeks.
and that it was really Lottie who find
/ ing me stricken and without a friend
/ in the world threw off her womanly
| reserve and acted the unsclfish part
1 which so many noble women bcfora