The St. Johns herald., 1896-12-12
THE MORTAL COIL.

These two. Allan and David were
 brothers; and, what is often more than
 brothers do, they loved one another While they were mere boys they had been left orphans, friendless, alone
 with the world and with necessity. They were industrious and frugal, their purse was common, and working thus together they managed to keep off star vatiOn and debt.
 ] They were now in the period of early manhood. Allan, the elder, was g years of age, and David 20. They occupied two pleasant rooms in q respectable l lOdging-hOuse, lived well, and had some money saved in the bank. At first I used to be afraid that we could not make it." Allan would say to his broth CT, when they talked in the evening of their life and their affairs; it was such a hard struggle. But there is no longer any doubt that we are going to succeed in the world
 To this prophecy, which Allan rejoic- ed to speak, David would always as- sent, with an enthusiasm that came not from any confidence in his own powers, but solely from his belief In his elder brother The difference between the brothers was more than that of years, as each of them well understood. Allan was strong, keen, and determined David was gentle and sympathetic, but little dull. They were alike, however, in their intense devotion to one an- other.
 It happened in the midst of this which they regarded as prosperity that Allan was suddenly beset by grievous ill- ness. It had been written down ill the pitileSs law book of nature that he should pay for the sins of some ances- tor, of whose very existence he was ig- nOrant. The disease ran its slow course through many weeks, and there were now and again critical times when the heart of the younger brother, watching by night, stood still.
 At last it came to an end. The sen tence of nature was fulfilled, The life of the young man was spared, but the disease left him blind and a cripple. As Allan began to recover his strength, and the dumb consciousness of suffer ing gave way to active thought, he de- handed to know how soon the ban dages were to be taken from his eyes. To this and to other questions of sim liar nature, the doctor who attended him returned evasive answers. There upon. Allan, half guessing the truth, became silent. In the meantime David, also silent, clung desperately to a frag ment of hope.
 One morning the doctor, as he was about to leave, motioned across the sick mans bed that he wished to speak with him alone. They went out into the hall, where the physician sat down upon a chair and David leaned back against corner of the wall.
 Presently Allan heard the confused murmur of their talk. He climbed out of the bed and dragged himself with difficulty across the floor into the sit tjHg-room. Placing his ear against the hall door, which was not quite closed, he heard all, unseen and unsJlspected.
 Ut is useless for me to continue these daily visits," said the physician; ''here- after I will come only when you send for me"
 "Well, what shall we do about it about his eyes?"
 ''They will probably not pain him any more. You can take off the bandage whenever you are ready to tell him the whole truth"
 David's lips grew very whitn. "You mean that he will never recover?" he said.
 The doctor looked up at him sudden fy with frOwn. Really" he said, "I thought I had made the state Of things pretty clear to you.'
 Yes" said David; T know-but I kept hoping"
 My dear boy. I am sorry, but can not even let you hope. If your leg was cut off would you expect another to grow in its place? A part of the eye is gone-and that ends it."
 And the lameness?"
 He will always walk with crutches."
 Perhaps it was we'll that no mortal eye saw the wan face pressed toward the opening in the door. There was a across the floor, and Allan drew himself upon the bed again, where he lay motionless and silent, thOuSh all his body seemed to Quiver and his thoughts to cry aloud.
 Presently the footsteps of the doctor sounded on the stairs and the lower door opened and shut. But nearly an hour passed before the younger brother 4ame back to the room. When he came it was with the belief that he was pre- pared to speak to Allan and tell him all He looked for a moment at the figure curled on the bed and shook his head He would wait.
 Several days passed. Then in the | evening Allan said suddenly to his brother:
 David, what is the matter? Perhaps | I imagine it-but is there not something that you want to talk to me about?"
 "Yes," said the other, startled.
 "It is about my eyes and my lame ness, is it not?"
 'Yes"
 The time had come. He sat down by l