Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-03-25

liliNl' llo slliNM'I, l'Nl
looked steadily and incrCdulously
into the others eyes.
lit was my brother You saw, NJ. .
le Comic. who looked like mo. .
will tell you my story and his.
There was a girl had loved She
disappeared. For years knew not
whittier sh" had gone. | became Il
priest. At last one day. after my
brother had returned from u long
visit to France, there was an acct
dent near by the cathedral had
been Il student of r,hriuy before !
became Il priest, and | was summon
Ell To tn" httl" house. There WAS
the girl, my lost love" There also
was my brother. 1t was he who had
stolen her away from me. As ]
looked | flew into rage l did not
know then that he had married her.
l WAS mad. called him vile names
while sh" was dying for want of
care bleeding to death When |
did turn t. her at last. it was too
late. With look of horror she
WI Nv = ~ we W all anu NllN'l.
l might have saved her, but she had
gone hating me.
"Thrco nights aftCrward l sent
for my brother. The girl was in her
grave. Then | settled all with him.
l will show You how"
Going to II cupboard, he brought
out four glasses and put them ON
the table Then from two bottles
ne poured out what looked like red
wine, two glasses from each bottle.
Putting the bottles back, he returned
to the table.
"WC sat like this. he said, taking
II chair; then VIC bound our eyes. ="
| He drew Il handkerchief from his
breast and wound it round his nose
ind eyes. Il moved the glasses
about, and he did the same, till
neither could know which two held
poisoned vino and which two pure
wine. At last each raised glass to
his lips. We hung all upon chance
/ drank of the two glasses of pure
wine, he of the two poisoned glasses.
When l took the handkerchief from
my face, he was dead.
Nothing was knownl"
Tho truth was not known"
"Why did YOU como hcrC2"
Il could not and would not repent
of my brothers. death or the death
of the girl. Then said perhaps
l was little mad; perhaps l am II
little mad now will say mass for
the repentant no longer, but for the
unrcpcntant i'll some remote corner
of the world.
1T is pity that some one could
not play this game again with you. "
He pointed to the four glasses filled
with vino.
II should be ready. Life is all
chancc-wr are wisps of straw in
the wind
you were II priesta" rcjoined Du-
barr" meaninEly.
Il was II priest, because in the
church there seemed to be one shell
ter. You went with Il multitude,
not all alone.
"D0 you dare To drink with me2'
Dubarrr asked, nodding toward the
glasses.
Willard looked at the other with
contracting, questioning eyes
You will play that game with
met" he asked in mechanical
voice
1t would give me great pleasure "
The voice had a strange, ironical
tone.
What is your -ohjectt"
"T'sh! - was the reply. 1T is n
coward who takes his life; but this
to you and met is grand sport
-as one would take Il run ut Gre
vase and clear it or fall. If we
both fall, we arc i'll good company
If you fall, | have the greater Joy of
escape. If fall, you have tho same
JOY and can say mass for mer
But there is some other rcasonl"
urged Willard, wavcring.
"Pshaw! have played pitch and
toss for life often enough; it is my
whim--if you are not afraid"
II am not afraid" was the an
'".' nu' i1' uS '"' iirs,'
Sie"' ''ie 'ufiiou i'll 'i'' cIiih-
tes i'i 'io hiSh' WIS 'o'i' 'loh
'no nv POI was sumner '''s' anu
soo'. ,., e,'i'ie from IT, Wlho
went lifting by outside the hut,
49, 'ui'o Will 'iie singing oi 'he k''-
,..,,. ,
llllult look the FOUR = l3SScS nllcu