The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1897-03-13


own trembling violently, but that Of the
sick man was quiet.
Poor boy" said Allan, as though not
he, but David, were the one upon whom
misfortune had fallen. He stroked his /
brothers arm gently for a moment, and
then whispered: You need not tell me, /
David 1 know all. l listened when you |
and the doctor talked about me-"
David spoke also in whisper: Il could |
not bear to think of it--and so l could |
not speak to you"
poor, dear brother" said Allan, but |
with perfect calmness. They sat in |
silence for a few moments, and then |
Allan said: Now, David. we have looked |
the worst of 1t in the face; let US examine |
some of the smaller troubles. what
about money matters?"
'oh, Allan" cried the other, don't
ask about that yet"
yes" said the elder brother firmly;
"you must tell me ALL Be frank and fair,
as / would be with you"
So David told. The money in the bank
was all gone, of course, and there were
debts-to the doctor, the chemist and the
Iandlady. Having explained thus far,
David hung back, and 1t took determined
questioning on the part of Allan to bring
out the rest of the story. Their friends
al the club knowing the trouble of the
brothers, had raised some money-a con-
siderable amount-for their benefit.
eft lust paid the nurse" said David.
,Tbe proud lines in the others face
deepened to harshness. After mo
mentary struggle he managed to say
aloud: 'It was very kind of them"
But to himself into his pillow he NUT
tered: my God! This is the beginning!
II am afraid" said David, that 1t
will be some time before we can pay up
these debts. Every one seems to be GOOD
ato,,t q Tho doctor saws he will walt
years II need be"
yes" replied Allan, absentiy.
"Of course you know what my pay is'
| continued the younger brother, and you
also know what our expenses are. Wen
they don't fit. I've been thinking about
1t. We must move into one room ana
must economic in various other ways.
YES" said Allan.
THE worst of 1t is" David went on,
| without looking at his brother, that
we can not get the things you ought to
have. It is so hard for you to be all
alone here"
"Neyer mind about that. Davy," said
Allan quickly; what we must think
about is how to clear up those debts ana
how to live on your pay"
After this the oid confidence seemed 10
be restored between the brothers. what
small part Of the day David was not al
work he spent with Allan, and they talk-
ed of their affairs just as they had done
before the misfortune came. Yet there
was one thing David failed to understand
although he studied over it great deal
Why was Allan so calm and undistresseo
1t was not like him.
"Can II be that he does not really ap'
preclate what 1t means to be blind anC
helpless2" thought the Younger brother
"he was also so proud, ambitious and ful
of hope. And he is sensitive. though
he would suffer"
The sick mans strength gradually re
turned. Presently he was able to move
about the ROOM and then, accompanies
by the Iandlady's little daughter he man
aged to make short excursions into tn
street He wore a dark shade over MI
eyes and walked on crutches.
The various economies which TN
brothers had talked over were practiced
and yet every day they ran more int
debt. David's pay was very small; 1t wa
not enough to keep two people in comfor
=, -one of them an invalid needing medi
cnes and a physicians care Yet ALLAH
remained apparently unconcerned. AT las
, David found work to do in the evening
! He now earned enough to cover thei
necessities, but Allan was left alone mos
of the time.
One evening David mad an unexpect
/, ed vacation. An accident caused the es
: early, and he hurried to the room, cage
, for the pleasure of few hours with hi
. brother. When he came to the street doc
| he said to himself: IT will go up quietl
, and surprise him"
He assembled the stairs with a quie
= tread The door to the room was oper
and he saw Allan seated at the table
. moving pencil slowly over large shee
of paper. 1.-The poor fellow is trying t
: write" said David. Then he noticed tina
the edges of the sheet were notched a
intervals and that it had been folded i
, Creases. AS the blind wrote, he felt 10
d these notches, and then ran his fnGe
= along the crease in advance of the per
y Gil.
e Full of tender sorrow and pity Davi
y crept up behind, that he might put hi
II hand on Allan's shoulder and thus max
/ his presence known, but happening
3 glance down upon the paper, he saw tn
e words My dear brother" and he kne
% that the writing was for him to read, II
did not give himself time to wonder this
is Allan should be writing to him, but b'
k gan instantly to discipher the misshape
% characters on the paper In few mt
o ments he had oVertaken the pencil
n This was what he read:
* my Dear Brother: You will find tn
note fastened up on the outside of Il
ID door. Please read It through to the en-
L
T. think 1t best not to enter alone
lg David, my brother, these words come
IL you from the dead / have destroyed Il
he pitiful fragment of life which fate left m
You were wont to be so strong and bra'
Sc can you read on calmly now, and try
e. understand me when / tell you my re-
DR. son? Can you love me and trust me
you always have done? l believe TIL
ut you can and will and that is why 1 ha'
dared to take this step.
~ Several days ago 1 procured some poi
n on, which have kept concealed from yo
lie Through 1t death comes swift, but pal
less"
)u David watched the slow, laborious ma
he ing of the last few words, and It gave hi
time to think. Where was the poison
ly He glanced across the room to a chest
Il drawers at the top which was now ha
IS open. With noiseless step, the young
brother crept over the floor to this che
pit of drawers. The guess was correct. HI
den under some handkerchiefs lay a SIN,
IN vial, filled with a colorless liquid
as David took 1t up, shook 1t mechanical
wv and then turned 1t over and over in /
- hands, while he tried to think what
had better do At any moment ALI
might finish his writing and come