The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-22

ton for him, YOU would not be cOntented
that he should so easily break the link
that has bound you to him. He is quite
blind, hopelessly so, and the frequent at
tacks of fever from which he suffered dur
ing the last two months of hiz residence
I at Shirabad have so wrecked his health
that 1 can assure you l could hardly recog-
nize him as my bright, handsome young
brother. But ] can see that he might even
now slowly recover his strength-indeed,
the best physicians here say soft it were
not that the hope of his life has been
taken from him. When he came to me
he told me that he had broken off his en-
gagement with you, acting, ii seemed to
me-, under a mistaken sense of honor. But
only to-day did l learn that he had done
so under the influence of an acquaintance
who, 1 begin to think, has, for some rea-
son of his own, played Maurice false.
ut seems that DR.. Brandreth. a traveller,
was of great service to my brother dur
his last illness. and that he expressed hor-
ror at the idea of Maurice's still coRtem-
plating marriage with you. The poor boys
nerves were in so weak a state that he
was unfit to combat DR.. Brandreth's ar
guments, and he was persuaded by him
to let the doctor act as his messenger, and
even, it appears, adopted his view that
it would be better not TO let you know the
real reason for his releasing you from your
promise, thinking that you would, out OF
pity, refuse to give him up. Had 1 known
that you were in ignorance of the true
state of the case, L should have written
long ago, but L was under the impression
that the truth had been told you. and that
you accepted Matrices decision. My poor
brother is, 1 verify believe, -broken-hearted
at having lost you. If even he had been
able to hear from you it would have been
some comfort TO him. Believe me. ! do
not for an instant blame you; 1 think that
you have been cruelty and Intentionally
misled by DIT. Brandreth. For what rea-
son L cannot imagine. unless it is that
he is in love with you himself! L know
from hearsay how beautiful you are. You
must forgive me for speaking so plainly,
but the life of my brother is at stake.
Il once heard a story of q man falling
madly in love with a girls portrait and
seeking her over the world until he found
her and married her. and i have wondered
since this morning whether this can have
happened to DR.. Brandreth. My reason
for what may seem to you an absurd idea
is this: 1 went a few hours ago into my
brothers room and found him pressing to
his lips a photograph Of myself he has in
a small case which he keeps always beside
him.. l had often wondered at his devotion
to this picture. and 1 began TO tease him
gently about his line affection for
his only sister. when, to my surprise. he
turned on me and asked me what / meant.
l told him that the picture he held so
dear was one of myself. To my astonish-
ment he became very angry, and said that
L was taking advantage of his helplessness
to mislea6 him, and that il was a portrait
of you, not met Nothing could persuade
him that I was not mocking him until he
had shown the photograph TO my husband
and to the servant who waits on him. and
had been assured by both of them that it
was a picture of myself. After this we
searched among all his things for your
picture. but in vain. There was a space in
the little album in which he kept family
photographs. and he is certain that mine
was in that place. He that
DR.. Brandreth had asked him in a very
special manner about your photograph.
If you have occasion TO know, or can find
out that DIR. Brandreth took possession OF
your picture. my little theory is accounted
for. and the doctor has been a false friend
to Maurice.
But putting aside all this. I am going
now TO ask you. without Matrices knowl-
edge, for l fear 10 excite him with vain
hopes. whether you still love my brother
we'll enough 10 make for him tie greatest
sacrifice a woman can make for a man.
VIII you come out 10 me and see him. and
il you can find it in your heart 20 restore
: for love an almost dying man TO life. win