Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1902-05-27
vainly she tried to think of something
comforting to say The outlook was

vainly she tried to tninK OF sonelhlhs
comforting to say. The outlook was
dark.
Kit might, in fact would have to stay
there in their little cabin home with her
little ones There was no room for her
at her fathers, for already widowed
daughter had come back there with four
children.
A younger brother would have to come
and stay with her-it was the only way
She might go and stay at Moliie's-
only-there was Neil.
It was about 10 o'clock when Neil
Weidman raped at his brothers door.
Marks face showed something of what
he was suffering when he opened it..
'.Neil! Come in."
"Can't; I'm in hurry. was on the
draft, but had the cash all ready. so sent
it in yesterday. / hear you are on, too.
"I am; and heaven knows how l can
be spared, but I could not raise fifty
dollars, much less three hundred. HIS
voice broke little.
"Well. came to tell you I will so in
your place. Good-by."
"Neil"
Mark sprang forward, grasping his
brother by the arm and fairly dragging
him inside.
"There, don't make any fuss about it,
muttered the young man. You can't be
spared-I can. 1t will make no difference
to any one whether l live or die"
Mark had bowed his head on his hands
| and was shaking with emotion. Kit
voice from the other room called feebly
| to know what the matter was. Mrs. Bell
her mother, had gone home for few
hours, taking the little boys with her.
| Springing up again, Mark opened wide
| the middle door, saying: "1t is Neil, Kit
tie, and he offers to be my substitute
| Come in here, brother, do"
| Haven't time this morning, Mark
Give my respects to Mrs. Weidman.
may be in again before leaving Hi
hand was on the latch.
"Please, Neil, come here" :.
It was Kits pleading tones, and befor
he realized what he was doing the youn,
man stood by the bedside looking dow
into the face of the one woman he ha'
loved. It was FIVE years since she ha'
told him she was going to marry MarR
and in all that time they had never spoK
en-had rarely met.
"Oh, Neil. you are too good-you car
not mean it.
"I mean it." he said, coldly.
Through it all he had never suffere
as he did now, to see how willing she wa
to have him sacrifice himself for Mark.
It was a moment of supreme bitterness:
vet in spite of himself he fingered t
| gaze for perhaps the last time into tn
sweet face.
Her eyes were full of tears, and catci
ing his hand she passed it to her lip
sobbing:
"You are so good, so noble! If it wer
not for the children we could not conser
to your going.
ssIf only we could raise the money, bt
we have little to sell and there is no oI
to buy what we have"
ST have made up my mind and shou
90 anyway, now. There is nothing
keep me-"
"But. Neil, this is too much" sa
Mark, who had now sufficiently recovere
himself to comprehend the situation.
i, cannot let you go, but if you could loo
after things here some and see that *
did not suffer, could go easier. The
is only Joe to do anything"
mo use talking, Mark. am going; al
now, good-by all"
: He almost snatched his hand fro
: Kits clasp, and was gone:
"Mollie, am going to the war;
4 "Goin' to the war, Neil? Why,
thought you'd sent on the money"
Eyes, SO did; but Mark was on I
L draft, too, md we couldn't nohow raj
9 another three hundred, md he can't
b spared from home at this time O. yea
so I'm going in
"In his placer interrupted Moliie,
Z citedly.
Neil nodded.
$ well, il I ever s'posed I'd live to
you give your life for Mark, after he
you with"
IS .sThere, there, Mollie! Now. abe
things here on the place..
!" "Why, am sure don't know; s'pt
Dick and me can manage, though sh
have the most OF it to do. II Dick is
y husband, 1 must say as I've said befo
= the Moselys are mighty poor manage
t | but. Neil, 1 hate awfully to have you 9
They talked long while, but Mo
X never dreamed of the terrible battle
brother fought out with himself that d
ut November day.