Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1918-08-20
HIS BROTHER
BY AGNES a. sRooAN.


" "a Ia 43 tX - - - - -
Copyright. 1913. Western Newspaper Union.)
1t was his brother. That made the
great difference. Often he had read
of tragedies and passed them by. But
Barney-the bright lad. upon whom he
had lavished every care, for whom he
had made a life sacrifce-Barney, to
die there In the Canadian wood where
both had been happy together, and to
die by his own vOlition!
The disgrace which went before
seemed naught in comparison with this
bitter finale. 1t would be a simple
matter to replace the money which
Barney had dishonesty confscated for
his own use. Barney might have
known that he. Dave, would forgive
the forging of his name. Dependency
alone could have driven the youth to
the desperation Of that last deed. The
woman was to blame, Of course. Dave
was sure of that. How openly Barney
had prated of his love for her. 1t had
been to gain her favor that the man
had taken sums which could not be re-
placed. This last scrubbed note told
how all costly gifts had been returned.
"She don't want me-" Barney ended.
pathetically-"and never did. There's
some unconscious charm about her
that draws every man guess it's In
her eyes,"
The note had been in Barney's peck
ct; they brought that and his watch to
Dave from the rock beside the whirl-
pool. "Good-by," 1t ended. 'Tm going
to drown myself here"
Barney had always been impulsives
so Dave excused various escapades Of
the past. To bring his young brother
safely through these adventures had
been Dawes part. Perhaps parent
might have acted more wisely. Dave
didn't know; he hsc done his best.
A desire possessed him to visit that
lonely spct where he might come upon
news of his brothers last days-so
David went. The violets were purpling
the hillsides, the well-remembered
wood was fragrant with promise, the
waters Missed In the whirlpool from
which the big man turned with shud-
der. Near by was the boulder where
they used to sit smoking their pipes.
Dawes eyes widened In surprise. A
young woman sat there nova beau
tifui woman, alone In all the solitude.
Her bronze golden head was bent
above some gray knitting, and without
apparent embarrassment she raised
clear gray eyes regarding the man be-
fore her, then her needles again
clicked methodically. But with that
steady gaze enchantment came over
Dave. Some influence. he knew not
what. was persua ling him to conhde
In thic g.rl-to unburden the sorrow
which he had borne In silence-to
learn II she Of the wise eye considered
his indulgence and not Barney's reck-
lessness to blame. So. when she arose
to go, he detained her with questions.
Had she heard Of tragedy herei
Had she any knowledge Of the young
man who had come to this spot to lose
his EfeT
The girl had heard. She hesitated,
evidently considering him a detective
There was nothing that she knew but
what had been told"
Dave decided to stay for q time In
the spot which held him In hopeful
fascination. AS days went By he
might learn more; some further mes
sage might be found. He obtained
board at the oldtime stopping place
and every morning, when he made his
way to the boulder, he found the CIR
there before him. She made no ex
cuse for her presence. nor changed bel
fayorite place because Of his invasion
Dave leaned back upon mound o!
pine needles, talking slowly, and al
he had never talked before, Of his life
with Barney. the boys college days
his first venture into business. The
girl. folding her knitting. would lister
with thoughtful eyes upon him. The
eyes stirred David's honest heart witt
an upacconntahle. lnnGing- Ha- knaz