The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1918-02-20
n Rz ina EA ~ Ra III ~ Fs ~
HIS BROTHER
BY AGNES G. sRocAN.


kEtAI ulIlGItuNGs OAiNA Nv AAh4 AN'NN'i
of tragedies and passed them by. But
Barney-the bright lad, upon whom he.
had lavlshed every care, for whom he
had made life sacritce-Barney, to-
die there in the Canadian wood where
both Ind been happy together, and to-
die by his own volltion
The disgrace which went before
seemed naught in comparison with this
bitter finale. IT would be 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 scrbblcd 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 pock-
ct; they brought that and his watch to
Dave from the rock beside the whlrl-
pool. "Good,by," 1t ended. I'm going
TO drown myself here"
Barney had always been lmpulsive,
so Dave excused various escapades Of
the past. To bring his young brother
safely through these adventures had
been Dawes part. Perhaps a parent
might have acted more wisely. Dave
didn't know; he had done his best
A desire possessed him to visit thai
lonely spot where he might come upon
news of his brothers last days-sc
David went. The Ne0lets were purpllni
the hillsides, the wel-remembered
wood was fragrant with promise, the
waters hissed in the whirlpool fr9al
which the big man turned with shun
der Near by was the boulder where
they used to sit smoking their pipes.
Dawes eyes widened in surprise. a
young woman sat there noW--a beau
tlful 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 enchantnent came over
Dave. Some influence, he knew not
what, was persuading him to confide
In this girl-to unburden the sorrow
which he had borne in silence-to
learn if she of the wise eye considered
his indulgence and not Barney's reck.
lessness to blame. SO, when she arose
to 90, he detained her with questions.
Had she heard of tragedy here?
Had she any knowledge of the young
man who had come to this spot to lose
his life?"
The girl had heard. She hesitated,
evidently considering him detective.
"There was nothing that she knew but
what had been told"
Dave decided to stay for a 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 girl
k.Go.o hty,, ho pno6o no OK
cuse for her presence, nor changed her
favorite place because of his invasion
Dave leaned back upon a mound of
pine needles, talking slowly, and as
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 listen
with thoughtful eyes upon him. Inc
eyes stirred David's honest heart with
an unaccountable longing He knew
that true love had found him at last,
and WINGED at the pain of renunciation.
The girls face grew white at the
story Of his love, and she did what no
one but this girl could have done
she bent very swiftly and kissed him.
Then she was gone. When David came
next morning to the boulder a piece
of white paper fluttered beneath
weighted stone. Picking it up, he read
one written line:
81" said the note, "am the girl your
brother loved" That was all.
David's throat smarted-his eyes
burned. 1t was inconceivable. She
and that heartless trifler the same
he must go away at once. But David
did not go. The girl stood before him
her eyes again held his.
II could not help his loving me"
she said slowly. 'I-did not wish 1t.
The gifts he would bring I returned"
Suddenly her breath caught in a chok-
ing sob. She held out her arms. But
David stood resolutely from her.
81 believe YOU" he answered firmly.
81 love you; but with that thought be-
tween us"-he pointed to, the foaming
could never know hap
piness."
Then before them stood Barney