Year: 1876

singularly mild and child.like, and this natu
raj gentleness was enhanced now by the pla
cidity of tranquil sleep. Looking at him al
he lay there; one pale, thin hand upon hii
breast, his scanty grey hair pushed upward
from his forehead, and his breath coming and
going with the regularity of an infants, il
was impossible not to feel a sentiment Of kind
illness, almost of compassion, called forth by
his peaceful and feeble appearance; for his
disease had progressed more rapidly than
usual in the last few weeks, and added to the
delicacy of his looks. An emotion of this
sort stole into Mr.. Lyndon's heart now as he
gazed upon him and silently seating himself
in low chair that stood by the beside, he
watched him long and 6xedly.


His thoughts travelled back to the time
when they had been boys together-he the
younger, but always strong and sturdy, the
defender of George against enemies at school,
his protector in all boyish contests, and re-
garded by him with the affectionate admira'
ton which the weaker one is apt to feel in
such case. The difference in age between
them was not great-less than two years
and they had been continually together, at
work and in play, at home and at school, from
the earliest period to which his memory went
back, until, as men, their several vocstions
had called them apart. George, with bis
gentle disposition, had yet, strangely enough
desire for military life, and had procured
commission in the army. He had never, how
ever, seen active service, and before many
years ill health compelled him to resign
Since that time bis home had been with the
rector, so that the whole period Of their sepa'
ration had been really very short one
Bound together thus by the ties of nearly q
lifetime, it would seem as though their feel
ings toward each other ought to be of pecu'
liarly kind and fraternal nature. 1t had
never occurred to Mr.. Lyndon, until latter
DAYS, to question the fact of their being so.
They had lived harmoniously together, total
ly unlike in disposition, and also in many OF
their views, but each yielding readily to the
idiosyncracies of the other. Then, as increas-
ing feebleness of constitution was accompa-
MED Ivy corresponding weakening Of the
mental faculties, the invalid became an OBJ
iect of especial solicitude, receiving every
mark of care and attention which sincere af-
fection could prompt.


And now, what had become Of this brother
ly love, the growth of all these yearss


Strangely enough, Mr.. Lyndon could not
have answered that question explicitly, if he
had tried. He could not have analyzed bis
own feelings sufficiently to decide whether bis
affection for his brother still existed or not
In all the varied emotions which had agtated
his breast of late, he had never experienced
one spark of hatred, even of dislike, toward
him. No one could dislike being so totally
inoffensive as he was. Looking at him now,
he felt the old tenderness revive, almost In
I 1urce3 I'D u15 t11rvuuu J 0' '"o oooe''
part of it was that this did not, in the least
alter that gnawing, ever.present longing to
have him out of his way-to have the road
left free for the accomplishment of his urgent
wish. 1t seemed as if his nature had resolved
itself into dual existence, each part quite
distinct from the other. But the better part,
his true self, was powerless to resist the evil
promptings of the other, to which it was "a
tally linked. But this was absolute madness,
you will say. No other cause can be assigned
for so singular phase Of mind; 80 total a
perversion of all that was good and worthy in
his nature. 1t was not madness, however
One frightful passion had seized upon him,
usurping the throne of lawful desires, and as
serting its own sway with irresistible power
Call it monomania, if you will but in other
respects, his mind was sound, though every
thought, every impulse, was, unavoidably,
tainted by the poisonous breath of this one i'll
| weed.


have said that he was moved now by q
sentiment of tenderness his heart was
filled with softened feeling ss he looked at
the boyishly innocent face and restful attitude
of the sleeper. Yet 80 strong was that other
impulse stirring within him, that had it been
possible for him, by motion Of the hand, to
stop the current of life that ran in his broth
er's veins, that motion would have been made
and the Captain would have awakened nc
more.


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