Year: 1872

Poor Arly the news had come upon him
like thunder-clap, but he refused to take IN
the full extent of the calamity. Ethel found
him sitting upright on his couch, his face
flushed and his eyes glittering as if with fever.
"Why, Ethel, don't give up-1 don't doubt
we shall find him soon. And as for the rest
of it. don't believe it. 1t is all an invention.
Brooke not my brother! it is absurd. Don't
you see, yourself, that the whole story is an
impossibility?"


"Not an impossibihy, dear Arly, though it
is all very dreadful"


"Not an impossibility why, how on earth
could such deception have been practiced,
and carried on for so many years, and never
have been found out? Of course, that old
woman was not in her right mind. 1 am as
tonished that Brooke should have listened to
her. When it is all represented clearly to
him, am sure he will be convinced. And
we can soon find out what route he has taken,
and send after him. Oh! if was only able to
90 myself! Nothing on earth could hinder
me from finding my brother. Why don't you
talk, Ethel don't you see the reason OF what
I have been saying?"


II am afraid you are encouraging yourself
to hope too much" said Ethel, gently. "To
me it all seems very hopeless"


"What you believe it, then? could not
have thought every one could be so blinded"
said Arly, with feverish excitability. "Ande
YOU don't think he will be found, either, l
suppose"


II hope he may-I pray he may. Oh!
Arly, would give everything possess, to be
able to think as you do, but indeed, I am afraid
you are encouraging yourself in delusion,
and then the truth will be harder to bear in
the end. If God has really sent this trouble
upon us, we must pray for strength to bear it
patiently"


"Upon us. AS if my trouble could be
shared by any oneupon earth. Oh! my broth
er, my brother" He hid his face for mo-
ment, then looked up with renewed confidence
"But am sure he will be found, Ethel, and
you will see that everything will come right"


Ethel thought it best to let him hope while
he might; though her fear that his hopes
would prove delusive was destined to be con-
6rmed Mr.. Conway went to Oakhurst, and,
in as guarded way as possible, made every
enquiry that could lead to Brooke's discovery,
but not the faintest trace of his whereabouts
could be obtained. No one had seen him Oh
the morning of his departure, and, as far as
could be learned, he had not taken passage on
any of the early trains. Every effort was
made to gain some information concerning
him, but in vain; and when at last days and
weeks had rolled away and all search had
been bafed, they were fain to give up hope,
and even Arly was forced to yield to the con-
viction that his brother was indeed lost to
him.


And now gloom fell upon the Grange and
its inmates, nearly as deep as that which had
overshadowed it when Frank, Mr.. Conway's
darling son, the pride and hope Of his heart,
had fallen in that fatal duel with Edward
Fraser, and Kate Conway had deserted her
childhood's home, the bride CT her brothers
murderer.


Arly gave way to no violent grief, but it
was touching to see how, day by day, his sor-
row wore upon him. His old, bright buoyan-
cy was gone, and patient, hopeless resigna-
tion took its place. He never murmured or
complained, but his pale cheek grew thinner
and paler, and his listless movements and alb.
sent manner showed plainly how deep was the
wound his gentle spirit had received. Mr..
Conway looked ten years older than before,
and though after time he ceased to speak of
Brooke, it was evident he was constantly in
his thoughts. Ethel, perhaps, felt as deeply
as any the sorrow that had visited the house
hold, yet hers was the Office to cheer and con-
sole the rest. She was constantly with Arly,
striving with afectionate persistency to divert
bis thoughts from the one sad subject that
oppressed them, and she was rewarded by
finding that he learned to turn always to her
for comfort, and to talk to her unreservedly
of his feelings, and of the thousand and one
memories of the past so dear to his heart, be-
cause they were all associated with the BROTH
er he so dearly loved. For Arly never ceased
to think of Brooke as his brother, never could
realize that there was any change in his posi-
ton, save what he had voluntarily brought
about by absenting himself from home. One
idea had presented itself to his mind from
which Ethel vainly strove to divert him, and
that was that he would die before Brooke ever
came back.


II know he will come," he would say; "I
feel sure, that he will, one day, to see you all
again; but will not be here to welcome him
home"


"Dear Arly, don't talk in that way" Ethel
would reply. "Ifhe ever does come, I hope
you will be the very first to greet him"


Minnie found the dullness around her op-
pressive, and said she thought it very hard
that what had happened should make it as
gloomy and sad as if there had been death in
the house, when after all, it was really moth
ing to them.


"Of course, Ethel, it is bad enough, and
you know I liked Brooke very much; but af:
ter all, he isn't really Brooke, you know-that
seems so queer!- !-and as he isn't Arly's BROTH
er at all, don't see that he ought. to grieve
so about it. And grandpapa is so awfully ST.
lent, and looks so woe-begone, that I feel ac-
tually afraid to open my lips. Sometimes 1
wish were back at Summerfeld; only I have
everything here so comfortable and nice,
which I wouldn't have there"