The Canadian Brothers (Volume II) or The Prophecy Fulfilled

anner. All traces of the last night's excitement had disappeared with its cause, and pale, haggard, and embarrassed, he s

desire to share that confidence which it grieved him to the soul to find thus unkindly withheld, he made no effort to remove the cloak of reserve in which his brother had invested himself. That day they both dined at the garrison mess, and Henry saw, with additional pain, that the warm felicitation of his brother officers on his return, were received by Gerald with the same reserve and indifference which had characterized his meeting with him, while he evinced the same disinclination to enter upon the solicited history of his captivity, as well as the causes which led to his bold venture, and consequent narrow escape, of the preceding day. Finding him thus uncommunicative, and not comprehending the change in his manner, they rallied him; and, as the bottle circulated, he seemed more and more disposed to meet their raillery with a cheerfulness and good humou

was to be ascribed the wretchedness to which Gerald had become a victim, and he resolved, on the following morning, to waive all false delicacy, and

the expedition, and, having succeeded in obtaining the command of one of the two gun-boats which were destined to ascend the Miami, and form part of the battering force, seemed highly pleased. This apparent return to himself might have led his brother into the belief that his feelings had indeed undergone a reaction, had he not, u

at this morning especially it had a good deal annoyed him, evincing some slight predisposition to inflammation. To subdue this, Henry applied, with his own hand, a liniment which had been recommended, and

atience of the subject he had manifested on the preceding day. Henr

us that he was expected to afford some explanation of the cause of so marked an emotion. At length Gerald said, and in a ton

on the elan, flew to meet this demonstration of returning confidence,

ove we have borne each other from infancy to disguise nothing from me. Tell me what it is that weighs so heavily at your heart. Repose implicit confidence in me, your brother, and let me assist

gall, then indeed am I even more wretched than I thought myself. But, Henry, you ask me what I cannot yield-my confidence-and, even were it so, the yielding would advantage

ill no longer urge it; but you cannot wonder that I who love but you alone on earth, should sorrow as one without hope, a

pted Gerald, raising his head from the hand which suppor

sued Henry in the same tone, "if you but recur t

continued Gerald, with s

am about to observe-but was it generous-was it kind in you to incur the risk you did, when you must have known that your death would have entailed upon me an

t of enterprize was upon me on the occasion to which you allude, and that, fired by a desire to astonish you all with a bold feat, I had resolved to

though you do not deem me worthy to share your confidence, I still have pleasure in knowing that my affection will not be repaid with

" repeated Gerald, ag

ould certainly be. Alas, Gerald, your motives are but too well known to me. The danger

is sunken cheek, and he was ashy pale; "And HOW

mind, and the consciousness of an untainted honor. Oh, Gerald, had these been your supporters, you never would have steeped your reason so far in forgetfulness, as to have dared what

s, and clenched his teeth together as one strongly attempting to restrain his

ut Providence has willed it otherwise- and, moreover, I had not taken the danger of my faithful servant into the account. Had Sambo not saved me, I must have perished, for I made not the slightest effort to preserve myself. However it matters but little, the mere manner of one's death,"

brother's feet. Gerald had one hand covering his eyes from which, however, the tears forced them

d our hearts from youth to manhood-by all and every tie of affection, let me implore you once more to confide this dreadful grief to me, that I may share it with you, and counsel you for your go

he tittered not a word. His hand still covered his face

ceive, I have learnt all connected with your absence, and from him I have gained that, during your captivity, you were much with Miss Montgomerie, (he pronounced the name with an

rned upon his brother a look, in which mortified pride

my grief to originate with her, you are correct, but ima

while he pressed the thin hand which he held m

d sta

at insidious American from the first moment of her landing on this shore-you know not how much I have disliked, and stil

a feeble voice, and again his head

er then?" eagerly questi

his brother. "To madness!" he said, in a voice, and with a look that made Henry sh

gomerie to madness, and are, as you seem to intimate love

before, and almost gasping for breath, "there is a

ry inquiringly, after anot

ald pointed signific

ce), what condition, I ask, may a woman entitled to our respect, as well as to our love, propose, which should be held of more account than that severest of offences against the Divine will- se

th a smile of bitterness, "I have pref

one moment weigh in the same scale against the inexpiable crime of self destruction. But, really, a

ence -"considering your promise not to urge it further

es, moved towards the door, which he again unbolted. He th

ed steps. At length he stopped, and putting one hand upon the shoulder of his brother, who stood gazing vacantly from t

ou recollect the morning, when, on our return from school, we found our young holi

with hands closely clasped together, we sank, overcome with grief, upon our bended knees, to receive that mother's blessi

he interruption, "that we solemnly pledged ourselves t

rald, I reme

ing my unfortunate absence from the death bed of our yet surviving parent, you gave a ple

I gave the pledge, well knowing that, i

ur sensations were you to know that I

ited brother, should have been so lost to respect for his father's m

tter-far better-is it to die, than live on in the co

"Gerald," he said eagerly, "you have not dishonored y

fled," he pursued, rather more mildly, "my honor, thank heaven, rema

possible, that the mysterious condition attached to

made no

who would make the dishonoring of the fair fame of him she professes

was rather emphatically pronounced, and looked

ued expression of a wounded vanity; "her affection is mine, I know, beyond her

, when a nature so sensitive and so honorable shrinks not from such a connexion. My

to my grave. Of this, however, be assured-that, whatever my weakness, or infatuation, as you may be pleased to call it, THAT passion shal

eks. Henry caught eagerly at this indication of returning softness, and again essayed, in reference to the concluding declaration of his brother, to urge

If, therefore, you would not further wring a heart already half broken with affliction, oblige me by never making the slightest mentio

It seemed to both as if the spirits of their departed parents hovered over, and blessed them in this indication of their returning affection, hallowing, with their invisible presence, a scene connected with the last admonitions from their dying lips. When they had thus given vent to their feelings, although the sense of unhappiness continued undim