thur stepped upon the step, and placing both hands on his
brother's shoulders, held him a little way from him, and looked
earnestly into the beautiful eyes raised up to meet his own.

"Guly, whatever happens--though I hope and am sure nothing will that is
unfortunate or sad to me or between us--try and love me all the same;
forget my faults and remember my virtues--if I have any; I want always
to think of your heart as trusting mine, and loving me."

He looked away for a moment, with his eyes bent thoughtfully upon the
ground, then parting the hair from his brother's brow, he bent down
hastily and kissed it, as if from an impulse which he could not resist.

Guly looked wonderingly up in his face for a moment, then drew him away
into the shadow of the archway adjoining, and, laying his head upon his
shoulder, wept.

"Love you, Arthur!" he exclaimed, throwing both arms about his brother,
and drawing him close to his heart; "Through all and through everything,
come what might or may, I can never love or trust you less than now.
Your happiness is my prayer and watch-word; all I ask of you, dear, is
but to be true to yourself and me."

"Bless you, Guly--there! don't shed any more tears--we shall henceforth,
I am sure, be very happy together."

"Then, what prompted you to speak so strangely and forebodingly?"

"I could not define the feeling, if I should try. It was nothing more
than a flitting shadow, cast from my restless spirit upon my heart.
Come, let's go in."

CHAPTER XIII.

"Our early days! how often back
We turn on life's bewildering track,
To where, o'er hill and valley, plays
The sunlight of our early days!"

D. W. Gallagher.

They went in through the alley-way, and gained their bedroom by the
steep back-staircase. Guly, who was fatigued by his day's labor and
evening walk, immediately prepared for bed, and sought his pillow
eagerly. But Arthur, after rising from their devotion, walked toward one
of the windows, and stood for a long time gazing out upon the
neighboring wall of brick, as if he found there deep food for
reflection. Guly lay looking at him, wondering what he could be thinking
of, and even while he wondered his eyes gradually closed, and he fell
fast asleep.

As Arthur heard his soft but regular breathing, and felt assured his
brother slumbered, he threw off his coat, and seated himself on the
bedside, gazing fixedly down upon the innocent and happy brow befor