, but Arthur and Guly still remained; the one, in order to
gain enough to carry on his career of dissipation, the other, from a
high sense of duty, which, though in the midst of danger, kept him
faithful to his post. Mr. Delancey had been more lenient with Arthur
than with any other clerk of like character he had ever had. Although he
could not but note in his countenance the course he was pursuing, he
forbore to dismiss him, and the brothers still lived, side by side,
beneath the same roof.

Though his receipts were spent in debauchery, Arthur managed, as a
general thing, to fill his place through the day faithfully; and since
the sudden demise of clerks in the establishment, it had become
absolutely necessary.

But one morning, Guly noticed that Arthur looked pale, and suffering,
though resolutely remaining on duty. Alarmed lest he should be taken
with the prevalent disease, to which his habits rendered him peculiarly
liable, Guly questioned him, and finding that he was really unwell,
turned to his employer, and said:--

"Mr. Delancey, Arthur is too ill to remain longer in his place; he must
give up until he can get better. He has remained here too long this
morning already, with the symptoms of cholera about him."

"Well, he's a fool for that," muttered the merchant, in reply, with much
of his old manner; "I should suppose he was old enough to know that he
must give up when he's sick. I'd whip a negro of mine that worked round,
and didn't tell when he was sick. Let him lie down here in your room."

It was the old room which Wilkins used to occupy; and Arthur, every
moment growing worse, hastened thither, and threw himself upon the bed.
Guly immediately sent for a physician, and put aside all his business,
to attend upon his sick brother. Slowly the hours went by. Everything
that could be done was done, and, in fearful anxiety, Guly hung over the
form of that brother--now, in this dark moment, forgiving him all his
sins and unkindness, and loving him, oh! how tenderly!

The sun went down, and Guly had no brother! In fearful agony he had
yielded up his strong spirit, and now lay pale and still in the fond
arms which encircled him. The dead-cart stood waiting at the door, and
with tears, which he did not struggle to repress, Guly saw the corpse
robed in the habiliments of death, and placed within the coffin. Those
were times which permitted of but little delay, and bodies were often
beneath the turf before they we