Page:Poems Piatt.djvu/57

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THE BROTHER'S HAND.
43
But something startled her brown window-bird,
Nested below in perfume. As it flew
She heard her own name spoken, and she heard,
Out in the wind, one ask: "Which of us two?
It is not well that both of us should stay.
Let her decide." In a bewildered way,
Not knowing what she did, she whispered, "Hugh."

They heard below, and Frederick seemed to laugh,
And said: "My boy, our paths again divide.
Your joy is great. If you could give me half,
Enough were left. Good-bye. The world is wide,
But all too narrow to hold you and me.
Good-bye———and shall we let the Future be%
Upon my faith you have a charming bride."

Next morning he was gone. And then, somehow,
Hugh chanced in his vexed dreamy way to throw
The yellow hair from his unquiet brow,
And started from a glass which seemed to show
That fearful scar, looking more deadly-white,
More like his brother's hand, too, since last night;
Then scarlet suddenly it seemed to grow.