Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1869-08-26
MY BROTHERS. WEE.


I stood by the south window, look
ing toward the road along which the
carriage must come.
My brother wrote that they would
arrive by the Saturday ssteamer, and
it was then Monday night.
There were only two of us--my
brother and myself. Our parents
died years before, and we lived but
in each other, until one year before
the date of my story.
Frank THAT was my brothers
name) wasa dozen years older than /.
Yet we were always cOnfdants in
spite of the lack of years on my part,
and looked upon my brother as the
bravest, handsomest fellow in the
world. / have but very little MEM
Dry of my mother, for ] was very
young when / lost her; but / had
never felt the want Of her care, in the
depth of love my dear brother Law
ished upon me.
We were left in good circum3tan-
ces, my brother and !, besides own
ing the dear old homestead where
my eyes first saw the light.
1t was alovely place, that old
of ours-situated as it was, on the left
bank of the Hudson, and command
ing full view Of tsat noble river.
The house was old-fashioncd, even
In my memory Of long ago, and
quaint in style, for it was built by
our French ancestors; but still it was
Enthusiastically elegant, and Teplete
with every comfort and luxury. The
principal rooms opened upon large
balcony or promenade, chat fronted
toward the river. The drawing
room took in one end Of the balcony
toward the south side, and it was at
one of the windows in that room that
/ stood waiting to welcome my
brother and his wife.
Frank went to Europe one year
before with college chum to edo the
continent" leaving me to the COM
partnership of my old gOverness, for
/ had long before finished my educa-
ton. OF course l grioved terribly
after him at first, but by and by his
frequent letters came and cOnsoled
me. All went quietly with me at
the homestead. I saw but little
company in his absence, and looked
hopefully for his return.
At last the tone of his letters
changed. They did not grow less
affectionate, but were more cosby
and filled with glowing descriptions
of a lady whom he had met in Flor
ence at the house Of the American
Consul. I do not know that par
ticularly disIiked this. The feeling
1 think was more of sadness and con-
Germ lest my brother might become
the victim of some beautiful, design
ing woman than anything else.
l honestly think that | did not
consult my own feelings Of selflshncss
in the matter; / only thought of his
happiness. / remember writing him
rather long letter, detailing some
of my fears i'm this respect, and re-
ceiving one in answer, thanking me
for my sisterly regard, and assuring
me that the beautiful italian was
scarcely more than child in the
worlds experience, and one far above
him in worldly point of view. Still,
he thanked me, and, to show that he
appreciated my advice, he would in
stantly leave the neighborhood.
After this was completely happy
and contented. / received one more
long letter, written two weeks otter
the other, telling me he had done as
he proposed, and was nicely donni-
ciled in the ancient city of Rome.
1t was quite long letter, detailing
in full his travels and sight seeing,
and joking me on my jealousy Of
any other female winning place in
his heart.
Two weeks more passed, when /
received hurried note--I can't call
it letter informing me that he
was married, and after short tour
he and his bride would leave for
home!
cannot describe my feelings on
the receipt of that news. 1t almost
stunned me. All manner Of wild
thoughts rushed through my brain.
My brother Frank married! / could
scarcely credit it; and then his wife,
who and what was she? What was
she like-some horrid Italian who
had evidently used battery Of art