The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1869-10-29
SrlrttrO sllisccllnuB.
THE BROTHERS.


matches! Luciier matches Who'll
buy my matches? ' cried a piercing voice,
as | was one morning crossing the prin-
cipal street of Pndua; and this voice,
strange 10 say, ewoke a vague recollection
in my mind. l looked around quickly TO
see from whom the sound proceeded, but
the person who ute. ed It was hidden from
my view by q crowd which had gathered
before the palace of the Count L.. IL
was in the year 1912, and thinking that
some arrest IAN event then unfortunately
but loo common) was taking place, | was
turning hastily away, when again that cry
struck my ear, Matches Lucifer match
esl Count L., won't you buy my match
esp As ] was in uniform, | opened pas
sage through the crowd without much diff
ticulty, aud perceived the Count L. sup
porting in his arms his daughter, who had
tainted from what causcI was ut the mo-
ment unable to determine.
Matches Lucifer matchcsl Buy my
matches, repeated the motch.soller, who
stood at some little distance. The Count
raised his head, and cast around him u
look in which hatred and fury were equally
blended. He recongized me, and leaving
Mudomuiselle l. to the care of the at
trndauts, who al that moment appeared ut
the door of the palace, lac approached me,
saying, in accents which trembled with
the rage with which lac was ngitatod,
Lieutenant M, I beg You will cause
that match-seller TO be Immediately arrest
cd; ! denounce him as q most dangerous
person
Pardon me, Count L. 1 can
not"
"Your duty obllgesyou " interrupted he,
without giving me time to finish. al shall
hold You responsible for his safe custody.
In half an hour will be with you 10 ex
plain m reasons, and to prove 10 You that
he is Il traitor aud couspirntor.'
] was going to reply, but the COuutturn.
cd abruptly away, rs If to avoid further dis
c~ussion. and entered his palace.
"Lnciier matches! Buy my matches,
Count e. again cried the individual who had
just been denounced TO me.
"Luciier matches Bay my matches 90
echoed the crowd, with loud laughter.
| advanced towards the originator Of all
this noise, and was about TO geize him by
the ann, 10 conduct Lin to the gunrJ-huuse
49, 70 dl5turbcr OF the public tranquility,
when lac turned his head, aud, TO my great
astouishmeut, / recognized I'm him my
school-leilow, Georges L., the young
az brother OF Count L.. The rccogni-
ton was mutual; but ! hcsitated a moment
whether ! ought 10 claim acquaintance
with so doubtful u character. At last / ex-
claimed,
"You here, in Padua, Georges"
"Only tho last few days he replied, in
q troubled and undecided voice.
'And what are you doing here p
"lou can see; / sell matches"
But the Carnival is over, Why, then,
this masqucradey'
1T is no masquerade" ho answered,
quietly; ''had / wished to disguise myself,
/ could have done so much more eflectual-
IT,"
Az We were still surrounded by the
crowd, Iasked him TO accompany me TO
my house, which was not far distant.
"ls II an order, or an invitation? No
matter he added suddenly, 81 am ready
to follow you either AZ guest or prisoner. u
On arriving at my rooms, / placed a bottle
Of wine on the table, and filing two glass,
IS, begged him to explain his present ex-
traordinary position.
'ln other words, You desire to hear nv
history said he.
"Yea, for to all appearance it is not an
everyday one"
God forbid that it should be-" he re-
piled; "howeyer, You shall hear it, and /
only wish that / could publish it through
ont the world"
His features became fixed and rigid; for
some time he appeared lost in dark and
painful recollecuons, but suddenly passing
his hand over his eyes, as if 10 dispel some
irightful dream, he addressed me in a firm,
though bitter and sarcastic voice.
"You know enough Of my early life 10 be
aware that my brother aud / were never
united in that bond Of fraternal love Of
which people talk so much; MS children we
never agreed, and rs young men the wide
difference Of our political opinions render
ed us almOst enemies MY brother, for
reasons of his own, d|issemblcd his hatred
to the Austrian government, and wore the
mask of n good and loyal subject. When |
discovered what were his secret sentiments,
being unwilling 10 denJunce him, / quilted
his roof and ceased 30 trouble myself Will
him or his family. Would to cd he had
followed the snmc line Of conuuct towards
me lit would have been better for us all.
lie stopped, as if overwhelmed by tn,
bitter thoughts which crowdedto his mind
but after a pause, recovered himself ant
proceeded.
81 obtained AN appointment in the Wa
Office, and for some time the current of my
life was calm and peaceful. Then came {
brief period of supreme happiness. Iloved
deeply and truly, and / was beloved. In
few short months ROsinn was 10 be mine
! only waited 10 celebrate our nuptials, un
I'll my majority should give me the right o
doing 30, without the consent Of my broth
er, who strongly opposed my intendedmar
riage. and would have forced me TO con
tract IA alliance with the rich and nobl,
family of b, hoping thus to augmen
his own power andinlluence. One evening
ON going TO pay my accustomed visit Il
Rosina, ] found with her a certain Broglio,
one Of my brothers creatures. Agitated
and alarmed, R0sina threw herself into my
aims, aud besought me with tears 10 save
her from the insults Of Broglio. Furious
with rage, / rushed upon the misoreant,
who was leaving the room az quietly M
possible, and forced him down the stairs
with 50 much violence that he fell, and sus,
tanned some severe bruises. A few weeks
after this incident / received a letter from
him, returning, with lulsome and exagger-
ated thanks, a bank-note for n hundred
horinA, which ! had lent him some time
before. This loan bad quite escaped my
memory, aud unfortunately, Lhad not made
IL out Of my own purse. When Broglio
had called at my office TO ask me for the
money, of which he had instant need, /
had not 80 much Of my own with me, but /
did not hesitate TO take It from the cash in.
trusted TO my care, intending TO replace il
early the next morning-nothing was
more easy; but on receiving BrogliO's
letter, it struck me that l had never repaid