The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1870-05-25

never been home, and had only met
my relatives on their visits to me al
New York. 1 Hs E9'1
| One day on going to the Office
found n Geographic dispatch. The
words of that dispatch have burned
themselves into my my memory: "Yonl
brother is dying! Come homew II
was a strangers name. Great God
my brother dying! A stranger, too,
telegraphing to me! What meant all
this? Was my mother also dying?
| never closed my eyes for three
days and three nights, nor did I eat a
mouthtul until l came in sight of my
native town in Pennsylvania. wait
ed tor two hours trying to overcome
my agitation created by fasting and
want ofsleep. Ordinarily nothing ruff
fed me but now l was as weak as a
child. l walked up the main street. ]
came within sight of the old familiar
cottage. The blinds were all down.-
Great Heaven! l was not prepared for
such blow. l dreaded the worst
The worst had come. AstranSeropen-
ed the door-a stranger stared at me.
| recognized much of the cd furniture
with which my mother would not part.
l saw my brothers portrait hanging in
the hall.
"Are they inf" gasped out, not
knowing what said. an lepGae al3
No one recognized me. I did not
wish to be recognized. Fearful of be-
ing an object of vulgar pity, l had de-
termlned to act as a stranger. So,
with all the calmness that could mus
ter, asked after my mother by name
Then the blow fell. The woman at
the door spoke solemnly: ~
"She's dead, SIR" sos att#
"Hadn't she son 2" I asked, with a
fiightful attempt at indifference.
eyes, Sir-his death broke her down
She died next day"
'sUnfortunatc people!"
"Ah yes, Sir. There's never been a
death in the village ST. unfortunate.
Especially poor Henry, Sir. He was a
great favorite."
81 used to know brother of his in
New York. Does he know about this?
f't'Ah, Sir, l don't know. It'll BIZ a
blow for him."
elbow did it happen ?"
wont you walk in sir? andI'll tell
YOU" .2
''No, thank you. It's SO close. I'm
hot I'll sithere."
| sank into seat by the. cottage
door. The woman told me all. Hel
story was simply this:
When Henry came home from col
llege he was the pride and boast of tht
village. People sought his acqnaint
ance who before had overlooked him
and his learning and genius won the
regards and admiration Of all. Among
the young ladies of the place there wa.
one from Philadelphia who appeared tt
he greatly struck by my brother. Sh'
belonged to one of the first families o
the city, and was exceedingly beauti
full. Her beauty. however, was only il
appearance. Strange to say, with TIN
utmost loveliness of form and feature
she combined hardness of heart and
selfshness of nature frightful to con
template. She only sought my broth
tr for the sake of making conques
of the talented young villager. AS t.
love or marriage, she would hav
laughed at the idea Her aspiration
were far higher than that. By the ut
most arifulness, and by the exceedin
! charnA which she was capable of dis
: playing, she completely overcome m
brother. With all the intoxication o
genius he surrendered himself to he
power. With him to love was to Civ
up his soul, his life, his all. 1t was N
light or transitory matter. It was tn
most serious thing on earth. AS to he
he never doubted her sincerity for
moment. t5a 5fsi fGH
+ At last he woke from his dream, an
only awaked-to die. He spoke to he
once about. his feelings. She treate
f him-crnelly. When sure of his affec
{ tions she began to try to torture hir
with jealousy. On his demonstrating
she turned him away forever with
whitening sneer. He was stunned a
first, but afterward thought it ii mis-
take. He songhc her out again, an
implpred her to tell him truly. Til
i. time her calm contempt was unmistak
able; he saw her as SHE was. Had /.
possessed my strong nature he woul
have survived this shock. The woma
does not live who could kill me by
disappointment. But my brother wa
a gentle soul. When his heart brok,
he died. And 50 he yielded to thi
blow.
| All can be told in few words. NJ
mother, Mortified, startled, overwheln
ed, by this most unlocked for calamit,
|, and gentle in nature like my brothe