The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-07-19
Select Story.
HIS INVISIBLE BROTHER.

Far into the soft summer night sat with
little Susie Naseby on the piazza of the Belle
Lake Pavilion. Our talk had not power
ful smack of sentiment, though the moon.
light on the water, a low signing breeze from
the South, vague cadeuces of distant sing
ing from yacht on the lake, and the seclu-
sion of our vine. .embowered corner, all com.
bined to lend an air of romance to the in
teryiew. But Susie and ] never flirted with !
each other, whatever we might do with some,
we had, in the course Of long acquaintance.
ship, established a delightful and unusual
relation, sort of fraterpal and Platonic |
sentm. mt, quite chivarous, quite harmless,
quite novel, and altogether charming. So
well was this understood that Mrs. Naseby
felt not the least anxiety on leaving her
daughter in my hands, only bringing out
thick shawl to wrap the Babie Bunting in,
and leaving us with parting injunction not
to go on the wet grass.
Gossiping away like couple of katy-dds,
about everything and everybody, we came to
speak of a certain Charles Selwin, a young
gentleman Of fortune then sQjourning at the
Pavilion. For reason that will transpire,
could not abide Mr. Selwin on any terms, and
was sorry to find that he had succeeded in
interesting little Susie more than good and
pretty girl should be in brainess idler.
Stupidly enough spoke straight out, giving
my opinion of the gentleman without minc-
ing words. OF course, woman-fashion, she
Al nfa In1 ctr pul,, nd ;,,e
arguments, discovered new merits in her SUBJ
iect,
You can't deny that he is very handsome
urged Susie; such rosy cheeks, and nice
brown hair curling around the forehead-I
do think that fine complexion and large
clustering ringlets are too splendid
When Selwin first came to Belle Lake, he
and went in swimming together one day.
On coming out of the water, | observed that
his "fine complexion" was washed off, leav-
ing sort Of twhitey- purple. ashes-of-roses
color, much prettier for a MORE antique than
| for mans face. His large clustering ring
let's too, were non est and in their place his
hair hung in strings over his eyes. Shortly
| u,
Joe was operating upon his head with the
curling tongs. His cheeks were still the
color of frozen turnip, but in half an hour
at dinner, the ruddy glow had returned,
more brilliant than ever.
really had too much regard for my sex
to confess, even to Susie, that any man Srer
painted his face and if had, | might have
been unable to produce positive proofs of the
statement, so | contented myself with derid-
ing his lisp and drawl.
"A sweet style of talking, hasn't he, my
dear 'Aw, NTH Natheby, aw, what
thpleendid thenery, aw"
Just as if he could help that He was
born with peculiar throat, | suppose. And
after all, it doesn't sound so badly when you
know it isn't atfectation.'
Yes but | know it is affectation.'
Now, William | never. knew you so un-
charitable before. What has Mr.. Selwin
ever done to you %
My dear child, you are a sensible girl, so
| can speak plainly to you. l should not
have thought twice about this young person,
had he not made, apparently, a good i'm.
preston upon you, as believe, by false and
ileeting shows, for womans illusion given.
| consider him humbug and puppy, who
has made you admire him for what he does
not possess Are you satisfied, ma chere?
Yes, mon cher. ! am satisfied that you
are entirely mistaken about Mr.. Selwin, and
very obstinately prejudiced generally. You
have only seen him few times, yet you
think because he is not one of your feather
A iterati-a journalist-a quill driver-a
Bohemian-or whatever you are-that he is
not good enough foryou say he is hand
some, accomplished, elegant, amiable, gen.
tlemanly-'
Sweet, lovely, splendid, delightful, pretty
nice young maD-"
Hush | won't allow you to say another
word about him!
OF course, had to yield | simply de-
termined to keep an eye on Selwin, and to
see that he did not gain too powerful an
ascendancy over Susie's susceptible heart.
Concealing my prejudices, then, made
myself somewhat intimate with him, but
discovered in him only a we'll dressed non.
entity. Sometimes | detected a low bred
cunning in the cheap articles by which he
imposed upon Susie and her mother, but
| had no good opportunities to expose him,
and he went on, through all the long August
days, playing the role of conquering helo
lie knew how to listen to long stories from
old ladies how to talk politics with old
gentlemen how to kill time for himself aud
Others at watering place.
surely, as | mean to crush him utterly
before | get through, let me do him Justice
now. Let me not forget the least of his at.
fractions.
How bravely he led the German, aud how
graceful his position in the Lancers What
prowess he displayed at the board where reg.
iments OF bottles went down empty aud the
youths of aristocratic taste, who were happy
enough to know Selwin, often went down
full How well and freely he dsbursed the
income of five thousand year. and how
nimbly and sweetly it recommended him to
everybody How promptly were his bills
paid-how heavy they were A prime fa-
vorite with the host was he, and the under.
lings knew well the surety of "tip" every
time they came in contact with him. Who
could resist the fascinating, !the dasLing, the
splendid Selwin The faction that b eld out
against him was small indeed-consisting in
fact, of myself solitary and alone.
One afternoon | was asreeably surprised
by the appearance of an excellent friend o,
mine, heavy leather dealer, doing business
in the classic locality known as the Swamp
This gentleman MI. Colwell-firm of Tread
ley Colwell-was taking a week or two
of relaxation and hnh nhnrnn Dill L IL. q.