The Benton record. [volume] (Benton, M.T. [Mont.]) 1875-1879, 1879-05-16
sF VILE 0FTHE HALF BROTHER,

@Taavo me, Anna, you need fresh air;
/ piII stay with your uncle" and almost
sra1Iv the girl accepted her release from
,ae confinement Of the sick chamaer, and
I=fiag up her pretty rosy mouth to her
Inbers for a kiss, she said, affectionateIy:
@Dcar, good papa, if it is not asking
90 much, would love to 60 and stay at
82osas till tca-time."
I "CartainIy my pet" answered Mr..
E4nca, with almost Lnseemly haste to get
td Of her. Your poor uncle is very low,
1hnl Tiff anything-well, if The worst
AkbouId come, he would much rather have
& tDa by him."
Another kiss and Annie took herself
awav. and her father returned to the sick
ban, and the dim light gave a sepulchral
Gloom to the scene.
MI There was not a man in all "
#bcse cscutcheon shone brighter than
9ohn Aliens. No church member
banked higher, and no man was more
Eonized in society. Three years before
E5ur Story opens, his half brother had
E&omc 10 him in deep grief at the spend
brit behavior Of his only son. and his
RAJjgnation was in no way Modified by
Gle willy John,
E# "IlI cut him off without q farthing!"
5Ae said determinedIy. "Not one cent
.hosy shall the fellow have. I paid
Asl0,0 ,00O-gambling debts-for him last
sReek debts ofhonor, they call them, but
.H#hg l can't see-never could ard that is
lAmcre trife, if they were all told. Yon
HE, John, the lad would beggar me in no
tIne. Your religion teaches you to for
fye seven times. seven, and kill the fatted
II 5jf for the prodigal sen. I've done it,
3bbn, done it, and haven't your religion
66 her; so don't preach to me I shall
VEake my will to day, and will give every
IAbng to-
I45 5"Found a society for reforming young
HHoO," said the brother, smiling and
Boning his eyes, FOR to some church
iii yonfound your churches and your
saceies No; if home influence fails
Mats the good Of either? III leave
#erytbing to you, John--eyerFthing
E0u are next nearest kin, after the boy,
8.pd what is mine shall be yours
1S John Allen, on the strength Of his
ANobcr's promise, and, in fact, having
sen that promise executed, entered
Sargely into speculations; and at the time
u ar story commences, reckoning up his
f9fts and losses, found the greater por
HBn of his fortune dissipated; and looked
Nah daily increasing dread upon his
..Alt-brotber's feelings, which were ever
kinder towards his wayward
n don't know, John, but what I have
Aen to hard upon the boy, after all |
Hiut some ofthese days I'll put eodi-
to my will, giving him something, III
Il reform"
! Eyes, very good, 90 so,' answered
Din, Il can't bear to see father hard
his child, and the chances are that ifI
promises to reform he will, and if be
4 Hat-well the chances are even.
rhat doubtful "if" had the desired
tcs there was no haste, and the relent
sH parent would wait awhile, and now
sase was here and the doctor had
byeIy said;
El'our brother cannot live another
Hyeight hours
#obn Allen had prepared himself for a
Eibla struggle with his halfbrother,
II was now dying, and he had sent his
aghter away that she might nos be a
l7fness. lie feared no interruption from
wife, No, poor woman! she had
I'm suffering from a disorded mind
ought on by a sudden shock, the doctor
ID not tell the cause, and her husband
It'll he could not; yet there were times
sp this man trembled to think Of the
Ms, and the childish, simple laugh Of his
sent him from her to the library,
#fe, locking himself in, he would pace
5oor and groan aloud.