The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-05-01
The Will of the Half Brother.

lOyTully the girl accepted her release
from the confinement of the sick cham
Der, and lifting up her pretty rosy mouth
to her fathers for kiss, she said, affec-
tionately:
Dear. good papa, if it is not asking
too much, l would love to go and stay at
Rosie's till tea-time."
certainly, my pet" answered Mr..
Allen, with almost unseemly haste to be
rid of her. "Your poor uncle is very
low, and if--if anything-well, if the
worst should come, he would much rather
have me by him"
Another kiss, and Annie took herself
away, and her father returned to the sick
room, where the irregular breathing OF
the sick man, and the dim light, gave a
sepulchral gloom to the scene.
There was not a man in all N
whose escutcheon shone brighter than
John Aliens. No church member
ranked higher, and no man was more
lionized in society. Three years before
our story opens, his half-brother had
come to him deep in grief at the spend
thrift behavior of his only son. and his
indignation was in no wise Modified by
the willy John. -,
"Tll cut him off without farthing"
he said, determinedly. "Not l cent
more shall the fellow have! paid
$1O,OOO-gamblng debts-for him last
week; debts of honor, they call them, but
why can't see--never could; and that
is trihe, mere triAe, if they were all
told. You see, John, the lad would beg
gar me in no time. Your religion
teaches you to- forgive seven times seven,
and kill the fatted calf for the prodigal
son. Pve done it, John, done it, and
haven't your religion, either; so don't
preach to me; l shall make my will to-
day, and will give everything"
ITO found a society for reforming
Young men," said the brother, smiling
and opening his eyes; "or to some church
Or"
"Confound your churches and your
societies! No; if home influence fails,
what's the good of either? I'll will every
thing to you, John-eyerything! You
are next nearest kin after the boy, and
mine shall be yours"
John Allen, on the strength of his
brothers promise, and, in fact, having
seen that promise executed entered large.
ly into speculations, and at the time
our story commences, reckoning up his
profit and loss, found the greater part Of
his fortune dissipated, and looked with
daily increasing dread upon his half
brothers feelings, which were ever grow
ing kinder toward his wayward son.
II don't know, john" he had said
"but I've been too hard with the boy, at
ter all; think, some of these days, III
put codicil to my will, giving him
something if he'll reform.
eyes, very good, do So" answered
John. "Fm sure / can't bear to see ia
ther hard to his child; and the chances
are that if he promises to reform he will
and if he don't-well, the chances arr
evcn."
That doubtful eff had the desired eff
feet; there was no haste, and the relent
inc parent would wait awhile. And nov
disease was here, and the doctor hat
/, gravcly said:
"Your brother can not last anothe
forty-eight hours
John Allen had prepared himself 70
terrible struggle with his dying halt
brother, and he had sent his daughte
away that she might not be witness
, He feared no interruption from his wife
p No, poor woman! she had been sufftrin
: from disordered mind brought on by
. sudden shock, the doctor could not tel
9 the cause, and her husband said he coul
q not; vet there were times when thi
! man trembled to think of the past, an
+ the childish, simple laugh of his wifi
{ sent him from her to the library, where
r locking himself in, he would pace tn
floor and groan aloud.
"You won't give me anything from tina
: tiny bottle, John! say you will not!' tn
! poor woman would say; and then, as
q feeling obliged to explain, John ALE
f would repeat the story that, when sh
q was first deranged, he used TO give he
medicine (from a small bottle) that wa
: very bitter, and like a child she remem
| bered it. This seemed plausible.
/ No, John Allen feared no interruptio
t from his wife; so he turned into the sic
p room, and took his chair again by til
: sick mans bed.
"John, | haven't felt like this befor
t do you think Pm dying"
ooh, l hope not-I trust notr
!, John took his hand as he spoke; h
= pulse was very slow.
= "John you won't mind--youA bear r
n ill will when I'm gone-to know that "
, made a new will"
r "a new willp John Aliens fac
n blanched. "No, certainly not; yol
IS money was yours to do what you choo
4, with it,"
# "Pve given all to the boy.'
v "Yes!"
,r "Well, I feel better, John. I thougl
g perhaps you might be angry, and
v wanted you to know from me; it's
to natural fatherly feeling, eh, John? Ar
lie the two wills are side by side in my Sc
as retary."
m "Very good"
Disappointment was torturing Joh
Allen too much for him to say mo
IN than word or two. Then the sick me-
e. lay quiet; after few moments he sal
le family:
o. 81 think can sleep"
8 John Allen rearranged the pillow, al
Sc s., in a few moments the even breathil
m ,o gave notice that the sick man slel
a. a. Tempted by all that was base in his sord
W nature the watcher arose and went
+! the secretary; with little searching
d, found the two wills.
rt "I must burn the last" he said to hi
~ ,e self in guilty whisper. (which is t