Litchfield enquirer., 1879-02-20


 prodigy. Never mind if he couldn't make a farmer; great engineer could hire other folks to work Rodney farm whsn he was gone, and he often recalled with bursts of laughter Jims awkwardness over the blow or milk pail. t.r. D.. ... ->
 Two days before vacation, as Jim was boring over his book in his room, he received telegram from Ruthven begging him to come to his college directly. Something had happened. With sad forebodings for Ruth ven and regrets for himself that he could not be present at the closing examination, he start ed for his brother. A college chum of Ruth ven's met him and told him that Ruthven had been expelled for intemperance but that no letter had been sent to Rodney yet, as the term was SO nearly over. Ruthven was ter ribly cut up, his room mate said, and wanted James to go home directly and break the news to his parents, as gently as he could, before he had to face them himself. "Poor mother! '" was James first exclamatien; 'I can't tell her; will not. Ruthven must do it himself She'll forgive anything in him." he added with sigh. His face was very stern when he enrered his brothers room. ...,.... .. ,......a.
 Sc glad you've come, Jim. I'm in 8 dreadful mess The dons are down on me heavy, confound lem Pm no worse than ether fellows, only can't hide things, and I cut chapel too much" ..-,..,.
 ''Do not try to extenuate your conduct, Ruthven. I will net go home first, but I'll stay here with you the next two days until term closes and-until you are quite sober, 7" he added, looking steadily into the handsome face before him still bearing traces of fresh dissipation.
 'I am sober. I've just had a letter from mother and felt so deuced bad had to take stiff drink to steady my nerves. Help me, Jim as you used to do. 1 don't care what father says but
 'I do,"' said, Jim. interrupting him; ''he is good man, with as honest a heart as ever was put into man. We have both of us disap- pointed him and I'm sorry for him."
 ''Oh yes, fathers well enough" answered Ruthven, coolly, 'but mother will feel this disgrace, for she loves me so"
 Better have thought of that before"
 Ruthven bounded out of his chair, saying, 'tJim:. won't stand preach now You help me, or you won't. Which will it be ?"
 ';I'll stay here with you, but will not tell your story for you at home You must do it yourself.
 ''You mean it ?'
 :I do."
 Ruthven sat with his head in his hands for some time, and when he lifted it he looked miserable enough. "You go in for piety, and prate and all that, but you'll see me so wretch ed I'll do something desperate before l see mother, rather than help me. 1 can't con- ceive of such religion as that thought you loved mother and wanted to spare her all the sorrow you could"
 James voice falterd as he answered: "Ido love her and 1 know how she loves you. The little love she can spare from you to give me, I will not endanger by telling her this thing. But this is selfish and not my true in;p kolI l,or self. She'll bear it better from you, that is, " he added with a touch of scorn, Eff you will be honest with her and tell it all"
 "I-I-should have to tell her I'm expelled. She'll know why, we'll enough"
 ''You don't mean, Ruthven, that she knows you drink ??
 "Yes, she knows that I've slipped up some times. I've had many 8 talk with her about
 'Then she knows it was you, and not l, that night when father caught us.
 7'Yes."
 It was now Jim's turn to drop his head. ''Too, too bad, he murmered. "How could she see me suffer so, and so unjustly? Oh, Ruthven, how she loves you."
 ''That's it''
 James did not speak for a moment and then he reped F6mse F9mHE R oa hs tns nsr0nF R father that you have been dismissed for break ing rules and he may do what he thinks best with mother. But will not go home first. We'll go together
 "What am I to do, Jim? Pm ruined for life."
 ''No, you are not. Stop off short, and study hard and then you can go into lawyers of flee as you have intended doing"
 "Easy to say all that doing it is another thing. I've promised mother as solemnly as could, and I've broken my promise" he an- swered, groaning - ''I'll give up my next term to you and stay by you night and day if you'll let me help you. You know what mean"
 Ruthven turned his beautiful eyes full upon James pleading face, put both hands on his shoulders and sobbed out 'I'll let you try, Jim." James never forgot to his life's end how Kuthven looked at that moment.
 The next day was trying one for Jlm. Ruthven, missing his accustomed stimulants, was so prostrated in nerve and body, that his brother could not leave him for 8 moment. Early in the morning of the second day, they started for Rodney. Ruthyen, feeling what was impending over him at home, pining for and yet dreading to see his mother, looked the picture of woe. After while James got the poor fellows mind on other subjects and they forecast bright future together. AS they looked at familiar objects on the roadside from the car windows, the remembrance of boyish folics came also to them, and Ruthven's gay laugh soon rang out above the din. About twenty miles from Rodney he told James that he was sleepy. ''You must not go te sleep too and let them take us by our station, will you p he laughlng1y said. .-.--.----- .ae
 ''No."
 James bundled up his shawl for Ruthven to rest his head on and he was soon fast asleep James studied the sleeper's face tenderly, the soft, almost feminine lines and the mass oi bright short curls on his white forehead so like their mothers. " -
 No wonder she loves him best I never saw such beautiful face. Surely all will be right with him by and by" ~, ..... ....4
 A sudden jarring motion, whirl, then a crash, h,-and the car was in fragments and the passengers piled together in struggling heap on the ground. A broken rail had thrown the train off the track. James was stunned into inconsistencies, and then cries and groans reused him and he looked for Ruthven. He was lying resting on his arm, his college cap still upon his head.
 "Ruthven, are you hurt Speak to me. But Ruthven was never to speak again in this world. He was the only person killed, though many were injured. No hurt was eund on him till surgeon who was in another car Cdiiic up 6O tuoiil, tOOh oA IGutlNCuS Cap, duu parted the soft hair when he found. the death wound. 'Not dead P said James, whitel than his brother.
 "Yes, my poor fellow, he issdead."
 James sank down beside him, throwing ar arm around him as he used to do when a boz and they slept together, or when Ruthven Was going to carry him over the brook. An, what a river divided them now. s- ..-s
 Thank God he is not crushed. Mother can look at him now. thought l couldn't tell her the other story, How can tell her this God help her and me tool"
 Mir. Blinn was at the station with his large wagon to bring the boys and their baggage to Rodney, leaving Mabel at home to complete her last preparations before their arrival. ''Train an hour late Something must have happened" he overheard the ticket agent say to neighbor. Soon this telegram came ''Send engine One car wreck. One pas. senger killed. Several wounded" Mir. Blinr controlled himself as we'll as he could for ar hour, and then the whistle was heard and the cars stopped. - "a. ..5....,...- -...e. James saw his father standing on the plat