Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1880-11-20

not control.
The parents comforted them
selves with the hope that George
would change for the better when
he became q man. But, alas for
their love and their care; the years
only intensified his Objectionable
peculiarities.
When Arthur was twenty-four
and George twenty six-they had
been a great deal apart, having
been educated at different schools
Arthur was a doctor, and George
would have been like his father, q
lawyer, If ii were possible to make
him anything that required
thought.
George bullied his brother when
they were boys, and showed to-
tai want of affection for him when
they became men. Indeed, he
seemed incapable of love, until
Agnes Fleming came from Rich.
mond to visit Mrs Lagrange, her
mothers old friend and school
mate.
Agnes Fleming was a belle in
Richmond, where beautiful wo-
men are the rule; her goodness
and beauty had proceeded her.
From the first Mrs. Lagrange
saw. with alarm, that both her
sons seemed enamored Of Agnes
Fleming, and she wished the in.
nocent girl back again, but the
fates willed it otherwise.
With characteristic assertion,
George Lagrange forced back his
brother, and seemed determined
to monopolize Miss Fleming's time
while depressing her with his
rude, though no doubt well N cant
attentions.
With fine delicacy. Arthur re-
NAMED in the back ground, but
this very tendency won the adj
miration at first, and finally the
heart, of the beautiful girl.
One afternoon, about a week be-
fore Agnes Fleming was to return
to Richmond, she and George
took a horseback ride up the
mountain.
With more feeling than he had
ever manifested before. George
Lagrange told her of his love and
asked her to become his wife.
At the proposal she turned pale
and trembled.
81 cannot" she said, "give you
a heart that is not mine, nor the
hand on which another has
claim. But hope to retain your
esteem, and can promise to give
you with pleasure what you can
soon claim as right.
"What is that ?" he asked
hoarsely.
"a sisters love-"
"a sisters love?" he Kissed.
"Yes !"
IAN to understand, he ask
ed, the blood rushing from his red
neck to his heavy face. "that you
are engaged to my brother, and
without my knowledge? ?"
81 intended to have told you,
but supposed he might have done
so this morning. Until last night
/ only suspected Arthur'5 feel
ings,' she answered.
Every well, Miss Fleming. Let
US ride home"
Not another word did he speak
to her from that time until the
day she left.
Vain were the efforts of his
mother, father and brother, to
dispel the clouds from his face, or
change the logged madness that
seemed to possess him.
He rode out every morning, and
when he came home at night, his
horse was jaded and foam covered,
and the young man staggered into
the house, under the double ex-
element of liquor and jealousy.
The wedding took place in Rich
mond, But George Lagrange posi-
lively refused to attend. When
told that Arthur would bring his
young bride directly home, George
laughed like historical mailman,
and wore he would give them a
warm welcome.
The judge and his wife began to
think their Oldest son insane, and
the former determined to have
his case inquired into Immediate
ly after the wedding.
All the young people in the val
ley were at Judge Lagrange's to
welcome home Arthur and his
bride. The mansion was flooded
with light, the trees in the ample
grounds bore illuminated globes
for fruit, and music started trip
ping a hundred happy feet. The
servants were out in their best.
and Georges gloom was forgotten
in the blaze of so much happiness.
and his muttering unheard for
peals of merry laughter.
AT midnight, Arthur Lagrange
and his wife were alone in the