Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1880-11-03

me, but I SOON let him know that he
needn't trouble himself about my goings
out and comings in. Well, if you're
bound to play the obedient and dutifu]
little boy, we'll go on
Ny brothers face crimsoned as Estaa
brook spoke, but he snid, indifierently
"1f I decide to 60, I'll be ready In 3
few minutes and then he entered into
the house.
~ followed him. for knew perfectly
that to taunt him with the exercises O.
our fathers authority was to make hin
rebel against it. Father was a YER,
stern man in those days, and Charles
found the restraints so irksome that i
was no new thing to evade them; Whe1
we reached our room, he shut the door
'' I think 1'llgo toDorseys tonight,
he said. I won't say anything about il
to father, for he always has lecture
ready whether I'm right or wrong.
won't stay more than an hour, just t.
show the fellows I can do as I please
sometlmes.'
"'Don't 60, I said. you know that
father is right in calling Dorsey's IN in
famous hole. It's miserable drinking
and gambling shop, and the people who
stay at the tavern you wouldn't notice,
If you met them on the street. Besides,
the boys are evidently intending to have
a spree. viii Eastabfook has drank
more than is good for him already
"'And l suppose you think 1 shall
get intoxicatedtoo! he criedimpatiently.
"Ah, 1 know it. More than once
since our return from school, my
brother had crept up to our room about
midnight, not drunk, perhaps, but with
q flushed face and unsteady steps.
don't think he had any real appetite for
liquor, but his easy, piable nature left
him at the mercy of every temptation.
The subject was never mentioned be-
tween us. l was ashamed even to men,
tioh my suspicious to him. Oh, how
weak, how despicably weak I was, for
had 1 prayed and pleaded with him
from the first false step, who can say
what might have been averted?'
"'Yes, I'm going" Charles said, decid-
edly, beginning to dress. Halo, Or
mond, is that you? Come in. I'm not
quite ready yet, but I'll not keep you
waiting many minutes
"'I haven't come for you,' Ormond
said, gravely, nor am I going myself.
In fact, I've come to persuade you to
stay at home. The boys have been drink
ing already, and there's no knowing
| what mischief they may do. Besides
ALI Grimes, the bridegroom, is regu-
lar blackleg, as everybody knows, and
the tavern is swarming with gamblers
from Almont. They say they've come to
pluck the green geese in this neighbour
hood.
est til BruteP said my brother,
laughing; 80 you're joining forces with
Hal there, to convince me that am one
of the gos]ings that will fly into the
trap. Thank you, but I'm going all the
same. I hate trouble, you know, and
it's easier for me to go with the boys for
an hour or SO to the tavern, than to ex-
plain to them why I can't 60. Rather
humiliating, too, to say I can't take care
of myself. Well, I'm ready. Good
night. But, I say, Ormond, stay with
us tonight. I'll be back before you go
to bed and tell you all the news, and,
humming tune, he ran down the steps,
leaving uslooking at each other uneasily.
"'I don't like his going,' Ormond
said, Chose boys will get into mischief.
He said no more about it. We tried
to talk of other matters, but it was q
vain effort. Two hours, three hours.
passed. We sat at the window looking
and listening.
"'I can't endure this SUSPENSE Or
mond said at last, jumping up: I'm 60
ing to Dorsey's to see about Charles.
Just what 1 was thinking Of DOING
l answered, rising, too.
"No you had better not co. he said.
Charles may be,'-he hesitated. We'll,
he may think if he sees you, that you are
watching him, and that will make him
angry, and then I shall not be able to
get him away
every WELL, said, I wont 20 into
the tavern, then, but wait outside and
not show myself without it's necessary
to do So
"When we got near Dorsey we could
hear the noise of loud singing, shouting
and laughing.
"'It's regular pandemonium,' Or
mond said, when we reached there,
Now stay outside while I hunt up
Charles in this den of thieves and drunk
ards
"He went in, and I stood there vague
~ wondering how my brother, with his
refined tastes, could endure such dis
gushing associations, when suddenly
there seemed to be lull in the noise.
ard two mems voices rose loud and fu-
rious. One I instantly recognized as Es-
tabrook's.
II ran to the window Gtwas ground
hoor) and looked in. Near the window
was table, and at it was seated two
rutianly-looking men with Charles and
Estabrook. They all had cards in their
hands and it only needed one glance at
my brothers inhamed face, and eyes
flashing with drunken rage, to make nv
heart sink with shame and grief. A re-
volver lay on the table before one of
them.
"tHe's cheat, thief cried Esta-
brook, trying to rise on his unsteady
legs. I say, Charles, with terrible
oath, that scoundrel drew that card
from his sleeve. I saw him. Let's go
into EN-
SO You scoundrels' cried my brother,
grasping the man nearest him by the
shoulder. It was the man before whom
the pistol lay. He stretched out his hand
to seize It, but Charles had caught it
before him. I sprang through the low
window, but Ormond by that time had
reached the struggling men. saw him
throw himself upon Charles, and then
almost instantly I heard the fash and re-
port Of the pistol. The crowd fell back
with EXPLANATIONS of horror.
"'He's shot him. He's shot his best
friend, 1 heard somebody say, as, blind
with terror, I strove to male MY way
arnonsot the struggling crowd. Who
was shot? What words could paint my
feelings? Was my brother killed?
"Then I heard a faint voice say. 1T
was an accident. He never meant it.
The pistol went off. know, Charles,
you did not see me-
Those we're his last words. Yes,
there lay noble Will Ormond, and my
brother kneeling over him, very white
now, and with look of horror in his
eyes which never unite left them until T