The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-02-21
THE BROTHERS. STRATAGEM.

which she moved.
She was too easily misled by appear
ances, and would fancy most incredible
stories at the slightest suggestion.
Anything out Of the common line oi
events was to her most delightful.
| But her worst mistake was, that she
called her life dull and uninteresting be
cause it flowed calmly and peacefully.
\ Engaged to young man who had
known her when she was child, and to
him her brother was happy to intrust his
sister-her parents were long since dead
she had not even the Subsection oi
Drawing any reproach or danger to be
come his,or to do or suffer rany thing unen
durable for his sake.
ALI was extremely unromantic, and
like, everyday life-nothing desperate
nothing soul-stirring, heart-breaking in
it.
The last summer Carrie was to spend
as Miss Cornell had passed, when she
met, Winnie Bliss in the street.
"Oh, Carrie, am so glad to zee you!
When did YOU returnP' said Winnie.
ave came home a few days ago. ]
thought of going to see you to-day" re-
piled Carrie.
"You say that you have been already
several days here, and have not been to
see me yeti l can not say that I feel
particularly fattered by this, when we
were always just like sisters" said
Winnie, feeling really hurt.
Il would have gone sooner" said
Carrie, "but tevery step take is watched,
and l am afraid to leave the house when
brother James is there"
"But why? What has happened~
eff there ever was an unhappy girl,
Winnie, l am one; and if you will walk
with me to the post-office and home
again, l will tell you all about it. Imust
have one heart to which l can confde
my troubles"
"Then you are really unhappyr' asked
| Winnie.
"Unhappy! That is not the word to
express it. | wonder if there is woman
whose fate is more tragical than mineW
asked Carrie.
"You know" continued she, when,
having posted letter, the two girls were
cozily sitting in Carries small sitting
room, chat he went to Scarborough in
stead of going to Boulogne as we first in
tended to do, because there Mr.. Newbold
her intended) could go to see us every
Saturday, and return on Monday to the
city.
"We found no acquaintances whenswe
first arrived, and I felt during = few
days rather lonely, until a party of la
dies and gentlemen came, some of whom
my brother had met the year before at
the same place.
81 became quickly acquainted with
them, and had gay, and delightful
time. My cavalier to all excursions was
a Mr.. Algernon Devereux, one Of the
most fascinating young men you ever
saw.
HE is not as handsome as Mr.. New
bold, but oh! so interesting looking, and
can talk like book. He has not at all,
the common, healthy, contented appear
ance of Thomas, no indeed; he looks pale
as death; and just as if nothing on earth
could please him any more-as if he had
said farewell to all earthly happiness.
"Not many days had passed before he
told me that he loved me, worshiped me
and that he could not live without me.
"Just fancy my situation. I, on the
eve of being bound to another, to listen
to such declaration; and worst of all,
to feel that Thomas did not feel my
heart.
"Knowing, however, how much Mr..
Newbold loved and trusted me, would
perhaps have torn myself away from the
destinations of Algernon Devereux i'm
mediately, had not my brother, who had,
of course, saw his devotion to me, began
in truth to persecute him.
"Whenever he saw. us together he
would click pistol, and he who was
formerly opposed to carrying weapons
was suddenly never seen without one.
"That of course became more and
more interested in Algernon Devereux
when | saw him in such constant danger
on my account, was but natural conse-
quencc.
II really have no idea what I am 60
ing to do, as my brother has told me
that as soon as l break with Thomas, he
is going to shoe, Mr.. Devereux.
"Now my brother always finds out
when and where Algernon and meet. /
do not know; but one thing ascertain, he
is always there, clicking his pistol.
T had resolved the other day to tell
t'Algernon that he must abandon every
thought of me; but when met him, and
my brother stood but a few feet from us
clicking his pistol, how could !, knowing
Mr.. Devereux in such danger, tell him
what / knew would break his heart?"
When the young ladies entered
Carries sitting-room they had not OBJ
served that her brother was in the ad-
joining psrlor, and consequently heard
every word they said.
"I received a valuable lesson from
you, sister DEAR" said he to himself.
'The click of my pistol shall no longer
drive you to adore the one whose life the
ball eHdangers.
81 understand you now. l made the
man of too much consequence, that was
the trouble: and you value so little