Daily Republican., 1881-08-19
THE BROTHERS.
BY A NEW YORK DETEcTIvE.

BY A NEW YORK DETECT1VEs
Howard and Robert Van Dam wei
: twin brothers, and as nearly alike |
), appearance rs they could be without b'
y ing the same.
Roberts hair was lighter than How
: ard S, and was more wavy; then, too, b
!. had little or no beard, while his brott
er had considerable.
They were both equal in muscular dc
, velopment, and were about evenl
!" matched in strength and agility, bot
being handsome, brawny fellows, VIII
. carried away all the prizes for athlei
I ic sports, dividing them equally.
There were other things in which tn
brother. competed for honors beside
athletic sports, and in which they wer
not so equally successful.
One of these was The hand of yOunI
lady named Marian Duval, both broth
ers having fallen in love with her, ant
both striving to win her.
She treated both with equal courtes,
before strangers, though she really in
"lined towards Robert, much to How
ard disgust, tor be wanted her for him
self
In this affair the rivalry was no" 81
friendl v ~ it was in other things, eacl
thinking that the other ought to draw
ont of the contest.
Neither would, however, and Marian
herself, with a woman's vanity, KEEP
them both up to the highest pitch OF ex
citement. finding pleasure IN having
their attentions.
She was not q co1uette by any means
but loved to be courted and admired
and thought she had time enough yet
10 choose between the two brothers.
She did nor think that Ivy datlying
too long she might, peIh,ps, lose ooth
| Marian 's father was II harlsh sort OF
man, having an ugly temper, and being
apt to fly out ut his hest trend upon
the least provocation, or withoutahy az
all.
Robert put up with his idiosyncra.
cies Oh Marian's account, and managed
to get along very well with him, hut
| Howard could not endure his nnman-
nerly ways, and frequently made very
tart replies to the grutf fellows coarse
remarks.
One evening Howard returned from a
hunt, and, having some very fine par
tridgps, thought he would make Marian
a present.
Still clad in his rough hunting-jacket
and lcggings, hcentered the house win.
ont Knocking, as he always did, and
proceeding to the sitting-roon, where he
| found Marian and Robert,
81 have brought you present, he
$ nd, "of some fat partridses. y
"Oh, father will be delighted said
Marian. "He dotes on partridges.
"And aren't you delighted also y
| asked Howard, with shaGc of anxiety
in his tone.
"Not particularly, " she answered,
schirvuusly. don't fancy par
| tri,|ers much.
"Bnt | shot them myself. y
"They are partridges all the same,
are they not
"CerranIy but all partridges are not
the SAINT. These are particularly TAI
aud we!i-tiAvorrd. got them in the
deepest part Of the wood, where there
il nothing but the widest lNni of food
for them. That improves the flavor.
9" could never tell any difference. y
"Su1 if vou never atethem, ofcpur1t;
but hope you will try them for my
sake. =
"Take what don't like, because you
ask oc TOT Nonsen5c,"
She did not really mean this, hut tell
in teasing mood thai night, and want
ed 10 provoke hiil.
"You are not very gracious, he re-
piled, prtulantly. "I think ! am not
wanted. Good night. y
Vie wAA turning to 60, when o'd On
val'S vuicc was heard outside i'll loud
and angry tones.
He had been off buying cattle, and
had just returned, WHIP III hand, anu
being tired and hungry, was not IN a
particularly happy frame Of mind.
At any other time the Sight OF the
birds, which Howard had thrown up2n
the table, would have delighted hiiA
bat now he was cross, and disposed to
pick Il unarrrl with every one.
"Wlo'S been tramping through the
house with muddy boots, leaving par
eel O nasty birds right on the clean ta-
hle ?" be grumbled "siome o them
silly beauN Of Marian's, | suppose.
Why the mischiafcan' she take one of
'cm and tell the lest to clear ont? She 5
Old enough to know her own mind, |
fancy
lie pushed the birds upon the floor,
knocked down Howarl's gun, which
he had stood in corner, and then
shying his hat at the poor cat who, dis.
turb ii by the falling gun had got ITS
back up, and was splitting at the inof-
iensive aricle, strobe towards the SIT
ting 'om.
IS, you've got two Of 'em have We?
he roarel, upon seeing the bro hers
fine goings on, trapSlhg AROUND tht
house soiling everything, and liherihG
up the place with their lrty traps.
Why don't ye make ohe OF 'em come to
the point, you silly jade, and not 20
fooing 'em both i'll
Marian blushed scarlet, and Howard
advancing Il pace, said, angrily;
'For shame, sir, to SPEAK to your
daughter that way. You ought 10 have
better manners !"
"Who is it dares to talk manners to
me in rNy own house ?' roared the
ilate man, raising his whip over MS
head.
A., he glared at Howard, the latter
cjrnchcd his teath, ard advanced, Mar.
ian trying to restrain him, while Rob
ert hal also arisen in order to prevent a
quarrel, if possible.
Robert was q favOrite with the old
man, and he tried to smooth matters
over.
aye w,ite-livered puppy!' roared cI''
Duyal. w've mind to lash ye as |
would a surly dog Talk to me of m..n-
ner-, indeed !"
"I see it is useless" answered How
ard, "for YOU don't know anything
about them"
"Howard-fJr heavens sake, don't
say any more - said Robert. "Don't
uuin. lin, Mr.. Duval-he was Tasty, |
aud YOU, perhaps, we're little quick |
''
"Is it you, too, that abuses me to my :
own face, in my own house, he shrek |