The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1883-09-22

four-and-hfty red-taced and obese; dressed
in satin house-robe; pride stamped in
every feature His wife, sitting near by,
the same Her face betrayed the use OF
the wine cup, while the sparkle of many
diamonds told where much of her hus-
bands money had gone.
What sight for the proud man to meet
in his own front hall A stout, broad
shouldered man, brown-visaged and full
bearded, habited in a royerty-strickened
garb, and evidently very poor.
"Nathan! don't you know me-your
cousin Robert? All | have had hard luck
on the road. Beyond Cheyenne [ was
robbed of every dollar [ had with me,
and"
"Hold on" The proud man raised his
hand. He wonted to hear no more. He
knew of no claims which his cousin could
have on him. And, further: "You prom
ised your uncle you would never again
apply for help" .,
'Have [ asked for help?"
''No; but it was coming"
'No, Nathan, you mistake. l only ask
a friend
''Then you'd better go and hunt up
your cousin Peter. He would make boon
companion for you, doubt not"
Robert got away as quick as possible,
resolved next to call upon his cousin
Thomas.
He found Thomas at home, and clearly
under the influence of wine-not intOxi-
Gated, but his blood unduly heated thereby.
And Thomas was even more harsh and
unkind than Nathan had been; and he, too,
tauntingly advised the poor wanderer to go
and seek his cousin Peter, as one who
would be a fitting companion for him.
And to Peter Speeds poor cottage Rob
ert made his way. Not even poor roofto
cover his head had the wealthy brothers
given to their half-brother. The cottage,
really belonged to Nathan, was hired of an
agent, and more than once the poor man
had come near being turned out for non
payment of rent.
"What!' cried Peter, when the way
farer had made himself know; ''isit Bobby ?
Don't deceive me. Come in where it is
light?" And he led the way into the little
kitchen, where the supper table stood, with
the remains of the evening meal upon it.
By the lamp light Robert saw woman
the sweetest faced woman, he thought, he
had ever seen-standing near the table
and near by-two of them at the table,
two sitting by the stove, while one clung to
its mothers dress-were five children, the
Oldest not more than twelve.
"Ah! l know you Yes, [ can see the
dear old face, Notwithstanding the years,
and the brown tan, and the beard. Robert!
old fellow bless your dear, true heart !!
How are you p
They shook hands, few more words,
and then Peter exclaimed:
"Oh, Kitty in all the days of my early
childhood, saving only my sainted mother,
this was the only true and loving friend L
had-my cousin Robert. [ was but wee
bit of an urchin when ne went away, but
can remember how my mother had to
tear my arms from his neck as though it
had been but yesterday
Kitty greeted the man cordially, though
at first inclined to be shy. At length she
said, with smile that captured Cousin Bob
forever:
"Really, cousin Robert, I ought not to
feel that you are stranger. Peter has
talked of you so much and so often, and
with so much of warmth in his heart, that
[ have regarded you more in the character
of a true brother than anything else
A few more words, and then Peter be-
thought himself that his cousin might be
hungry. But no. He had eaten hearty
supper just before dark.
II ate at the little tavern at the lower
end of the village, and shall spend the night
there"
"Spend-the night-THERE! You eoiU, (,
Ell? How's that, Kitty
Il think we can make him comforta-
ble," the wife said.
"Well, [ think SO, too, Robert" "
By and by, after three Of the children
the youngest-had been kissed all around
and put to bed, and, by the way, the little
four-years-old Robert, named after the ell
der Of the ilk, cried Justify when they tore
him away from "Uncle 'Obert" t"-he was
to be uncle to them-after this said Peter,
in his frank, hearty, off hand way:
"Say, old fellow, | suppose you have
come home somewhat under the weather,
eh ?''
Robert told him that he had left San
Francisco with between two and three hun
dred dollars in his pocket, but he had been
robbed between Great Salt Lake and Chey-
enne of every dollar of it. ~ went to sleep
in the car" he explained, 'at night, and
must have been chloroformed on top of
that"
"Well, well, cried Peter, giving him a
friendly pat on the knee, and speaking
from the heart, "don't you worry. Thank
God, you have health and strength. Well
fix you up a good comfortable shake-down
here, old fellow, and we'll look around and
see what can be done. [ wish you could
find work here and live with us. You
shan't pay penny more than it costs us.
Anyhow, here's your home for now, Rob
ert."
Robert said he would think of it. And
he told the story of his visit to the man
sions of Nathan and Thomas. Peters
brow contracted and his face grew dark.
He said but little. ''For my Kitty sake," "
he whispered, II never speak the names Of
these men when can avoid it.
1t was very near the hour of midnight
when the trio began to think of bed. As
they arose from their seats Robert took a
hand of Peters and one of Kitty's, and SO
held them while he spoke. His voice was
tremulous and his eyes were brimming.
"Peter i Kitty - True hearts Il
don't want you to be spending the night
in speculations upon the future. [ came
back to the old home resolved that would
put my three counsinst into the balance and
weigh them. [ have done it, and you
know the result. [ told you [ was robbed
on the road. So 1 was, butt had taken
the precaution to send my fortune on ahead
of me; so 1 only lost the trife [ had re
L a