Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-07-13
"In two wears l will

leSSly. ne said. by way OF explanation.
Experience is n dear teacher, and the
lesson have learned shall never for
get. II you come TO my assistance now
/ can soon recover myself"
Once more John Brisben placed his
name 10 a check PAYABLE To the order Of
his brother, and Joseph entered into
business again. In two years he was n
bankrupt.
IL shall never succeed in business,
jack he said. Help me out of this
trouble and will live with YOU on the
farm. / shall succeed rs n farmer"
10 took all Of John Brisben's hoard to
pay his brothers debts, but he made
no complaint, uttered no reproach. He
said:
IL am glad you are coming back to
the farm, Jodie. You need do no
work, and we will be very happy to-
gether."
So Joseph took up his residence at
the farm, and remembering his
brothers words, devoted his time prin-
cipally TO hunting. fishing and riding
about the country. In the meantime
John Brisben had fallen in love, and
the daughter of neighboring farmer,
Compton by name, was his promised
wife. Being n man of strict honor him
self, and having full confidence in his
brother. he did not object when Joseph
began to pay his aiiianced very marked
attention.
~ am glad he likes her" he thought
g am so busy on the farm that | have
little time for pleasure, and Alice is so
/ fond Of amusement"
One night Joseph came to him just rs
the shadows of evening were beginning
to fall. There was n triumphant ring
in his voice when he spoke.
Jack, old boy" he said, holding out
! his hand, congratulate me. think
that from to-day can date the begin
ming OF new life. Alice Compton has
promised To- be my wife"
He was too much engrosscd with his
new happiness to see the effect of this
announcement as portrayed on Johns
face. lie did not notice how the strong
mans hand trembled in his own.
" Is this true?' faitered John. at last.
"Why, of course it is. Are YOU not
glad. We love each other and shall be
very happy"
49, We love each other. and shall be
very happy"' repeated John, mechan-
ically. and all the sunshine of his life
sunk behind the heavy clouds Of despair
Yes, Jodie. am glad. and wish YOU
long years of happiness.
He turned away and staggered, rather
than walked, To his own room. He did
not stir all night Once deep, sobbinc
groan struggled To- his lips. and tn,
moonbeams struggling through the
window fell full upon his face, and sur.
priscd two great tears stealing down hi.
pale checks. He brushed away thi.
evidence Of weakness and sorrow, anC
when the morrow came. no one looking
into his calm, serene eyes would hav,
guessed how hard was the battle thai
had been fought and won in that lonely
chamber.
They were married, and the man re-
iected by the bride and supplanted by
the groom was the first TO congratulate,
the newly-marricd pair. a vacant
house ON the farm was fitted up for theil
receptions and John Brisben's money
paid for the furnishing.
Hereafter, Jodie,n he said, "w,
will divide the profits of the farm. !
don need much, and you shall hav,
the larger share"
Ten years passed away, and Johr
BrisbCn, an old man before his time,
still worked from dawn till dark thai
his brother might play the gentleman
and keep in comfort the large famil,
which the years had drawn around him
IL had been necessary To- mortgage tn,
old homestead. to raise money to pa,
Joseph's gambling debts. for of lat,
years he had played heavily and haC
invariably lost.
One day-it was in the summer q
1S77-a forged check was presented Al
one of the banks Mt the shire town, b,
Joseph Brisbcn. and the money fol
which it called was unhesitatingly pai,
over To him. He was under the influ
cnce Of liquor ut the time. and deepl,
interested in n game of cards for higl
stakes, which waS i'm progress. Tn,
check was for $1,000, think. Befor,
daylight the next morning JOSEPH
Brisbcn had lost. every dollar of IT, II,
drown his chayiin he became beastl,
drunk. and while in this condition M
officer arrived and appreherded hin
for forgery and uttering forged check
The prisoner was confined in Jail. anC
word of his disgrace was sent to Johr
Brisbcn. The ietter read the message
and mist caIac over his ewes. III,
groaned audibly, and but for stron,
effort Of the win would have fallen I,
the iloOr, so weakened was he by tn,
shock.
"Shc must not lnow it," he said TO him
self. and he male instant preparation
To visit his brother. When he reachc,
the jail he was admitted to the cell @
the wrctched criminal. The brother
remained together for several hours
What passed during the interview viii
never be known. When John Brisbel
emerged from the Jail he went straight
To the magistrate who had issued tn,
warrant for the apprehension Of JOSEPH
BriSben.
Esquire" lie said, in his slow. hes
itating way, ''yCu have made n mis-
take"
'.In what wsy." Mr.. Brisben?'
asked the magistrate, who had a higl
regard for his visitor.
"You have caused the arrest of an in
nocent man."
"But'-began sie magistrate.
tissue an orde for nv brothers in
slant release. / an, the guilty man.
forged the name ~ Charles Ellison {,
the check which hn uttered. He did no
know that il was forgery"
''Your' cried the astounded magis
trate. you n forcCr-impossible?"
Nothing is impossible in these DAYS,
said the white-hairei oil man, sternly
II alone am guilty. Ny brother is in
nocent."
So stoutly did he Sver that he was tn
forger that the magistrate reluctantl
issued warrant for bis arrest, and a
the same time wrote TN order TO tn
jailer for the release Il Joseph Brisbeu
MY constable will be in SOON sal
the magistrate. but the old hero picke
up both the papers
Il will not trouble hii1," he said. -
will execute both papers,"
And he did. Handing the jailer bot
papers, he explained aheir meanin
} thus: