The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-07-14

'Jodic will come out all right. Ill,
is smarter than |, and in five years vii
be worth more money than l coulc
make in lifetime"
In less than three years Joseph Brs
ben's affairs were in the hands Of his
creditors, and sheriff's officer closed
out his business. Again he turned to
his brother for help and sympathy.
IL own that managed a trihe care
lessly," he said by way Of explanation.
Experience is dear teacher, and the
lesson | have learned | shall never for
get. If you come tony assistance now
can soon recover myself"
Once more John Brisben placed his
name to a check payable to the order of
his brother, and Joseph entered into
business again. In two years he was q
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 as farmer"
II took all of John Brisben's hoard to
pay his brothers debts, but he made
no complaint, uttered no rcproach. He
said:
Il am glad You are coming back to
the farm, Jod,e. You need do no
work, and we will be very happy to-
gcther.'
SO joseph took uD his residence at
the farm, and remembering his brothers
words, devoted his time principally to
hunting, fishing and riding about the
country In the meantime John Bris-
ben had fallen in love, and the daugh-
ter Of a ncighboring farmer, Compton
by name, was his promised'wife. Be
ing man of strict honor himself and
having full confidence in his brother, he
did not object when Joseph began to
pay his ailianced very marked attention.
~ am glad he likes her" he thought
81 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 as
the shadows of evening were beginning
to fall. There was q 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 engrossed with his
new happiness to see the effect of this
as portrayed on Johns
face. He did not notice how the strong
mans hand trembled in his own.
as this true?" faltered John mt last.
"Why, of course it is. Are you not
rlad We love each other and shall be
very happy"
1--WE love each other, and shall be
very happy " repeated John mechan-
cally, and all the sunshine of his life
sunk bchind,the heavy clouds Of despair.
''Ycs, Jodie, | am glad, and wish you
Iong years of happiness.
He turned away and staggered, rather
han walked, to his own room He did
1ot stir all night. Once u deep, sob
Ding groan struggled to his lips, and
he moonbeams struggling through the
window fell full upon his face. and sur
orlSed two great tears stealing down
lis pale cheeks. He brushed away this
evidence Of weakness and sorrow, and
when the morrow came, no one looking
nto his calm, serene eyes would have
guessed how hard was the battle that
,ad been fought and won in that lonely
They were married, and the man re-
ected by the bride and supplanted by
he groom was the first to congratulate
he newly-married pair. A vacant 6
ouse on the farm was fitted up for their ,
eception and John Brisben's money I
aid for the furnishing.
Hereafter Jodie,' he SAID, ''we will y
wide the profits of the farm | don't c
ced much, and you shall have the t
,rgcr share"
Ten years passed away, and John I
riSben, an old man before his time, b
ill worked from dawn till dark that II
is brother might play the gentleman d
nd keep in comfort the large family g
hich the years had drawn around him. /,
had been necessary to mortgage the u
ii homestead, to raise money to pay !, =,
Dseph's gambling debts, for of late !,
'ars he had played heavily and had n
variably lost :,
One day-it was in the summer of q
va forged check was presented at v
10 of the banks ut the shire town, bv Il
)scph Brisben, and the money for r,
hich it called was unhesitatingly paid a.
'er To him. He was under the in ~
fence of liquor at the time, and deep "
interested ina game of cards for high &C
axes, which was in progress. The CT
cck was for $4,000, | think Before al
wight the next morning Joseph Bris- OF
N had lost every dollar of it. To y
own his. chagrn he became beastly ;.
unk, and while in this condition an d" a.
licer arrived and apprchended him + :,
+ forgery and uttering forged check. q,
ie prisoner was confined in jail, and a,
,rd of his disgrace was sent to John L
'isben. The latter read the message, of
ID mist came over his eyes. He 81
oaned audibly, and but for strong in
ort of the will would have fallen to b,
e floor, so weakened was he by the is
ock. FRI
''She must not know it," he said to of
nSclf, and he made instant prepara- al
ms to visit his brother. When he tr
lched the jail he was admitted to the
Il of the wretched criminal The
others remained together for several
urs. What passed during the in IA IA
view will never be known. When IA IA