The Penn's Grove record., 1884-05-31
THE LOST BROTHER.

Rome has strange mysteries hidden
in her heart. None stranger than this,
perhaps, which | shall tell you. 1t is
true. No matter for the date nor for
the name of the family to which it
occurred. 1t is as old as it is true.
IN that comfortable epoch of the
fairy tales, once upon a time there
lived in the city of Rome two young
men of very high parentage. though
for reasons of State their parents mar
riage had been q secret one. They
lived in all the luxury possible at that
date, and the Romans were then
luxurious beyord our conception, and
each bad a title, but they were good
young fellows. and neither of them
knew of any evil companions or EVIL
habits that the other had.
1t was on a beautiful evening in June
that, having supped abroad, the two
brothers rode homeward attended by
their two servants. There were togeth-
er so much that it seemed impossible
that either should have a secret from
the other, and when apart each was
ever followed by at least n servant.
AS they rode along this evening they
chatted merrily, and the elder said to
himself more than once
"Wha a child my brother isP'
AS they approached the door Of their
OWN dwelling and were about TO dis
mount, a masked man stepped out
from behind a column and advanced
toward the Duke of G. who WIS the
Younger brother, The fact Of his wear
ing a mask did not excite suspicion,
as it would to-day, for it was not an
uncommon thing; but, nevertheless, it
caused the servants to ride rather more
closely to their masters, and the elder
brother to lay his hand upon his sword.
The younger, however, did not seem
surprised. lie beckoned to the masked
man, who approached him and uttered
a few words i'll a low tone. Upon this
the Duke of q. turned to his brother,
and thus addressed him;
Brother. [ am going to leave you
for "A while.
1t would be kind of you to say moth
ing to our parents of the matter. | will
tell you all some day, but at this mo-
ment / have not time "
at is late. AT least take a servant
with you, " said the brother.
"You may as well take him, = said
the masked man, in a mufiled voice,
every well; YOU may come, Isidor, -
said the young duke,
Remember what l have said; should
l not be with you ut breakfast, let my
mother think that l am oversleeplng
myself"
Then lie turned TO the masked man
"Mount behind me-" he said, In
stantly the person he addressed sprarg
up behind him, and the three rode away
together.
Tie elder brother went to his apart
ments III an anxious frame of mind, IL
troubled HIM 10 think that his brother
should have any affairs of which he
was not cOgniZant. What were they2 He
could not think; at least, however,
they could not be very serious. He
laughed, remembering his boyIsh ways.
1T Is at least 40 affair OF state" he
said.
That night he slept, At dawn his
brother had not returned; but lie made
49, .r,.,1n No hal t,t.oYAtgll aanl
waited. Later in the day he was terri.
fed by The return of the servant, who
was brcaght up upon u sort of litter
carried by four strangers, who had
found him in a poor quarter of the city
living almost senseless, and bleeding
from great wounds in the head and
breast. He was scarcely able to tell
his story, which was this:
On the night previous ne had ridden
with his young master to a street in
habited only by Jews. There his mas
ter had approached a low gateway, dis
mounted. and bidding his servant hold
his horse and remain where he vas
until he returned, had departed arm.
IN arm with the man in the mask.
The night was dark, the street mu-
known to aim; and while he was yet
endeavoring to make out exactly where
he was four persons had approached
him flom behind and attacked him.
He struggled furiously, but at la t re-
ceived a blow that stunned him, and