The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-10-21
THE BROTHERS.

rom DaDyuoOu 10 young uauuooo tueS
had not even 4 taste in common, and the
total absence OF sympathy and even toll
Grafton toward each other was so marked
!. as to furnish the village where they were
born and reared with an unending SUBJ
ject of conversation. At the age of six
teen Herbert left the farm, while John
stayed on and courted the girl whom
Herbert afterward married. Everything
We Herbert touched turned to money,
Rhile all Johns attempts and specula-
Ptions inevitably came to grief. Strange
->ly enough there was never any open rup-
, ture until Herbert took away Johns
promised wife. Then they walked calm
" down the road together until they
came to an unfrequented spot, and then
John suddenly halted, and drawing back
his strong ;sht arm, prepared to deal
his compansSSSSa blow. But Herbert was
on the alert, and Johns arm was caught
: by still stronger one and firmly held.
\ $50 you made up your mind to have
q sort of Cain and Abel affair, did youf"
Herbert inquired, showing his handsome
teeth as he spoke.
"And you made up your mind to
swindle pc cut of wife as you have
swindled me out Of comfort and every
thing else ever since can remember" !"
John replied.
s.Look here" and now Herbert threw
off the arm he had held with ges-
ture which expressed all the disgust he
felt. "Is it possible" he continued,
"that you are such q raven-hcarted
coward as to want to marry woman
who prefers another manl"
sIt's lie.." said John. "You have
dazzled her with your money and your
echemes of ambition. know you for q
liar and a thief"
4 A man would have to have more pa
4 Vtience than Herbert Trafton possessed to
hear such words as those without swift
retaliation. An instant later and John
lay stunned and unconscious upon the
frozen ground. for this was Christmas
time. So Herbert had succeeded as
usual in doing what his brother had
planned to perform. In this way they
parted. Herbert, from safe distance,
watched the PROSTATE figure, and when
signs of life began to manifest themselves
he hurried away.
A few months later he married the
girl of his choice. There was no further
trouble, for John, completely cowed and
humiliated by the blow he had received,
!. left his home without word--the places
that were once known to him knew him
no more forever.
Years slipped by, Herbert grew richer
and richer, and there seemed no shadow
upon his perfect happiness. His wife
was sensible and loving, his children
i healthy and generally satisfactory.
NSurely, what could trouble hin2 Alas
k,rfor the inconsistency of human nature,
Herbert Trafton carried about with him,
constant sorrow, though no one sus-
b pected it.
!. When it became evident that his
brother was lost to him forever the love
(fwhich he had never before been con-
|fscious swept over him with an intensity
(which distressed and appalled, him.
There came with it, too, . yearning ten
derness and anxiety for this man who
had always been SO simple and so help
s less, that sometimes in the busiest mo-
ments brought moisture to his eyes
and an uncomfortable bunch to his
3 throat. 1t was strange fancy that in
uced this millionaire to build house
y retired spot, many miles from his
(alatial city residence, in the style Of the
lid homestead.
The original house had been destroyed
ky fire. This new place, with the an
ient look. was furnished as near as pos
sible like the old one, and here Mr..
5Trafton insisted that his family should
5spend all their holidays. The great
brick oven was heated and filled with all
;sorts of good things as in the days gone by.
Mr.. Trafton's famous chef remained in
the city. No new tangled dishes were
allowed on the table and no servants tol-
= Grated under the roof. Mrs. Trafton re-
newed her long lost acquaintance with
t g kitchen, and the young ladies were
initiated into the mysteries of turkey
dressing, mince and pumpkin pies. brown
: bread and Indian pudding. The boys,
Herbert and John, twins, strangely
enough, both Of them in their fathers
counting room, end with just as
little sympathy between them as
there had existed between their father
and uncle, were always present on these
= holiday festivals. They brought the
water from the old-fashloned we'll, split
the wood and kept the coal-box filled :;
,, service which was by no means con-
genial to young men whose slightest
wishes had been anticipated from their
kbyhood. But their fathers will was
AGolutc and n"ver disputed.
\ycex previous to the Christmas OF
"a Herbert Trafton, Esq, and his
o,;r started for their country seat
uSual. Time was dealing very
leniently with the head of the
house, though the sadness which had so
long occupied his heart was now some.
\ times visible on his face. Once he had
told his wife that he would gladly give
. one half his fortune for the privilege OF
seeing his brother once more, and she
replied with sigh: "He would be well
come to it"
Christmas came cold and sharp, but
the sun shone bravely, and all nature
seemed to smile a welcome. During the
forenoon Herbert and John started OIL
down the road, Herbert straight as a
young sapling. John somewhat delicate IN
appearance and triac bent. Their
! father, watching them out of sight, was
remin1ed of that Christmas morning
when he and John walked off together.
I Something in their manner toward each
/ other suggested the occasion most
yiyidly. Mr.. r alton impulsively started
safor his hat and coat, but the absurdlty
the action struck him Immediately,
a he laughed at himself for an old fool.
"The idea," he said. "John and L
iarreled about Elizabeth. Those ooys
We no love affair or 1 should have
own it." So he occupied himself with
he great logs in the open fireplace: OF
4 sittino-room, and oh, haunting
Soapbt- what had become of his brother!
the meantime the young men had
alkcd off rapidly and without speaking
br a mile or more. Then they halted
lddenly and surveyed each other. Her
rt was the first to speak.
SIS there any use IA asking you to
gene your decisionl' he said.
S. .ou talk like fool" John an.
sred, with quivering lip. II decided
long ago to marry the girl you have been
iVinr to get away from me for over
Iiesr. and l never will give her up"
"Can it be possible that you want to
Larry a girl who has confessed her love
r. another man! He. 5ofr inquired, with
npeer.
- l;s 7 She has done no such
replied. "But, oh, my-if
because you have lied to her,
ptible sneak, you dassardiy
thiefw
etepped back pace, and 18th
als as death, drew two pistols
bcket, and handed one to his
q