The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1885-10-16
HIS BROTHER SLEEPER.
From the Youths Companion.

> isss'sAO1s "ss' tShCA pay lutly
but the young man sitting ut tn,
breakfast table, from which red.arm
ed girl was carrying the dishes, threw
down his paper, and springing up, said
with Il flushed face,-
"No, Dick, you're not good for any
thing"
"Comc now" was the angry re
Spouse, and Mrs. Barnes hurried for
ward nervously, for it seemed as ii til,
two brothers would fight.
"It's u fact. You are living on us
you are lazy-and you're almost TWEEN
ty years old" said Tom, the eldest
so boys! boys" protested the WON
an, holding out her hands. "Younev
cr quarrclcd in your life. Don't be
gin now"
dts time lie heard the truth" NUT.
tered Tom.
But. mother, haven't l tried?"
asked the boy. turning to her, and his
voice trcmblcd Just n little.
"You know, Tom, that Dick is deli
cate" pleaded the woman.
Ives, and that's been his shield long
enough, should say. He's not too
delicate to go to all the merry-makings,
and eat his share, and when he gets Il
good chance in life. lie don't know it.
Ill never try for him again, never!'
and out he went, slaming the door be-
hind him.
81 don't see what's got into Toni
said the widow. distressfully. II new
cr knew him TO act so before"
ooh, it's been in him some time"
muttered Dick. l,oarsely. Ever since
he got acquainted with the Moses.
That's what the matter"
"Doyou really mean it, Dick?"
"Of course ! do. Helilies Miss Anne,
and lie wants to marry and settle
down. I'm in the way. wish father
had lived, or had died with him."
"Dick. darling, don't talk SOL"
81 say | do! Everything was going
OH Just right. liked my studies, and
meant to make Il man. though IN q
different way from Tom. lie likes
hard work. and can do it. hate ev.
crytling but books, study and law.
don't SEE why Tom should be 40
hard OH ne. I'm trying my hest.
Lawyer Bates said that i'll less than
two years can make my own way"
My. poor, dear boy! You ire do
ing your Lest know you are"
"Yes, you think so; you feel SO; I'm
sure of your sympathy, but you see,
Tom wants me to be making money.
He begrl,llges he the food eat, and
thinks I am Sinking. and trying to
ret along without work. He never
said so before, but ! have seen it OF
late. Icanreud it in the way he looks
mt me-"
"NIy dear boy! try not to mind
it," said the widow distressfully.
"Ihavatried; laughed at his hints and
swallowed mycllagrin. But can't do
it amy longer. my self-rcspect is hurt.
All is. must throw up my place with
Lawyer Bates, and 60 out TO Oregon.
and buckle down to hard work.
"Dick. I never will consent to it;'
said his mother. growing pale. "iou,
with your delicate constitution, to 90
AWAY so far from hona,-from me-
when YOU have always needed to be
watched over and cared for! Try not
to mind Toni"
81 havcdone so, mother. but can't
pretend to try any longer. Tom wants
TO be married-to the silliest girl II,
the family, too, because she has n
pretty face and dresses so stylislly.
suppose hc'snot to blame; he = twenty.
five years old. and doing IL fair bust.
ness. It's only amir, the way. lie
has to help me to clothes. you know,
and OF course my board costs some.
thing. might as well say yes. TAu
Journeys will do me good, maybe, and
there's II chance to make money. It's
q new place, you know
j The conference closed, and Dick went
to his office, leaving his mother al.
most brokcn-hearted. 1t was such /,
change from the tender care OF hcl
husband, to dependence upon thu
strong, self-willed man whose word had
begun to be law. And it WAS embar
rassing to feel that before long she
would OILY be second in his heart nm,
home. For lie called the home his
though his mother had bought it Will
her own money years before, and fur
nisled it herself. But now she was
left SO impoverished that size had nc
means to pay the taxes, and her health
was poor.
II Tom would only wait! But no
Tom believed that Dick was lazy; that
his stnelying law was but u farce; thu,
he should be no oreexempt from
hard work than himself. And he had
Just had such u splendid situation OF
fercd fdr him, that it a,.gered Inn be
yond measure when Dick declined
i..gentletnan Dick" as he sneeripgl.
called lfiAl. Besides, lie did wish tt
marry, Aut would not while he fllncie(
Dick All jncumbrance.
That night the brothers met Tor
few moments; lie mother was not il
the room.
"Have you written your friend III
Oregon?" asked Dick, and something
in his handsome, intellectual face re-
buked his elder brother as he an
.swered,-
"No; shall write to him tonight. -
rTell him Iaccept," said Dick, short
ly, turned Oh lis heel and left tho
room.
"Come to his senses at last" said
Tom, retiectively, yet witt, certain I'm.
easy twinges, us he remembered the
most l,nna tura! brilliancy Of ,edark,
pathetic eyes. SO like his fathers.
''Pshaw! it will do the fellow good to
knock round the world little. He
has been tied quite too long to his
mothers apron-strings. And=as to
law-tlere are too many lawyers a.
ready. lie will thank me before the
year is out, and mother, to0W
Dick broaclled the idea to his friend
Lawyer Bates who tried all in his power
todisssladc him.
you've the making of M excellent
lawyer in you" he said, "and you are
gettingaiongwondertully. Ifyou will go
offsotar. Why don'tyoA Sait till youget
yourdiplomn? That's thei,ueii!,,sn ss you
weremade for''
But all the talk did no good, and in
wardly calling Aim u TOOL. the man
turned to the papers Defose him.
How could Dick tell him that lie was
an unwelcon,e guest in his mother
house?
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