The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-10-16
HIS BROTHER sKEEPER.

From the Youths Companion.
'slsm not good for much, am I,
mother?"
The question "a asked playfully,
but the young man sitting at the
breakfast-table, from whicha red-arm-
ed girl was carrying the dishes, threw
down his paper, and springing up, said,
with a flushed face
NO, Dick, you're not good for any
thing!!"
Come now!" was the angry re-
spouse. and Mrs. Barnes hurried for
ward nervously, for it seemed as 1.-THE
two brothers would fight.
cts a fact. You are living on us;
you arelazy-and you're almost TWEEN
ty years Old said Tom, the eldest.
go boys! boys!" protested the wom-
an, holding out }ler hands. "Younev-
er q~uarreled in your life. Don't be-
gin now!"
"It's time he heard the truth" NUT
tered Tom.
But, mother, haven't l tried?"
asked the boy, turning to her, and his
voice trembled just a little.
"You know, Tom, that Dick is deli
cate" pleaded the woman.
"Yes, and that's been his shield long
enough, | should say. He's not too
delicate to go to all themerry-makings,
and eat his share, and when he gets q
good chance in life, he don't know it.
I'll never try for him again, never."
and out he went, slaming the door be-
hind him.
~ don't see what's got into Tomb
said the widow, distressfully. "Inev-
er knew him to act so before"
"Oh, it's been in him some time"
muttered Dick, hoarsely. "Ever since
he got acquainted with the Moses.
That's what's the matter"
"Doyou really mean it, Dick?"
.sOf course | do. Helikes Miss Anne,
and he wants to marry and settle
down. I'm in the way. l wish father
had lived. or / had died with him."
"Dick, darling, don't talk sol"
al say | do! Everything was going
on Just right. liked my studies, and
meant to make a man, though in q
different way from Tom. He likes
hard work, and can do it. Ihate ev-
erything but books, study and law.
Idon't see why Tom should be so
hard on me. I'm trying my best.
Lawyer Bates said that in less than
two years | can make my own way
"My, poor, dear boy! You are do
ing Your best know you are"
Eyes, you think so; you feel so; I'm
sure OF your sympathy, but you see,
Tom wants me to be making money.
He ~begrudges me the food | eat, and
| thinks / am Sinking, and trying to
get along without work. He never
late. Icanread it in the wayh e looks
at me-
My dear boy! try not to mind
It'll" said the widow distressfully.
"Ihave tried laughed at his hints, and
swallowed mychagrin. But can't do
it any longer, my self-respect is hurt.
All is, | must throw up my place with
Lawyer Bates, and go out to Oregon,
and buckle down to hard work"
"Dick, | never will consent to it!''
said his mother, growing pale. you,
with your delicate constitution, to 60
away SO far from home,-from me-
when you have always needed to be
watched over and cared for! Try not
to mind Toni"
II havedone so, mother, but | can't
pretend to try any longer. Tom wants
to be m~arried-to the silliest girl in
the family, too, because she has a
pretty face and dresses SO styllshly. ]
suppose he'snot to blame; he's twenty.
five years old. and doing a fair bust
ness. It's only | am in the way. He
has to help me to clothes, you know
and OF course my board costs some
thing. might as well say yes. The
journey will do me good, maybe, and
there's a chance to make money. Its
a new place, you know"
p The conference closed, and Dick went
to his Office, leaving his mother al
most broken-hearted. 1t was such 6
change from the tender care of hel
husband, to dependence upon the
strong, self-willed man whose word hac
begun to be law. And it was embar
RAISING to feel that before long sh.
would only be second in his heart ant
home. For he called the home his
though his mother had bought it will
her WI money years before, and fur
nished it herself. But now she was
left so impoverished that she had nc
means to Eayth taxes, andherhealtl
was poor.
III Tom would only wait! But no
Tom believed that Dick waslazy; thai
his studying law was but Il farce; thai
he should be no more exempt from
hard work than himself. And he hat
just had such n splendid situation of
fered for him, that it angered HIM be
You'd measure when Dick declined
gentleman Dick as he sneeringl,
called him. Besides, he did wish t.
marry, but would not while he fanciet
Dick an incunbrance.
That night the brothers met for
few moments; the mother was not il
the room.
"Have you written your friend il
Oregon?" asked Dick, and sonlethin
in his handsome, intellectual face re
buked his elder brother as he al
swered,-
mo; | shall write to him tonight.
'Tell him Iaccept," said Dick, short
ly, turned on his heel and left TIL
Come to his senses at last" sal
Tom, retieetively, yet with certain III
easy twinges, as he remembered tb
most unnatural b%rilliancy OF thedarl
pathetic eyes. so like his father,
"Pshaw!! it will do the fellow good t
knock round the world n little. II
has been tied quite too long to h
mothers apron-strings. And-as t
law-there are too many lawyers a
! ready. Hewiil thank me beioretl
year is out, aud mother, too
Dick broached the idea to his frier