Montgomery County sentinel., 1888-03-23
MisCellauenMS.
BROTHER AGAINST BROTHER.

fall in love with the same woman. |
have reason to know the horrors of such
situation. My brother Robert and |
worked i'll the same warehouse-he was
the master and head clerK--and until
his eyes fell on Olive Stoughton, we got
along very well together.
| cannot blame him that he fell in
love with her, but it was sad day for
me. He was man of strong passions,
and | knew he would do anything to
win her for his wife, but did not be-
lieve he would fix crime on me as he
did to get me out of the way
1t was u trumped-up charge of forgery
he arranged easily in the warehouse, and
there was no escaping him. He offered
to let me 90 if l would leave the coun-
try but refused to acknowledge crime |
had not committed by fleeing. II will go
to prison first said, coldly, "and bide
my time until | find out who has Injured
me-" lie was surprised at my answer.
He probably expected me to fee without
word yet | knew the police were even
then in the warehouse examining my
papers.
heard them in the next room, and
throwing open the door. exclaimed ::
my brother wishes me to 60 away,
but | am innocent, and l will hide by
the result"
How is this, Mr.. Bernard p asked
one of them. "Did you seek to deprive
the law of its just prey2 You were so
eager just now!'
Robert wiped his eyes. I do believe
tho men gave him credit for brotherly
affection and sympathy. But he had
shown it too late. was taken away
Immediately aud put in confinement.
And Olive would hear of my trouble
from strangers And how-oh how,
would she bear it! SO near our great
happiness and now
There was no hope. 1t was useless
to record my trial. Even Robert, re-
pentant as he must have been, could not
save me now The bill was too faithful
transcript of my writing No other
clerk wrote in imitation of Roberts hand,
and my counsel's suggestion that Mr..
Bernard might have written it himself
was considered too monstrous to have a
moments sway with the court.
My poor Olive! Alas she had no
one but myself to care for her. But
there was deeper grief even than this
The blow was struck by the hand of my
brother.
was in prison five years. Three of
these Olive visited me often. The fourth
she was wearing away to another land,
and before its close she died. What
cared then to live. | would not have
raised my hand for release from prison.
Another year went on. | never heard
from Robert, even when my Olive died.
1t would injure bis responsibility to show
any sympathy with forger.
Well, the day of release came. / was
Indifferent to it's approach. / even lin
gered after I was told was free to go.
At length | walked out once more into
the open world which had taught me
some bitter lessons. l hurried out of
town and sought my old bome-the home
which had been shrined in my heart as
a picture for five long dreary years. |
threw myself upon Olives grave. |
knew where to find it for she had Sc
lected the spot years before.
Even this scene did not melt my heart.
was hard and cold still. Olives sweet
life had been sacrificed and mine--oh,
what bitter, bitter offering had been
made Of mine to him who had made it SO
dark
With this thought came one Of deep,
fierce revenge What right had he,
were he my brother, to throw this shadow
and darkness over me ! Had my mother
known how be would repay my devotion
to her wishes would she have counseled
me to keep back his dark deeds and
sacrifice myself and my family to him /!
do not know how | reached the
suburban town where Robert had al
ways resided since he left my mother's S
roof.
found myself in the dusk Of evening
opposite his house. A dim light burned
in one room where the window was
slightly raised l determined 10 go in
and charge him with the forgery and |
had some Uniformed idea about denounc-
ing him to the authorities and condemn
ing him to the life he had cursed me
so long, or-worse still-the dreadful
thought Of killing him on the spot.
Let me acknowledge all my guilt. |
did think Of this How madly | strobe
across the street and entered the house
| went directly to his room. On a couch
pale, haggard and emaciated, lay the
wreck Of my brother, once noble-look-
! ing, handsome man. He was praying