Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-05-24
A FAMILY AFFAIR.
BY HUGH CONWAY.

Isl HUGH NONNA1s
CHAPTER III CONTINUED.
Why, with such sensible views on
things in general. the two young men
did not follow their sisters example
and make brilliant matches, is q matter
which has never been clearly explained.
When, after an immaculate career,
they left Oxford, they were tall, we'll
butt young fellows; moreover, carry
ing about them an inherent look of
distinction. With many women-the
middle aged especially - these tall.
handsome, refined young men were
prime favori,es. The fact of the
brothers having reached the respective
ages OF forty and forty one without
having selec ed help-meets for them
argues that something which makes a
marrying man was missing from their
natures.
The brothers were the best of friends.
They understood and sympathized with
each other likes. dislikes and weak
nesses. Only once in their lives had
they quarreled, but that quarrel had
lasted for six years. They shudder now
as they look back upon that time.
1t was no vulgar dispute. which is
made known TO all the world, and in
which mutual friends are expected to
take sides. 1t was only the Talberts
themselves who knew that n quarrel
existed To outsiders they seemed more
abSurdly polite to each other than ever.
The cause of the quarrel was the
interference of one brother with the
others affairs. They were peculiar
men and very tenacious of the English
mans duty OF minding his own business.
en- a certain o casion one of them
fancied a rather delicate matter as much
his own business as his brothers. He
was mistaken. They did not use high
words, because such things ere not IN
their line; but each brother was sadly
iirrn. The upshot was that for six
years they oily spoke when they met
in society.
At last old Talbert died. His
successful daughter had been dead a
long time. The old man left Lakewood
House and its contents to his sons
conformity. The rest of his fortune he
divided into three parts, and left it in
this proportion to each of his children
or their children, if any. Then the sons
met at Lakewood House and considered
what they should do.
First of all, as was becoming, they
made up their differences. Very little
was said on either side, but it was
understood that cordial relations were
re-established. At which happy con-
clusion each man rejoiced greatly the
six years separation had been terrible
affair-and tacitly registered a vow
that for the future his brothers. affairs
should be his own, distinct, private
property.
by this time our friends had grown
rather weary of gadding about.
Moreover. it was due to their position
that some place should be called their
home. For nearly twenty years they
had lived in the various capitals of
Europe, and they knew that they had
conquered society. Indeed, it is doubtful
il any two men not celebrities, were
better known than Horace and Herbert
Talbert. so they resolved to settled
down and begin housekeeping on their
own account.
They combined their collections, and
made lakewood House curiously
beautiful with paintings, china and
brio brac This done, they settled
down into quiet domestic life, and kept
their house as methodically and
carefully, and no doubt greet deal
better than any two old women could
have done.
CHAPTER Ill.