The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1888-04-04
BROTHER VS.. BROTHER.

/ was the head clerk-and until his eye
fell ON Olive Stoughton We egotaIong yer,
wcli together.
cannot blame him that he fell in love
with her, but It was sad day for me
He vas man Of strong passion, and
knew be would do anything TO win bel
as his wife, bat ] did not believe be
would tx crime on me, as he did, 10 get
me out Of the way.
II sss a trynpe,l-Gp charge Of forgery
he arranged easily in the warehouse, and
there was no escaping him. He offered
to let me 20 fl would leave the country
but refused to acknowledge a crime
hsd not committed by fleeing.
i viii 90 to prison first," / said, boldly
-and hide my time until / iind out who
has injured me- He was surprised al
my answer. lie had probably expected
me to fee without . word yet knew
the police were even then in the ware
house examining my papers
heard them in the next room, and
throwing open the door, exclaimed: my
brother wishes me to 20 away, but am
innocent, and viii bide by the result
How is this. Mr.. Bernard - asked one
Of them. ~Did you seek to deprive the
law Of lis Just prey? You who we're 81
eager Just now
Roi,er; wiped his eyes. l do believe
the men gave him credit for brOtherly
affection and sympathy. But be had
shown i too late. ! was taken away ia-
me,iiately and PIT in confinement.
And Olive would hear Of my trouble
from strangers, And how-oh, how
would she bear il So near our great
happiness-and now
There was no hope. II was useless 10
record my trial Even Robert, repent
ant as BE must have been, could not save
me now. Tie bin WAS too faithful a
transcript OF my writing. No other clerk
wrote in imitation Of Roberts hand; and
my connsei's suggestions that Mr. Bern
ard might have written il himself was
considered too mons,rogs TO have mo-
meni's sway with the court
MY poor Olive Alas She had no
one but myself TO care for. But there
was deeper grief even than this. The
blow struck by the hand Of my own
brother.
was in prison five years. Three Of
these years Olive visited me often. The
fourth she was wearing away to another
land, and before It's 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, not eyen when my Olive
died. 1t would injure his r.spectability
70 show any sympathy for a forger.
Wei, the day Of release came. l was
Indifferent to lis approach. ] even lin
gercd after was told that | was free to
20. At length walked out once more
into a world which had taught me such
bitter lessons. ! hurried out OF town
and sought my old hoae-ihe home
which had been shrined in my heart as
a picture for fve, long. dreary years.
threw myself on Olives grave I knew
where to find it. for she had selected 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
shat a bitter, bitter offerins had been
made Of mine TO him who had made II
20 dark,
With this thought eaIDe one Of deep
fierce rsvenge What right had be. were
he my brother, to throw his shadow and
darkness over me? Had niy mother
known how he would repay my deyo-
ton 70 her wishes would she have conn
~eied me to keep back HIS dark deeds
and sacrifice myself and family to him
! 10 not know how I reached the
suburban town where Robert had al
ways resided since he left nay mother.
roof
found myself in the dusk If evening
opposite his house. A dim light burned
in one room where the window was
slightly raised. / determined to 90 IN
and charge him with the forgery, and ]
had some uniformed idea about denounc-
ins him to the Authorities and condemn.
iny him TO the life he had cursed me
with 50 long, or-worse s,ill-the dread
ful thought Of killing him on the spot.
Let me here acknowledge all nav guilt
l did think Of this How niadIy strobe
across the street and entered the house
l went directly 10 his room. on a couch
pale, hasgzrd. and e:naciaied, lay the
wreck Of my brother, once noble-Iook.
ing, handsome man. He was PRAYING
when pushed open the door. but hi.
voice was weak and low siill I caught
enough 70 knox that lie was asking for.
gireness FOR the injury ne had done to
me.
OTer his couch hung my mothers
picture 4 sad, swee. look such as had
haunted me five years IN prison perva6-
esi the face: and Roberts had sofened
down from It's proud, hard expression
into resemblance of hers That look
arrested my uplifted hand, which had
raised to strike him, 30 wild and terri
be were the feelings held toward one
who had thus poisoned my whole life.
But when ] saw that look. 50 like my
dying mothers, Eel; sure he vas dying
toe. II softenesi. siisarIned me.
4 nsonen; affer he discovered me.
cannot describe his cry; il was like moth
ing earthly As be reached out bis thin,
cziszciafei arms toward me. all NY anger
melted saw, not the villain wio had
thus wrought the evil Of my life. bu; the
wretch who was wearing out his own N
sorrow for the past All my mothers
.aarf,sxscS o-s4rrresi n, me as II sr-oken by