The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1889-09-01


q poor dissembler; his look was plainly de-
! faint and Questioning, in spite of him.
And though Brewers face was bland,
there was the slightest possible contrac-
tion in the upper lip, and his eyes spoke
the truth out squarely, as eyes will. Be-
| tween the two, it was all the same as
though he had said:
1.-THE insolent little beggarl I'll teach
him better manners before this games
played"
And the game seemed to have new
zest for him from that time. He was well
armed. He had skill, address and temper.
| With those three weapons one need not
easily despair of any earthly prize. Bren
| had good deal of quickness, was usually
bright and merry, with an evident SINGER
| ity and kindness of disposition. But he
could not well hide dislike or annoyance.
| He felt he was no match for the other,
and the feeling put him out and showed
him to the worst advantage. Brewer was
50 cool, so bold of word and laugh, SO
bright and handsome withal. He seemed
to rob Bren of all his likable qualities.
Beside him, Bren appeared an awk-
ward, i'll conditioned fellow enough.
He hardly knew how the evening
passed. lie was glad to get out
into the cool night and the darkness
of the streets. His face felt flushed and
hot; he burned with passion of hate and
disappointment. 1t had come upon him
so suddenly and SO unexpected. He said
it was too hard; he didn't deserve it. He
had taken his evil fortune manfully, had
stood out against fate and done his hon.
est best, and it wasn't right that he
should be so paid. Oh, it was too hardl
He cursed it all and himself for grouty
fool. Why had he not met this fellow on
his own ground? He was not so clever
hint was more brass than brains. But
what right had she to torment him2
If she hadn't cared for him, what did she
mean by leading him on? Hadn't she
been plainly pleased by having him come?
She had shown 1t palmer than words
hundred times. If she hadn't cared for
him, what right had she to keep him on
until he was too fast to break? Who was
she, to take it upon her to break man s
life for her sport or pride? What was
she. before heaven, more than he2 If she
| was purer and finer, whose praise was
that2 Did she try harder, had she more
temptation? Would he act like that?
! He'd die first.
Bren walked and walked up and down
| the deserted streets, he did not care how
or where. A feeling of awful loneliness
crept over him. He wished he was back
at home; he wished he was child again.
| He longed for the touch of the gentle
hand that had smoothed awsy the smart,
the gentle voice that never failed to COM
fort. But the bruise was deeper now,
poor Bren; face and hand were far away
and vain to help.
Bren turned at last to go home. The
breadth of the sleeping city lay between.
! The wind blew cold and damp; he shiv-
cred and turned his back. Shame and
crime stared at him out of the gloom and
fitted by like horrible ghosts. He shrank
back scared from their touch, and fled
away through the desoiate streets. The
day was breaking dinly over the
eastern roofs when he climbed up
to his attic room and crept shiv-
ering to bed. And while the peace
full Sabbath morning broke and bright
ened over river and town, Bren tossed
wretchedly while and then fell into
heavy sleep, and dreamed that Kate was
kind again and all the world was heaven;
and woke to wish he had not Poor little
Bren, no doubt it was rather hardl
Bren stood poor chance, it must be
owned, unless fate and the fair one ia
vored. He could not be himself when
Brewer was by. He made all sorts of reso-
buttons; he would put bold face upon it;
he would be free and merry-would treat
Brewer civilly and coolly, as Brewer did
him. Then he would 60 and meet Brewer,
it might be, at the house; and his heart
would rise into his throat at sight of the
fellow. and he would scowl at him out of
his eyes, over tho smooth words he tried
to say. And then he would be awkward
and disagreeable in spite of himself. And
Kate got to be cold and reserved; and
Bren would come away raging and ready
to cry with vexation and pain. So it went
on. Bren could not keep away. It made
him stamp and curse to think Of that fell
low, looking SO manly and frank. having
1t all his own way. He must go and see
what went on.
Cole dropped in upon him one night.
He talked Of indifferent things minute,
sitting on the bed while Bren shaved at
the glass, twelve inches by eight. Then
he broke out abruptly:
"Bren I say. why don't. you haul OFF,
That fellows got the wind Of you. It'll
only be the harder by and by"
And Bren turned round with uplifted
razor. and his face quite white.
- it, Jim. I cnn'tl" he answered
fercely, and stamped on the floor. ''Itell
you. If she throws me. I'll kill him"
Aud he made 4 lunge with the open