The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1891-01-24
BROTHER BEN.
The Queer Fancies of Harmless
Lunatic.

ne naCl SO mucn ulgnlIy, UnlS Ola man,
so much manner that l had been quite
impressed by him.
We had walked up together from the
post-ofiice several times, and as board
ed near his house l often saw him in
passing, and thus we struck up an odd
sort of friendship, for 1 was twenty
while he was nearly seventy,
We used to talk on various subjects
politics, religion, the people of the town
and the geology of the surrounding
country, and found him well informed
and liberal in his views, and, better
than all, tolerant of the opinions of a
young man.
! supposed that this tolerance i'm
pressed me the more because, owing to
my youth, had been recently rather
snubbed by some of my male relations,
and on that account had come to try my
fortunes among strangers.
So it was that when this courtly old
gentleman showed me such marked and
polite attention 1 felt rather flattered
and greatly comforted thereby. l never
had met any other of his family, al
though l understood from him that he
had wife and an elderly daughter
who lived with him in the g. eat man
sion half hidden from the street by a
growth of trees and shrubs.
1 often stopped to talk with him at
his gate, and he had invited me in more
than once, but L always refused, until
one day he said, abruptly: ''Do you
know that 1 have taken such fancy
to you that want Ben to see you. Ben
is my brother, you know; he lives with
me. He is not quite right at times, a
little fighty, perhaps, but you won't
mind that"
saw that he was thoroughly in ear
nest, and to please him / said that
would go in and see Ben.
AS we stepped upon the broad piazza
my friend hesitated. "Just word,
please, before we go in. Ben is very
sensitive about is-his-troubles. He
is just my age; we are twins, in fact,
and physically he is perfect-yes, per-
fect-but there is something wrong
with his head. He is all right on some
things, you know; but he has some
queer fancies, poor fellow"
The tears came into his eyes and he
cleared his throat with little cough as
he opened the door and ushered me into
broad, handsomelyfurnished hall. He
led the way from this into a cheerful
sitting-room and excused himself for
moment.
While he was gone l looked about the
room. There were quaint chairs, an
odd stand or two, a rosewood cabinet
and an old-fashioned piano with moth
- In
few portraits in oil and some good en-
cravings of an old style.
:. The thing that struck me most, how
ever, was a tall pier-glass let into the
wall between two windows. From the
bottom of this, up to within few
inches of the top, it was painted over
with thick coating of dark paint, and
this was ornamented by landscape
stiffiy painted in rather crude colors.
There was another and smaller mirror
in the frame of the clock, and this had
been treated in similar manner, little
CLEANS of bright showing here and
there through the dark paint.
reasoned that the surface of the
quicksilver had been marred either by
time or by dampness and that this paint
had been put on to cover up these de-
fects, and as l was gazing at the ugly
landscape the old gentleman returned
bringing his wife and daughter, to whom
he introduced me.
Both ladies had lovely and refined
faces which differed but little from each
other, Time had marked the lines
deeper upon that of the elder woman
and her hair was white, but both wore
the same sad, anxious expression, as
though some great sorrow was hanging
over them.
'Mother, have brought my young
friend in to see Ben," said the old man
and / noticed that meaning glance
passed from the ladies as the elder one
replied in a pleading voice: "Father
Ben isn't so well to-day. Hadn't yol
better wait till some other time?" enc
no, mother; Ben's all right. All hi
needs is, a little cheerful company.
With these words my friend left th'
room, motioning me to follow him.
We went across the hall to smal
room furnished very simply. Their
were some cases of books, leathe
lounge, and a couple of armchair
drawn up before a large mirror.
Walking proudly to the mirror whic
reflected his erect form and handsom
face the old man introduced me t
ABrother Ben"
OF course l understood it all in
moment, the painted looling-glasse'
the sad-faced women, and their reluc'
ance to allow stranger to intrud
upon their sorrow.
1t was a complete surprise to me, fo
had never suspected the least thin
wrong with my friend, and had b'
1ieved in his brother Ben without
shadow of doubt. Luckily the ladie
entered then, and by their tact relieve
me from my embarrassment.
The old man told me how much /
md Ben enjoyed each others societ
and he complimented Ben upon his a.
pearance, ''You are looking well, Be-
old boy, and am pleased to see you
such good spirits to-day"
Soon the daughter suggested that Be
might be tired, and l took the hint al
made my adieux. AS 1 bowed myse
out the younger lady said; "Wesee n
body now, you know, but father enjo,
your company, and if you would ste
In to see him sometimes you would