Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1891-05-21
CHAPTER iI.-CContinued.J

that the Well-bred and quiet Ralph dis
played any violent exhibition Of anger,
and his brother invOluntarily recoiled a
step. With a gesture of Impotence he
threw away his half-consumed cigarette,
and again seated himself on the sofa
~For heavens sake, don't lose your
temper, Ralph" he said, anxious to
paeify HIM Il have not the slightest
wish to hurt your feelings or those Of
the lady. l simply wish to call your at
tention to the incongruities that such a
union would involve"
Walters conciliatory manner had the
Intended effect. Ralph became quieter,
and resumed his seat in the rocking chair.
cannot see any incOngruities, " he
replied. miss Lyon is my equal in
everything but wealth and social posi-
ton Both these l can give her. In
fact. 1 sometimes doubt, the admirlng
lover added, whether / am worthy OF so
rich prize as that talented, pure, beau
tiful girl +"
@And do you see no difficulties at all in
your path? How about the prejudices OF
society?]
Hang the preIudices Of society. lam
not a man to be bound by the narrow
conceptions Of old maids.
~And do you think that our mother
will give her cOnsent?"
Il hope she will. I should be very
sorry to take such an important step
against her will But If she should
prove to be more narrOw-minded than 1
conceive her to be, we'll, there is no help
for IL 1 am resolved to marry Miss
Lyon, even If it were at the risk Of dis
inheritance.
Ralph had become quite enthusiastic
in his speech. He had jumped up from
his chair and uttered the last sentence
while in some excitement pacing to and
fro
His last remark, with the allusion to a
possible disinheriting of Mrs. Warning
hams eldest son, presented the matter to
Walter in an entirely new light. He had
not thought of this contingency be-
fore When he had first heard of
Ralph's intention to marry an act
ress, he only felt the blow to his
family pride. lie had come to show his
anger and modification, and, II possible,
to reason his brother out of what he con-
sidered prepOsterOus folly. Now the
matter had a quite different aspect
When the father of the two young
gentlemen died, more than fifteen years
ago, he had left his whole fortune TO his
widow. Consequently his sons were,
financially, entirely dependent on their
mother, unless, indeed, they were to
earn their own living, a course to which
Walter had a most decided aversion.
The fortune which Mr.. Warringham had
enough to afford the means OF keeping
two houses in the style which Mrs War
bingham affected When IL came to a
division Of the assets at their mothers
death, after liberal provision had been
made for Miss Beckford, who was re-
garded as 4 child Of the family, the two
brothers would not be very rich after all
But II Ralph was disinherited and Walter
made the sole heir? Then he would be
enabled to lead Just the sort OF life he
fancled- Unlimited means at his com
mand, yachts, horses, wine. women
All this flashed through Walters mind
rs he was lying on the sofa, with his
eyes following mechanically the move
ments Of his brother who was still con-
tinuing his excited walk up and down
the room
II Walter had any conscientious scru-
Piles Of taking advantage of his brothers
error, he knew how to answer them.
Was not Ralph himself at fault If any such
disaster should overcome him? Did he
not intend to bring disgrace upon him
self and his family, and was he not de-
serving of severe punishment? Thus
Walter Warringham reasoned with him
self, and presently became convinced
that ne had no cause to object more than
for forms sake to the proposed marriage
OF the Doctor with an actress He be-
came further convinced that Ralph, In
case he actually committed his offense,
deserved to be punished by being disin-
herited. and that it was the part OF a
dutiful son and worthy sprig OF the
proud house Of Warringham to let his
mother view the matter IN the same
light. This he at once resolved to do.
There was in such q perfidiOus course
another particular pleasure TO his selfish
and enviOus yet proud mind besides the
qualification Of cOvetOusness-
Ralph took a pardOnable pride in his
profession He often boosted that he
was able to earn his own living. Al
though he was but twenty-seven years
old and had commenced TO practice
scarcely two years ago, his connections
from the outset insured him a compare
lively extended clientele among the
wealthlest classes Of people The con-
siderable fees he gained in this way were
almost entirely expended 10 mitigate the
sufferings of poor patients Many a
fervent prayer assembled to heaven from
the novels Of misery to ask blessing on
the head Of the rich, generous, charita-
BILE young doctor.
Walter Warrington, on the other
hand, was wholly devoted TO a
life of pleasure. He affected to sneer
at his brothers professional labors, and
would sometimes scOrnfully call him "a
money-maker. But at heart he felt the
useful activity of the physician as
standing reproach of his own useless
ness. II Ralph were to lose his financial
independence, and compelled to make
good his boast of learning his own liV-
Ing, Walters offended vanity would be
gratified at it. He would feel, in a
vague way, as If his own idleness would
somehow be justified by it.
In accordance with these diversified
motives he acted. when he took up the
thread of conversation that had been
dropped after the Doctors burst Of en-
thusiasm.
@Well. my dear boy" he said, @if it is
your fixed purpose to marry Miss Lyon,
/ suppose we will have to submit to 1t.
But you will have a hard fight with
mother. l, for my part, have no partic-
ular objection, and will do all can to
help you. 1 hope all VIII come out
right"
Ralph paused in his perambulations
through the room and extended his hand
TO his brother. Thank you, Walter;
knew you would not be in my way IN
this matter"
Walter grasped the proffered hand
with unwonted ardOr and pressed it fer
Vently.
Ralph thought this to be an expression
of deeply felt sincere sympathy. The
generous fellow had no idea OF the black
hypocrisy that tainted the heart Of
his younger brother, nor Of the mean,
selfish. unbrotherly hopes and expecta-
lions that filed his thoughts.
He resumed his seat by the window,
lit another cigar and fell into a reverie-
There was not now in his expression the
languid look of World-forgetting bliss,
which had dwelt there before his
brother entered He had become con-
sciOus that there were obstacles in his