The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1891-01-22
BROTHER BEN.
Tho Queer Fs L-,. Of a Harmless
Lunat1c.

He had SO much dignity, this old man,
so much manner that had been quite
impressed by him.
We had walked up together from the
post-officc 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 l was twenty
while he was nearl y 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.
l 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 l felt rather fattered
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 great man
sion half hidden from the street by q
growth of trees and shrubs.
l 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 l 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 Eighty, perhaps, but you won't
mind that"
l saw that he was thoroughly in ear
nest, and to please him l said that l
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 his-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
a broad, handsomel Furnished hall. He
led the way from this into a cheerful
sitting-room and excused himself for a
moment.
While he was gone looked about the
room. There were quaint chairs, an
odd stand or two, a rosewood cabinet
and an old-fashioned piano with moth
er-of-pearl keys; on the walls were a
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 a 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
I reasoned that the surface of the
quicksilver had been married 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, l have brought my young
friend in to see Ben" said the old man,
and l 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 you
better wait till some other time?" mo
no, mother: Ben's all right. All he
needs is a little cheerful company
With these words my friend left the
room, motioning me to follow him.
We went across the hall to small
room furnished very simply. There
were some cases of books, leather
lounge, and couple of arm-chairs
drawn up before a large mirror.
Walking proudly to the mirror which
reflected his erect form and handsome
face the old man introduced me to
brother Ben
OF course / understood it all in a
moment, the painted looking-glasses,
the sad-faced women, and their reluct-
ance to allow a stranger to intrude
upon their sorrow.
1t was complete surprise to me, for
i had never suspected the least thing
wrong with my friend, and 1 had be-
lieved in his brother Ben without a
shadow of doubt. Luckily the ladies
entered then, and by their tact relieved
me from my embarrassment.
The old man told me how much he
and Ben enjoyed each others society,
and he complimented Ben upon his ap-
pearance. "You are looking well, Ben,
old boy, and l am pleased to see you in
such good spirits to-day
Soon the daughter suggested that Ben
might be tired, and took the hint and
made my adieux. AS l bowed myself
out the younger lady said: 1--WE see no
body now, you know, but father enjoys
your company, and if you would stop
in to see him sometimes you would be
doing us great favor and promised
that would come.
l went quite often and nearly always
was taken to see Brother Ben, because
he had taken such liking to me, the
old man said.
l learned from the ladies that Ben
had been drowned when ne was boy,
but of late the hallucination that he
was living and was insane had been
fixed in his brothers mind
One day my friend told me that he
was worried about Ben. ''He seems to
be failing little" said he. 81 fancy
that his mind is less clear thanit was.
hsys noticed when talking with him