The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1891-03-13
BROTHER BEN
The Queer Fancies. OF q Harmless
Lup attic.

He had somuch dignity, .this old man,
so mrch manner that / mad been quite
irnprE sSCd by hirH.
w had wal KID mp together from the
poSs-oilice scvo,r,.' times, and aS ! board
cd rear MS hou~r I often saw him in
passing, and TINS we struck up an odd
sort of fricndship, Ear 1 was twenty
Ieailc ne was nearly seventy.
We used % talk ou various subjects
t0litics, religion, the people of the town
nd the geology IF the surrounding
--ountry, and found him yvcll informed
Lod liberal IN MS views, and, better
ths-l al. tOicran4 of the opinions of
EOuGE man.
/ supposed that this tolerance i'm
pressed mc the moro because, owing TO
my youth had been recently rather
SnUbbcd by some of my male relations.
and on that account had come to try my
fortunes among strangers.
- il was thut when this courtly Old
gentleman showed Iue such marked and
polite attention ] icit rather lattercd
and -rcatly comjortCd thereby. | never
haI met any other of his family, al
though 7 understood from him that no
had yvi.e and an elderly daughter
who lived with him in the great man
sion half hidden from the streets cy IA
growth OF trsao and shrubs.
often stopped u talk with him at
his 9-ate and ac had invited me in more
than once, but l always refused until
one aav ne said. abruptly: DO YOU
know that 7 have taken such fancy
t. you that I want Ben to see You. Ben
i NY brother. YOU know; he lives with
me. lie Is not quite right at times. Il
.itue dignity, perhaps, but You won't
mind That"
J saw thIt he was thoroughly in ear
nest. and 10 please him / said that
wrTid 60 IN and sac Ben.
As-Nc @tSpp-,-HrOu the broad Piazza
my friend Ec=it tod. Just = word,
please, before -ez1o in. Ben is very
sensitive about his his-troubleS. lie
Is Tust my age; lzve are twins, IN fsct
and physically he i pcrfcct-yes- per
feet but there i something wrong
with his head lie is all right on some
things, you know. but he has some
queer fancics, poor fellow"
The tears came into his eyes and i-e
cleared his throat Y it'll little cough as
he opened the door and ushCrcd me into
Il broad. handsomely furnished hall He
led the way from tnss into cheerfu
sittiuT-roOm and excused himself for
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 tine walls were a
few portraits in oil ana some good en-
cravings of an old style
The thing that struck me most, how.
ever, was tall pier-glass let into the
wall hRrEXpal n xg-irHe-.-c H.,
bottom of this, up 20 within a few
inches Of the top, il was painted over
with n thick coating of dark paint, and
this was Ornamented by landscape
StitHy painted in rather crude colors
There was another and smaller mirror
in the frame of the clock. and this had
been treated in a similar manner, little
CLEANS OF bright showing here and
there through the dark paint.
l reasoned that the surface of the
quicksilver had been mcrred either by
time or by dampness and that this paint
had been put on 10 cover M these de-
fccts, and as I was gazing at the ugly
landscape the old gentleman returned,
bringing his wife and daughter. to whom
ne 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. hare brought nv younr
friend in to see Ben" said the old man, |
and noticed that q 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 little cheerful COMPANY"
With these words my friend left the
room, motioning me 10 follow him.
We went across the hall 10 small /
room furnished very simply. There
were some cases of books, a leather
lounge, and a couple of arm-chairs
drawn mp before q large mirror.
Walking proudly 70 the mirror which
his erect form and handsome
face the old man introduced me to
Brother Ben"
OF course l understood il all in a
the painted looking-glasses,
he sad-faced women, and their reluct-
ince TO allow a stranger 10 intrude
ipon their sorrow.
II was a complete surprise TO me, for
had never suspected the least thing
wrong with my friend. and had be-
leved IN his brother Ben without a
hadow of doubt. Luckily the 1oI'os
altered then, and by their tact relieved
&c from my embarrassment
The old man told me how much he
1d Ben enjoyed each others society, {
nd he compiimented Ben upon his APP I
aarance. "You are looking well, Ben. !
ID boy, and 1 am pleased to see you in
lch good spirits to-day" 6
soon the daughter suggested that Ben I
ight be tired, and I took the hint and c
ade my adiepK. As I bowed myself ] ,