The Globe-republican., 1893-01-13
THE BOND Of FLESH.
Weird Tale of Life from the Tyrolese
Mountains.
BY EDGAR FAWCETT.

Of our loud. bustling hours in the
crowded museum.
It would now have been easy enough
for Oscar Schreiner to grasp all the
money which our con slant exhibition
brought him in. Our father had died;
We were, in a manner, quite his own
property. But apart from showing any
such avaricious spirit, this admirable
man kept perpetually depositing to our
credit a distinct percentage on every
coin that he received. Far more than
that, he employed tutors for our educa-
ton, and though Conrad was q dull
scholar and learned il! or wholly failed
to learn what was taught him, I, with
my quicker and keener mind, soon be-
came strikingly proficient.
knowledge, cultivation, brought me
sorrow mixed with Joy. 1t was of
course agreeable to think and feel in
more refined way, but this very enlight-
eminent induced the inevitable moods of
self-disgust. found myself beginning
to loathe the bond of flesh which bound
me to Conrad. With my brother it was
quite different He accepted his condi-
ton without a murmur. Gradually 1
began to realize it; he was more a part
Of me than I of him; Not merely
great affection for me swayed him at all
times, but feeling that was in way
the source and center whence all his
best energy sprang. From a physical
point of view this fact was noticeable
thus: If sickness OF any sort overlook
me Conrad was sure to share it, while
if he were i'll often remained perfectly
we'll. Once, in our thirteenth year, he
was attacked by a malady which came
near ending his life. To me the tedium
and anxiety were intolerable, since I
was in fairly good health. And then,
suddenly, one day came the terrifying
thought. What if he should die?"
But Conrad recovered, and my fears
vanished. Still, a resolve was slowly
taking shape within my brain. men,
toned it to no one for a very long time,
but nevertheless it grew and grew like
plant in the dark.
Oscar Shreiner treated us in the most
honorable manner regarding all profits
which accrued to US, keeping both tho
letter and spirit OF his contract with our
dead father. AS we became older our
financial prospects frightened; we drew
larger audiences as young men than we
had drawn as boys. wearied greatly,
now, under the continuous vulgarity
and monotony Of our life. I knew by
heart, and SO did Conrad, the speech
with which Oscar Shreiner was wont to
present us for public inspection. Then.
to lessen the ennui, I set myself the
task OF learning it from the bottom up
ward. This feat at length achieved,
to the wonder and admiration of my
brother, whose mental powers it COM
pletely surpassed.
In appearance I was tall and fair.
with a pleasing face and a well-built
figure. perceived that 1 was by no
means ill-favored, and when I had
reached early manhood the frequent
smiles of women and maidens told me
that my looks attracted them. Bur al
ways touch of compassion was blent
with their admiring glances, and this
troubled me more than words can ex-
press.
Conrad was a slender, shrinking lad,
almost head shorter than I, and unen-
gaging both as to form and feature.
When We had passed our twenty first
year the contrast became almost pitt
ably striking. His dependence upon
me, his belief in me. had increased
rather than lessened. Nothing could
have been more pathetic than either.
His spirits rose and fell In affectonate
obedience to mine. II cloud gloomed
my thoughts could trace its dusky re-
Election in the dull yet wistful eyes up
lifted to me-