The Wichita daily eagle., 1894-02-06
A YOUNG LIFE WRECKED.
Fromthe Washington star.
"You shall not po!n

on shall not go!
81 must go. I must It's nearly fve- >
The two young men. so dissimilar,
stood facing each other. the younger
but stronger looking of the two with
his back against the closed door OF the
handsomely-f room The elder
man. his slight form clothed in correct
afternoon costume, clutched nervously
at the back of a chair as If for support.
1t was strange scene One brother
barring the door to the other. What a
difference in the faces. In the eyes OF
one could be read unf1inching determi-
nation, tinged with CLEANS OF pity.
The others told of entreaty, piteous
entreaty and abasement.
The Swiss clock on the wall licked
the seconds away as the brothers faced
each other. There was click and the
doors of the ornamented chateau on
top of the time-piece opened and a
bird, bearing the features of an admin
istration senator, appeared and cue
kooed five times The slight man
sank into an armchair.
Let us talk sensibly," said the other,
as he placed chair against the door
and sat on it. "For the sake of your
family, for the sake of your friends.
for your own future, can not you break
loose from this horrible habit. that is
sapping your energy and brain? Three
years ago l left you well and happy,
and now 1 find you in this terrible con.
dition."
Its all of NO use OF no use. l
have struggled madly, wildly"
but how did you, sensible young
man, come to fall SO far?''
'1t was our parents fault"
"What?"
"Oh, you may say what as much as
you please, but it's true just the same.
You were all right You were lucky.
They called you Bill, and there you
were. What did they christen me?
Why, Herbert Edwin, and from that
day 1 was doomed. There was no more
hope for me than for a man named Bal
four at an Irish picnic.
''We didn't realize what is meant,
but you can remember how things
were. Your name was Bill and your
hair was cut when you put on your
first trousers. My name was Herbert
Edwin and they put me in Fauntleroys
and let my hair grow and tried to curl
it. although it had no more curl to it
than ansIndian's.
"That was the way it was righl
along through school and college.
Why, might have been on the foot
ball team if the captain had not said,
Herbert Edwin! Well, I guess not.
That settled it, and all the honors
got was place on the sophomore re.
ception committee, which was worse
than nothing.
Honestly, Bill. when ! graduated
from college and came home. firmly
determined to do the fright thing.
said to myself, I will show these peo.
Pile an example of a man becoming a
credit in spite of adverse circum
stances. l will live down my name, OF
rather, will rise superior to it's bale
full influence That was what said
but it was of no use.
SIN a moment of careless foolhardi
ness / went to an afternoon tea. Nc
thought of my terrible danger came tc
me- Through the waving petals OF
the chrysanthemum on my coat could
catch occasional glimpses of the dim
| wintry sun, and went calmly to my
fate. On the sidewalk in front Of the
house benevolcnt-looking old gentle
man handed me a tract with plead
ing, warning look. 1t was headed
J. Bippus Became T. Juniper Bippus.
1 thrust the tract in my pocket. All
If 1 had only read it.then and taker
| heed.
''As I went up the steps mar
| pushed by me, putting on his coat al
he went. l recognized him. His name
| was Ebenezer Isaac. Where's the
nearest bar?' he said wildly. I've beer
poisoned With happy smile the trac'
man pointed to the corner, and Ebe
nezer disappeared.
| Inside there were twenty-six ladIe:
and one man. His name was Reginald
Algernon, and he owned the place.
was introduced as Herbert Edwin anG
was made much of. 1 drank tea ano
| lHCu 0l IN iuOl Z ICd, AAo = SC iitpsS
com binations of air and sugar called
in flattery cakes That night l went
home with no appetite for dinner. but
thoroughly stepped in tea and small
talk. The next morning l awoke with
an utter loathlng for tea. If the Chi
nese nation could have had only one
big tail / would have spent hours
tweaking it. But l recovered and
went again.
''It is needless to speak of the step.
in nv downfall. You see the result.
am confirmed five o'clock tea'er.
make afternoon calls, and as soon as
FIVE o'clock comes if l can not get to g
tea l go nearly frantic. Bill. if yor
love me, if you have any rememb mbrancs
of our boyhood days, you will make
me some tea, rustic the furniture a bout
and talk to me of the curious com
plexion and perfectly lovely lace Miss
McSwatt wore at the reception yester'
day."
Herbert Edwin staggered across tn,
room and fell weeping on a divan.~