The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-01-24
my BROTHER, The JUDGE. J"

III you ii drop III THIS IllDTHillb lbA a edAAC
of cribbage. There, you poor thing,
went on the old lady. with rueful
frown at the Bingham rag he had
washed carefully and was about TO
hang on a line of string behind the
stove, IN give you a cup-towel before
I'm a day older; don't let me forget 1t.
There's no creature so helpless in some
ways as an old bachelor, now don't you
agree with me, colonel
Il was married once" was the quiet
reply.
beg your pardon OF course you
were. and that's why you seem 50 much
like other folks. But 1 entirely forgot.
You see, we're all in the habit of think
ing and speaking Of you as an old bach
elor"
Il dare say" The tone was still quiet.
'"rell the Judge I'll be round soon, and
beat him tremendously at cribbage.
Il believe I'll carry him handful OF
violets," said the old lady, tripping out
10 the back garden, followed by the
colonel. anxious TO pick them for her
and save her rheumatic old knees. You
and Aunt Pope are always trying TO give
him a pleasure. My brother is certainly
we'll cared for in his old age" remarked
the colonel. signing quite unconsciously.
I'm glad you can say so, Col. Ezra.
He deserves il for giving US such
home. Queer, isn't It, to think Of two
women, his first wife's aunt and his
third wife's aunt. jogging on there to-
gether? No kin to him, dear man, and
no kin to each other. But then 1 hope
were welcome"
You're more than welcome, you're
Indispensable. A man in the judges
state of health needs women friends,
needs good nursing and cheerful COM
partnership, and that's what you auntieS
have given him for the past eight
years"
Dear me, colonel, / try to fit in
where I'm wanted: but Aunt Pope being
younger and with less flesh to carry
about-What beautiful tea roses! l
must have a few!-And then we do feel
the expense, two of us. sou
Here her voice broke.
Expense, auntie? That's absurd 1
don't know just how the judges affairs
stand, but he's quite a capitalist. 1t
would distress him if he thought you
didn't feel entirely at home in his
house
would it?' Ezra spoke from his own
standpoint. forgetting or ignoring a fact
that his brother the judge, was some
thing OF an autOcrat Ezra had always
wished he were "a little different in
some respects.
His pain is gone, I hope. auntie?''
yes. mostly; it has shifted now to
the right side"
Strange how it moves about" said
the colonel meditatively.
That's the way it gets the name of
travelling rheumatism YOU know. To
say nothing Of the travels folks have To
make TO rid themselves of it," added
Aunt Louisa with an attempt at wit.
" Twas what brought Sam to Califor-
MIA in the first place; wasn't it,
Certainly. He never would have left
his excellent law practice back East if
the rheumatism hadn't got such hold
Of him"
s.Ts,tt what b,.ottcrbt ,-o,, l,are Era .
You weren't sick2'
mo. l came to make a fool Of myself
That is, To be an appendix 10 the Judge
Yes, and 10 be a blessing TO him and
to all concerned" thought the old lady,
dropping a belated tear upon a tearose
petal as she passed out through the
back gate weighted with her floral
spOils.
The comfort and reinsurance her trem-
bling heart had received again and again
from Ezra the world would never know;
nor had she ever known the half of it
herself. It is the lot of uEObtrusive, un-
selfish souls like Ezra to so through life
without appreciation.
Aunt Pope thinks he influenced Sam
10 leave her and me a small sum in his
will. Ezra is SO thoughtful But may
be he didn't do it. Besides, the judge
will outlive US both most likely. I'm
sure / hope so"
Meanwhile Ezra as he swept his small
kitchen. was thinking
Piuful the aunts should be so desti-
tute in their old dge-One Of them seV-
enty. the other seventy-five. Ny brother.
the judge, has put them down in his will
for tiny sum. but not enough i'm view
Of what they've been to him. / ought TO
call his attention to it and ask him to
treble the amount. He doesn't consider.
I'll do it this very day
And so he did. When it concerned a
kind word or act for others Col Ezra's
memory could always be relied upon.
The judge listened to the suggestion
with a rather thin smile. He had stepped
out upon his hower-wreathed veranda TO
greet mis- brother but turned now and
led the way to the house.
Treble the amount? You're a strange
fellow, Ezra. It's just like you. and IN
think 1t over. And now are you ready
for a game?"
He seemed in some haste. The truth
was, ne had made lately an investment
rather against his brothers wishes
though involving a trife of his brothers
money, and 1T would be particularly awI1-
ward II Ezra should chance to inquire
about II in the presence of the aunts
But Ezra was not likely to do this re
was OF easy faith in business matters.
and habitually yielded to his brothers
judgment
"A fine day for March, said the Judge
wheeling his chair toward the sunny
Day-window, where stood the carved red
wood table and cribbage-board. and has
tening TO deal the cards.
very echoed Ezra, with true Cali
fornian Indifference.
Inc san DieganS take a smiling slv
as thelr divine right and give no thanks
TOT IL. 1t Is only when the wonderful smell
Is broken by a dOwnpour Of rain that
you VIII hear them discuss thu weather
at All, and then. ungrateful souls to
anathematize it
Your crib. Ezra
The two brothers were LITTLE allie -
appearance. The Judge. with bigb
narrow head, hollow TEMPLES heaS,y
InoblIe eyebrows, searching eyes. firm
clearly cut, rather thin lips. was born In
win recognition and command success
The colonel. on the other hand was
just as sure 10 pass cOnIparativelv nm
noticed. His thoughtful, unobsel-vant
klndly eyes, sensitive mouth. and a GER
tam meek expression in repose marked
him as one who expects little of life and
regards that little as quite beyond his
deserts. He wore today a carnatiOn mini,
ON the left lapel of his coat. and now
and then bent his gray head sidewise TO
lnhale its fragrance. In some things he
would always be- a boy
Not so fast Ezra, it's my first count -
called out the Judge
The game was going i'm his favor. and
he was eXuItant The aunts e,,cbangad
freemasOn glances over their reading
and sewing Dear Sam was evidently
having a good time That thew felt
him on their minds continually was plain
enough TO every one but the object of
their loving devotion With tba oh