Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-10-04

My lovely brli4rr,
lie was about % begin another verse
when Henri stopped him, saying
90 You To going 10 break your neck, Fa-
] bian
What's up. Hcnr3' was the reply
"You re drinking hard. and you don't
/ keep good company.
Fabian laughed Cant get the com.
| pany | want, must have what can get.
/ Henri my dear
Don't drink Henri laid his free
| hand Oh Fabians knee
Must Born in me. Loved it like
cream from rock-a-byc
Henri sighed That's the drink Fa-
bian, he said patiently "6ive up the
company.
You'd give mp the company
90 Blcst If wouldn t, Henri You re the
best company in the world.
Give nae your hand.
They shook hands Fabian drew out a
flask and began TO uncork it.
I'm be better company for you than
that girl, Fabian
Girlt What the devil do you mean"
"She, Nell Barraway was the company
meant, Fabe
Nell Barraway-yOu meant herr Bosh
I'm going 10 marry her, Henri. 80
You must not Fade, said Henri ca
gerly, clutching Fabian sleeve.
II must, and there's an end Of it. She's
the handsomcst, cleverest girl | ever saw
she's splendid. Never lonely a minute
with her.
Beauty and cleverness amt every
thing, Fable
Isn't it though? Isn't it, You just
try it.
They ain I without goodness Henri's
voice weakened
That's rot. OF course it is, Henri my
dear. If you love "a woman, If she gets
hold Of you, gets into your blood, loves
you SO that the touch Of her fingers sets
your pulses dying, you don't care a d-n
whether she Is good or not.
You mean whether she was good or
mott"
No, don't I mean is good or not
For If she loves you she II travel straight
for your sake Pshaw You don know
anything about il. 80
Il know all about il.
Know all about it You re in love
you"
Yes"
Fabian sat open mouthcd for a minute.
"Go-dam!' he said 1t was his one Eng
Il, she good company" he asked after
a minute.
shes the same as you keep-the very
same.
You mean Nell-NcnY" asked Fabian,
in "A dry, choking voice
eyes, Nell. From the first time saw
her. But d cut my hand off first"
I'D think of you; of our people that
have been here for POO years; of the rooms
In the old house where mother used TO be.
Look here, Fable you said you give up
her company for mine. DO it, -
Il didn't know you meant her, Henri.
Holy heaven, and you've got her in your
blood too"
Yes, but I'd never marry her Fable,
at Montreal | found out all about her.
She was a. bad
That's nothing 10 me, Henri, " said
Fabian, but something else is. Here
you are now III stick to my bargain
His face showed pale in the moonlight
III you'll drink with me, do as | do go
where | 90. play the devil when play il
and never squeal never hang back, I'll
give her up But I've got 10 have YOU
got To have you all the time everywhere
hunting, drinking or letting alone You II
see me out for YOU re stronger had less OF
IT, / III for the little low bye-yearly. Stop
the horses
Henri stopped them, and they got out.
They Were just opposite the limekiln. and
they had 10 go a few hundred yards before
they came TO the bridge TO cross the river
70 their home. The light of the fire shone
In their faces rs Fabian handed the flask 10
Henri and said: Lets drink TO it, Henri.
You half of that and me half. He was
deadly pale
Henri drank 10 the finger mark set. and
then Fabian lifted the flask to his lips
"Goodby, Nell he said Here's 10
the good times we've had 20 He emptied
the flask and threw it over the bank into
the burning lime and the old lime burn
er, being half asleep, did not see or hear.
The next day they went on a long hunt
Ing expedition, and the next month Nell
Barraway left for Montreal, pale and hol-
low eyed.
Henri kept TO his compact, drink for
drink sport for sport. One year the crops
were sold before they were reaped; horse
and cattle went little 10y little; then came
mortgage and stil Henri never wavered
never weakened, In spite Of the cure and
all others. The brothers were always to-
gcther, and never from first 20 last did
Henri lose his temper or openly lament
that ruin was coming surely on them.
What money Fabian wanted he got. The
cures admonition availed nothing, for Fa-
bian would go his gait. The end came on
the very spot where the compact had been
made, for, passing the limekiln one dark
night as he and Henri rode home together,
his horse SHE'D, the bank Of the river gave
way, and with startled Henri" Fabian
and his horse were gone into the river be
low.
Next month the farm and all were sold
Henri succeeded the old lime burner AT his
post, drank no more ever and lived his
life In sight Of the old home. st. Louis
Globe. Democrat