The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-10-14

open your mouth, Henri. come alOHSJ
sleepy head
Straightway he began to sing rollick-
ing song, and Henri joined in with him
| heartily, for the spirit of Fabian's humor
was contagious.
There was a little man,
The foolish Guilleri
Carabi.
He Went unto the chase,
OF cartridges the chase.
Carabi,
Tit Carabi
Toto Carabo,
You're going to break your neck,
My lovely Guilleri.
He was about to begin another verse
when Henri stopped him, saying:
You're going to break your neck, Fa-
bian.''
whats up, Henri?'' was the reply.
"You're drinking hard, and you don't
keep good company.
Fabian laughed. "Can't get the co1n-
pany 1 want; must have what 1 can get,
Henri, my DEAR
Don't drink" Henri laid his free
hand on Fabian's knee.
'Must Born in me. Loved it like
cream from rock-a-bye."
Henri sighed. "That's the drink, Fa-
bian,' he said patiently "Give up the
company"
"You'd give up the company"
''Blest if wouldn't, Henri. You're the
best company in the world
'Give me your hand
They shook hands. Fabian drew out a
flask and began to uncork it.
'tI'll be better company for you than
that girl, Fabian -
"Girl? What the devil do you mean?"
"She, Nell Barraway, was the company
I meant, Fable"
MEL Barraway-you meant her? Bosh
Pm going to marry her, Henri. "
"You must not, Fade, - said Henri ca
| gerly, clutching Fabian's sleeve.
1T must, and there's an end of it, She's
the handsomest, cleverest girl 1 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 t 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 flying, you don't care d-n
whether she is good or not"
"You mean whether she was good OF
not?''
"No I don't l mean is good or not.
For if she loves you she'll travel straight
for your sake Pshaw! You don't know
anything about it. %
Iv1,o1u oil oho,7+
''Know all about it! You're in love
your
"Yes.''
Fabian sat open mouthed for minute.
"Go-dam! he said. 1t was his one Eng
fish oath.
els she good company" he asked after
minute.
'sShe's the same as you l1eep-the very
same"
'You mean Nell-Nell?'' asked Fabian,
in dry, choking voice.
eyes, Nell From the first time saw
her But ia cut my hand off first. ~
"I'd think of you; of our people that
have been here for 300 years; of the rooms
in the old house where mother used to be.
Look here, Fable, you said you'd give ur
| her company for mine. Do it. "
81 didn't know you meant her, Henri.
Holy heaven, and you've got her in your
blood too!'
Eyes, bat I'd never marry her. Fable
at Montreal / found out all about her
She was as bad
"That's nothing to me, Henri, said
Fabian, "but something else is. Here
you are now. I'll stick to my bargain. -
His face showed pale in the moonlight.
''If you'll drink with me, do as I do &C
where [ go, play the devil when / play it
and never squeal, never hang back, I'll
give her up. But I've got to have you,
got to have you all the time, everywhere
hunting drinking or letting alone. You'll
see me out, for you're stronger, had less of
it, I'm 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 to go few hundred yards before
they cams to the bridge to cross the river
to their home The light of the fire shone
in their faces as Fabian handed the flask to
Henri and said: "Lets drink to it, Henri.
You hall of that and me half" He was
deadly pale.
Henri drank to the finger mark set, and
then Fabian lifted the flask to his lips.
"Goodby, Nell" he said. Here's to
the good times we've had'' 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 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 by little; then came
mortgage and still Henri never wavered,
never weakened, in spite of the cure and
all others. The brothers were always to-
gether, and never from first to 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 awaited 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