Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-06-19
MET BY HER BROTHER.

My Aunt Eliza balanced her teaspoon be.
tween her thumb and forefnger for the
space of half a minute and looked at me.
Then she laid it down and said II shall
send you to your mothers relatives at
once"
This was intended as extreme punish
ment Therefore had much ado to keep
myself in hand and appear to take it as
such After q faint Don't aunty,"
which Il should blush to tell it) smoth
cred in the needless fear that she might
relent, relapsed into silence. Then my
aunt spoke again-she had always been
stern with me on account Of her dislike to
my mother-and this Is what she said
'You shall go tomorrow. shall have
nothing more to say to you, but will give
you written directions and money enough
for incidentals."
Honestly / can't say that was sorry
was full of curiosity to see these unknown
relatives, of whom all 1 knew was that
they had brought up my half brother,
Richard Everett. always thought of him
as Dick.
On the morrow I received at my aunt's
nds q roll Of bills and neatly folded
per of directions and was forthwith put
on the train and so shipped. My trunk
SSeceived the same attention. do they ex-
ypect me, aunt" called through the open
1 window Of the car Her answer was lost
as the train glided rapidly out of the sta
ton. So 1 settled myself to think. the mat
ter over and naturally enough the first
thing did was to open my paber of direc-
tions. 1t was blank Clearly she had
given me the wrong paper From sheer
I,a.. 30
as 1 though of Aunt Fliiza's horror when
on her return she W6dld make the discov-
cry had just made. My own position did
not trouble m9e at first. The joke on Aunt
Eliza seeme.1 so huge, and youth is not
prone to lake things seriously. To be sure
had Tedious four hours journey before
coul1 reach Boston and at the end of it
uncertainty, but 1 did not think of that
AMUSED myself with my book and my fell
NV passengers for three-fourths of the way
- md was just beginning to wonder if we
were not nearly there when the train stop
ped and there was a slight exchange of
passengers. Some one who got on at the
rear end of the car went into the seat be-
hind me- At the same time big, good
natured looking man got on at the other
end, and coming toward me, stopped by
my seat and hailed my new neighbor
''Hello, EverettP' he said, and at the
name the curiosity said to have been trans
mitted by Mother Eve to all her daughters
overcame me, and listened attentively.
"Hellol'' briefly responded the unseen
one where are you bound for?" came
next "There and back again, was the
curt answer "Oh, then If you choose to
be SO noncommittal with me, Dick, my
boy, I'll bid you good day." and the big
man passed on to the next car.
Here was q turn in the tide of event:
that promised to be interesting. Dick was
behind me. He had evidently heard from
Aunt Eliza and had come to meet me, but
did not know me- What should do ant
how was to make myself known to him
could not see him unless turned direct
ly around and faced him, an action which
a natural diffidence forbade, so that nov
\ my chief fear was that he would leave tn,
\ train unknown to me- This blissful stat.
of uncertainty lasted another half hour
In that time considered and rejected a
least 80 modes of introduction that would
fit our peculiar circumstances In the ent
was saved the trouble. Bump bump
The train fairly trembled. Something hat
occurred that shook every one into ever.
one else. Dicks head and mine wer
knocked together till the air about IN
glittered.
IT beg your pardon" said Dick. AS
thought it over afterward the remark wa
unnecessary, but at the time was too ex
cited to notice it.
'Oh, Dick, I'm 80 glad to have foun
your said ''Was it a collisionP'
81 should think 1t might be called one,
he made answer, rubbing his head an
looking inquiringly at me.
"What's the NATTER" asked. Don
I look as you expected to see meP"
"The question is, " he remarked thought
4 90 oil
"Then you have not heard from AuI
Eliza9"
AUNT ElizaS No, certainly have nc
heard from Aunt Eliza"
Meanwhile the confusion on the trai
was 80 great that paid no special heed
Dicks bewilderment There had been
slight accident and, though no one wa
hurt, every one was frightened, and, wit
the perversity of human kind, mad 1
having been frightened for nothing, which
to my mind was making the worst of
good bargain. Dick came and sat dow
by me after that, and took a good loo
at him He was four or five years m
senior, If remembered rightly, but b
yond that point all my preconceived idei
of him vanished into thin air. though
had been told long ago, of course, thi
we looked alike, but Dicks sunny hal
blue eyes and long, straight nose bore N,
the least resemblance to my dusky persol
atty and slightly heaven turned feature
IT am so glad to have found you here
! repeated. do you know, Dick, Aul
Eliza gave me the wrong paper, so that
had not the least guide to find your Ism
it fortunate thing that we met on Il
train this wayP"
''Most fortunate, " he answered, eyiI
me with more curiosity than ever.
"V haven't said you are glad to s
me, t." put in little nervously,
musU ~ confessed, for, though my brothe
he was a complete stranger to me, anc
was by no means sure Of my welcome.
"Perhaps haven't had time, or perha
I'm overcome with joy. Either way, no
ever, have not given you the welcoI
you deserve" and he grasped my ha
cordially. (Which way are you going
he said.
"I'm going home with YOU" mi
INJURED, on the verge Of tears had
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