The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1896-05-26
CHAPTER VIII.
Something Like n Brother.

A young mamie was not more than
two or three and twenty-was alone
and seated at his bench within a
rather small workshop, was laboring
diligently, singing merrily-hummin
would be perhaps the better term-and
thinking all the while that he was one
of the luckiest and happiest fellows
in the world.
So, all things considered, it will be
acknowledged that our herO-for so
will prove the honest workman whom
now, for the first time in our story, we
encounter-was very sufficiently en-
ployed at the moment that we venture.
to intrude upon his privacy.
And, after all, Tony Drummond
was neither more nor less than a COM
mon mechanic-an engraver, in short,
who earned his living by the skill of
his hands and the sweat of his brow
But for all that, Tony Drummond
was now, and always had been q
Tony Consoles His Brother.
happy and contented fellow. And
why not? What is there in the prac-
tice of honest industry to be misera bic
about, provided always that q man be
sufficiently remunerated for his labor?
And joys are joys indeed to men
shadow of a pleasure is then grasped
at, and, by an easily contented mind,
so turned and twisted round and
about, that it becomes ere long a per-
feet reality of happiness.
So had it always been with Tony
Drummond; but it was no longer re-
Quired of him that lie should raise tie
shadow into the substance, since, for
some time. as was it now, real, solid
happiness had been with him.
In the first place, Tony was in love,
and successful in his wooing; but, be-
ing q prudent young man, had resolved
not to marry until q certain something
had been saved, with which properly
to commence his welded life.
And In the next, taking high rank
as an engraver, and being a very
steady fellow, he had already saved
goodly proportion of that certain sum,
with which he had resolved TO dover
himself, since the girl, with whom he
was to we'd, was very charming crea-
ture, but had no money.
With such smiling prospects for the
future-with youth, robust health, and
high spirits in the present-how Gould
Tony be otherwise than happy?
And without any of these matters,
which were all personal to himself,
Tony had been happy in the good for
tune into which, as he believed, his
brother had fallen, 10 say nothing OF
that greater good fortune which was
In store for him, according to Tony's
firm conviction.
Sydney had written home from WeX-
ford-that, as a matter of course, to
his grandmother. Sydney had been
I,{e, 80 IL
O'Meara had, indeed, merely men,
toned that he was staying at the house
of Il gentleman with whom chance
had made him acquainted, and to
whose mansion he had been gladly
welcomed.
But to his brother-for between
them a secret had never yet existed
he had written every particular of
what he was pleased to term his "in-
sane passion" for the lovely Frances.
And when he had read of his brothers
despondency-of Sydney's bewailings
over his hopeless loye-Tony laughed.
Hopeless! Why, handsome, noble
hearted, Sydney would be prize for
real duchess to jump att
would be odd, then, if he might not
ASPIRE to a baronet'S niece.
And Tony had soon arranged the
matter, in his own mind, to his entire
satisfaction.
Sir Loghlcn O'Meara was, of course,
very fond of his niece. Well, some
day, before long, the young lady would
declare to her uncle how impossible it
was that she could live any longer I'M
less she were permitted to become
Sydney's wife; and if she were not to
be allowed to give herself to the man
her heart had chosen, she would con-
slider it her duty to make her way, as
fast as possible to the baronets fish
pond, and cast herself therein, reso-
lutely to remain under water until she
was drowned beyond all hope of re-
covery.
If the baronet should be without a
fish pond on his estate, which Tony
did not consider ut all probable, the
lady had only to substitute the near
est river, and the end would be the
same.
For, on hearing the terrible threat,
how could it be otherwise, unless Sir
Loghlen were made of iron, and not of
human clay? The baronet would
Weld, would embrace his niece, and
would say to her: go, my dear child,
and marry the young man, as fast as
possibleI'
And then Sir Loghlen would pur-
chase for Sydney share in the new
bank in which the young gentleman
was now only clerk, and-yes, and
the young couple would live happily
ever after.
And with this fancy sketch Tony
was delighted; for he had perfect
faith that all would come to pass ex-
actly as he had imagined it.
What lnattered about difference of
rank-what mattered money or no