The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1896-05-19

80 - 49, $500
and loved each other with u fervor
that grew In ~inteusity AS we advanced
sin year,. Perhaps the peculiar affec-
ton which Is said to exist between
twins WAS strong in us.
Our home, q little cottage OF rough
liewn stone, wqs situated in one OF the
wild but beautiful wales hat lies north
of Baio.
We played together, Hugh and Il;
climbed the rocky hills together
boated On the tiny lakelet together,
and, when we were old enough,
tramped over the hills to school to-
gether. We were i~nseparable. The
dangers of one were the dangers OF
the other his sorrows were mine, and
my Joys were his. So our lives passed
IN simple, childlike happiness, until
we were 10, when a thing happened
that strained the strength even of our
love to It's very utmost tension.
We would eitherof us have willingly
and c%heerfully died for her-the girl
we loved but we would also, il there
had been need, as c~heerfully and will
ipgly died for each other.
Many times we walked together to
her home at Bala and pulled across
the lake. Sometimes Hugh rowed and
she and [ sat side by side in the stern
and steered the little boat sometimes
the position was reversed, and | pulled
while he sat by Jennie's side and held
the rudder lines. But it could not go
not make US both happy, though, so
far, as we thought it over, she had
shown no preference for either, unless,
AS / sometimes fancied, her eyes rested
longer. and with different expression,
on me thar on him. Yet it must come
to an end, and SO, one g~loriously bright
summer day we strOlled arm in arm
up the mountain side and sat down at
the turn of the %footpath, from whence
we could see the white cottage and the
beautiful lake behind it.
1t was there she lived, and oh, for
long did we gaze lovingly, with full,
tremulous hear is, at the dear place.
That scene the lake, its wavelets
dancing and sparkling like diamonds
in the sunlight; the great mountains
which encircled it as with a rampant
+ nay, rather, as a gem Is encircled by
the metal which protects it and the
cottage, with its clinging ivy and
jasmine, and scented ~honeysuckle, the
fair roses, which shc-fairer even than
they-had tended how it spoke to us
that day. Yet it was not of sparkling
lake, nor of swelling hills, nor even OF
the endowed cottage that we thought,
tage; to as the centre Of h whole
scence, the jewel in it's casket.
"Jim," Ut last said my brother, and
his voice sounded far away, so faint
Was 1t, and choked with emotion :
Jim, we cannot always be together.
She must choose one Of us. Promise
ma that whichever Of us h takes,
you or me-and we will take no un-
fair advantage, one over the other
promise me that you will still be friend
and brother, and that nothing in the
world shall come between u.s."
[ dared not trust myself to speak,
but grasped tight the hard, rough
hand he held out to me. Then, each
with one long look into the others
face to see, perchance the honCrlng,
trustful love mirrored there, silently,
with o foreboding of O great sorrow,
we went down the mountain arm in
arm, as we had gone up. And so, for
The future, we never went to see her
together, but took our little, simple
presents on different days and never
did either return without the other
meeting him on the way, to see by his
face whether it had cnded.
But there was nothing unfair, moth
ing below board. We could always
look one another straight in the face,
give the honest grip of the hand, and
walk home together as we had always
Ion jennie soon showed that she
cared for me most, yet | am sure
she shed many tears that she should
need to pain him, for l knew she was
ware that my brother loved her as
we'll and truly as |.
However that be, one bright day,
the brightest and most glorious in all
hat glorious summer, | told her all
my thoughts and asked her to be
mine-,to live wish me always. | could
not help it. Something within me, OF
which | had no control, seemed to be
speaking from my mouth, as though
all my power and will had been taken
FROM me and given to that strange,
threbbing soui within.
But though my heart thrilled with
intensest Joy when | folded my arms
round her, and she lifted her face in
love and trust, and | kissed her, even
u mean coward, q sneaking, under
hand supplanter, as though [ were
taking u cruel advantage owe him.
So when [ went home, my Joy was
tempered with a feeling almost of
shame. For the first time in my life
l was unwilling to meet him for the
first time unable to look him In the
face, and as | saw his figure in the pur-
pie distance, | felt that | would do any
thing to avoid the eager scrutiny OF
his eyes.
1t was as ] feared, for, even as he
came toward me with his arm out
stretched, he saw how it was, and
stopped, still mechanically holding
out his hand to greet me. The while
great sorrow swept owe his face, he
tried to smile and wish me joy. / took
him by the hand and led him into the
:. ash wood, where the shadows lay
deepest, and, with much stammering
and hesitation, told him all. Never
shall l forget the deadly pallor-the
look of agony that seemed to have
frozen on his handsome sun-burnt face.
/ saw the tears fill his eyes, and his
broad chest heave with his strong,
, manly emotion, and longed to comfort
him. At last, in Il low, trembling
voice, he said God bless thee, lad
and Jennie, too: and then, with his
hands clenched and his head low down.
he staggered slowly away. And 1
sat there feeling that [ would rather a
thousand times have died Than have
caused him that cruel pain.
Once only did | see him after that
for when at last mustered courage to
go home, they told me how he had
gone in, and kissed them one by one,
With tremulous lips, ard while they
were wondering fearfully why he was
so pale, had gone out and had not come
back. ] knew.