Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1897-06-26

/ was not gong when l wrote that let
ter.
Tie spoke "a il the statement was
the keynote 20 his whole history. His
manner quite startled me-
You wonder why I took the trouble
70 tell you lie? Well. wanted 70 be
forgotten; did ret want you 10 try
TO find me "
And vet you have spent the last two
months looking for me. " | said.
Il don't want TO be forgotten any
more. l want 20 have a friend in the
world t. talk to"
He was silent for a moment and re-
lit his pipe.
There were two Of rs" he said;
twin boys. l was the elder by ten
minutes. and we were born three
months after our fathers death. We
grew up great friends. as twins often
are. and yet We were very different I
developed into a quiet, studious. grave
faced yOungster. I Was slow az learn
ing, slow Of speech. and noboly's
favorite. Iy brother. Richard. on the
contrary. was bright. clever: even as a
boy his conversation was accounted
F brilliant. He could DO anything and
everything. was fullof fun and laughter.
and generous and thoughtless q q
fault Richard Denmore was petted
+ by everybody When we were about
sixteen my mother died. remember
the night before her death asif il were
yesterday only.
You are my eldest hoy. Robert,
she said. taking my strong hand in her
feeble one. 'Tou are. perhaps. not SO
clever. naturally. a. Richard, but you
have got balance. which he has. not.
Richard troubles me often.
Everybody likes him. mother, /
answered
THAT makes all the more danger,
and l want you. Robert, 20 look after
Richard.
I shall always love him
"'And you viii help hime'
Yes, always.
More than once that night she made
me repeat the promise. and I took an
oath, little knowing what the oatl
meant.
Time passed. and we both got on
well. Ihad. perhaps. the most money
but then / did not 20 out as much a.
Richard did. and he gave away more
than I did. too.
The humdrum ronnd of nv daily
life was suddenly isturbod-pleas
autly SO. Alice Eversham came int,
II. and from the first moment saw
her | loved her l had never ever
cared about woman before: la,
never even. a. boy. had "A preference
for one Of the pupils az the seminary
for young ladies' We passed ever,
morning on our way 20 school For
a long time I loved in silence.
feared 10 put my fate 70 the test, an,
when l plucked up my courage To ash
Alice 70 be my wife l was too late
She was kind and gentle, but her no
was final
But. Alice, viii wait You vii
change must change, said, il
2 IN my despair
81 shall never change.
| "'Who Is the-the other mane'
Il cannot tell yen that. \ woman
does not confess her love for a ma,
j before that man has asked her
f., Life has been black enough for ~
many times, heavens knows, but neve
A., so black AS II was then. liz is the on
. great passion / have known. and i
I has made me what am to-day.
2 "A week later Richard bounced int
4 my room one night. threw himsel
I down In an easy chair, and began I
I laugh
Got the blues, Boobies?
l '''No.'
Well, congratulate me. I'm tn
happiest fellow in the world.
a want You to be my best man. II
going TO be married
1 Married.
Yes; l am caught at las.-th
1 dearest girl living. You know be
we'll
Who is its'
, Alice Eversham.'
e Il sprang from my chair and brougl
my clinched fist down upon the tabl,
Blind rage took possession Of me for
moment
j. Hallor he exclaimed. What
: the matter? Are You in love with hei
I tOO<'
! "'No; was thinking. L answered
= stupidity.
III You think like that often yo
will smash all your furniture. Com,
e tell me the truth, Bobbie. You are