The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1897-09-23
HIS BROTHERS. KEEPER. ;
BY GWEND0LEN 0VERTON. I
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NIH HEN man who is yet young ar
w rives at the conclusion that life
holds nothing more for him and that he
can only devote himself to the good of
others, there is still plenty of keen
wretchedness in store for him. If he
gets up after bad blow and is actively
miserable and somewhat hateful and
resentful, he can yet be happy. But self
immolatlon is not natural, and any
thing unnatural brings its own punish
ment. Another person and other peo-
pie cannot be the center of the universe
for very long. There may come jar
that will put you out of plumb for bit,
but you swing back to your normal po-
sition.
The jar that came to Osborne was a
hard one. The girl to whom he was
engaged told him that her parents were
forcing her to marry a certain rich man.
Now parents, in these days, do not force
one to marry anybody; but Osborne
would have believed whatever the girl
had chosen to tell him. He believed
this, and thought she was beautiful,
suffering martyr, and there was a tragic
scene, which she did cleverly, and a
parting. After that Osborne lost even
ambition, which had been ruling pas
sion almost above his love. The girl
was mean enough, too, to keep his
misery active by writing to him, now
and then, bewailing her gilded cap
tivity.
Life, he told himself, was henceforth
vain thing, only fit to be used in the
service of others. 1t is not easy to serve
others picturesqIely in the army.
There are no needy and no fallen ones
because when they fall they cease to
be in the army. So Osborne bethought
him OF his brother Alexander.
Alexander lived on a ranch-as Os-
borne had done. He was II years old.
At 16 Osborne had been the support of
widowed mother and two children.
He had had no boyhood in particular
1t had all been work, making the ranch
pay. Only those who have tried it know
what that means. Alexander was not
aii1lcted after this fashion. He lived
on his new stepfather, and was envious
OF his brother.
Now when Osborne brought Alexan-
Ger on to San Antonio, the first evening
OF his arrival he spoke to him thus:
there's first-class school right in the
TOWN, Alex" Silence. Il want you to
study hard, youngster, to make up for
the time you've lost up there in the will
derness."
- Alex braced his feet against the porch
railing and tipped back his chair. ut
Strikes me I've lost more fun than about
anything else. 1t amt fair, Herbert.
1ouve been having picnic for the last
eight years, while I've been shaving in
the fields; and don't see it in the light
OF settling down right away to digging
al books. l want a swing"
Ii nature is ambitious, it cannot be
altered. The ambition may transfer
Its object from self to some one else,
Out 1t VIII not die. Osborne's had trans
derred itself to his brother. So his heart
sank. But he had learned federation.
We'll, I'll give you three months. But
you must study to make up for it,"
Three months nothing! What's the
matter with six?"
good deal is the matter. You'll
oe nesrly is in six months, and you
ooh know as much as the average boy
OF IA. Of course I'm not blaming YOU
'or that. You haven't had a fair
snance.' Osborne forgot that, at IS, he
himself had passed the competitive cx-
animation.
Il guess l haven't-at that or any
thing else"
1oung Osborne had gone barefoot
III MS life, and had never had a whole
We" suit OF clothes to his back, nor a
eime to call his own. Osborne gave him
aanclng pumps and various seemly suits
sha reasonable allowance.
49, nut he thought the allowance small.
say Herbert, l can't make out with
mat meas!y ten. Make it Is, will you ?"
Le complained.
No" said Osborne.
oshorne's mos" were ALWAYS def.
aNe. but Alexander persisted. "Why
'o.! 1ou've lot more than you need"
know best about that. Ten dollars
g =. enough. and it's all can give you.
I've I've your edaeatioa to pay for. recoI-
"ss saa'ss 90 expenses outside et.sa