The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-08-03
HIS BROTHER BOB.

| in the fresh, inyigOrating sea breeze he
felt that the whole panorama in front of
| his eyes had been made for men like him
/ self-that is for perfect man, well do,
| well reared, on the sunny side of 40, with
| a pleasant past behind him and pleasant
! er future before him.
"Can it be that old Nick is expecting
somebody thought the hotel clerk. and
/ a few moments later a discreet smile
| PLAYED over his features, for to Nicholas
| had entered r. U. E., as they do not say
/ on the stage, to my certain knowledge,
anyhow, young woman.
| The clerk looked over the large leather
| bound book in front of him and saw that
on the page upon which were recorded the
names of the late arrivals of the day be-
fore was written:
"NIrs. AIiddlebroOk, Miss Flora Middle
| brook, New York.
Nicholas saw Miss Flora the moment
that she appeared, and fit sight for such
| q morning she made.
Nicholas smiled when he saw her and
fastened to meet her. She smiled, too
| when she saw him and held out her hand
| to him.
And at this very moment it should be
said that Nicholas Van Ralston had made
| a solemn VOW the night before, and that
| in that VOW the name of this young lady
had figured conspicuously. Nicholas, it
SeeIlS3 ndQ b1T6N Oh S11s516 D1SSS0QnSSS, ana
in looking over the list of the young wom-
en- Of his acquaintance he had decided that
of them all not one offered so many at
fractions and so few detractions as this
same Flora Middlebrook. Whereupon
Nicholas had made up his mind to make
her his bride.
OF course he admitted she had her
faults, but he alleged that all women had
such things, and that it would be the east
est thing in the world for her to cure her
self of them.
Unlike most men, Nicholas decided to
see that the cure was effected before he
proposed marriage, and so he now proceed
ed to grid up his loins and give her her
first lesson.
Nicholas started off on an entirely new
tack and managed his first lesson so care
fully and nicely, he argued, that while, if
she should for unknown reasons be offend
ed, the blame might fall upon somebody
else's shoulders.
"That brother of mine,'' he said, ''that
Bob, he is fine fellow; rather outspoken,
though"
Flora stopped looking at the sea, and
her eyes grew brighter than ever.
Indeed . she cried, "and what has he
been doing now?'
''Why, he has been SO outrageous as to
criticise you'
That's NICE" said the girl. Sand
what has he been saying?''
Nicholas saw that she was in a good
humor, that she was interested, that she
had decided to take her lesson like a good
little child, and so he rejoiced exceedingly.
Eyes, " he continued, che has been say
ing some things about you. Bob says in
his own inimitable way that Miss Middle
brook is one Of the most charming young
women he has ever met, indeed the most
charming girl he has ever seen in this
country or any other country, but that
ehe''-
And he gave her list of shortcomings,
which out of fairness to the young woman
are to be omitted here, however.
Flora listened attentively, with a rather
wistful air, but still as if she were really
interested and not at all as if she objected
to such criticism.
Nicholas was radiant with success when
he saw how well she took her lesson.
"Does he really say all thisS'' she asked
when he had finished the list.
Nicholas nodded his head.
"And you, Mr.. Van Ralston, what do
you think?''
''Well, Miss MiddlebrooIz, now, come.
You would hardly expect me to be so bold
as to criticise you?''
But he nodded his head sagely and with
such an air that he knew she could see
that it was he who was preaching and not
that young brother of his.
Nicholas paid most devoted attention to
Miss AIiddlebrOok the rest of the day, and
he was very sorry indeed when a telegram
called him back to the city the next day.
In the city he found important business
enough to last him a month. He fretted
and fumed, but he had to stand it, and
his only consolation was that his brother
Bob wrote from the seat of war that he
had never seen a young woman so much
changed for the better as Miss Flora Mid
dlebrook.
At the end of a fortnight Nicholas found
%r.7 A.,% cior TT1h
was he impressed by the young woman's
behavior that he decided that the reforma-
ton in her character had been effected
and that the time had come for his pro-
posal.
This he proceeded to make the evening
after his arrival at the hotel.
Flora heard him through, and then
Nicholas received the first shock to his
nervous system and his self esteem that
he had known in many year
81 am very sorry, said the young wom-
an, 'but you have made a great mistake.
I can never be your wife.
''Whatr' cried Nicholas. "And why
not?''
Because, though like and esteem
you, do not care for you in that way"
"Then why did you encourage me so
much?"
Encourage you'll How did encourage
you, pray?" cried Flora.
"Your behavior'' mumbled Nicholas.
Ibid you not after told you what 1
thought you should do
''But you said your brother Bob
ooh, confound my brother Bobl'' cried
Nicholas.
''PIease don't oonfound your brother
Bob, Mr.. Nicholas, for, you see''-
''Well?'
''You see you told me what your broth
er Bob thought 1 should do, and I have
tried to do it, and the truth of the matter
is, Mr.. Nicholas-tbe truth of the matter
is that your BROTHERHOOD and r.
stEh9'' exclaimed Nicholas bacri0OiO0