Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1902-04-18
BROTHERS LOVED SAME GIRL.
She Accepted One and They Have Not
Spoken For Fifty Years.

| Spoken For Fifty Years.
An East Brook6eld, Mass, specia
says:
Because both wanted to marry tn,
same woman and the youger brothel
won, John and Jairus Wood have moi
spoken to each other for fifty years
although both have lived in the same
house. on the old Wood farm, about
two miles from the center of the
village. The men are now over eighty
years or age, and time has not in the
least softened their natures.
The trouble really began when they
were very young, John, the elder
brother, becoming jealous of Jairus,
who was the favorite son. They quar-
relied almost from infancy, and finally,
when old enough to leave home, John
started out alone in the world. He
went to Boston and by hard work
managed to accumulate some money.
He was successful in business, and
after time thought he had enough
money to enable him to live in comfort
for the rest of his life in bis old home
here. When he returned to Brookfield
he found that both his mother and
father were dead. Jairus was manag-
the farm as best be could with his
limited means, and John, after sort
of reconciliation, decided to make
amends by investing some money in
the farm, SO that they could run 1t
according to modern ideas.
The brothers got along very well for
a time. Then John met young wo-
man in Spencer. He paid her con
siderable attention. and finally decid-
ed to make her his wife. 1t happened
that during visit to Spencer, Jairus
met the same young woman and it was
case of love at first sight. The Wood
brothers had not become friendly
enough to make confidants of each
other in their love affairs, and there
came a time when each stole away to
Spencer at every opportunity. The
young woman kept her secret. She
had difficulty in making up her mind.
John had money, but, although the
younger brother was poor. She felt
that her love for him was greater.
While she was trying to decide which
to accept an unexpected meeting settled
the matter decisively.
One summer day the Wood brothers
journeyed to Spencer together, and,
arriving in the town, each went in diff
ferent directions, without the slightest
idea that they were on the same er.
rand. They reached the house of the
young woman about the same time,
and the general surprise of the meeting
was followed by a stormy scene bet
ween the brothers. The young woman
tried to pacify them, and was finally
asked to make her choice. She threw
herself into the arms of Jairus, and
John, defeated second time by his
brother, left the house v0wing ven
geance.
When they met again at home that
night the quarrel was renewed, and
when the wedding took place few
weeks later John refused to attend.
Johns love for his brothers. wife,
however, was so strong that be in
forgave her, and as the years
wore on they became friends. When
John has been i'll Mrs. Wood has been
in constant attendance. and when
both brothers were ill she divided her
time between them, but sickness nor
else has had the result that
Johns wife has been looking forward
to for fifty years.
Her ingenuity became exhausted
many years ago, and now all three 60
about, meet and pass, the woman
speaking to both, but the brothers not
each other.