Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1903-06-24
4 Strange Occurrence
TWO please Agnes, have prom
iscd to set down in writing
our ctronpo nyDprjnncp AL

iscd to set down III writing
our strange experience. AL
though we have told 1t TO Il
few people since its happening,we have
found no orc able to explain in any
way this curious occurrence. and con-
fcss if it had been experienced by any
one else than myself ! would not have
believed it.
Some few years ago, at the request
of my dying brother. went to live i'll
his house. Being alone in the world
save for him and his two sons, gladly
took up my residence within his hos
pitable walls, and, having conceived 4
great fondness for my ncphews while
caring for my brother during the few
months he fingered after my coming.
1 yielded to his last wish and the re-
quest OIL The boys and promised to care
for them as long as they should need
Oh wish to have me.
There could hardly be greater coE-
trast between two boys than between
these two. Harold, the elder, was, at
the time o. which write, about twen-
ty-three years Of age; tall. dark. in
tensely reserved, quiet, self-controlled.
His brother, some twenty months
younger, imDulsivc, Quck-tcmpered,
demonstrative, open, affectionate.
never saw such strength of purpose as
that of Harold's. Even as young
lad he permitted nothing to stand in
the way of his wishes, but so quiet
was his persistent effort one was hard
ly, if at all, conscious of determina-
ton which Won in spite Of every OBJ
stacle. Many and many Il time 1 saw
the boys clash over opposing desires,
but it was always Thco who yielded.
Yet he had plenty Of strength, too, but
4 loving heart as well.
At this time Of which I write the
real crash and test Of strength had
come through love for the same girl,
niece Of mine by marriage, an orphan
whom I had adopted and who had
come to live in our pleasant house. 1t
had gradually come to tense strain
between the brothers. They hardly
spoke to each other ut table, and took
care never to meet away from 1t. If
by chance their eyes met for an in
slant they were quickly lowered again,
neither being willing to show to the
other his real feeling. Agnes, being
like daughter to me, finally decided
to speak to her about the matter and
called her to task for her encourage
ment of them both, and urged her to
choose between them and end the
strain Of uncertainty.
"Oh, Aunt Fanny" she cried, II wish
I could, indeed do. don't encourage
either one. 1 am never alone a mo-
ment with one but instantly the other
follows. and they ,ook as If only will
kept them from tearing each other to
pieces. I feel as If 1 could Shrek
sometimes, the effort to keep peace IS
so great. Oh, 1t is dreadful, dreadful!
And what good times we used to have
together! Why did they ever love me-?
l don't want anybody to love me"
And she cried like q baby, her head
buried in my lap.
Poor little one" I said gently. ut is
hard for you, know. But surely you
must prefer one to TIN other. 1t seems
to me before this trouble came you
used to like one the better,' and
raised her chin and smiled into her
sweet blue eyes.
She flushed and her head dropped
81 used to think Theo was the dearest
boy she half whispered; "but, some
how. uarold'-hesitatingly. 81 don't
know what it is-he has q power !
can't resist, and yet l can't think it
love, for as soon rs he is gone 1 feel
as If a. load had dropped from me.
am afraid Of him, auntie. He fright
ems me with his black looks; 1 never
can say to him that I don't love him,
it Is NIL l can do to keep from saying
that 1 do"
Every day increased the tension.
Meals were passed in wretched 81
lence that poor Agnes tried to relieve
with pitiful little attempts at gayety
which Theo made an effort to second,
but to little purpose. All through the
day Agnes clung to me In q sort Of
desperation, followed me around with
a look in her eyes that wrung my
heart; but 1 was helpless to change
matters. l finally determined to leave
the house for time ut least, taking
Agnes with me, when On urgent Dusi-
ness matter called Harold away for
several days. The whole household
seemed to breathe more easily when
he had gone. 1t was only by the re-
moval of the weight that we realized
how oppressed we had been.
Instantly my girl seemed to revive
and Theo to grow more like the gay,
happy boy of past years. I had all
along felt that these two were suited
to each other, and, with all my affec-
tion for Harold. felt he was not the
mate for my gentle girl. So, being n
woman, and therefore q matchmaker,
I managed to leave them together, also
sent them for walk in the garden at
twilight. When they Games in 1 saw
all was well between them, and when
they sat down, one cn each side of
me, and began to pay me compliments,
Inc, an old woman, of course, 1 knew
all was right. So presently they con.
fessed their happiness, with bushes
and shy glances at each other, to gain
courage for the telling.
I never saw such look of hate and
rage in my life as that which flashed
from Harold's face when the news was
told him on his return. "We all know
what happens when the cat is away"
he said harshly, and in an instant, re.
covering himself, he wished them aD
happiness and kissed Agnes upon the
brow with apparent Drotherly affec.
tion