The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1906-11-01
The DANGER or BEING a TWIN.

By LE0KARO KERRicK.

vas -FOUR years old and recovering
from swollen glands. AS | grew we'll,
my twin brother, Gregoire, who was
eor1e minutes younger, was put to
bed with the same complaint.
what misfortune" exclaimed our
mother. that Silyestre is no sooner
oonvalescent than Gregoire falls H."
The doctor answered: 1T astonishes
me that you were not prepared for it,
Madame Lapalme-since the children
are twins, the thing was to be fore
seen: when the elder throws the mala-
dy off, the younger naturally contracts
It. Among twins it. is nearly always
Co."
And it always proved to be so with
Gregoire and me. No sooner did
throw off whooping cough than Gre
Eoire began to whoop, though | was
st home in Vernon and he was stay
ing with our grandmother in Tours. If
had to be taken to dentist, Gre
goire would soon afterward be how
ling with toothache; as often as in
dulged in the pleasures of the table,
Gregoire had bilious attack. The in
1nence l exercised upon him was so
remarkable that once when my bicycle
ran away with me and broke my arms,
our mother consulted three medical
men as to whether Gregoire's bicycle
was bound to run away with him, too.
fRdced, my brother was distinctly ap-
prehensive of it himself.
Again at college. I shall not pre-
tend that was bookworm, or that
shared Gregoires ambitions; on the
contrary, the world beyond the walls
looked such jolly place to me that
Che mere sight of a classroom would
sometimes fill me with adherence.
But, mon Dieu! if other fellows were
wild occasionally, they accepted the
penalties, and the affair was finished;
on me rested a responsibility-my
wildness was communicated to Gre
goire. Scarcely had | resigned myself
p dull routine again than Gregoire,
the industrious, would find himself
unable to study a page, aud would
commit freaks for which he rebuked
me most sternly.
lions at all, aspired to be painter,
and, after combating my family's OBJ
tections | entered an art school in
Paris. Gregoire, on the other hand,
Inclined strongly to law. During the
hext few years we met infrequentiy,
tut that my brother continued to be
affected by any unusual conditions OF
my body and mind / knew by his let
tiers, which seldom failed to contain
sxpostulations and entreaties. Can
tou blame me If had no love for this
correspondent?
Hy Brother:
The Circumstances Of Our Birth
Four attention is directed to my pre-
eeding communications on this sub
feet / desire to protest against the
bevelry from which you recovered eth
tr on the 18th or 10th inst. On the
afternoon OF the later date, while en-
jagged in a conference of the first mag
titude, was seized with an over
khelming desire to dance quadrille
it public ball. Isfound it impossible
10 concentrate my attention on the
Ease concerning which was consult
ID; could no longer express myself
With lucidity.
Outwardly sedate, reliable, I sat ct
ny desk dizzied by such visions as
pursued ST. Anthony to his cell. No
sooner was free than fed from Yer
ton, dined in Paris, bought false
beard, and plunged wildly into the
Eortex of dancing hall. Scoundrei!
This is past pardon! My sensibilities
revolt. and my prudence shudders.
Who shall say but that one night
may be recognized? Who can foreten
b what blackmail you may expose
ne? /, Maitre Lapalme, forbid your
brof1igacies, which devolve upon me,
torbid-etc.
Our mother still lived In Vernon,
where she contemplated her favorite
pon's success with the profoundest
pride. Occasionally spent few days
NTH her, sometimes more.
One summer when / visited her
net Mademoiselle Leuillet. | know
ferry well that no description Of a
kirl ever painted her to anybody yet
Suffice 1t that she was beautiful as
n angel, that her voice was like the
music OF the Spheres-mor than all,
hat one felt all the time, How good
he is. how good, how good"
Never since was q boy had stay
"a In Vernon for so long as now, new
p had repented SO bitterly as now
lhe error Of my ways. loved, and
\ seemed to me that my attachments
was reciprocated, yet my position for
oade me to 60 to Monsieur Leuillet
and ask boldly for bis daughters
hand. While had remained obscure.
artists whose talent wasSno more re-
harkable than my own, had raised
themselves. from Bohemia into pros
Dsrity. ] vas an idler, good-for-