Oxford Democrat., 1906-09-11
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By Cecilia A. Loizeaux
Copu.tght. 1906, bp Homer Sprdg,ie
Copyright. 1906. bp Homer Sprao,ie

lH0R. JARED BARTON leaned
| M1 his gray head wearily on his
90 hand; ATser. they go again." he
said aloud in distressed tone. And
before she came here they were thicker
than thieves. 1 wish ! could find
way out OF this mess"
The angry voices which had been the
cause of this soliloquy became angrier
and nearer:
"And IL l ever see you looking at
her again with that sick cat expression
on your mug I'll injure it SO you can't
grin for week"
"Thats Dick" said the father, laugh
ing in spite of himself at this threat.
"Bess says she's bully nurse said
the other voice. "I'd have good care"
Bert always gets ahead. He's just
what was when I was his age"
chuckled the old man in the library.
Great Scott! They'll kill each other
yet! Here, you young hounds" he
yelled, rushing out into the hall. "You
pick yourself up and get out OF this
IL you've got to fight, you go out be-
hind the barn and fight till one or the
other Of you gets killed. Look out
there, Dick"
Dick had his brother down and was
sitting on him. He had just raised his
arm to administer good blow on the
upturned face of Bert when his father
caught his arm aud dragged him off.
Bert did not take the trouble to get
up, but lay tiat on his back, looking up
at his brother with wicked one sided
grin.
"Get up, Bert" ordered his father.
and he shuttied to his feet. Very sud
denly Mr.. Barton's patience gave out.
| Catching Bert by the collar and retain
ing his grip on Dicks arm, lie shook
both boys until his face grew purple,
and, letting them go, he leaned against
the banisters gaspins for breath. The
boys made no attempt to resist; they
merely grew utterly limp. They were
twins, about seventeen. and small for
their age, with fair hair and dreamy
gray eyes. All of the mischief perpe-
trated in the particular suburb in
which they lived was sooner or later
tracked to their door or to the doors or
their innocent accomplices. They had
one redeeming feature; until few
/ k.s In
gether through thick and thin. When
one was punished the other was punish
ed before the rest Of the family could
live with h!.n. 1t seemed, sometimes,
to their anguished parents as If the
twins could read each others mind.
| While their mother was alive she had
been able to control them 10 some eX-
tent. and her last words were. Keep
the twins together" At that time they
were so thick "a knife blade couldn't
be slid between them," as Mr.. Barton
remarked. But that was some time
ago. Now
"I'm ashamed Of you," he said wea-
rlly and went back into his library,
leaving the twins glar!ng at each other.
Presently they began to look sheepish,
and then they grinned and stuck out
their hands at the same time. The ar
gument was understood to be closed
for the present.
Mr.. Barton watched them so down
the street together, arm in arm, ana
| gave sigh of relief He knew be
would have al hour or two OF peace.
While he stood musing at the win
dow his little daughter Bess ana her
governess came around the corner anu
in at the gate.
"There's tie bone Of contention now,
he said. What does she mean by en-
couraging those young whelps to fall
In love with herY'
His daughter Bess bounced into the
room waving an envelope in her hand.
Letter from Bob" she whooped.
Hurry up and read 'er"
Quietly, Bessie" said Miss Gray.
who had entered behind the little gil.
"When you have finished visiting with
your father, come upstairs and l will
help you with your French for tomor'
row."
Mr.. Barton took Bess on his knee
and opened his letter. 1t was charac'
teristic. He was out In Colorado "see-
| Ing the world" and having the time of
his life" was well and happy and
ready to come home at any time; love
| to Bess and the boys and his regards
to the young lady who had succeeded
In making individuals out Of the Sia'
mese twins"
Bess ran away presently, and MT.
Barton let his thoughts wander out TO
his eldest son. Bob had been gradu-
ated from Harvard the summer before
and had come home little more en-
| thusiastic about Boston than he should
have been, knowing his fathers preju-
dice against the place. The very first
thing he had done on his arrival home
was to announce his engagement to
girl from Boston.
Now, It had never entered Mr.. Bar
toms head that Bob could be such
IOOl Us " ldl III ioNC oe s"9hNS ~A~~'
and the cool announcement took away
his breath.
"Huhv he snorted. "You precocious
baby! Pretty husband you'd make,
wouldn't you? Bessie's rag dolls could
marry and be about as dignlfed as
you'd be in such fx."
Bob merely grinned and turned
away the edge Of the old mans wrath.
"It isn't because think you would
not make money enough. You're
stick of the same kind Of wood pile
your father used to chop. You 60 out
west for a year, and I'll pay the bills.
and I'll bet you anything you like you'll
come back cured"
Bob thought for awhile, and then he
said slowly:
dad, I'll bet you currency to cookies
that can beat you at ttis game" And
he departed cheerfully for the west.
Mr.. Barton thought Of all this rather
compla Gently, and then ho sat down
and wrote letter to Bob. 1t was even
more characteristic than the letter from
his son.
Nv Dear Bob THE time has come"
Ss the wairus said, ITO speak OF many
things" I'm In the devil Of fx. and
guess It's your turn to help out your poor
old dad. Besides, you got me into II. II