Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1909-01-14


!, "Well Ione?" said the colonel
softly; and Charlie suddenly clapped
his strong hands together. and spoke
a little rapidly.
"Splendid!" he said. Splendid!
Everybody Is all that a managet
could desire. We will bring down
the house with applause, am GER
tain. am very much Obliged to
every one for the intelligence and
diligence with which they have
studied their respective parts!"
When at length the two brothers
were left alone to smoke a last pipe
before going to bed, they sat for
some time without speaking. They
had never been so much together.
these. two, and perhaps It was owing
to this that they were somewhat diff
ferent from other brothers In their
mutual love. Mutual respect had an
important place in the love they bore
toward each other, and, as a rule.
brotherly affection is without It.
Charlie knew that his younger
brother was cleverer, quicker and in
every way more brilliant than HIM
self, and he was content that 1t
should be so. Indeed, he was
proud of it-proud to be the brother
Of VINEYARD Mistley. And Wi.'yard,
the observant, was fully aware that
this big, grave brother Of his was a
better man than himself.
On this particular evening VIM
yard felt a strange increase of affec-
ton toward his brother. Never be-
fore had they possessed so many in
terests in common; never had the
thought come so prominently before
his mind that too little had been
said between them, too much left to
the imagination.
Charlie sat by the open window OF
the little study in low basket-work
chair, and smoked with that good
oatured placidity and sense Of strong
repose which suited so well his fair
face and splendid stature. VINEYARD,
seated near the screened fireplace.
smoked more rapidly, as IL to keep
pace with his quicker thoughts, con-
suming more tobacco, enjoying 1t per-
haps less. The calm peacefulness of
his brothers demeanor quelled the
words that were within his heart,
bid him to be as self-contained and
self-suppressing, drove back the rest
less eagerness of his soul, and spoke
of a quiet attendance on the course
Of events which was beyond his conf
prehension, and had no place in his
character.
II VINEYARD could only have seen
beneath that calm and Indifferent ex-
terror, he might have put into words
the unusual thrill of brotherly love
that warmed his heart. But English
men are not made SO, and the mo-
ment passed, never to return; the OPP
portunity came no more, and Silence
numbered another victim to her ruth
less bow and spear. 1t Is only on the
stage that men have time and oppor-
tunity to make that little farewell
speech which is to put a graceful fin-
ish to our comedy, clearing up the
doubtful passages, explaining away
misunderstanding, and mlngling
prayer for charitable remembrance
with the rumble of the curtain roller.
It almost seemed as If VINEYARD Mist
ley knew that this was last chance
Of breaking down that invisible bar
rier which stood between his broth
ers heart and his own, a barrier
which was naught else but shyness
and habit OF reserve on either side.
1t almost seemed as II his imagin-
alton could span the 400 miles of ST.
lent, night-ridden land that lay be-
tween him and two gray-haired.
grave faced men, who were at that
moment speaking Of him within a
little curtained room beneath West
minister's great tower. 1t seemed as
IL he could read the message ad-
dressed to him, and containing the
mandate of an almost certain doom
that lay beneath the anxious states
mans hand.