The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-01-16
A Sketch Of
Twin Brothers
By F. A. mitchell

we were youngsters. We did not real
lie how happy we were or at leas
how happy We should have been.
was one OF twins, Tom and Jim
was Tom. When Jim and / wer
between fifteen and sixteen we wer,
like one person. And yet one seein.
US together would never have consid
cred us as such. We were Away
quarreling or seemed to be quarreling
With others 1t would have really beer
quarreling; with us there was no quar-
rel at all. We were speaking In {
language we both understood perfectly
l remember waking up one morning
and seeing Jim at the dresser putting
on shirt that l had kept Numbered te
wear on an especial occasion.
what In thunder are you doingT
yelled.
No answer.
you fblankety-blank robber, If you
don't put that shirt back in the drawer
I'll get up and break every bone In
your body"
Jim had the shirt on and was tying
my best cravat around his neck
/ launched anathemas and threats
without number, but they awaited
nothing Jim went out with my APP
propriated toggery, and turned over
for another nap.
When we were about sixteen Jim be-
came enamored of girl exactly our
age. l remember that she wore her
hair in number of beautiful curls
There was something bewitching In
her tossing them aside when they got
In her way. Just as soon as Jim lost
his heart to her my wardrobe became
especially subject to his depredations.
had weakness for jewelry. | had
saved my money and bought a gold
locket, which / used for a fob. The
watch at the other end Of the ribbon
was an old one In silver case. 1t was
of no use except for an excuse to dis
play the trinket at the other end One
day l missed my locket. | didn't see
how 1t could have been stolen, because
nothing else In the house had been
missed
The next time | saw Jim's girl what
was my establishment to see my locket
suspended to her neck. Jim had
stolen &c? No: he had simply appro
priated 1t as common property between
brothers. He knew very well that l
would see 1t on his girl and would
know that he had taken 1t. There Is
nothing like stealing about that II
is simply claiming ones own.
There must have been the dawn Of
manhood in me, for when was about
to blurt out that the iocket belonged
to me | restrained myself. | took a
much more honorable way-so l con
sidered tito repossess myself of my
property, | asked to be permitted to
examine the locket and when 1t was
handed to me l declined TO return It.
Lucy-that was her name-upbraided |
me and called upon Jim, who was pres !
ent, to secure the return OF her treas |
ure. Jim was In fix. He took me
aside and offered me scarfpin and
plated gold chain If I would let the
matter stand for awhile as his gift to
Lucy. told him that IL he would add
a red cravat of his that | coveted l
would condone his offense and leave
the locket In his girls possession.
Making virtue Of necessity, he yield
I'd to my fiinty terms, and l returned
The locket to Lucy.
That was many years ago. ] have
forgotten what became Of the locket,
put 1t is my impression that 1t never
anne back to me. though Jim changed
his girl very soon after his stopping
ny mouth with his pinchbeck jewelry
Ind a well worn necktie.
Then came my turn to get girl.
Wish could feel toward a woman to-
lay as l felt toward that girl. Phoebe
vas her name, and | considered her
adiantly beautiful. ] have since seen
! picture of her taken at that time, :
nd | have been surprised TO see tnat ,
he was red headed. freckled and snub !
osed
/ invited my girl to go to ride with
ne. Unfortunately / did not keep my 9
Intention from Jim, and the day drove r
p TO the house OF my ladylove he [
rove up there, too, with chum of his h
4 a rattletrap two wheeled gig.
go away" said to him. 8
He laughed at me.
threatened and, begged. He was e
OF to be moved. / went into the house
nd brought out Phoebe This being
ne first time l had ever taken girl
, ride, l suffered with a painful EN-.
arrassment, but the presence OF Jim
nd his friend was positively horrible.
Phoebe saw them and realized what .
hey were up to, but pretended not to <
office them. When / drove awdy they :
,llowed me, but after awhile they \
Irned on a different road.
inwardly resolved that when / re- Z
lrned I would kill Jim. Yes, would :
II him! IL | were hanged for murder Z
would die In a good cause. But Jim =
new well enough the storm that would (
irst upon him and kept out OF my =
sy till my rage had cooled. When i !
w him next he was sitting on the =
,rch under our bedroom window. Go I
& TO the bathroom, filed bucket 2
"