Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1922-01-13
A Brothers
Sacrifice
By MALCOLM BROWN

declared Seth Ramsey.
with the fatted calf sort of left
out. though. ell, SethT and Ethan
Bannister. the village gossip, poked
his crony in the ribs with a sly wink
and a gleesome chuckle.
ooh, he's being treated all right,
for I've tanned down some of his no
lions" declared Ramsey.
'"Tell about it, Seth.' urged the sean
dal-loYing Bannister.
well, as you know, Paul and Yer
non are my stepsons. Their mother
left them something substantial, but
/ am guardian and trustee for ten
years."
"Yes, 1 know about that" nodded
Bannister.
''Well. they have a yearly allow
ance. Young Paul thought it wasn't
enough and went to the city few
months since l refused to advance
him penny and / reckon he hates me
for it. Last month had to send YER
non to the city to collect claim of
his mothers estate. / knew he hank
cred to see that shiftless brother of
his, so let him go. Instead of coming
back in two days as planned with the
$500, ne was gone a week and came
back without a cent"
"Why, where was the money!"
COLLECTED and spent. He faced me
squarely. He confessed that most of
it had gone in "a fling at city life,' as
he called it,"
1t took Ethan Bannister just "a
hours to spread the news all over
Clifden.
When Vernon went one evening to call
upon Eva Cross he was a trifie en-
barrassed at the rather cool reception
of her mother, but that soon wore
away as he sat in the rose bower with
the daughter.
Eva" he said after time 81 have
brought a letter to you from my broth
er, Paul"
His lips twitched as he noted the
expression Of glad delight that came
into her beautiful face. In fact, she
reached so eagerly for the proffered
missive that it slipped from her hand.
In STOPPING to recover it a rose fell
from her bosom. Unnoticed by her
Vernon secured the flower and con-
cealed 1t in his pocket.
sand now to forget" he said grimly
as he returned to his cherries home
"for Paul's sake"
1t was humdrum life with misery.
mean-spirited old Seth Ramsey but
Vernon shared it without a murmur.
One night, dark and stormy, Vernon
sat reading in his room when there
came a sudden rat-ta-t-tat at the win
dow.
at is Paul." he said, and was quick
~ down in the yard to greet his broth
er. "Come into the house." he invited
mo" responded Paul definitely, 81
will never cross the threshold of the
misery old man who refused me help
when needed it so sorely. You good
dear brother!" and the speaker passed
an affectionate arm through that Of
Vernon, "only for you who have been
so good. so loyal to me. I would not
even have come to Clifden. Vernon.
/ have something to tell you-vital,
serious"
Vernon said Paul, "you know how
dearly l love Eva"
EYES," said his brother In low tone
of constraint.
81 feel like cad a craven, to think
that you should be blamed for what
I did. I was reckless, wicked when
I took that $500 from your pocket and
| spent it, claiming that our stepfather
owed 1t to me. which morally he did.
Then your kindness. your sacrifice.
Since then, oh. believe me- have not
| touched a card or tasted wine am
offered a splendid position in the West.
The firm has even advanced me two
hundred dollars Vernon, brother, re-
lease me from my promise not TO re-
veal my blame about that money"
| AT seven o'clock the next morning,
with batter and bang on his bed
room door, Seth Ramsey shouted out
| excitedly:
"Get up, Vernon. Here's great
newsi Your brother Paul eloped with
Eva Cross last night. They have gone
out West and left a note asking for
giveness and all that pother. What
do you think of that?"
"Are you sure of this?" asked Yer.
non in Il husky tone.
"Oh. yes. They drove TO virden and
were married by the minister there
The old man went down the stairs
chuckling and talking to himself. With
his stepson at distance he could hold
on to the trust money.
Vernon arose. dressed himself, went
| down the stair and into the little front
parlor Of the house
lie paused before a picture, that Of
his dead mother. He looked up into
her sweet, patient face and thought OF
all the kind deeds she had done. and
then with an affectlonate glance al
the portrait OF Paul, and smiled.
Then, his shoulders strengthened