Evening star., 1937-11-07

~ when Monsieur Grendee, the
younger, the present head of the business in
Switzerland, for the first time visited the
United States, Ned Brander was pleased to
entertain him.
"Just family dinner, he explained. Mrs.
Brander and our son and you and l. l should
like you to know my family"
And Monsieur Grendee enjoyed the eve
ming; he found Mrs. Brander quietly beauti-
full, quietly charming. The boy, not yet quite
twenty, was fine youngster with proud
head and steady eye. Afterward, when Bran
der and his guest were left alone, Monsieur
Grendee said:
81 congratulate you on your family, MI.
Brander. Mrs. Brander and your son -
they give the impression of having built their
lives firmly on a secure heritage of pride. You
will be proud of that boy. one day, as now he
is proud of you"
Brander said: "Yes, he's fine boy. And of
course he is fond of me. But he is not my own
son; and the pride you feel in him is not pride
in me, but in his father. His father was killed
in the War, you see. He added: Mrs. Bran
der and have no other children"
He began to fill his pipe. The other looked
at him thoughtfully. "Ah." he commented. in
tone of understanding and of sympathy.
Brander reflected: "And of course Mrs.
Brander has that fine memory. too" He said
after a moment: "A feeling like that - it
makes a person strong, and yet vulnerable,
too. remember boy knew in college.
boy from Tennessee He used to tell us, with
shining eyes, about his grandfather who was
killed in the war between the States. He told
us that when they found his grandfather's
body, there were seven Yankees dead in front
of him. whom he had killed. And this boy al
ways finished the narrative by saying: And
they never would have killed my grandfather
if they hadn't shot him from behind. He had
not wound in front, and five wounds in his
back"
Brander added: "One day, joking, Hank -
well, a friend of mine - asked: Which way
was your grandfather running when they
shot him in the back, fellow?' And that boy
from Tennessee - he had never thought OF
that. He could not answer it. tell you, his
character collapsed after that. His founda-
tons were gone"
Monsieur Grendee nodded. ut is bad
thing to = shatter idols" he assented. And
then he asked surprising question. Have
you, by any chance, a brother, MIR. Brander!
A twin brother, for instanoe?"
Brander shook his head. mo. My brother,
Bert, was killed in the War, but we we're not
twins
You yourself served?"
"Yes."
Monsieur Grendee lighted cigarette in
a thoughtful way. His eyes twinkled mildly.
He said: Unless am mistaken, Mr.. Brander,
you were once very near causing my death.
Brander stared at him. ''How?"
by the manner in which you lighted your
pipe, on certain evening, at certain railway
station in Paris"
Brander's lips drained white, and for mo-
ment there was silence between them. Then
Brander leaned slowly forward in his chair,
looking at the other man in fixed way, al
most fercely. He spoke in a low tone. "You
will have to say more than that"
Monsieur Grendee appeared embarrassed.
II was mistaken" he declared. 1T was only
something in the turn of your hand as you
lighted your pipe just now But after
a moment he added, more honestly: "Or per-