Year: 1873

| Aa-


The Story of an Eldest Son
am the eldest SON of a gentleman
who had good property in one of tn


northern counties of England. l hat
lone brother, a year younger than mysel
La wild, dissipated gambler. Often
have paid his debts ont of my own al
tlowance, rather than let my father know
of his misdeeds. Each time did so
William-my brother was so called


promised never to touch a card or bacl


horse again, and each time after ;


few weeks quiet life, he returned to hi


evil courses with redoubled energy, ant


soon got in debt as much as ever. Whel


was about twenty-eight years old my


father died, leaving me heir to all hi


property, which was entailed. Hither.


20 L had lived q quiet country life; bu


now, forced by business to frequent the


busy haunts of men, began to like the


excitements Of the world and the gay


pleasures Of society. Rich, good-look.


ing and easy tempered, 1 was soon IA


vorite with those who / came in contact


with. Simple in the ways of the world
and unsuspicious by nature, was silly
enough to suppose that it was the man
and not the money they courted; and
it fattered my pride and codceit to be
much thought of and sought after. To
crown my happiness, grew fondly at
tached to beautiful girl, who seemed
to return my love; and before l had
known her many months we were en-
gagged. need not tell you her name,
nor need l give you description of her
more than in saying that she was tall,
dark, with long raven locks and black
flashing eyes; of rather a Spanish beau
ty-commanding and imperious look
ing. / was intoxicated with her type
Of beauty, and worshipped her madly.
| obeyed every look or gesture, and
blinded by my foolish, insane love, l
became her abject slave, only living for
the pleasure of serving her and being
near her. -@-- -


Oh! fool, idiotthat was, to suppose
that such as she could love poor, weak
silly creature like mel But soon | was
to be undeceived. Ny brother came to
stay with me at the same time that she
and her mother were visiting me. He
toe, seemed struck with her beauty and
told me, in a joking, laughing sort of
way, what a lucky fellow was.


"Your elder brothers," lie said-half
bitterly I thought-"are always in luck
in love or war. With nice, snug in
come, and a dear old country place, you
are going to marry the handsomest wo-
man in England, with whom you are
deeply in love, and no wonder; and
who, as a matter of course" he added
with halfsneering smile, sis equally
devoted to you or to your acres. Oh,
happy accident of birth! Now look a.
the unhappy younger son, as illustrated
Unlucky at my birth, the same unlueky
genius pursues me through life. Born
with the same, or rather ten times great
er desires to enjoy the 'good things of
this life,' came to mans estate and
discover myself dependent on the gen.
erous bounty Of brother whose only
claim to superior sagacity is the fact of
coming into the world before me-"


So, saying he turned and hurriedly
left me. felt grieved that he should
in his hear. blame me for his want of
luck. had always given him what 1
considered to be just propotion of my
yearly income; but if he had received
ten times that amount, it wonld have
all gone in gambling and betting, and
in few months he would have been as
poor as ever. 4fl-ra


Things went on quietly and without
change for a week or two. Then / be-
gan to be sensible of. a change in her
behavior to me. could not say in what
only now she seemed to avoid being
alone with me, and at times spoke short
ly and impatiently to me. For long
time tried to make myself believe it
was only fancy; but by degrees the
heart breaking truth forced itself upon
ne. She was eeasing to love me. Per-
haps learning to love another. If so.
who was, ii that was robbing meof my
idol? Who could it be but my own
brother? Alas! alas? how could it be
otherwise? Living in the same house,
meeting every hour Of the day, was it
possible for my brother to resist such
perfection? Still, 1 might be mistaken,
and 1 determined to watch them closely.
For days saw nothing to indicate that
my surmises were correct, and began
to think it were but lovers fears, and
my heart grew light and happy again;
and Invent to find her, intending to tell
her of my idle, groundless suspicious.


As Invent through the garden, on my
way to greenhouse where the servants
told me should find her, came sud-
denly on sight which checked my fur
ther progress. Standing under shell
ter of tree were two people, man
and a woman-he with his arm around
her, tenderly supporting her, while she
looked up in his face trustingly and low
ingly.


1t was my brother and my promised
wife. As l stood still, rooted to the
spot as it were, spell-bound, their lips
met in long, clinging kiss.


With groan, l turned and fed from
the cursed spot, and reaching my room,
threw myself on the bed, wild with
grief and despair, and unable to
collect my scattered thoughts. Nothing
but the one terrible truth was ever be-
foreame had lost her! And ne, my
brother, whom had loved as my myself
had robbed me of her. Still, strange TO
say, no feeling of anger or resentment
stirred my heart. Could blame him
for lowing her? He, who was hand
somer far than /, clever and learned in
the ways Of the world, was amore fit


ting mate for her than l was-poor,
simple, weak-minded, blinded fool. 1
lay for hours, crushed and stunned, in a
kind of a stuDor and at last fell asleen