Miscellany: The Brother's Temptation

'Come, Henry!' said Blunche Armour to her brother, who had seemed nnusuullv' silein and thouglilful since tea-lime, 'I want you to read whiJe I make thLs cap for nía.' 'Excuse me, Blanche, ií yon ph.nsc, I don'i feel like reading to-niyltt,' ihe brollier replied ehading his face bol h fioai the light and the penetratmg glance of bis sister, as he epuke. Blanche did not repeat '.he request, for ii was a liabil witb her never, tp urge her brotlier or, indeed ony one, to do a tliing for which lie ejenied disinchned. She, therefore, took lier wotk-baeket, and sat down by the centretab?e. witliout Gsv'ing auy tliing fanlier, tnd commenced eewiog. Buí ehe did not í'eei quite easy, tor t was too appsrent Ujat Henry was dist urbed about some'hing, For several doys he bad seenied more than usunlly roserved and thoughtfrílj Noít he was gloomy as wcll as thougbtful. Of course, thero wos a cause for this. And as this cause was hidden frorn Biar.chc, she could not but feel troubled. Several tijnes during the evftning she atteaipted todrnwbim out into conversaron, but he 'tróüld reply to her iu monosyllables, and then fall back into his state of silent abstraction of' mind. Once or twice he got up and waiked across the floor, nnd then ogain retumed bis seat, as if he had compelied himself to eil down by a strong ef fort of the will. Thus tJie time passed away, until the uual hour uf retiring fr the nighl caine, when Blanche put down her uoik, and rising from her chair by the ccnlre-t.ibie, went tó Henry, and stooping down over bfiu, as he lay half reclining upon the sota, kissed Iiim tenderly, and murraurcd an affectkmaie ood night.' 'Good night, dear,' he reiurned, without rieing, or adding another word. Blanche lingered a moment, .and then, witli a repressed 6Jgh, left the room, and reiired lo her chamber. She cóuld noi underslnnd her brothpr's fcf range mood. For him lo be troub led and silent was nhogether new. And the cause? Whyehould lie conceJ it froni her. towards whom, till nowr he had never witlihefd ojiy thing tliat gave him either pleasure or pain?The moment Blanche relirerf, the whole manner of lïeivy Armour changed. He gut up from the sofa, and comrnenced walkiug ihe floor wilh rapid steps, whilethe deep lines up on his forehejid, and his strongly cotr.preesed lipsgliowed liim to be laburing under some powertul mental excitement. He contir-ued to walk thui hiirriedly backward and forwurd for the space of half on hour, u-hen, a.s iï eottie Jong debated point had been decidsd, ho grasped' the narlor door with a firm Ümid, Ihrew it open, took from the ruck hi hat, cloak and cune, and in a few moincnts was in the street. The jar of the street door, as it closed, was distinctly heard by Blanofie, and this caued the trouble wliicli had oppressed her all the evening, to chnnge into one of anxietv. Where could Henry be goïn? at this Inte hour? He rarely stayed out beynnd tcü o'clock; and ehe had never before known hi:n toleave the honee after tne usual bed time of the farnily. His poing out h;id, of cour.-e, Eomething to do with his unhappy moed.- What coulcl it menn? She could nt 6iispeci him of nny wrong. She knew lum to be too pure -minded and honorable. But therp was mystery connected wiih his conduct and this troubled her. She had jnst Inid aside a book, thut ehe had taken up for the purpose of reading a few pages before retiring fur the night, nnd comrnenced disrobir.g hersclfj when the sound of the door closing after lier hrother startled her, and caused her to pause and think . She could not no w retire, for, to n leep u-ould be impossible. Sher therefore, drew a shawl about her, and again resumcrl her book, determined lo sit up until Hcrry'a return. But JiltJe that she read mado n very distinctimpreseion on her mind. Her tho'.'s were wilh her brother, whom he tcnderly Joved, nud had learned to confide in as one of pure sentiments and firm rnnciples. While Henry Armoursti!) imgeied at home in moody indecisión of mi d, a sinull party oi yoang men ivere aFeembicd n an upper roomof a celebratcd refectory, dnnkiug, smoking nni inoulgiijg in conversnt on, i large portion of wfjirh would have shockèJ a moJest ear. They were a!l membors of wealthy und 're speciable families Sonic bod pasted their mftjority, and otheri still lingered bctwecn mnc'ecn and twenty-ono, tliat daugerouá agí' for a yqufag man - especially if le be so nn forlumiie ns to hnve üt'.le to do, and a liberal npply o!' pocket uioney. Conf-iind Ibe lellow! What keeps IHm so 'nugV onc of, the comapny tuid, looking ut liidwatcli. 'It's nearJy (en o'clock ad ñe has nol has made hii appearance.' 'Whotu do yon mean? Arniour?' askeó another. Cortainly T do. Ile promised to join us a?ain to-nisflit.' So lie did! But I'll bet a pewter sixpence ie won't come.''lli: sister won't Iet Iiiin. Don't j'.oti know that he is tied io her apron striügs almnst every night, the silly fdlow! Why don't he be a man, and enjoy üfe as l goes? 'Sure cnough! Wiiat is üfe wortl?, if its pleasures aro njl to be sacrificed for a sisier?' returned the o! her snerinyly. 'Here! Pn?s that bot: Ie of cliampag-neinterrupted or;e of the compnny. 'Lot Hnrry Armour break hts enirngemení for a sister if he likes. Tliat neeti'nt mar our enjny ment. There nre enougfi of us here for a regular Jorry .' 'Horeca a toast,' cried onolher, as lie ifted a parklinp' glass to his lips - 'Ploatant dreums to the old folks!' 'Goud! Goed! Good!' pass rjiind the toble, aboiit Avhich the revel leru were g-atlicreo, and each diained a glass to tje., well iwderstood Feiitimcnf.ín the.meun time, young Armour ,had leíf his h'm'p, ha ving decidid at last, .nd afler a st-rupfrle iviih liimsclG Io juin llie gay corirpjynyas lir !uid ngreed íocio. h was, in íiict, a liiilc club, lortüed a ebort lime previouf!, tfje membcrs ofvvhich met once a week io eot, drink, tmoke, nd corrupt êacfi'ttlier by riííiculmg tíiose moral restraints whicli. once Jaid atide, leavo the ihcwghtless vouth in ïmni'nent danser of ruin.Ilenry Arinour had bec:i blp-ssed witli a sis tt;r a yearor iwo older th;in hiniself, who loved lum lendeily. The moe rariid devolop ment of lier mind, as'well as bod}, had given her the appearance of maturity ihat cnabled lier to exercise "a etrong influence ove1 dim. - Of ihe dangers thot beset the pntii ofa;oui)gf man she Jcnew Jiltle or nothrngf. The constant eiïbrt wliich she mutle !o render liome igrceable lo her brolliür by Consulting his tüstes, ond entering into every thing t Lat seemed toigive liim pleasure, did not, therefarp4 spring "rom a vish to g-uard liim frc;m thevvörld'sölltireineultjit was thespontanoous resuH of a pure fraternal affectioo.. But it h-sd the righteSect To hini, tlierewas 110 place like home; nor any smüe 6óvallurinff, or voice so sw eet as hits sister'e. And abroVd, no cotnpany possessod a perfect ciiainjj unless Blatiche was one of its momber.TiiLs comiiiued un" il Henry gained his 22d year, when asa law student, hefownd liimselt' thrown more and moreinto tiie company óf young men of lus own age, and tiie saine standing: in society. An occasimia] nde out with onc and another of these, on which occasions an hour ar Jeasl was always syeñl in a public house, opened to him new scènes in life. and for a young mnn of ively, buoyant minrJ, jroí altogctlier unaitractive. Tliat there ivis danger Iiv these patiis lie did notottempt lo disgui-e Irpmiiiini-eir. Alore thun one, or two, or ihree, whom he rret on nlrnust every visit he madeto a faebionable resort for yonng men, ubout five miles lvom the city, shovvëd too slröng indicatione of having passed beyond the bonnds of gelf-control, as well in tiielr use of vine, nnd etronger drink?, as m Üieir ci-nduct, which vvas too free from those externa! dreent restratnts tliut we look'for even in cnen wlio tñake no pretensión s to rirtue. - Bul ha feared not for hiniself. The ex'iibitions which 'hese made of themselves insfibctively (husted him. Stül, Iip did not perceive thal lie was less and le?s shocked al some tilines he belield. and more than at first inclined to laugh aLfoMies which verged too nearly upon (i)ornl delinquencies.Gradua'ly bis circle of acq'iaintance with young men of the gay clase extended, and the' freer parli:ipation with them ui mnnv oFtheir pleasures carne as a nitural conequence. 'Cmne,' enid one of them to him. os the two met in the streef, by accident, one evening, '1 wsnt you to go wilh me.' 'But why should ï f?o with? Or, rnther, W' ere are yoü going?' aeked Armour. 'To meet pomo of our frieudá down at C V replied the yoüng man. 'Whnt are you going to do there? farther inquired Armour. 4tij 'Nolhmcr more (han to drink a glass ,.o. vif, and have sotne pleasant chit cbat. So come aJiinw ' 'Wil! I be wclcome?' : 'Certninly wil!, l'll guarantee tbat Sotme h;ilf dBzn of us hive íonnod a linie cltib, and encii ntember bus the privilege of onv one he pleaes. To uight I invite you, nndon the next evening í expect to seo you present, not a ! gnpst, but as a mpniber. So com? along nnd eee how you like us.' Armour had no definiré objnct in view. He had walked ouf, because be feit ratber list lees at borne, Blanche bavrns relired with sick hoadachp. h rcqnired, therefore, no per sunsion to induce bini (o yicld to tbc friend's invitation. Arrivod at C V, a fashioncble bo.ise of refres!inv?nt, the two young men passed itp stairs nnd entered one of the private npartments of the house, which they found handyoniely furnislied and brillinntly %bted. ín llus, g-iiihpred nrnund a circulur, or raiber oblong table, were fiv; or eix young men, nearly all ofthem well known to Arnur. On tbc table were bottles of vine and glasses - ibe la tier filled. 'Just in time!' cried tlie president of the club. 'Henry Armour, I bi(í yu welcomeí- Here's n place wniting for yon,' placing hi hand upon n chair by bis side as he spoke 'And now.' as Armour eeated hunself, Met me fill yotir glHfs.! W were wailing for ament lo find its wiy out of sotnc bram as you carne iñ, tu.d our briinming glasses liad stood un.tasted f'or more than a minute. Ctui't you hdp us to a toast?' 'Here's to good fellowt-hip!" said Armour, promptly hfting his t,rla, urid toucbiiig il to dial of tlie pre?iílent. To be drunk stunding,' added the presiAll rose on the íiibWtiÍ, nnd drank witli mobk tolemnity to ihe sontiuicnt of their goeet. Tiieu followed briliiant -flalies of wit, or what wúa thouyht to bo wh. To these suc ceeded the sonr', the jest, the story- and to theso again the 6parkling wine cup. Guily thus passed the h ure, untiï midnight stole q'iietly upon the thouglitless revellers. Surpnsed, ou reference to his watcl, to fiud that it was tío o'clück, Armour aróse and bcggeá to he excused . 'I move that onr guest be exctieed on ene condition,1 eaid the friend who had brotight him to the compaiiy. 'And that is nn his promise to meet wilii us, on tbiá evening next weok.''Wliat do you tbink of tlie condition! asked the president, who like nearly all the rest, was rather the u-orse for the wine he bad taken, lookirig ot Arnióur ae he spoke. 'I ngrce to it with pleasure,' was the prompt reply. Another drink before you g-o, then,' eaid the president, and I wil! give the toast. Fill tip vourgiat-'ses. Tlie bottle again passed round the table. 'Here's toa good fellowT was the sentiment smounced. Ii was received standing. - Armour then retired with bewildered soases. Tlie gay scène that had floafed before lus eyes,nd in which himself had been un actor, and thef'eedotn wit Ii which he hud taken wine, left him confuser), almost in regard to liis own identity. He did nol seem to himself the same perron he had been a few hours be füre. A nevv world Imd opeued beforo hitn, ar.d he had, nlu-ost involuntarily, enlered into, and beenme a ciiízen of that world. Long after he luid reached his home, and relired lo his bed, did his imagination revel nmid the scènes he had jtist left. Insleep, too, faney was bus}1. JBut iiere come a change. - Serpenis would too ofien gíide across the table around which thegay compnny, himself a neinber, were nssemb'ed. Or somc other sudde nnd more appalling chance sentter into fragmentB tlie bright pliautasma of his Ireaniá.The sober morning fomd hini in a sober inood. CaJm, cold and uriimpnssioned reflecn'on canil-. What liad he been áo'mgl What pnth had heentered; and vvhither did it Icad? The.-e are qne&tions that would nmide theinselves, nnd camur for an answer. He shut hit eyee and endeavorcd ng-ain totleep. VVnkinothoucrlils-were wort-e thai the airy terrors that liad visüed him in sleep. At ength he aróse, with dull pains in hio head, and an oppressive 6lugrgÍ6Íin?8 of ihe whule body. . But more bainfu) ihan his own reflections, or the physical consrqurnces of ihe last nigln's irregular'Hy, was the tliought or meiing Elunche and bearing the glsnce of lier innocent eyeï. He flt tliát he had been umong the impure, - ind wora-e, tlial he had enjoyed their impnie seuliments, nnd iudulged with them in exces.s of ofwine. The. toint was upon him, and the pure niind of his sister must instinctivelv perceive it. Theee thqiights made him vvretched He really dreaded to meet her. But this could not be avoided. 'You do not look wel!, brother,' said Blancbe, almos' as soon as sho saw him.'I am not wel],' he replied, avoiding her steaily look. 'My head aches, and I fee! dull and heavy.' 'Wh.it has caused it, brother,' ihe añectionate srirl aaked, with a look and voice óf real concern. Now, this was, of all others, the question Ilonry wus least prepured to answer. He could nol uteer a direct falsehood. From that Lis firm principies shrunk. Nor coulri he equivócate, for he considercd equívocation as bascas falsehood. 'Why shotild I with to conceal any part of my conduct?' he asked himself, ín his d. lemma. But the answer wasinstant and conclnsive. llis portieipation in the revelry of the last lïight wab a Ih'mg not to be vvlíispered in her ear. Not being prepared, then, to teil the trnth, nnd shrinktng from falsehood and equivucation, Arraourprefijrred eilence as the least evil of the three. The question of Blanche was not, therefore, answered. At ihe h.reakfast table, his fatlier and mother remaiked upon his appearance. To this he merely replied that he was not wel!. As Koon as the meal was over, he went out, glad to escape the eye of Blanche, which it eeemed bim, rested ecaiel)injly upon hitn all the while. Concltidcd in our next.