His Invisible Brother

Far into the soft nummer night I gat with littlc Susie Nasobjr on the piazza of Uie Belle Ltiko ravilion. tolk had not a powcrful smack of sentiment, thotigh the moonlight on the water, the low, sighing breeze f rom the south, vague cadenees of distant singing from a yacht on tlie lake, and the seclusion of our vine-cmbowerod corner, all combined to lend au air of romance to the interview. But Susie and I never flirled with each otóier, whatevcr we might do with sonje. "We had, in the eoursc of long ncquaintanecship, cMablished a c'clightfnl and unusual relation, a sort of fraternal and platonic sentiment, quite chivalrous, quite harmteês, quite novel and altogethereharnimg. So well was this imderstood that Mrs. Naseby lelt }ot the least anxiety on lea ving her daughter in my hands, only brin.cing out a thick sliawi to "wrip the Jïabie Bunting in." and ieaving us wilh a pUrting injnnction not u go on the wet gr;iss. Gossiping away like a couple of katydids, ábout uid evcrybody, we caine to speak of a certain Charles Selwin, a young gf ntlenian of fortune, then soiourning at the Pavilion. For reasons that will transpire, I eould not abide Mr. Selwin, on any tenns, and was sorry to find that he had gucceeded in interesting Httle Susie more thau a good and pretty girl should b in a biainless idlcr. Ötupidly enougli I spoke straight out, giving my opinión of the gentleman without mincing words. Of course, woini-.n-fashioii, she defended liim strongly, and in searehing lor arguinentí, iliscovered new inerits in her subject. ''You can't deny that he is vcry handsome?" urged Susie; "süch rosy cheeks, and nicë brown hair curling around the fore.head - I do think that a tino complexión, and large, clustering ringlcls ave too splendidl" Whon Selwin first carne to Bello Lake, he and I went in swimming one day. On coming out of the water, I observed Uiat his "fine complexión" was washed off, leaving a Rort of ■whitey-purple, ashes-of-roses color, imieh" prettier for a nioire-antique than for a manía face, llis "large. clusUring ringlete," too. ffero non est, ftnd in theír place his hair hung in 8tring6 over his eyes. Shortly atlcr, I saw him in the b'arber's shop, whero Joe was operating upou his head with the curling-tongs. His cheeks wero Btill t'.iecolov of a frozen turnip, but in half an hour, at dinner, the ruddy glow had returned, more brilliant thaa ever. I really had too much regard for my gex to conless, even to Susie, that any man ever paiuted his face; and if I had, I ni iglú not have been able to produce positive proofs of the statement, so L contented mysclf with deriding liis lisp and dniwl. 'A sweet style of talking, hastt't he, my dearí 'Aw, Mith Nathby, aw, wimt thplcndid thencry, aw!'" "Jast as it' lie could help that iie was born with a peculiar throat, í Buppose. And, after all, it doosa't sound so badly, wlien you know it isn't aflectation." "Yes; bat 1 know it is affectation! "Now, Williain! I liever know you souncharitable bcfore. What lias Mr. Belwiu ever done to yon?" "My dear child-, you are a sensible girl, so 1 eau speak plainly with you. I should not have thought twice. about this young pcrson, liad be not madö, appareutlv, a gcod iinpression pon you, as l" bolievc, by false and flèeliilg shows, l'or woman's illusion given. I oonsider him a humbug and a puppy, who has inade you admire liim tbr what he does not possess. Are you satisfied, ma chcre?" 'Yes, muil cher. I am satisfied that you are p.ntirely mistaken about Jlr Sclwin, and vory obstinateJy prcju('liced geuerally. You have only soe) him a few times, -vet you think because hc is not oue of your feather - a literati - a journalist - a quill-driver - a Böhenüau - or whatevcr you are - thai. he is not good onough for you. ] gay he is a handsonio, accomplished ■uit, amiable, gentlemanly- " 'tíwcet, lovely, splendid, doliglitful pretty, nice young man-" "Ilush! I won't allow you to say anollier word aliout him!" Of courso I had to yicld. I simply determined tg keep an eye on Sclwin and to soe that hc did not gain to powerful an ascendaucy over Susie's susceptible hcart. Ooncealing my prejudices, then, I made myselt' somewhat intímate with him, but discovered in him only a well-diosscd nonenity. Somctiines I detected a low-brcd cunning in tho cheap artifices by which he imposcd upon öusie and her inother, but I had no good opportunities to expose him, and he weat on, through all Uie long Augutt days, plajting the rule ofoouqiicnng hero. Jle kuew hovv to listen to long; stories (rom oíd ladies ; how to (alk política with okl gentlemen ; how U kil i lime for liimself and others at a waterkijf-place. Suroly, as I mean to crash hira nltciiy bcfoi-e 1 got through, let me do hun justice how. liCt me not lorgot the least of his attractions. How bravely he led the Germán, and how graccful his potitfóns in tbe Lanciers! What prowoss he diaplaJed at. the board, wuere regiment of bottlea went down empty; and thc youtha oí' aristocratie taste, who were happy enough to"knowSolwin,"often went down fulll Now well and freely he disbut-sed the income oí' íive thousand a year, and how nimbly and sweetly ifcrecommended him íoererybodyl IIosv pi-omptly were his bjHs paid- -hotr licavy theywcrel A prime favorito witli the host was he, and the iiiKlerlings kuew well the surely of a "tip êvVry time thcy óame iu contact with him. Who coñld resist the fasrinatiilg, ('ie dashing, the iplenuid Sel win! The faction tbat held out againSt him was small indeed - eonsisiing, in tact, of myself, solitary and alone. One afternoon I was agreeablv surpriscd ))y the appearance of an excellent frieiid of mine, a heavy leather dealer, doing business In the classic locality known as the Swamp. This gentleman, Mr. Colwell- ilrm of ïreadley & Colwell - was taking a week or two of relaxa! ion, aiid had chosen Belle Lake as theiield for his rusticalion. Just ns we exchünged salutations, the g;rcat Selwin, monarch of all he surveyed, canie down the piazza in gorgeous array, with Susie Nasebyandanother yonng lady. Colwell looked at them a moment and uttered a Iodíj, low whistle. "Well, I nevcr!" "Wlmt'.s the matter?" I asked; "anything extraordinary?" "1 believe you, my boy. Do )ronsce that young swell with the two blondes?" "See him? I mi,!?]it say we haven'l reen anythingelseinsome time. ïhat's Mr. Charles Selwin, the ANo. 1 match of the season. Five thousand a year, youiiir, handsome, agreeable. líe lias the whole community at liisfeet." "ïliere, don't say "any more! You tako my breath away. Selwin? Ile's no more Selwin than you are. His name is Pollock, and he's a humbug. Five thousand a year, ch? Why, I could buy and sel! him for a flve-dollarbiil, aiid have a pocket of small chaniro left over!" "Yon nuist be mistaken. lie certa! i) I y has money - he spends any amount of it." 'Xo, I can't be wrong. I know liim of oíd. lie niakes somo moiiey - made gome out of me by the cheapest kind of a ewindle, and I'll give hirn a fall now'. Wait till a chance cornos, I'll astonish liim." After dinner we were smoking our cigars in front of the house, when 8elwin lounged out. As he carne down tlie stops, Qolwll aallcdotit tn hini : "Hal'loa, Poilock! Bill PóTIock!'1 Hewaá Btartlcd, sure enough. Ilis confusión wa evident enough to excite attentioo froia all present Colwel 1 had made a telling shot, bu t it was prematurely diseharged, and the coiiqucror was too much for us yet Old Tamden canie along at the moment, and, seeing Selwin's embarassnicnt, a=ketl liim whmt was the mat'■Your name isn't Pollock, is it?" eaid he. The cool impassability of the young man returncd, and, yrith the gweetest iincerity, he explainêd that he liad a fcwi'i brdther olosely feseróbling himsclf, wlio. uiider the assumed iwrao of Pollock, was leadiug a ruiuous and diorderly lifo. "He hfl's ahvays been a troublo to the family." s) UI tlioinjurod innocence, "and heaiing hie mmu guddcnly has disturbod me. I fanciod be mijrUt have couie here to worry me into giving ihn nioney, as heaoinetiinesdoes." All this. said with a perfect air of tnith, and coming froni the adnnred and ïvspected Belwin, carried tion to tiie publiii mind at once. li,vcn Col wel 1 was staggered, aud Uiougiit it mi ííi L be true. belwJn's triumph, then, was complete. The aiiti-Seiwin party was anuihilated, and he was more popular Üinfí ever. Uilder a pretext of passing a part of is time wii li lus invalid muthcr, this ounii gentleman absented himself Vom Bolle Lake every Weduosday iglit, retiyning Öaturday. My belief vas Lhat be then tnuisacicd 8oine busïess of a mure or le-w questíoiMble ature, and the money lic speutsoft-eey wüs earnod - or made, by book or ij' (irookjOutof aömoboity - trom week 0 week. J sttw, bowever, that it was 10 ugo to attompt to overthrow him, [lis eeason, at lïeüc Lake; and, as business required my return to town, I u-ive up the whole ailair. 'tíu.sie and lier motlier reinained soine time longer, and, from occasional reporls. I learned that Selwin'a success witli the poov girl was eonsidored indubitable. Feeling gure that she was being deluded inio a marriage that con li I onlv bring miserable disappoiiitment to herself and family, 1 deierminod to mnke one move effort to prevent it, Busie was too n'tce a rirl to throw hersol faway on sucli a l'cllow, and in the capaeity of 'ami de familie,' 1 thought 1 would take the affair in mv own hands. WiUi this intcntion I sonjht trie Sw.imp, and fouiid my friendUoiwell. I iiiqnirod oí' iiiiu tlie particularo of liis relations with the "Bill l'ollock" lic had mentioned, and the swindle practiscd upon him by that perfson. "J'm iilmost ashamed to telt you about that," said Colwell ; "butif you think my experience will be of any valuc to you, you are v.'clcome. Th is Polloek, or Selwin, or whoeyer he ia, is a 'Bpirtu.il medium.' A year or so ago, l liêard so many stories about his woñderful 'tests,' that Treadloy and 1 conelüded to L0 and yliat ho amounlcd to. AVe went tohisrSoms, in Amity street, but be wasn't visible; and a boy wlio attended the door told us it was necessary to make au appointment aa Mr. Polloolrt time was always enu'agod for two or three days in advanoe. Wc put down our iiames, naid our five dollars apieee in ad vanee, aecording t0 thc gentlemáu'a rule, and when tlie time caine, I went to seohim. Troüdley backod out, but I ihougbt 1 ini"'htas well get my nioney's worth. PoTlook was a vcry quict, politeyoung feüow, the very image ot that Belwin, except that lic wasn't quite so much of 'i BWell, and diiln't squeak his words out Hko a sick mouse.. lle did som.e very strange things, and told mo sonie vs fl.olll the othcr world which mishtormight not have been truc. Fiiiallf) wlicu lic luid got me pretty ■well interested, a,nil a good deal surprised, lie pffered to produce a por trait of my niother, wlio liad boen dcad for abont eight years. ïhcre is no picture of lier in existenee, and I have always wantod one, so I agi-ccd o pay liim il ft y dollars in advance, likea doublo dunco as I was.it' he would produce one. He took the mouey and tokl me to cali at tlie end ol'a mout!], when tlie portrait would be ready for nie. 1 iid so, and found au easel hi tbc room, willi a picture upon it, carefully covered up. l'ollock made a great ado removing the drapery, and wheu he liad done, place. I t,he tiiiny jn a good Hglit, and told me to look at it. It was a frightiil daul), such as you niay seo in any of tlie oheap picture auctions; a pieture ota youiig girl with long hair (all ing her shoulders, and lieihands clasped over her breasfc. i w.is taken all a back, bnt Follockwascnunl lo the occasion. 'Yon are ewrprised,' said J:o, 'to seo her represen ted so young and beantü'ul, but t!iis yoi must reinembcr is.tiie way she now looka in her present celestial statcl" í think he cune very noar getting knoeked across the room.just then; but somchow. he contri ved lo glip oui as he spoke, and I was left with niy spiritual art speculation, which I incontinenti;,' thrust uto s lie gr.ito. Tlie boy outside opened the door lor me politely, but he needn't have done iü - i i'eít sniall enough lo ereep out tlu'ough the key-hole. "And you never tVied to recorer any thing tVoi:i Pollock?" ".No. 1 was heurtily ashanied of the wliole business." "Ís lie still in tlie city?" "1 guess so." "I will go and liare a dash at him. I don't think he witl sell me any pictures." A brief scarch brought Pollock's card to light. "VVilliatu Pollock, Test Medium, No. Amity strect. lieceptious : Tuursday and Friday. Sessions üvo dollars ijer hour. (Kngagemeuts can be made severa] daya iu id vanee)." ïlntrsday and Friday! The very ilays Selwln alwayg passed iu the city! 1 began lo sea tlie boginulng of tho end. 1 hastehed to mnke an appoinlment. and rit the honragreeu upon presentca myself beforc Pol loc k. As I expected, he and Sel win wcre ouo .and the sanie. Thora was some linie atlempt at éhange - Itis hair was out of cui-1, and his styjte of dress was totally different, but thei'e could be do mistake about lus Ldeiuity. He was greatly troubled by my appearance, Dut I ovinced no sign of recognitjon, and iie probably flattered himsclf tbftt I (lid not know him. However, ho immcduitely minouirced that Uie sossion must be held in the dark, and led mn into an innor chamber, whenco tbc liglit was carelülly excludod. liero hc raro me a commmiïca'ion froiti a cousin of niinc, a yoiiiíaf lady v.'ho, whea üvinsf. liad "been a fust, friciul of Susie Noscby. Ofcoursel understood wherc lio sol tlie litlle i rn'ioi'maiion, etc, wit ■■ ■■ th is commünication was hitted, and whioh miglit have surprised me niuoh liad l not kriownall tiiecircumstances. Then followcd a string of moral platitudes in the usual s'.ylo of such mossaos, con.taining strong advice against the erseewtion oí' those wbo havo nevcr hanncil me, and winding up wilh an exhoriation to remove the beain frora my own ere bcfore meddliiiïwith thé mote in my brotlier's. "That will do, Sêlwin," said I; "that's quite eiiOUgh." '"Sel win'! What do you mean, siv? I ack:iowled;ie that my name isSelwin, but it is many ayearsince I have been so called. ílow did you learn my name? perhapS you tnistakö me for my twin brother, who slill bears it." "'He liad a brother!' Yes, it. is vcry well played, but about played out. It won't do, Charles; I knew from the . and now I have prooi'. No doubt you would lilvo to sell mn a picture of my cousin : but, really, Ido not care to speculate in that connection, so I wiü bul voii goodday, prumising that if you conlitine your aitentions to Miss Naseby, I. shall exposé you before her and all her friends." 1 tnrned to go, bnt he seized me and gwore to take my liie if I didn't promseeresy. Forlunately, I had expected tronble, and u'ai preparedfor it. The sightof a six-shooter, loaded and cockcd, brought my fine fellow down at once. ïlie uggestion that a visitación from the pólice migbt be unpleasmr. for hii, seQined to bave a sedativo, effuct, and to allay all violent tendencias on lus part. The hnmiliation of a fellow-creature is a painful spectaele always, and cortainly Selwiu descended to the lower depths of self-abasement. Ife whined and begii'ed, and almost wept in bis anger and ferrx, even going so far as to offer to share Susiír Naseby's fortune with me, if I wonld connive witli him. Bick of such a wretchcd scène I lcft him, advisinghim to hang himself, as the most economical w:xy of rendering justice to society. I fancied theu th;.t be was thoroughly disposed of, but I had not yet leai-ned the fall extent ot' bis brazen ooolness. ilo went to Belle Lake, post-hasto, that very day and nsed every possible endeavor to 'persuade Susie toelope with bim at once, and to make one of the GretnaGrecn wedding party. Her good sense saved her. bhe refnscd, of course, and the baíücd 'únedium" sailcd for NewOrleans the next day, whcre lie still pursnes bis gentle art. I liad the malicious pleasnre of gaying "I told you só," to öusie, un til she aimoat tbrêatened to inarry me instead of Selwin. "As a reward or punishinout.' 1 asked.