“ CHUB.”

Northland Age, Volume 2, Issue 49, 10 July 1906, Page 7

“ CHUB.”

BY LOUISE STEUART-BOWLING. Two figures came from the dance pavillion, and, leaving the music behind them, passed up the slope by the big tree hung with myriads of electric lights and stood on the level green sward beyond. “I think we can find a seat here, Miss Annie," said the man, leading the way to a tiny pavilion, seemingly placed there purposely to accomodate “tete-a-tete " dancing couples. Seating- the girl comfortably upon one of the benches within he lightly threw a wrap around her shoulders and walking to the entrance folded his arms, leaned back and stood lboking down upon her. The samfT moonlight that displayed her queenly loveliness showed him to possess a perfect figure, well-knit, if scarcely up to the average height, ancl wearing hi’s full-dress with the patrician ease of the thoroughbred, gentleman. His pale, aristocratic face was rather sad.

“Will you not tell me something about yourself to-night, Major Dunlap ?" said the girl in a sweet, gentle voice. “This is riur second summer together here, ancl although I know you ancl your brother, Dr. Dunlap quite well, you have never spoken one word about yourself to me—about your childhood’s home." The man addressed walked a few steps away ancl stood a moment looking into vacancy. Then coming back she noticed his face was paler than before. ‘''Why do you ask that, Miss Annie ?" said he. “Mv past cannot possibly be of interest to you."

Surely you do not think so meanly of me as to suppose that mere curiosity prompted the question ?" queried the girl in a quick, eager tone, clasping her hands. “Ancl," said he. “Dr. Dunlap’s history is a very different one from mine.."

“Why is his history different from ycurs ?" said the girl. “Is ho not your brother ?’’ “Well," said he, “since you wish it, listen ancl I will tell you what you wish to know.

“My earliest recollections are of a handsome country residence. There were six children. My mother, a petite, beautiful little Hebe, went much into society, ami my father, much older, Chesterfieldian, accompanied her. We were left to the care of domestics.

“One day my father came home from a sale in the neighbourhood, whither he had gone alone, lookingvery pale, ancl suffering from nausea. “Although my mother waited on him assiduously, my mother talked to him very plainly, and I felt very indignant when she told him there was nothing the matter with him, only he was drunk. But I cannot recall that this scene occurred more than twice during my childhood, lie was completely dominated by my mother—for the best, as I have learned since.

“As I grew older I learned that my father, though apparently a rich man, was heavily in debt, the very homestead being heavily mortgaged. My mother had left school to marry him, then a man of 40, and ivhile yet her girl friends were envying her brilliant marriage, had wakened from her splendid dream to find debt after debt of his bachelor days come pouring in. She promptly closed his residence as a bachelor club and headquarters and took in one or two small families as summer boarders. But her small earnings could not step the torrent. Farm after farm, he was compelled to sell his land. At last the home place was put up by the holder of the mortgage. It was sold at the courthouse door. In consideration of his large and helpless family, my father's creditors allowed him to retain a couple of thousand dollars and my mother had a little money left her by her father. With the joint income they purchased a little, out-of-the-way . place and there wc grew up and learned the bitter lesson of poverty. Well do I remember the first breakfast after our arrival. The taste of those roast potatoes comes to me whenever I hear a man speak of being poor, and 1 wonder if lie ever breakfasted on roast potatoes. Dr. Dunlap (wc always called him ‘Chub’) is the oldest of our family. “Well, he was just grown when father died from Bright's disease. Poor ‘Chub ' he never undressed for 10 days. Day and night he watched

by my father, and when he rested he 1 simply stretched himself on the floor ' and slept like a log. He proved ar\ efficient nurse, and it seemed to give him the idea of studying medicine After that he read a couple of old anatomies left from my father’s college days, and studied under the various physicians in the district. Then following advice, one of these procured him a menial place in a hospital. He stinted and saved all his earnings for three years ; they all disappeared in the failure of some get-rich-quick concern, but still he slaved on.

“When of age I joined the regular army as private soldier. A young man named White and I became fast * friends. Step by step, side by side 1 we rose from the ranks. 1, too, sav- :*% ed my money and banked it to help ‘Chub ’ learn medicine, and finally ** he decided to start in college, the | more so as my sisters were growing up and two had married and gone West with their husbands. At that rate we would soon wish to have some less lonely home for our mother, for now cnly one boy and girl remained to her. i “From the first ‘Chub ’ was noted as a hard student, besides his hospital experience stood him in good stead. He graduated brilliantly and 4 was at once honoured by a position v i in the college and hospital attached. In the mean time the Spanish War broke out and White and I were ' sent to Chickamauga. Both of us were captains then, and we still preferred to share one tent. Soon a chance of promotion came. I will not weary you with details ; suffice a it that White expected to be married and I stood silently aside that he might be the colonel. We still had I one tent, and I noticed that often he J came in late, but said nothing. One afternoon, two women with painted faces came to the doorway ed lor him. Being told he ;uiK in they walked in and uwaitel arrival. As ill luck willed. s« prominent citizens called that d noon. On seeing the women they^c 1 19 motioned me without, and remonstrated, and learning the truth from rag me, insisted on my speaking plainly ||K to White. I did so. It turned my igM whilom friend into an enemy, and SB ceaselessly iis petty vengeance fol- |SH lowed me until 1 look to drink. I secured a change to a regiment active service in Culm and soon w/ y the distinction of major. Stricken with typhoid T was sent home." ‘Chub ’ met the vessel and took me |9 to his hospital and nursed me back SKI to life. While convalescent 1 learned many things from the doctors and ' nurses—and among them that my ’ whole being was saturated with alcohol. In mo the only sign of lhe inheritance is cropping out. ‘Chub saved my life ; the rest of it, I live Hfl for him. But for him 1 should never M have stood in ycur presence.” . The girl laughed a little brokenly. jjffi “You speak of standing in my pro- «g| seme as if that were the crowning Bm glory of your life.’’. - Hg

“We do not cover dirty linen with broadcloth, Miss Annie. But my broadcloth hides dirty linen —1 am an inebriate. 1 11 spirit Ido not stand before you ; I kneel ?nd kiss the hem of your garment." “A woman’s loving hands are won-* derful things," replied the girl. “They could make your linen clean. Is there nothing 1 can, do for you?" “I think ‘Chub ' loves you. Give him what I cannot give him." “Always ‘Chub ’ said the girl passionately. “You forget what you have done for nim. He would never have been the great Dr. Dunlap but for your love and self-denial, but you might have recovered without his aid. „You underrate yourself." Then coming nearer she laid her small white hand upon his arm and looked up into his face appealingly. “If you can truthfully say to me, l never cared for yon save as a sister, 1 will do as you wish." A slight rustle and a robust handsome young fellow came around tho house in the moonlight. “Let me have her a few minutes. Major." “Yes, take her, Chub.’ You will find me over the path beneath that great tree," and lighting a cigar the Major strolled away and seating himself on tho bench with a siirh that was almost a sob he laid his forehead on the sleeve where her hand had rested—the hand that ha had not touched. Socn he heard his name called in quick, joyous tones. ‘Chub ’ and Annie stood radiant; before him. ‘Chub ' spoke. Sitting down and passing an arm round his brother's neck, he said tenderly : “Dear boy ! The sooner you get rid of all the rubbish imposed upon you at the hospital, the better. They were only in jest when they made you believe you inherited drunkenness. I heard ail about it from them and was fortunate enough to catch a word or two you said t<; Miss Annie, and insisted on hearing the rest. Why, Major, our father was no inebriate, and regarding you case, all the returned soldiers drank, and > small wonder when one thinks of all they had to endure. So— Accept your good luck, brother mine For I owe fealty at another’s shrine Then smiling, “Miss Annie must talk to you now." He moved off quickly, and Major Dunlap saw that the girl, sitting at the extreme end of the bench had turned her back, and buried her face in her hands. The music of a “twostep ’’ was wafted upon th<> night air as he moved towards her. And soon the papers chronicled a double wedding.