SHORT STORY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2429, 3 October 1900, Page 57

SHORT STORY.

KSS BROTHER'S KEEPER.

It Avas Alec Le Breton's last day in England. On the morioAV he Avas sailing for South Africa in the Stirling Castle, to return, as he proudly told himself, covered with glory or to lay doAvn his life in his country's cause and find an honoured graA r e in company Avith the brave and daring on the open , veldt. For, in spite of his 22 years, Le Breton vas still a boy at heart, and took an exalted A'ieAV of life. There are youths avlio are old men Avhen they leave school — old in Ancc, and cunning, and in avarice. There are men Avho retain their boyish freshness till the age of ' 50, and to this order Avovtld Alec Le Breton belong, if Fate decreed llr.it he should attain to &o ripe an age.

It was quite in keeping Avith his guileless , nature that he should i.dl in We Avith a 'A\oman much older than himself. He Avorshipped his idol Avith a humble adoration that asked for no return. He was content to bask in the smiles of his divinity, and Avas happy if he could render her some slight service. He Avas, at the present moment, in a seventh heaA'eh of delight, for Miss Ferrars aav.s strolling'with him through the picture 'galleries at Longstone Abbey, and,, for a raie, short interval, he had his adored one all to him&elf.

Beatrice Ferrars Avas shoAving him the masterpieces of the great collection, and relating the most interesting histories of her ancestors ; but Alec Avas too much occupied in listening to the musical tones of her SAveet A'oice and in admiring the graceful curves of her Avhite hand and arm as she pointed out some chef-d'ceime to pay great heed to the portraits of the Ferrars family that smirked or glowered down at him from the Avails.

" My brother Avill be fortunate in having .such a, friend as 'you ahvays beside him," Beatrice said. '" He is the dearest and be^t of boys, but he is .-..0 easily led, eith&r for good or evil. With you to guide and counsel him I knoAV that the influence will be alAvays for - good, and I feel as happy as ie is possible to feel on the eve of his departure for the seat of this terrible", terrible Avar."

Alec laughed AA r ith unalloyed boyish -pleasure at her praise. But, being an Englishman, he AA"as fain to utter a disclaimer.

" I don't think G-uy will much appreciate any attempt on my part to boss it OA"er him," he said. " You see, there is little more than a year's difference in our ages, and in many Avays he is more a man of the world than I am."

"He likes and trusts you,"' returned Beatrice, " and in his thoughtful moments he has expressed the greatest respect for your judgment. He knov/s full Avell, as I know, that you are the soul of truth and honour, and that your Avord is sacred. Do not judge him by Avhat he says in his wilder moods. It makes me so happy to think that I can confide him to your care, and I am sure that, for my sake, you Avill undertake the solemn trust."

Miss Ferrars was thoroughly aAvare of her poAver over this boy. Her one absorbing passion Aras her love for her young brother, ten years her junior, for whose advantage she -would not have hesitated to sacrifice either her oavii happiness or. if need be, that of other*. Therefore she did not shrink from placing a heavy burden. on shoulders, that might yery possibly proA-e uneq-^al to the strain. She had found a Avilling &lave, and she did not scruple tc take advantage oi his willingness. A heightened colour and a slight access of dignity in Le Breton's gait betrayed that the flattery had gone home, and Beatrice discreetly changed the subject.

They paused in front of to full-length portrait representing a young man in the dress Of the period of Charles I. The gay velvet doublet, the deep lace collar, and long curling hair Aveil became the handsome face depicted so ably by the master hand Avhose cunning has preserved for all time the lineaments of many a dashing gallant CaA*alier "in his habit as he liA-ed." Le Breton uttered an inA-oluntary exclamation. He Avas about -to remark on the extraordinary resemblance borne by the .portrait to the present owner of Longstone Abbey, Guy Ferrars, Avhen Beatrice interrupted him. "What should you say is the chief characteristic of that face?" she asked.

Le Breton examined the poitrait attentively. * "It is a handsome face," he said, at length, "but the mouth slioavs Aveakness and indecision, and there is jusfc a suspicion of craftiness in the eyes."

"He is a traitor and a coAvard," cried 'Beatrice, flushing Avith the depth of her contempt. "His handsome face and his de'bonnaii manner are 'but masks for villainy. He vnetended to serve his King Avith loyal devotion, and he helped to betray bim into the hands of his enemies. Were I the owner of Longstom Abbey the canvas should, long ere this, haA'e been hacked into the A'criest atoms and cast to "the four Avinds of heaven."

Le Breton Avas supremely thankful that he ha.d made no reference to the likeness "betAveen the -recreant Cavalier and her 'brother Guy. He laughed, uneasily, and suggested that it would be impossible to proceed in so summary a fashion Avith priceless heirlooms.

"JS'o, 1 ' returned Beatrice, bitterly. "Kr-A*-ing been painted by Vandyck, he and Jus

infamy mml liva -for ever, to the eWrlast* ing shame .and disgrace of the 'house of Ferrars."

Alec turned to admire a- conscious beavttv\ depicted by Sir Peter Le?y, and the umisu&l\ excitement evinced by Miss Ferrars quickly, subsided.

Guy Ferrars, Avho dreaded nothing so much as Avhat he termed -the blues, hacf 1 , elected, on the evening preceding his departure, to have a dinnerparty of-uiis own especial chums. "If Aye three spend the last night by ourselves," he explained, "we shall have dissolving into tears all over the shop, and painting horrible pictures of the most ghostly possibilities. If I am destined to be a prisoner at Pretoria I don't Avant to suffer in anticipation. It will be quite beastly enough when it comes to pass. And supposing my riddled corpse 'is to be laid in a lonely grave on the' opero "veldt I shall 'be spared the supreme horror of discussing •the' cheerful possibility beforehand. So, to avoid the morbid, I have 'got together a regular jolly creAV, and our la&t night, for some time* to come, in old England -shall be a ripping one." The fun Avas threatening to become fast 1 and furious Avhen Miss Ferrars rose from the dinner-table. Le Breton opened the'door at the end 01 the long room for her to pas's through. She paused for- an instahl on .the threshold. ' » ;

"i shall not see you" in the .morning," fehe said, almost in a Avhisper. "Good-Jbye -' and may God keep and save you ! Bemem' ; jber ! You have promised to stand between. Ihim and danger— or disgrace. From my (inmost heart I thank, and bless you." . Le Breton longed for the olden days, •Avhen ,he could have knelt at his lady's feet land sworn 'his fealty in lofty sounding periods. As it was, only the Avords, "Oh, Ws all right, Miss Ferrars," came lamely to his aid to express his boundless devotion.

From the very beginning Alec found his ta.sk no sinecure. On the passage out, while the liner avrs -coaling in Funchal Bay, Ferrars made the announcement that lie intended to marry a very charming passenger 'Ayho Aras on her AA"ay to join the, nursing staff. ' ."* £ ml^ aslc dipper to marry us," said 'Guy, as he chucked sixpences into the sea for the diving boys to catch. "Don't be such an as*, Guy," growled Alec.

"Why an ass? I should say that a Avedding on .board might relieve the deadly monotony a bit. You must own that life on a Castle liner is a trifle monotonous."

"But, you drivelling idiofc, you can't take a Avife to the front. What's the good of getting married now? Wait till the Avar is 1 over."

'■ Experts say it has only just begun. We may both be grey-headed by the time it is over. Besides, when lam going into action lioav comforting will be the reflection that I have at the base a thoroughly-trained hospital bride- to nurse me scientifically when I am Avinged. Here, lend me some silver. I'm cleaned out. Hoav those little broAvn devils can sAvim! But they are too cute to dive for coppers." Alec tried argument and persuasion all m A'cm. Ferrars Avas determined. Fortunately, the captain declined to have anything to do A-ith the affair. He remarked that, the voyage being so short, the most love-sick passengers could afford to Avaifc until they reached their destination. G.uy -v\ as furious, but before the steamer reached CapetoAvn his ardour had considerably cooled and at. the nurse Avas going on to Durban, Le Breton felt that all anxiety on her account was at an end.

Nevertheless he Avas glad Avken they got orders to entrain for the north. He felt that Guy Ferrars on the open veldt Avith nothing to face 'but danger and stern drJty v.ould be less responsibility than Guy Feriar.s beset by the wiles and Avifccheries of social life. And as, later on, he sat in his tent, pipe in mouth and pen in hand, on the eve of an expected engagement, he thought that he might safely say in his letter to Beatrice that he had done nis utmost to fulfil her" behest, and that hehad succeeded. To-morroAV they Avere both to receive their baptism of fire. To-mor-row was to cover them both with" gloiy or to lay them loav in a soldierls grave. - He was writing rapidly, absorbed ' in his task, Avhen Ferrars entered. " ( Bu>y, <h':" he asked. "Last will and testam^r^" cr love letters? Am I de trop'/" "Sit down, there's a good fellow, 5 ' groAvled Alec. '! shall have finished in a minute or two."

But Ferrars did not sit doAvn. Ha Sdgeted abou'c, taking up various arriuloa and putting them doAvn again m an abstracted and purposeless manner. It > w*3 plain that something had got on his

"Hare a pipe, Guy," cried Alec, in desperation. "You'll find plenty of 'bacca there. "

Ferrars did not light up, hoAvever. He threw himself on to a biscuit box that did duty for a chair.

Ls Breton folded up his letter, placed ib in an envelope, and affixed the stamp. Then he turned round and faced his friend. TK -sight thai met his eyes fairly startled him. Guy Ferrars was white to 'the very lips, and his features and hia nerveless hands were 'twitching pitiably. - "What the deuce is the matter, old man?" asked Le Breton. "Are you ill?"- ,- '"For Heaven's sake, Le Breton, give me some- brandy," gasped Ferrars.'

Alec found a flask and tossed it over to him. After a pull at its contents Ferrars succeeded in controlling himself. There, was silence for a time, during Avhich Aleo gazed eA him in undisguised amazement. Ferrars winced a bit under this scrutiny. Then he asked, "How do you feel about to-morrow, Alec?"'

Le Breton laughed as he re-lighted his pipe. "Oh, I don't know. I don't think about it much. I suppose I shall feel a bit funky, just at first. Most fellows do, I' believe. But they all say it soon wears off."

Great drops of sweat stood on Guy's forehead. "Suppose,"' he muttered, almost under his breath — "suppose, Alec, it should not wear off ! Suppose, in the thick of battle, a, sudden, deadly fear should over*

power you — a fear so great as to crush out all the manhood in you — a fear that would bid you " fly from the lace of the enemy or cast you, grovelling, at >their very feet, shrieking aloud for mercy? What then V"

Le Breton stared at him. "Good God, Ferrars !"' he exclaimed., "do you mean to tell me to my face that I am a coward?" Alec assumed an attitude that was almost threatening, but his arm dropped to his iide when he saw the abject misery depicted Dn- the other's face.

"Not you, Lei Breton," groaned Guy, hiding his eyes with his hand. "I am speaking, God help me, of myself." Le Breton stood aghast. He could find no "words, either of comfort or contempt, in which to reply. Ferrars went on : "Despise me, if you will, Alec. You cannot have a greater contempt for me than I have for myself. Do you bslieve in he.-e-dityY I fancy there must be something in it. We had a, craven in the family long ago. Eis portrait hangs in the long gdlery. You may nave &een it. To save his miserable skin' 'he betrayed his King, \>lio trusted him, into the hands of .the enemy, who trusted Mm not. a jot. He -was condemned to die, and he died the death of a traitor, and a, coward to the last." Again tli&re was a "pause. '■"Does Miss Feirars know of this— this weakness?' ' asked Alec, in a low voice. • " xes,"' returned Quy. "And it is at her wish that I now make This request. I beg of you if, in the midst of battle, you should see" this cursed panic overcoming me, to put a pistol to my head before I have time to disgrace the 'family name that I am so unworthy t'6 'bear." Great Heaven! Had Beatrice no pity? No thought, but for the family honour and her brother's good name? The burden she had laid upon Alec's, shoulders seemed greater than he could bearA ''Do you realise what you are asking me?'' he cried, hoarsely. "To stain my hands' with murder! To stamp the brand Df Cain upon my brow !"' The look of utter despair came again into Guy's hollow eyes. ''Then you refuse," he said. '"And she told me that you had promised." Le Breton heard sgain, as clearly as when 'they were spoken, Beatrice Ferrars's parting word*. He crossed the space that divided the two men and took Guy's trembling hand. "I will not retract my word," he said. "I here solemnly renew niy promise to stand between you and danger— or disgrace." On the far horizon the sun was setting in a lurid glow that drained with vivid crimson the haggard, determined faces of the handful of men who were holding on. entrenched kopje, and warmed, even to seaming life,, the pallid, ghastly faces of the dead and dying strewn around. The roar of cannon., the cruel rattle of rifle fire mingled Arith the roll of di:'':ont thunder. The flash of powder seemed answered from heaven by the folks of blinding lightning that; rent the blackness of the eastern sky. From 4 o'clock in the morning Le Breton and his men had held the kopje against threefold their number, hoping against hope for the reinf oi cements thflc never came — their last despairing thought to keep the enemy at 7 oay till die convoy had got clear and safe away, even though its safety should be bought at the expense of all their lives. And, in all truth, it looked as though the heavy price was xo be paid in iull as man a Her man dropped beside the gallant young oincer, till he and his subordinate were the only living souls left amid that scene of carnage. The Boer ccinmandant sickened at the long-continued, useless slaughter. He advanced towards 'the gallant two. "Throw down your arms," he said. "Resistance is useless." The only reply was a well-aimed shot that laid Mm low upon his horse's neck. A roar bmst from the opposing force. The men rose and rushed forward to avenge their leader's death. "Look out, Guy !" cried Le Breton. ''Let 'em all come! Only pot -as many as you can We'll sell our lives dearly." But, "Ss ''he spoke, he ■ saw the deadly pallor creeping over Ferrars's face. "A white handkerchief," gasped_ Guy. "Give me a white handkerchief. What's the' use of chucking our lives away like this'r'' -"White handkerchief be d d !" scouted Le Breton. "Would yon surrender to these dirty skunks? The men, God bless 'em, have taught us bow to die. Shall vre, their officers, who saw them fall,. show the white feather to a wretched rabble of skulking, ignorant Boers V" But Ferrars. was beyond rousing to heroic deeds. The terrible curse of abject fear was mas Lei ing him. He snatched a bloodstained haadkerchief from th?. .ground, and with a shaking hand fastened it to a rifle. Then, raising the weapon on high, he was about to wave the white flag above his head, when a pistol shot rang out on the momentary .silence, and Guy Ferrars, shot through the temple, rolled over, dead, at Alec Le Breton's feet. 1 After lying many weeks between life and death in a Boer hospital, Le Breton was liberated by the advancing Imperial troops and invalided home. He had saved a valuable convoy and had won distinction. When' next he saw Beatrice Ferrars he humbly laid his laurels at her feet. They were worthless without her meed of pi'aise. "1 kept my promise," he &aid, in a voice husky wJth emotion. "iSTo living man can say that a Ferrars quailed before a mc'b of dirty peasants." "i'hank you," replied Beatrice, holding out her hand with a queenly gestiue. Le Breton was about to raise it to his, lips "when. he saw her shudder and shrink back. Stung to the quicks he dropped her hand, and, with a low bow, passed on. For her sake "he had made his life one long, lasting, bitter regrdt, and in her eyes he was, and would be to the end, her brother's murderer — nothing more.

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