The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1892-11-18

>>--Gl[E&
@
ado you lore me, Og,lcn?" she asked SOFTLY.
found out, too late, that ne had been
duped, but was afraid on his own ac-
count then to expose the matter.
After the expiration of the substitutes
term he had followed the thing up as a
private speculation. thinking the broth
ers would buy his silence at good fig
ure. Before he was ready to leave the
hospital he was thoroughly frightened
into the abandonment of his scheme and
his future silence insured by Chalmers
lawyer, who promised him good long
term in prison himself for the attempt
at blackmail and for personating an Off
Ger if he should ever meddle with the
matter again.
George, after this, with the ready
carelessness with which he dismissed
most serious matters in life, gave it no
further thought; but with Ogden it was
different, and seemed never absent from
his mind He delighted to recur to the
whole scene, and would linger especially
upon his brothers action when he threw
himself with such tigerish ferocity upon
the man that he had nearly killed him
with single blow.
81 was doing you injustice, George" !"
he would say. 81 had brought myself
to think you didn't care; that was why
was so willing to go back"
81 am glad you know now," George
would answer each time and then would
let the subject drop. One day, however,
he took up the subject of their personal
relations himself
81 wish you would make up your mind
to go into things here, he said. lyon
would be happier, better contented, if
you could assimilate yourself with the
life here. 1t is full, free, wholesome
life; perhaps not quite so prudish as that
of the north. If it was, of course Leonie
wouldn't be here with me; but it's life
that suits me-"
This was the first time that Leonie's
name had been mentioned between them,
and in answer to Ogden's look of in
quiry his brother went on:
81 guess that is the only thing in
| WHICH, ul'th w do YOU Sdld. buG
didn't send for her. Ogden, until after
had made some money of my own, and
then spent and risked only that"
"We will let that pass" returned the
other. perhaps l went as much too
far in one way us you did the other. You
were made to live your own life out in
your own way, and | am glad you are
having the chance. The reason was so
hard on you in that was because it was
wrong toward Lima Tenant"
81 was not fit for her, and perhaps the
only way she could ever have seen it
was just this way. And did hope, old
fellow, that matters would all come
right between you and her. l thought
that was what you went to Cleveland
for"
"Maybe it was. don't know"
George wanted to ask another question,
but hesitated, because it seemed like
trying to force his brothers confidence.
Finally his curiosity prevailed.
''How much does she know" he asked,
''of this whole matter?'
"Everything. She was at Columbus
when was released"
Good heavens! and she had come to
meet me as she promised"
mo; only to tell you goodby."
''She knew part of the story, then?"
"Yes; and then | could not help tell
ing her the rest. 1 would not have done
it if could have helped"
"And them"
"rhat is all. There is nothing more
to tell"
"And you did not tell her, then, that
you had cared for her all your life?
"No; how could II" Chalmers gave a
suggestive shrug that implied the mem
ory of all those hated years.
"She should have made you; she
should have thrown herself at you. She
would at first have cared more for you
than for me if you had not always SO
persistently exalted me to her."
This and other conversations in the
same line led to no end, and as time
passed Chalmers sank further and fur
ther back into the state Of listless de
spondency. From this he only emerged
at times to speak of the affair with the
psuedo officer, and to thank his brother
again for the timely blow struck in his
defense. 1t was the only thing the poor
fellow could remember having been done
for him in long years by any human be-
ing, and the reason why it was done.
The attending circumstances, even the
original fault behind it all that was GER
tainly not his, all these sank into insig-
niticance besides the one central fact
that it had been done. No words could
have told him so eloquently that his
brother did care for him, and he had
been longing strangely for human love
and sympathy.
George noted with alarm his brothers
growing dependency and exerted him.
self without avail to find means of di.
verting him. The business was extend
ing rapidly, and some matters in Eng
land finally demanding personal atten.
ton, he suggested the trip to Ogden.
The latter agreed to it with more readi.
ness than his brother had expected, but
without any apparent anxiety for the
change. AS he went into the details OF
the business that would employ him
however, he gave himself with all his
old time thoroughness to their mastery
81 hope the trip will be pleasant and
that it will do you good,"' said George