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

1t seemed strange that he must inquire
for himself-for Ogden Chalmers-but
this was one of the penalties. He had
given up his own name for another, and
that other was only number upon the
records of a prison.
He found the Office of Ogden Chalmers
easily enough; a clean, busy, bustling
looking brokers' Office in a good part of
the city, and he found u den Chalmers
there too-a SNUG, respectable, success
full looking man of business.
Chalmers could find no fault with his
brothers greeting. He had recognized
him at once, and with arms about his
neck had dragged him into the private
office and closed the door behind them.
Dear old boy" he said, 81 have been
afraid you wouldn't come"
There was no other place for me to
CO." answered the other without emo
ton. "Ihave lost touch with the world"
"Yes, you have been out of it long
time, and all for me-" Then with
sudden outburst of feeling he went on:
Look here, Ogden, have you thought
| would be ungrateful, that wouldn't
appreciate it? know it looked so when
l let you do it all. But couldn't help
that; | wasn't strong enough morally.
And l knew that term there would
wreck me, unman me, make brute of
me like the rest of them. could see it
all before me. But you had more resist
ance in you. | knew you would come
through unharmed."
h,,,,k ~, c%
returned the other.
mo, don't mean that. Of course it
hurts any man to live in such DEVILS
hole. But knew it wouldn'' wer you
morally"
Eyes; the associations are elevating."
"This isn't like you. Ogden" said the
younger man quietly. But / don't
blame you. l know it was more than
if you had given your life for me-more
to me than to barely have given me life.
But would like to make you under
stand that am sensible of this, that l
am not ungrateful, for indeed am not.
Whatever can do now in the way of
money or position or name"-
He stopped suddenly there for mo-
ment and then went on.
"Why, Of course; or name, either.
For the very name am using here is o
borrowed one, is yours, like all the rest?"
81 don't know that want it. A num-
ber does as well as a name. Number
thirteen hundred and seventy-six sounds
pretty we'll; don't you think sog"
The younger brother placed his hands
affectionately on the others shoulders.
81 see, Ogden, he said, "it's the disgrace,
as you fancy it, that has hurt you. It
ought not to. You did nothing wrong;
If you had been in my place, now"
The last was an unfortunate sentence.
1t stirred all the deep, ranking, ugly
memories that Chalmers had been strug-
Cling so wildly to keep down.
'In his place!" Had he not been there
through long, weary days of prison toll,
through longer, drearier and mora
hideous nights of restless tossing upon
his prison bed praying for the coming
or the morning fight2 And then, when
it had come, praying again for night,
that the pail of darkness might hide his
misery at least from sight. And SO for
days and months and years no thought
but this-that so much of his life might
speed by into eternity. And now this
man. for whom he had done it, talked
of doing something" in return-of
money and position. Did he not know
that if he should grovel before him for
all his life he could not make up for the
bondage of those years2
Chalmers had repressed himself 50
long that it had grown to be habit. sec.
Ond nature almost. But now hot, bit
ter words, taunts, insults, curses. began
to form themselves in his mind and leap
for utterance. He would let them have
way for once; he would humiliate this
sleek, prosperous man of the world be-
fore him. and then he would go away,