Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-11-04
Initials Only" y By Anna katherine Green
A Thrilling Mystery Story of Afodsru Times

[ know
no" TINS looks-l know that as your
oio'iier and truest admirer. l should re-
spond' and respond strongly, to such over
lures as these, but the motive for achieve
fhent IS gone. She was my all: and while
might work. it would be mechanically
me lift, the elevating thought is gone
Orlando stood a moment studying his
brothers face; then he turned shortly
ABOUT and walked the length of the room
"hen he came back. he took up his stand
again directly before Oswald, and asked
with new note in his voice:
Did You love Edith Challoner SO much
as that"
A glance from Oswald's eve. sadder
than any tear
30 that you can not be reconciled?'
A gesture. Oswalds words were always
few
Orlando's froWn deepened.
Such grief l partly understand" said
ne But time will cure it. Some day
another lovely face
Wen not talk of that. Orlando"
NO, Wen rot talk of that" acquiesced
the inventor, walking away again. this
time TO the window. For you there's but
one woman-and she's d memory"
Killed. broke from his brothers lips
slain by her own hand under an impulse
OF Wildness and terror. Can l ever forge;
that? Do not expect it. Orlando"
Then you do blame me?" Orlando
turned and was looking fun a Oswald.
Il blame your unreasonab Ieness and
your overweening pride"
orlando stood moment. then moved
toward the door The heaviness OF his
step smote upon Oswald's ear and caused
him to eXclaim:
Forgive ne, Orlando" But the other
cut him short with an imperative:
Thanks for Your candor. If her spirit
is destined to stand like an immovable
shadow between you and me, YOU do right
to warn me. But this interview must
end all alluston to the subject. will seek
and find another man to share my for
tune s; cas- he said this he approa ched
suddenly, and took his papers from the
others hand or" Here he hastily re-
! traced his steps to the door which re
softly opened. or" he repeated But
| though Oswald listened for the rest. il
did not come. While he waited the other
had given him one deeply concentrated
look and passed out
No heartfelt understanding was possible
between these two men.
Crossing the hall, Orlando knocked al
the door of Doris little sitting room
No answer Yet she was there He
knew il in every throbbing fibre of his
! body. She was there AID quite aware of
his presence; of this he felt sure: vet she
did not bid MIN enter. Should he knock
again: Never! but he would not quit the
thrc shuld. not if she kept him waiting
there for hours. Perhaps she realized
this. Perhaps she had meant to open the
door - him from the very first who can
tell What avails is that sine did ulti-
mate.E open il, and he meeting her soft
eye. wished from his very heart that his
| impulse had led him another way, even
if that way had been to the edge of the
precipice-and over.
For the face he looked upon was Sc
rene, and there was no serenity in him ::
rather a confusion of Embossed passions
fearful of barrier and yearning tumultu-
ously for freedom. But, whatever his re-
volt, the secret revolt which makes no
show in look or movement he kept his
ground and forced a smile OF greeting
If her face was uuict, il was also lovely
too lovely. he felt, for q man to leave it.
whatever might come of his lingering.
Nothing in all his life hau ever affected
him like II. For him there was no other
woman in The past, the present or the flu
ture. and, real ling Illustrating in to the
full what her affection and her trust
might be to lim in those fearsome days
to come, he 80 dreaded rebuff-he, who
had been tic courted of women and the
! admired of men ever since he could re-
member-thaL he failed to respond to her
welcome and The simple congratulations
she felt forced 70 repeat. He could neither
speak the Commonplace, nor listen 10 it,
This was his crucial hour lie must lind
support here, or Yield hopelessly to the
maclStrom in whose Whirl he was caught
She saw his excitement and faltered
back step--a move which she regretted
the next minute for he took advantage of
it to enter and close behind him the door
which she would never have shut OF her
own accord. Then he spoke. abruptly
passionatcly but in those golden tones
which no emotion could render other than
alluring
81 am an unhappy man, Miss Scott. l
see that my presence here is not welcome,
vet am sure that it would be so if it were
not for a prejudice which your generous
nature should be the first to cast aside
in face of the outspoken confidence of
nay brother oswald. Doris little Doris
I love YOU ] have loved you from the
moment Of our first meeting. Not to
many men is it given TO find his heart so
late. ard when lie does. it is for his whole
life. no second passion can follow it. !
know that | am premature IN saying this;
that YOU are not prepared to hear such
words from me and that it might be
wiser for me to withhold them, but |
must leave Derby soon. and ] can not
60 until | know whether there is the
least hope that you will yet lend light
TO my career or whether that career
must burn itself TO ashes at your feet.
Oswald-nay, hear me out oswald lives
in his memories; but | must have an
active hope-a tangible expectation--if
am to be the man | was meant to be.
VIII YOU then, codly dismiss me, OF will
Won let my whole future life prove 10 YOU
i've innocence of my past? I will not has
ten anything; all l ask is some indul-
gene Time will do the rest
''ImDossible." she murmured.
Bat that was a word for which he had
u. ear lie saw that she was moved, I'M
eNpl ctedlN 50; That while her ewes wan
Lcred restlessly at tin Is toward the door.
they ever came back in girlish wonder, If
not fascination. TO mis- face, emboldening