Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-10-24
3 INITIALS ONLY" Q


death. If these brothers were to meet on
the morrow it must be with the full UNI
Outstanding that this especial topic was to
| be completely avoided. But in what
words could he urge such request upon
| this man? None suggested themselves.
! vet he had promised Miss Scott that he
would ensure his silence in this regard,
and 1t was with this difficulty and no
other he had been struggling when MIR.
Brotherson came upon him in the other
room.
You have still something to say" sug-
sested the latter as an oppressive silence
swallowed UP that icy sentence ! have
| already recorded
| y have" returned Mr. Chauoner. re-
gaining his courage under the exigencles
of the moment. Miss Scott is very aux-
ious to have Yur promise that you will
avoid all disagreeable topics with your
| brother till the doctor pronounces him
/ strong enough to meet the trouble which
awaits him
You mean"
He is not as unhappy as We He
knows nothing of the affliction which has
! befallen him. He was taken ill The
| rest was almost inaudibe
But Orlando Brotherson had no diff
Guilty in understanding him. and for the
| second time in this extraordinary inter-
view, he gave evidences of agitation and
of mind shaken from its equipolse But
only for an instant. He did not shun
! the others gaze or even maintain more
than a momentary silence Indeed, he
found strength to smile in a curious,
sardonic way, as he said:
do you think | should be apt 70
breach this subject with any one, let
alone with him. whose connection with it
I shall need days to realize? I'm not so
! given to gossip Besides, he and ! have
other topics of interest. | have no in
vention ready with which | propose to
experiment in a place he has already pre-
pared for me We can talk about that"
The irony, the hardy self possession with
| which this was said struck Mr.. Challoner
to the heart. Without a word he wheeled
about towards the door Without a word
Brotherson stood, watching him go till he
saw his hand fall on the knob when he
| quietly prevented his exit by saying:
Unhappy truths can not be long con
cealed. How soon does the doctor think
my brother can bear these inevitable rev
elations?"
He said this morning that If his pa
tent We're as well tomorrow as his pres
ent condition gives promise of. he might
Orlando bowed his appreciation of this
tact, but added quickly; -
who Is to do the telling"
Doris. Nobody else could be trusted
with SO delicate a task"
81 wish to be present"
| MIR Challoner loked up. surprised al the
feeling with which this request was
charged
''As his brother-his only remaining
rela tive l have that right. Do you think
that Dor-that Miss Scott, can be trusted
not to forestall that moment by any
previous hint of what awaits him?"
IF she so promises. But will YOU ex-
act this from her? II surely can not he
necessary for me to say that your pres
| ence win add infinitely TO the difficulty Of
her task"
Yet ii is q duty | can not shirk.
win consult the doctor about it. will
make him see that both understand and
shall insist upon my rights in this matter.
But you may tell Miss Doris that | will
sit out of sight, and that l shall not OBJ
trude myself unless my name is brought
up in an undesira bic way"
The hand on the doorknob made sud
den movement.
Mr.. Brotherson can bear no more
tonight With your permission, / win
leave this question TO be settled by 9th
ers, And with II repetition Of bis. former
bow. the bereaved father withdrew
Orlando watched him til the door
closed then he too dropped his mask
But it was on again, when IN a rlitttA
while he passed through the sitting room
on his way upstairs
No other day in his whole life had been
like this to the hardy inventor; for in it
both his heart and his conscience had
been awakened and up TO this hour he
had not really known that he possessed
either
what Ia He Making
other boxes addressed tu o. Rrnthereon
had been Received ar Inc station. and car