The Raymer enterprise., 1913-12-25

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was not even the love he had given
to Edith Challoner. He did not know
himself. There was nothing in his
whole history to give him an under
standing of such feelings a. these,
He, Orlando Brotherson. had never
thought much of love. Science had
been his mistress; ambition his lode
star. Miss Challoner had roused-
well. his pride. He could see that
now, The might Of this new emotion
made plain many things he had passed
by as useless. puerlle, unworthy OF
man of mental caliber and might. He
had never loved Edith Challoner at
any moment Of their acquaintance
ship, though he had been sincere In
thinking that he'did Doris beauty,
the hour he bad Just passed with her,
had und1sceived him.
Atnhe hail the experience? 1t was
likely to bring him Joy. This
Jung girl whose image floated in
.snt before his eyes, would never love
she loved his hother. He had
u 'heir names mentioned together
Te he had een in town an hour.
H. e'cleverest MN, Doris, the
'' pSutiful girl in western Penn.
l !!yGia,
He mad accepted the gossip then:
lie had not seen her and 1t all seemed
very natural-hardly worth a mo.
ment's thought. But now
And here, the other demon sprang
erect and grappled with him before
the first one had let go his hold. Os-
wald and Challoner! There is more
than Fate's caprice in Challoner's In
terest in man he never saw. Had he
found the connecting link? Had, 1t
been-could 1t have been Edith? The
preposterous Is sometimes true:
could it be true in this case?
He recalled the letters read to him
as hers in that room Of his in Brook
lyn. He had hardly noted them then.
he was SO sure Of their being for.
gerles. gotten up by the police to mis-.
lead him. Could they have been real.
the etfusions Of her mind, the breath.
ings Of her heart, directed to an &c.
tual o. B.. and that O. b., his brother'
Oswald had been east, Oswald had
even been In the Berkshires before
himself. Oswald Why 1t was Os.
wald who had suggested that he
should go there-go where she still
was. Why this second coincidence, II
there we're no tie-if the Challoners
and Oswald were as far apart as they
seemed and as conventionallties would
naturally place them. Oswald was
sentimentalist. but. very reserved
about his sentimentalItIes. II these
suppositions were true. he had had
sentimentalist's motive for what he
did. As Orlando realized this, he rose
from his seat, aghast at the posslbili-
ties confronting him from this line Of
thought. Should he contemplate themi
Risk his reason by dwelling on u sup.
position which might have no founda.
ton In fact? No His brain was too
full-his purposes too important for
any unnecessary strain to be put upon
his faculties. No thinkingi investigat-
Ing first. Mr.. Challoner should be
able to settle this question. He would
see him. Even at this late hour he
ought to be able to find him In one Of
the rooms below; and. by the force Of
an irresistible demand. learn in mo-
ment whether he had to do with q
mere chimera of his own overwrought
fancy, or with fact which would call
into play all the resources OF an hith.
erto unconquered and undaunted ma.
ture.
There was wood.fire burning In
the sitting.room that night. and around
It was grouped number Of men with
their papers and pipes. Mr.. Brother
son. entering. naturally looked that
way for the man he was In search Of.
and was disappointed not to find him
there; but on casting his glances else.
where. he was relieved to see him
standing in one Of tho windows over.
looking the street. His back was to
the room and he seemed to be lost In =
ft Of abstraction.
Orlando was. as have said. an extra.
ordinary specimen OF manly vigor In
body and In mind. and his presence in
any company always attracted atten.
ton and reused. II It never satisfied,
curiosity. Conversation accordingly
ceased as he strobe up to Mr.. Challon.
er's side. 30 that his words were quite
audible as he addressed that gentle
man with somewhat curt:
You see me again. Mr.. Challoner
May l beg Of you q few minutes'
further conversation! will not do
tain you long"
The gray head turned. and the many
eyes watching showed surprise at the
expression Of dislike and repulsion