The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1913-02-20

pcCt COutdlu any diiulSIucuI lux you
Would you rather stay locked up in
this petty town"
Yes; or-die. Don't lock like that,
Orlando. It was cowardly speech
and l ask your pardon. I'm hardly fit
TO talk today. Edith"
Orlando frowned.
Not that name!" he harshly inter-
rupted. You must not hamper your
life with useless memories. That
dream of yours may be sacred, but it
belongs to the past, and great reality
confronts you. When you have fully
recovered your health, your own man.
hood will rebel at weakness unwor-
thy one of our name. Rouse yourself.
Oswald. Take account of our pros
poets. Give me your hand and say:
Life holds something for me yet.
have a brother who needs me If do
not need him. Together, we can prove
ourselves invincible and wrench fame
and fortune from the world"
But the hand he reached for did not
rise at his command, though Oswald
started erect and faced him with man
ly earnestness.
II should have to think long and
deeply" he said, before took upon
myself responsibilities like these.
am broken in mind and heart, Or
Iando, and must remain so till God
mercifully delivers me. i should be a
poor assistant to you--a drag, rather
than help. Deeply as l deplore it,
hard as it may be for one Of. your
plete an overthrow, / yet must ac-
knowledge my condition and pray you
not to count upon me in any plans you
may form. l know how this looks
know that as your brother and truest
admirer, / should respond, and re
these, but the motive for achievement
is gone. She was my all; and while
might work. it would be mechanically
The lift, the 'elevating thought is
gone"
Orlando stood moment studying
his brothers face; then he turned
shortly about and walked the length
of the room. When he came back, he
took up his stand again directly be
fore Oswald, and asked, with a new
note in his voice:
did you love Edith Challoner &c
much at that?"
A glance from Oswali's eye, sadder
than any tear.
$50 that you cannot be reconciledT
A gesture. Oswald's words were al
ways few.
Orlando's frown deepened.
"Such grief I partly understand
said he. But time will cure it. Some
day another lovely face"
well not talk of that, Orlando"
"No, we'll not talk of that" acqui
esced the inventor, walking away
again, this time to the window. For
you there's but one woman-and she's
a memory"
KILLED" broke from his brothers
lips. "Slain by her own hand under an
impulse Of wildness and terror! Can
ever forget that? Do not expect 1t,
Orlando"
"Then you do blame me?" Orlando
turned and was looking full at Oswald.
81 blame your unreasonableness and
your overweening pride"
Orlando stood a moment, then
moved towards the door. The heavi.
ness of his step smote upon Oswald's
ear and caused him to exclaim:
Forgive me, Orlando" But the 9th.
er cut him short with an imperative:
Thanks for your candor! If her
spirit is destined to stand like an i'm
movable shadow between you and me,
you do right to warn me. But this in.
terview must end all allusion to the
subject. will seek aad find another
man to share my fortunes! Gas he said
this he approached suddenly, and tooh
his papers from the others HANDY OF
-" Here he hastily retraced his steps
to the door which he softly opened
Cor" he repeated-but though Oswald
listened for the rest, it did not come
While he waited, the other had given
him one deeply concentrated look and
passed out.
No heartfelt understanding was pos
sible between these two men.
Crossing the hall, Orlando knocked
at the door of Doris little sitting
room.
No answer, yet she was there. He
knew it in every throbbing fiber of his
body. She was there and quite aware
Of his presence; of this he felt sure;
yet she did not bid him enter. Should
he knock again? Never! but he woulc
not quit the threshold, not if she KEEP
him waiting there for hours. Perhaps
she realized this. Perhaps she ha(
meant to open the door to him from
the very first, who can tell? Wha
avails is that she did ultimately ope1
| 1t. and he, meeting her soft eye
wished from his very heart that hi
impulse had led him another way
/ even If that way had been to the edg'
! of the precipice-and over.
r., ho coptfp,,6.,S