River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-08-28

!
a little bit over it? Doesn't the pros
pect contain any allurement for you?
Would you rather stay locked up in
this petty town
Yes; or-die. Don't look like that,
Orlando. 1t was a cowardly speech
and | ask your pardon. I'm hardly fit
to talk today. Edith"
Orlando frowned.
mot that name!" he harshly inter
rupted. you must not hamper your
life with useless memories. That
dream of yours may be sacred, but 1t
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 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.
81 should have to think long and
deeply" he said, before l took upon
myself responsibilities like these.
am broken in mind and heart, Or
lando, and must remain so till God
mercifully delivers me. / should be a
| poor assistant to you-a drag, rather
than a help. Deeply as / deplore it,
hard as it may be for one of your
temperament to understand so com
plete an overthrow, | yet must ac-
| knowledge my condition and pray you
not to count upon me in any plans you
may form. 1 know how this looks-I
know that as your brother and truest
admirer l should respond, and re
spond strongly, to such overtures as
| 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"
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 new
note in his voice:
did you love Edith Challoner so
much at that?"
than any tear.
$50 that you cannot be reconciled?"
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"
We'll not talk of that, Orlando"
mo, 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
memory"
KILLED." broke from his brothers
lips. "Slain by her own hand under an
impulse Of Witness 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 l will seek and find another
man to share my fortunes! Gas he said
this he approached suddenly, and took
| his papers from the others hand) or
-" 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? Neveri but he would
not quit the threshold, not If she kept
him waiting there for hours. Perhaps
she realized this. Perhaps she had
meant to open the door to him from
the very first, who can tell? What
avails is that she did ultimately open
it, 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 confusion OF unloosec
passions fearful Of barrier and yearn
ing unanimously for freedom. But
whatever his revolt, the secret revolt
which makes no show in look Oh
movement, he kept his ground ant
forced smile of greeting. If her face
was quiet, it was also lovely-too love
~, he felt, for a man to leave 1t, what
ever might come of his lingering.
Nothing in all his life had ever af
fected him like it. For him there was