Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1913-09-04

whole history to give him an under
standing of such feelings as these.
He, Orlando Brotherson, had never
thought much. of love. Science had
been his mistress; ambition his lode
star. Miss Challoner had reused
well, his pride. He could see that
now. The might of this new emotion
made plain many things he had passed
by as useless, puerile, unworthy of a
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 had just passed with her
had undeceived him.
Did he hail the experience? 1t was
not likely to bring him joy. This
young girl whose image f1oated In
light before his eyes, would never love
him. She loved his brother. He had
heard their names mentioned together
before he had been in town an hour.
Oswald, the cleverest man, Doris, the
most beautiful girl In western Penn
sylvania.
He mad accepted the gossip then;
he had not seen her and 1t all seemed
very Internationally worth 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-
valid and Challoner! There is more
than Fate's caprice in Challoner's in
terest in a man he never saw. Had he
found the connecting link? Had 1t
been-could it 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
geries, gotten UP by the police to mis-
lead him. Could they have been real.
the illusions Of her mind, the breath
ings of her heart, directed to an ac-
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-
valid who had suggested that he
should go there-go where she still
was. Why this second coincidence, if
there were no tie-if the Challoners
and Oswald were as far apart as they
seemed and as conventionalities would
naturally place them. Oswald was
sentimentalist, but very reserved
about his sentimentalities. If these
suggestions were true, he had had
sentimentalist's motive for what he
did AS Orlando realized this, he rose
from his seat, aghast at the possibili-
ties confronting him from this line of
thought. Should he contemplate them?
Risk his reason by dwelling on a 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 thinking! Investigate
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 a mo-
ment whether he had to do with a
mere chimera Of his own overweight
fancy, or with fact which would call
into play all the resources of an hith-
erto unconQuered and undaunted ma 4
ture.
There was a 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 the windows over
looking the street. His back was to
the room and he seemed to be lost In q
fit 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, If 1t never satisfied.
curiosity. Conversation accordingly
ceased as he strobe up to Mr.. Challon-
er's side, so that his words were quite
audible as he addressed that gentle
man with a somewhat curt:
You see me again, Mr.. Challoner
May beg of you q few minutes
further conversation? / will not de-
tain you long"
The gray head turned, and the many
eyes watching showed surprise at the
expression of dislike and repulsion
with which this New York gentleman
| met the request thus emphatically
| urged But his answer was courteous
enough. If Mr. Brotherson knew q
place where they would be left undis-
turbed, he would listen to him If ha
would be very brief.
For reply, the other pointed to q
small room quite uncGcupied which
| opened out of the ore Isl which they
then stood. Mr.. Chall0-er bowed and
in another moment the door closed upp
on them, to the infinite disappoir1
ment eli the men about the hearth.
\ t.af Il