The Huttig news., 1913-04-05


 anger was over went to tell her so. But she mistook my purpose and---'
 And what?'
 Orlando hesitated. Even his iron nature trembled before the misery he saw--a misery he was destined to aug. ment rather than soathe. With pains altogether out Of keeping with his character, he sought in the recesses of his darkened mind for words less bitter and less abrupt than those which spraug involuntarily to his lips, But he did not find them. Though he pitied his brother and wished to show that he did nothing but the stern language suitable to the stern fact he wished to impart, would leave his lirs
 And ended the pitiful struggle of the moment with one quick, unpre- meditated blow" was what he said. There Is no other explanation pos sible for this act, Oswald Bitter as 1t Is for me to acknowledge it, I am thus far guilty of this beloved wom- ans death. But. as God hears me, from the moment I first saw her. to the moment l saw her last. did not know. nor did for momen. dread that she was anything to you or to any other man of my stamp and sta ton. thought she despised my coun. try birth, my mechanical attempts, my lack of aristocratic pretensions and traditions"
 "Edith!"
 Now that I know she had other reasons for her contempt-that the words she wrote were in rebuke to the brother rather than to the man, l feel my guilt and deplore y anger. l cannot say more. sh but in- suit your grief by any lengthy expres- siens of regret and sorrow''
 A groan of intolerabe anguish from the sick mans lips, and then the quick thrust of his reawakened intel hgence rising superior to the oyer throw of all his hopes.
 For a woman Of Edith's principle to seek death in moment Of des pera- ton, the provocation must have been very great Tell me if I'm to hate you through life--yea through all eternity or if l must seek in some unirlag- inable failure of my own character or conduct the cause Of her intelerable despair"
 "Oswald.' The tone was controlling, and yet that of one strong man to another. "Is it for us to read the heart of any woman, least of all of a woman of her susceptibilities and keen inner life? The 'ssh to end all comes to some natures like light ming dash from clear sky. II comes. it goes, often without leaving sign. But If weapon chances to be near there 1t was in hand then death follows the impulse which. given an instant of thought, would have vau- ished in a back sweep of other emo- tfons. Chance was the real accessory to this death by suicide. Oswald. let us realize it as such and accent our sorrow as mutual burden and turn to what remains to us Of life and lahor. Work is grief's only eonsola ton. Then let us work" Rut of all this Oswald had caught but the one word
 "Chance?" he repeated. "Orlando. I believe in God"
 Then seek your comfort there find it in harnessing the winds. n forcing the powers of nature to do my bidding"
 The other did not speak, and the si- ience grew heavy. It was broken, when it was broken, by cry from Oswald:
 No more," said he, mo more" Then, in q yearning accent Send Doris to me-"
 Orlando started. This name coming so close upon that word comfort pro- 1uced strange effect upon him. But another look at Oswald and he was ready to do his bidding. The bitter ordeal was over; let him have his solace if it was in her power to give 1t to him
 Orlando. upon leaving his brothers room, did not stop to deliver that brothers message directly to Doris: he left this for Truda to do. and re- tired immediately to his hangar in the woods. Locking himself in, he slightly raised the roof and then sat down before the car which was rap idly taking on shape and assuming that individuality and appearance of sentient life which hitherto he had only seeu In dreams. Rnt his eye, which had never failed to kindie ai this sight before, shone duiiv in the semi-gloom. The air-car could wait; he would first have his hour in this solitude of his own making. The gaze he dreaded, the words from which he shrank could not penetrate here He might even shoat her name aloud, and only these windowiass walls would respond. He was alone with his past, his present and his future.
 Alone.
 He needed to be. The strongest must pause when the precipice yawns before him. The gulf can be spaDned: he feels himself forceful enough for that; but his eyes must take their measurement of it first: he must know it's depths and possible dangers Only fool would ignore these steeps