Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1913-09-18
CHAPTER xxxIIi.
Alone.

nothing. But he took note Of Doris
silence. and turning towards her in
frenzy saw what had happened. and
SO was In a measure prepared for the
stern, short sentence which now rang
through the room:
Wait, Miss Scott. you tell my
story badly. Let him listen to me-
From my mouth only shall he hear
the stern and seemingly unnatural
part played in this family tragedy
The face of Oswald hardened.
Those plant features beloved for
their gracious kindliness-set them
selves in lines which altered them al
most beyond recognition but his
voice was not without some of it's nat
ural sweetness, as, after long and
hollow look at the others composed
countenance, he abruptly exclaimed'
Speak! I am bound to, listen; you
are my brother"
Orlando turned towards Doris. She
was slipping away.
Don't go" said ne.
But she was gone.
Slowly he turned back
Oswald raised his band and checked
the words with which he would have
begun nAs story.
Never mind the beginnings" said
he. "Doris has told all that You
saw Miss Challoner in Lenox--ad-
mired her ans afterwards wrote her
threatening letter because she reject
ed you"
1T is true. Other men have fol-
lowed just such uE~orthy impulses
and been ashamed and sorry after
wards. was sorry and was
ashamed, and as soon as my first
anger was over went to tell her so.
But she mistook my purpose and"
'sAnd what?"
Orlando hesitatesy Even his iron
nature trembled besrrs the misery he
saw-a misery he waa destined to aug
ment rather than srothe. With pains
altogether out of Rgeping with his
character, he sought in the recesses
of his darkened mind for words less
bitter and less abrupt than those
which sprang involua.arily to his lips
But he did not find them. Though he
pitied his brother ard wished to show
that he did, nothing but the stern
language suitable to the stern fact he
wished to impart, would leave his lips.
iAnd ended the J1tiful struggle o.
the moment with one quick, UMPIRE
meditated blow" was what he said.
There is no other explanation pos
sfble for this act, Oswald Bitter as
1t is for me to acknowledge it, am
thus far guilty Of thts beloved WON
ans death. But, aa God hears me.
from the moment first saw her, to
the moment I 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 ans
traditions
"Edith?"
Now that I know she had Other
reasons for her contemplated the
words she wrote wore In rebuke to
the brother rather than to the man,
feel my guilt and deplore NY anger,
cannot say more. / should but in
suit your grief by any lengthy express
sions of regret and sorrow."
A groan of intolerable anguish
from the sick mans lips, and then the
quick thrust of his Teawakened intel
ligence rising superior to the over.
throw of all his hopes.
For woman of Edith's principle
to seek death in moment of despera,
ton, the provocation must have been
very great Tell me II I'm to hate you
through life-yea through all eternity
OR If I must seek in some unimag
Unable failure of my own character or
conduct the cause 81 her intolerable
despair"
Oswald The tame was controlling.
and yet that of oEe strong man to
another. rs 1t for US to read the
heart of any woman. least OF all of
woman of her srHcepti6ilities and
keen inner life? The wish to end all
comes to some natures like a light
ming flash from clear sky. 1t comes.
1t goes, often without leaving a sign.
But If weapon chances to be near
(here it was in hhnd)-then death
follows the impulse which, given an
instant of thought. would have van
ished in back sweep of other emo.
tons. Chance was the real, accessory
to this death by suicide. Oswald. let
US realize it as such and accept our
sorrow as mutual burden and turn
to what remains to us Of life and
labor. Work Is grisf's only consoia
ton. Then let us work"
But of all this Oswald had csraa,
but the one word
ITO R1s fvfpNrY,rfYur>, fs.