The Raymer enterprise., 1914-01-01

breast which that cutter might have
made"
Edith? never!"
The words were chokingly said; he
was swaying, almost falling, but he
steadied himself.
Who says that?" he asked.
1T was the coroner's verdict"
And she died that way-died?"
Immediately"
After writing to your"
Yes"
What was in the letter."
Nothing Of threat, they say. Only
just cheer and expressions of hope.
Just like the others. Mr.. Brotherson.
And they accuse her of taking her
own life? Their verdict is a lie. They
did not know her." Then, after some
moments of wild and confused feeling.
he declared, with desperate effort at
self-control: "You said that some be-
lieve this. Then there must be 9TH
ers who do not. What do they say?"
Nothing. They simply feel as you
do. They see no reason for the act
and no evidence of her having medi-
tated 1t. Her father and her friends
insist besides. that she was incapable
of such a horror. The mystery Of 1t
is killing us all; me above others, for
I've had to show you cheerful face,
with my brain reeling and my heart
like lead in my bosom"
She held out her hands. She tried
to draw his attention to herself; not
from any sentiment of egotism. but
to break. II she could, the strain of
these insupportable horrors where SO
short time before Hope sang and
Life reveled In reawakened joys.
Perhaps some faint realization OF
this reached him. for presently he
caught her by the hands and bowed
his head upon her shoulder and finally
let her seat him again, before he said !:
DO they know of-of my interest
In this?"
Yes: they know about the two
o. BIS"
"The two" He was or, his feet
again. but only for moment; his
weakness was greater than his will
power.
Orlando and Oswald Brotherson,
she explained. in answer to his brok
en- appeal. Your brother wrote let
ters to her as well as you. and signed
them Just as you did. with his ini
tials only. These letters were found
in her desk, and he was supposed, fol-
a time. to have been the author oil
all that were so signed. But they
found out the difference after awhile
Yours were easily recognized after
they learned there was another o. B
who loved her."
The words we're plain enough, Aut
the stricken listener did not take
them In. They carried no meaning
to him. How could they? The very
idea she sought to impress upon him
by this seemingly careless allusion
was an incredible one. She found II
her dreadful task to tell him the hard
bare truth.
Your brother" she said, was de
voted to Miss Chalioner, too. He ever
wanted to marry her. | cannot keeT
back this fact. 1t is known every
where, and by everybody but you
"Orlando?" His lips took an iron
ical curve. as he uttered the word
This was a young girls imaginative
fancy to him. why Orlando never
knew her, never saw her. never"
He met her at Lenox."
The name produced Its effect. HI
stared, made an effort to think, re
peated Lenox over to himself; ther
suddenly lost his hold upon the idef
which that word suggested, struggled
again for 1t, seized 1t in an instant o.
madness and shouted out:
Yes. yes, remember. / sent hin
there" and paused, his mind banl
again.
Poor Doris, frightened to her very
soul, looked bllndly about for help,
but she did not quit his side; she dit
not dare to, for his lips had re
opened; the continuity of his thoughts
had returned; he was going to speak
Il sent him there" The word,
came In sort Of shout. II was 81
hungry to hear OF her and | though
he might mention her In his letter
lnsene! Insane! He saw her and
What's that you said about his lovini
her? He couldn't have loved her
he's not Of the loving sort. They've
deceived you with strange tales
They've deceived the whole worl,
with fancies and mad dreams. H,
may have admired her, but loved he
no! or II he had. he would have re
spected my claims"
He did not know them"
A laugh: laugh which paled Doris
cheek; then his tones grew evel
again. memory came back and he NUT
tered family:
THAT 10 true. said nothing I,
him. He had the right to court her
and he did. you say; wrote to her
imposed himself upon her, drove he