Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1914-03-14

nOur or startling realization, even II
he had freed himself for the nonCe
from its controlling power. 70 escape
all further contemplation Of it he
would work. These letters deserved
attention He would carry them to
Oswald, and in their consideration find
distraction for the rest OF the day. at
least. Oswald was good fellow. II
pleasure were 10 be gotten from these
tokens OF goodwill. he should have
his share OF It, a CLEAN Of Oswald
old spirit in Oswald'S once bright eye.
would 90 far towards throttling one OF
those demons whose taIOns he had
Just released rom his throat; and
II Doris responded too. he would de
serve his fate. if he did not succeed
IL gaining that mastery of himself
whic% would make such hours as
these episodes in life big with inter
est and potent with great emotions.
Rising with a Tesolute air, he made
bundle of his papers and. with them
IN hand. passed out Of his room and
down the hotel stairs.
a man stood directly in his way.
as he made fer the front door 1t was
Mr.. Challoner.
Courtesy demanded some show of
recognition between them, and Broth
erson was passing with his usual cold
bow. when a sudden impulse led him
10 pause and meet the others eye,
with the sarcastic remark:
You have expressed. or so / have
been told, some surprise at my choice
OF mechanician. A man of varied &C
complishments, Mr.. Challoner, but one
Tor whom | have no further use. If,
therefore, you wish to call off your
Watchdog, you are at liberty to do so.
| hardly think he can be serviceable
to either of US much longer"
The Older gentleman hesitated, seek,
ing possibly for composure, and when
he answered it was not only without
irony but with certain forced re-
spect:
Mr.. Sweetwater has Just left for
New York. Mr.. Brotherson. He viii
carry with him, no doubt, the full
particulars of your great success"
Orlando bowed. this time with dis
tinguished grace. Not flicker of re-
lief had disturbed the calm serenity
OF his aspect, yet when a moment
later. he stepped among his shouting
admirers in the street, his air and
glance betrayed a bounding Joy for
which another source must be found
than that of gratified pride. A chain
had slipped from his spirit, and
though the people shrank a little even
while they cheered, it was rather from
ton of the sense of apartness which
underlay his smile than from any per-
ception OF the mans real nature or of
the awesome purpose which at that
moment exalted it. But had they
known-could they have seen into this
tumultuous heart-what a silence
would have settled upon these noisy
streets; and in what terror and soul
confusion would each man have skunk
away from his fellows into the quiet
and solitude of his own home.
Brothersons himself was not without
a sense of the incongruity underlying
this ovation; for, as he slowly worked
himself along. the brightness of his
look became dimmed with a tinge of
sarcasm which in its turn gave way
to an expression of extreme melan-
choly-both quite unbefltting the hero
of the hour in the first flush of his
newborn glory. Had he seen Doris
youthful figure emerge for a moment
preaching. bringing with it some doubt
of the reception awaiting him? Pos,
sibly, for he made a stand before he
reached the house, and sent his fol-
lowers back; after which he advanced
with an unhurrying step, so that sew
eral minutes elapsed before he finally
drew up before Mr.. SCOTS door and
entered through the now empty porch
into his brothers sitting-room.
He had meant to see Doris first, but
his mind had changed. If all passed
off we'll between himself and Oswald,
if he found his brother responsive
and wide-awake to the interests and
necessities of the hour, he might fore
go his interview with her till he felt
better prepared to meet it. For cali it
cowardice or simply a reasonable pre-
caution, any delay seemed preferable
to him in his present mood of dis
couragement, to that final casting of
the die upon which hung so many and
such tremendous issues. 1t was the
first moment Of real halt in his whole
tumultuous iifei Never, as daring ex-
perimentalist or agitator had he
shrunk from danger seen or unseen or
from threat uttered or unuttered, as
he shrank from this young girls no:
and something of the dread he had
felt lest he should encounter her I'M
aware in the hall and so be led on to
speak when his own judgment babe
him be silent. darkened his features
as he entered his brothers presence.
But Oswald was sunk in a bitter
reyery of his own, and took no heed OF
these signs of depression. In the re-
action following these days of great
excitement, the past had re-asserted IT.
self. and all was gloom in his once
Generous soul This. Orlando had time
TO perceive, quick as the change
came when his brother really realized
vvbo his visitor was The glad COR.