The Raymer enterprise., 1914-01-22

uaTknese ana makes q grave or the
heart while happier mortals sleep.
And the former terror seemed for
midable enough to him In this his
hour Of startling realization, even II
he had freed himself for the nonce
from Its controlling power. To escape
all further contemplation Of 1t 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 a good fellow. II
pleasure were to be gotten from these
tokens Of goodwill, he should have
his share Of 1t. A gleam Of Oswald's g
old spirit in Oswald's once bright eye,
would 80 far towards throttling one Of
those demons whose talons he had
just released rom his throat; and
II Doris responded too. he would de-
serve his fate, II he did not succeed
In gaining that mastery Of himself
which would make such hours as
these episodes In life big with inter-
est and potent with great emotions.
Rising with resolute air, he made
a 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 for 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 sudden impulse led him
to 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 ac.
complishments, Mr.. Challoner, but one
for whom have no further use. II,
therefore, you wish to call off your
watchdog. you are at liberty to do so
! hardly think he can be seryiceable
to either of US much longer"
The older gentleman hesitated, seek
Ing possibly for composure, and when
he answered 1t was not only without
Irony but with certain forced re-
spect:
"Mr. Sweetwater has Just left for
New York. Mr.. Brotherson. He will
carry with him. no doubt, the full
particulars of your great success"
Orlando bowed, this time with dis.
tinguished grace. Not a 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 10y for
which another source must be found
than that Of gratified pride. A chain
had slipped from his spirit, and
though the people shrank little even
while they cheered. 1t was rather from
awe Of his bearing and the recogni
tion Of the sense of apartness which
underlay his smile than from any per
ception OF the mans real nature or ol
the awesome purpose which at tina,
moment exalted 1t. But had they
known-could they have seen into this
tumultuous heart-what silence
would have settled upon these noisy
streets; and in what terror and soul
confusion would each man have slunk
away from his fellows into the quiet
and solitude of his own home.
Brotherson himself was not without
sense Of the incongruity underlying
this ovation; for, as be slowly worked
himself along. the brightness of his
look became dimmed with tinge oi
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 bis
newborn glory. Had he seen Doris
youthful figure emerge for moment
from the vine-hung porch he was ap.
preaching. bringing with 1t 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.. Scott's door and
entered through the now empty porch
into his brothers sitting-room.
He had meant to see Doris first, but
hts mind had changed. II all passed
of well between himself and Oswald,
II he found his brother responsive
and wide-awake to the interests and
necessities Of the hour, he might fore.
90 his interview with her till he felt
better prepared to meet 1t. For call 1t
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 life! 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 un.
aware in the hall and SO be led on to
speak when his own judgment bade
him be silent. darkened his features
as he entered his brothers. presence.