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

a little bit over it, Doesn't the pros
/ pect contain any aIluremeut for you?
/ Would YOU rather stay locked up in
/ this petty town"
Yes; or-Gie Don't look like that.
Orlando. It was a cowardly speech
and ask your pardon. I'm hardly fit
to talk today Edith"
Orlando frowuod
Not that name!" he harshly inter
/ rupted. You must not hamper your
life with useless memories. That
dream Of yours may be sacred, but it
belongs to the past and a great reality
. couCronts you. When YOU have fully
! recovered your health. your own man
{ hood wifi rebel at a weakness unwor
/ thy one OF our name. Rouse yourself.
Oswald Take account OF our pros
/ poets. Give me your hand and say.
Life holds something for me yet |
have a brother who needs me if ! do
not need him. Together, We can prove
ourselves inyincible and wrench fame
and fortune from the world"
But the hand he reached for did not
rise at his command, though Oswald
| started erect and faced him with man
/ ~ earnesmess.
Il should have TO think long and
| deeply" lie said, before / took upon
myself possibilities like these. /
am broken in mind and heart, Or
| lando. and must remain so till Cod
Incredibly delivers me, should be a
poor assistant TO you-a drag, rather
than a help. Deeply as | deplore it,
hard as it may be for one of your
temperament to understand so com
plete an overthrow. yet must ac-
knowledge ny condition and pray you
not to count upon me III any plans you
may form. / know how this looks
know THAI as your brother and truest
admirer, | should respond, and re
| spOnd strongly, to such overtureS as
these, but the motive for achievement
is gone She was my all; and while
| might work. it would be lly.
The lift. the elevating thought is
gone"
Orlando stood a moment studying
his brothers face; then he turned
shortly about and walked the length
of the room. When he came back. he
took up his stand again directly be
fore Oswald, and asked. with a new
note in his voice:
Did you love Edith Challoner so
much at that"
A glance from Oswald's eye. sadder
than any tear
so that you cannot be reconciled?"
A gesture. Oswald's words were al
ways few.
Orlando's frown deepened
Such grief l partly understand"
said he. But time will cure it. Some
day another lovely face"
We'll not talk of that, Orlando"
NO, well not talk of that" acqui-
esced the inventor, walking away
again, this time to the window. For
you there's but one woman-and she's
memory"
Killed" broke from his brothers
lips. "Slain by her own hand under an
impulse of wildness and terror! Can
ever forget that? Do not expect 1t.
Orlando"
Then you do blame me?" Orlando
turned and was looking full at Oswald
81 blame your unreasonableness and
your overweening pride"
Orlando stood a moment. then
moved towards the door. The heavi-
ness of his step smote upon Oswald's
Cd to of.{
Forgive me, Orlando" But the 9th
er cut him short with an imperative:
Thanks for your candor! If her
| spirit is destined to stand like an i'm
! movable shadow between you and me.
you do right to warn me. But this in
terview must end all allusion to the
subject. | will seek and find another
man to share my fortunes! (as he said
this he approached suddenly, and took
his papers from the others hand) or
=" Here he hastily retraced his steps
to the door which he softly opened.
or" he repeated-but though Oswald
listened for the rest, it did not come.
While he waited, the other had given
him one deeply concentrated look and
passed out.
No heartfelt understanding was pos
! sible between these two men.
CS1SctG., the hall. Orlando knocked
at the door of Doris little sitting
room.
No answer. yet she was there He
knew it in every throbbing fiber of his
body. She was there and quite aware
Of his presence; of this he felt sure;
yet she did not bid him enter. Should
he knock again? Never! but he would
not quit the threshold. not if she kept
| him waiting there for hours. Perhaps
she realized this. Perhaps she had
meant to open the door to him from
! the very first, who can tell? What
! avails is that she did ultimately open
! it, and he, meeting her soft eye.
wished from his very heart that his
impulse had led him another. way,
even if that way had been to the edge
of the precipice-and over
| For the face he looked upon was Sc
rene. and there was no serenity in
| him: rather a confusion of Embossed
passions fearful OF barrier and yearn-
/ ing unanimously for freedom. But.
whatever his revolt, the secret revolt
which makes no show in look or
| movement he kent his ground and