Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1914-02-27
CHAPTER xxxili.

| OSWAu na0 neard nothing, seen
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-be loyed for
their gracious kindliness--ses them
selves In lines which altered them al
most beyond recognition; but his
voice was not without some of its nat
ural sweetness. as, after a long and
hollow look at the others composed
countenance. he abruptly exclaimed:
Speak! | am bound to listen; you
are my brother"
| Orlando turned towards Doris. She
was slipping away.
Don't co." said he.
But she was gone.
Slowly he turned back.
L
the words with which he would have
begun his story.
Never mind the beginnings" said
he Doris has told all that. You
saw Miss Challoner In Lenox--ad-
mired her and afterwards wrote her Q
threatening letter because she reject.
ed you"
1T is true. Other men have fol-
lowed just such unworthy impulses
and been ashamed and sorry after
wards. l was sorry and was
ashamed. and as soon as my first
4 an6-1s s>sss F<oas4S<-s~.<
Butt she mistook my purpose and--~
And WHAT"
Orlando hesitated Even his iron
nature trembled before the misery he
saw-a misery he was destined to aug
: ment rather than soothe. With pains
, altogether out of keeping with his
character, he sought In the recesses
of his darkened mind for words Less
bitter and less abrupt than those
which sprang involuntarily to his lips.
, But he did not find them. Though he
, pitied his brother and wished to show
, that he did, nothing but the stern
/, language suitable to the stern fact he
, wished to impart, would leave his lips.
|, And ended the pitiful struggle OF
/, the moment with one quick, unpre-
meditated blow" was what he said.
There is no other explanation pos
sible for this act, Oswald Bitter az
!, II Is for me to acknowledge 1t, j am
!, thus far guilty of this beloved WON
ans death. But, as God hears me.
!. from the moment l first saw her. to
the moment I saw her last, I did not
/, know, nor did I for a 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 and
y traditions"
Edith"
- "Now that know she had other
% reasons for her contempt-that the
~ words she wrote were In rebuke to
u the brother rather than to the man
feel my guilt and deplore my anger
III | cannot say more. / should but In
IN suit your grief by any lengthy expires
sions of regret and sorrow"
p; from the sick mans lips, and then tn,
ID quick thrust of his reawakened intel
e. ligence rising superior to the over
Us throw of all his hopes.
M For a woman of Edith's principl
us to seek death in moment OF despers
30 ton, the provocation must have bee
mt very great. Tell me II I'm to hate 20
Or through life-yea through all eternit
- or II | must seek in some unimal
ne Unable failure of my own character Q
'r' conduct the cause OF her intolerabl
Ne despair"
es. Oswald" The tone was controlling
rIu and yet that OF one strong man
ne another. lis 1t for us to read tn
iei heart OF any woman, least OF all or
re- woman of her susceptibilities an
keen inner life? The wish to end q
comes to some natures like ligh
ris ming fash from a clear sky. 1t come
zen 1t goes, often without leaving a sig
u'- But IL a weapon chances to be near
(here it waI in hand)-then dea'
10 follows the impulse which. given Z
r. instant of thought, would have va
er; ished in a back sweep of other EN-
her tions. Chance was the real accesso
vas to this death by suicide. Oswald,
Sc us realize It as such and accept o
) sorrow as a mutual burden and Gu
to what remains TO us OF life al
BILE labor. Work Is griefs only consol
lea ton. Then let us work"
Lab. But of all tlin Oswald had caug
eat kut the one word.