Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-10-21
CHAPTER VI
Jasper Leigh

Jasper Leigh
F that Christmas was one Of sorrow at
Godolphin Court, it was nothing less at
A PenarroW.
days. given to sit for long hours staring into
the heart of the fire and repeating to himself
again and again every word of his interview
with Rosamund, now in mood of bitter re-
sentiment against her for having so readily
believed his guilt, now in a gentler sorroW1ng
humor which made full allowance for the
strength of the appearances against him.
His half-brother moved softly about the
house now in sort of self-effacement, never
daring to intrude upon Sir divers abstrac-
TONS He was we'll acquainted with their
cause He knew what had happened at
Godolphin Court, knew that Rosamund had
dismissed Sir Oliver for all time, and his
heart smote him to think that he should
leave his brother to bear this burden that
rightly belonged to his own shoulders.
The thing preyed so much upon his mind
that in an expansive moment one evening ne
gave it tongue.
"Noll," he said, standing beside his broth
er's side in the ire-lit gloom, and resting
hand upon his brothers shoulder, were 1T
not best to tell the truth?"
Sir oliver looked up quickly, frowning
cart mad?" duoth he. '"The truth would
hang thee, Lal."
at might not. And in any case you are
suffering something worse than hanging. Oh,
I have watched you every hour this week
past and | know the pain that abldes IN
YOU 1t is not just" And he insisted, I'VE
had best tell the truth"
Sir Oliver smiled wistfully. He/put out a
hand and took his brothers..
"'Tis noble in you to propose it, Lal.
''Not half so noble as it is in you to bear
all the suffering for deed that was my
own"
"Bah!" Sir oliver shrugged impatiently;
1N1'c f1,nn and
returned to the consideration OF the IRE.
'After all, can throw off the burden when
will Such knowledge as that Will en-
hearten man through any trial"
He had spoken in harsh, cynical tone,
and Lionel had turned cold at his words.
He stood a long while in silence there, turn
ing them over in his mind and considering
the riddle which they presented him. He
thought of asking his brother bluntly for
the key to it, for the precise meaning OF
his disconcerting statement; but courage
failed him. He feared lest Sir Oliver should
confirm his own dread Interpretation of it.
He drew away after a time, and soon
after went to bed. For days thereafter the
phrase ranked in his mind. 81 can throw
off the burden when I will" Conviction
grew upon him that Sir oliver meant that
he was enheartened by the knowledge that
by speaking if he chose he could clear him
self That Sir Oliver would so speak he
could not think Indeed, he was entirely
assured that Sir Oliver was very far from
intending to throw off hi burden. Yet he
might come to change his mind.
Lionel sought to assure himself that his
brother was q man OF stern fiber, a man
who never lost control Of himself But
against this he would argue that what had
happened in the past was no guarantee of
what might happen in the future; that
limit was set to the endurance of every man
be he ever so strong, and that it was far
4l,o+ 1iY1oi+ &c
endurance might be reached in this affair.
If that happened, in what case should he
find himself?
The answer to this was a picture beyond
his fortitude to contemplate. The dnager
of his being sent to trial and made to suf-
fer the extreme penalty of the law would
be far greater now than tif he had spoken
at once The tale he could then have told
must have compelled some attention. for
he was accounted a man of unsmirched
honor and his word must carry some weight.
But now none would believe him. They
would argue from his silence and from his
having suffered his brother to be unjustly
accused that he was craven-hearted and dis
honorable, and that if he had acted thus it
was because he had no good defense to offer
for his deed,
Thus he came to the dread conclusion
that in his endeavors to screen himself he
had but enmeshed himself the more mex
tricably If Oliver but spoke he was lost
And back he came to the question: What
assurance had he that Oliver would not
speak?
The fear of this, from occurring to him oc.
,casionally began to haunt him day and night
and for all Chat the fever had left him and
his wound was entirely healed he remained
pale and thin and hollow-eyed Indeed the
secret terror that was in his soul glared out
of his eyes at every moment.
Coming one afternoon into the dining room
which was ever Sir divers favorite haunt
in the mansion Of PenarroW, Lionel found his
half-brother in that brooding attitude, elbow
on knee and chin on palm, staring into the
fire This was so habitual now in Sir Oliver
that it had begun to irritate Lionels tense
nerves; it. had come to seem to him that in
this listlessness was a studied tact reproach
aimed at himself
why do you sit ever thus over the fire like
some old crone?" be growed, voicing at last
the irritability that so long had been grow
ing in him.
Sir Oliver looked round with mild surprise
in his glance. Then from Lionel his eyes
Travelled to the long windows.
ut rains" he said
1T was not your wont to be driven to the
fireside by rain. But rain or shine It's ever
the same You never go abroad"
ITO what end?" qvoth Sir Oliver, with the
same mildness, hut q wrinkle Of bewilderment I
coming gradually between his dark brows
DO you suppose 1 love to meet lowering
glences, to see heads approach one another so
That confidential curses OF me may be NUT
-erea?9
"Ha" cried Lionel, short and sharp his