initials only-第44部分

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course　had　melted　quite　away。　　She　was　ready　to　take　his　word　now　and　Oswald's；　after　which　the　rest　must　follow。　　Love　does　not　lag　far　behind　an　ardent　admiration。

Fame！　　Fortune！　　Love！　　What　more　could　a　man　desire？　　What　more　could　this　man；　with　his　strenuous　past　and　an　unlimited　capacity　for　an　enlarged　future；　ask　from　fate　than　this。　　Yet；　as　he　bends　over　his　letters；　fingering　some；　but　reading　none　beyond　a　line　or　two；　he　betrays　but　a　passing　elation；　and　hardly　lifts　his　head　when　a　burst　of　loud　acclaim　comes　ringing　up　to　his　window　from　some　ardent　passer…by：　〃Hurrah　for　Brotherson！　　He　has　put　our　town　on　the　map！〃

Why　this　despondency？　　Have　those　two　demons　seized　him　again？　　It　would　seem　so　and　with　new　and　overmastering　fury。　　After　the　hour　of　triumph　comes　the　hour　of　reckoning。　　Orlando　Brotherson　in　his　hour　of　proud　attainment　stands　naked　before　his　own　soul's　tribunal　and　the　pleader　is　dumb　and　the　judge　inexorable。　　There　is　but　one　Witness　to　such　struggles；　but　one　eye　to　note　the　waste　and　desolation　of　the　devastated　soul；　when　the　storm　is　over　past。

Orlando　Brotherson　has　succumbed；　the　attack　was　too　keen；　his　forces　too　shaken。　　But　as　the　heavy　minutes　pass；　he　slowly　re…gathers　his　strength　and　rises；　in　the　end；　a　conqueror。　Nevertheless；　he　knows；　even　in　that　moment　of　regained　command；　that　the　peace　he　had　thus　bought　with　strain　and　stress　is　but　momentary；　that　the　battle　is　on　for　life：　that　the　days　which　to　other　eyes　would　carry　a　sense　of　brilliancy　…　days　teeming　with　work　and　outward　satisfaction　…　would　hold　within　their　hidden　depths　a　brooding　uncertainty　which　would　rob　applause　of　its　music　and　even　overshadow　the　angel　face　of　Love。

He　quailed　at　the　prospect；　materialist　though　he　was。　　The　days　　…　the　interminable　days！　　In　his　unbroken　strength　and　the　glare　of　the　noonday　sun；　he　forgot　to　take　account　of　the　nights　looming　in　black　and　endless　procession　before　him。　　It　was　from　the　day　phantom　he　shrank；　and　not　from　the　ghoul　which　works　in　the　darkness　and　makes　a　grave　of　the　heart　while　happier　mortals　sleep。

And　the　former　terror　seemed　formidable　enough　to　him　in　this　his　hour　of　startling　realisation；　even　if　he　had　freed　himself　for　the　nonce　from　its　controlling　power。　　To　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　a　good　fellow。　　If　pleasure　were　to　be　gotten　from　these　tokens　of　good…will；　he　should　have　his　share　of　it。　　A　gleam　of　Oswald's　old　spirit　in　Oswald's　once　bright　eye；　would　go　far　towards　throttling　one　of　those　demons　whose　talons　he　had　just　released　from　his　throat；　and　if　Doris　responded　too；　he　would　deserve　his　fate；　if　he　did　not　succeed　in　gaining　that　mastery　of　himself　which　would　make　such　hours　as　these　but　episodes　in　a　life　big　with　interest　and　potent　with　great　emotions。

Rising　with　a　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。　It　was　Mr。　Challoner。

Courtesy　demanded　some　show　of　recognition　between　them；　and　Brotherson　was　passing　with　his　usual　cold　bow；　when　a　sudden　impulse　led　him　to　pause　and　meet　the　other's　eye；　with　the　sarcastic　remark：

〃You　have　expressed；　or　so　I　have　been　told；　some　surprise　at　my　choice　of　mechanician。　　A　man　of　varied　accomplishments；　Mr。　Challoner；　but　one　for　whom　I　have　no　further　use。　　If；　therefore；　you　wish　to　call　off　your　watch…dog；　you　are　at　liberty　to　do　so。　I　hardly　think　he　can　be　serviceable　to　either　of　us　much　longer。〃

The　older　gentleman　hesitated；　seeking　possibly　for　composure；　and　when　he　answered　it　was　not　only　without　irony　but　with　a　certain　forced　respect：

〃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　distinguished　grace。　　Not　a　flicker　of　relief　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　awe　of　his　bearing　and　the　recognition　of　that　sense　of　apartness　which　underlay　his　smile　than　from　any　perception　of　the　man's　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　slunk　away　from　his　fellows　into　the　quiet　and　solitude　of　his　own　home。

Brotherson　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　melancholy　　…　both　quite　unbefitting　the　hero　of　the　hour　in　the　first　flush　of　his　new…born　glory。　　Had　he　seen　Doris'　youthful　figure　emerge　for　a　moment　from　the　vine…hung　porch　he　was　approaching；　bringing　with　it　some　doubt　of　the　reception　awaiting　him？　　Possibly；　for　he　made　a　stand　before　he　reached　the　house；　and　sent　his　followers　back；　after　which　he　advanced　with　an　unhurrying　step；　so　that　several　minutes　elapsed　before　he　finally　drew　up　before　Mr。　Scott's　door　and　entered　through　the　now　empty　porch　into　his　brother's　sitting…room。

He　had　meant　to　see　Doris　first；　but　his　mind　had　changed。　　If　all　passed　off　well　between　himself　and　Oswald；　if　he　found　his　brother　responsive　and　wide…awake　to　the　interests　and　necessities　of　the　hour；　he　might　forego　his　interview　with　her　till　he　felt　better　prepared　to　meet　it。　　For　call　it　cowardice　or　simply　a　reasonable　precaution；　any　delay　seemed　preferable　to　him　in　his　present　mood　of　discouragement；　to　that　final　casting　of　the　die　upon　which　hung　so　many　and　such　tremendous　issues。　　It　was　the　first　moment　of　real　halt　in　his　whole　tumultuous　life！　　Never；　as　daring　experimentalist　or　agitator；　had　he　shrunk　from　danger　seen　or　unseen　or　from　threat　uttered　or　unuttered；　as　he　shrank　from　this　young　girl's　no；　and　something　of　the　dread　he　had　felt　lest　he　should　encounter　her　unaware　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　brother's　presence。

But　Oswald　was　sunk　in　a　bitter　revery　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　itself；　and　all　was　gloom　in　his　once　generous　soul。　　This；　Orlando　had　time　to　perceive；　quick　as　the　change　came　when　his　brother　really　realised　who　his　visitor　was。　　The　glad　〃Orlando！〃　and　the　forced　smile　did　not　deceive　him；　and　his　voice　quavered　a　trifle　as　he　held　out　his　packet　with　the　words：

〃I　have　come　to　show　you　what　the　world　says　of　my　invention。　　We　will　soon　be　great　men；〃　he　emphasised；　as　Oswald　opened　the　letters。　〃Money　has　been　offered　me　and　…　Read！　　read！〃　he　urged；　with　an　unconscious　dictatorialness；　as　Oswald　paused　in　his　task。　　〃See　what　the　fates　have　prepared　for　us；　for　you　shall　share　all　my　honours；　as　you　will　from　this　day　share　my　work　and　enter　into　all　my　experiments。　　Cannot　you　enthuse　a　little　bit　over　it？　　Doesn't　the　prospect　contain　any　allurement　for　you？　　Would　you　rather　stay　locked　up　in　this　petty　town　…〃

〃Yes；　or　…　die。　　Don't　look　like　that；　Orlando。　　It　was　a　cowardly　speech　and　I　ask　your　pardon。　　I'm　hardly　fit　to　talk　to…day。　Edith　…〃

Orlando　frowned。

〃Not　that　name！〃　he　harshly　interrupted。　　〃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　confronts　you。　　When　you　have　fully　recovered　your　health；　your　own　manhood　will　rebel　at　a　weakness　unworthy　one　of　our　name。　　Rouse　yourself；　Oswald。　　Take　account　of　our　prospects。　　Give　me　your　hand　and　say；　'Life　holds　something　for　me　yet。　　I　have　a　brother　who　needs　me　if　I　do　not　need　him。　　Together；　we　can　prove　ourselves　invincible　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　manly　earnestness。

〃I　should　have　to　think　long　and　deeply；〃　he　said；　〃before　I　took　upon　myself　responsibilities　like　these。　　I　am　broken　in　mind　and　heart；　Orlando；　and　must　remain　so　till　God　mercifully　delivers　me。　I　should　be　a　poor　assistant　to　you　…　a　drag；　rather　than　a　help。　Deeply　as　I　deplore　it；　hard　as　it　may　be　for　one　of　your　temperament　to　understand　so　complete　an　overthrow；　I　yet　must　acknowledge　my　condition　and　pray　you　not　to　count　upon　me　in　any　plans　you　may　form。　　I　know　how　this　looks　…　I　know　that　as　your　brother　and　truest　admirer；　I　should　respond；　and　respond　strongly；　to　such　overtures　as　these；　but　the　motive　for　achievement　is　gone。　She　was　my　all；　and　while　I　might　work；　it　would　be　mechanically。　The　lift；　the　elevating　thought　is　gone。〃

Orlando　stood　a　moment　studying　his　brother's　face；　then　he　turned　shortly　about　and　walked　the　length　of　the　room。　　When　he　came　back；　he　took　up　his　stand　again　directly　before　Oswald；　and　asked；　with　a　new　note　in　his　voice：

〃Did　you　love　Edith　Challoner　so　much　as　that？〃

A　glance　from　Oswald's　eye；　sadder　than　any　tear。

〃So　that　you　cannot　be　reconciled？〃

A　gesture。　　Oswald's　words　were　always　few。

Orlando's　frown　deepened。

〃Such　grief　I　partly　understand；〃　said　he。　　〃But　time　will　cure　it。　Some　day　another　lovely　face　…〃

〃We'll　not　talk　of　that；　Orlando。〃

〃No；　we'll　not　talk　of　that；〃　acquiesced　the　inventor；　walking　away　again；　this　time　to　the　window。　　〃For　you　there's　but　one　woman；　　…　and　she's　a　memory。〃

〃Killed！〃　broke　from　his　brother's　lips。　　〃Slain　by　her　own　hand　under　an　impulse　of　wildness　and　terror！　　Can　I　ever　forget　that？　Do　not　expect　it；　Orlando。〃

〃Then　you　do