DORIS”AyounggirlnamedDorisScott?”
Thestation-masterlookedsomewhatsharplyatthemanhewasaddressing，anddecidedtogivethedirectionasked。”Thereisbutoneyounggirlintownofthatname，”hedeclared，”andshelivesinthatlittlehouseyouseejustbeyondtheworks。
Butletmetellyou，stranger，”hewentonwithsomeprecipitation——
Butherehewascalledoff，andSweetwaterlosttheconclusionofhiswarning，ifwarningitwasmeanttobe。Thisdidnottroublethedetective。Hestoodamoment，takingintheprospect；decidedthattheWorksandtheWorksalonemadethetown，andstartedforthehousewhichhadbeenpointedouttohim。Hiswaylaythroughthechiefbusinessstreet，andgreatlypreoccupiedbyhiserrand，hegavebutapassingglancetotherowsonrowsofworkmen’sdwellingsstretchingawaytotheleftinseeminglyendlessperspective。Yetinthatglancehecertainlytookinthefacthatthesidewalkswereblockedwithpeopleandwonderedifitwereaholiday。Ifso，itmustbeanenforcedone，forthefacesshowedlittlejoy。Possiblyastrikewason。Theanxietyheeverywheresawpicturedonyoungfacesandold，arguedsometrouble；butifthetroublewasthat，whywereallheadsturnedindifferentlyfromtheWorks，andwhyweretheWorksthemselvesinfullblast?
Thesequestionshemayhaveaskedhimselfandhemaynot。Hisattentionwasentirelycentredonthehousehesawbeforehimandonthepossibledevelopmentsawaitinghimthere。Nothingelsemattered。Brisklyhesteppedoutalongthesandyroad，andafteraturnortwowhichledhimquiteawayfromtheWorksanditssurroundingbuildings，hecameoutuponthehighwayandthishouse。
Itwasalowandunpretentiousone，andhadbutonedistinguishingfeature。Theporchwhichhungwelloverthedoorstepwasuniqueinshapeandgaveanairofpicturesquenesstoanotherwisesimpleexterior；apicturesquenesswhichwasmuchenhancedinitseffectbythebackgroundofillimitableforest，whichunitedtheforegroundofthispleasingpicturewiththegreatchainofhillswhichheldtheWorksandtowninitsamplebasin。
Asheapproachedthedoorstep，hismindinvoluntarilyformedananticipatoryimageofthechildwhosefirststitchesinembroiderywerelikeafairy’sweavingtothestrongmanwhoworkedinoreandpossiblyfiguredoutbridges。Thatshewouldprovetobeoftheanemictype，commonamongworkinggirlsgiftedwithanimaginationtheyhavebutscantopportunitytoexercise，hehadlittledoubt。
Hewasthereforegreatlytakenaback，whenathisfirststepupontheporch，thedoorbeforehimflewopenandhebeheldinthedarkrecessbeyondayoungwomanofsuchbrightandbloomingbeautythathehardlynoticedherexpressionofextremeanxiety，tillsheliftedherhandandlaidanadmonitoryfingersoftlyonherlip：”Hush！shewhispered，withanearnestnesswhichrousedhimfromhisabsorptionandrestoredhimtothefullmeaningofthisencounter。”Thereissicknessinthehouseandweareveryanxious。Isyourerrandanimportantone?Ifnot-”Thefalteringbreakinthefresh，youngvoice，thelookshecastbehindherintothedarkenedinterior，wereeloquentwiththehopethathewouldrecogniseherimpatienceandpasson。
Andsohemighthavedone，-sohewouldhavedoneunderallordinarycircumstances。ButifthiswasDoris-andhedidnotdoubtthefactafterthefirstmomentofstartledsurprise-howdareheforegothisopportunityofsettlingthequestionwhichhadbroughthimhere。
Withaslightstammerbutotherwisegivingnoevidenceoftheeffectmadeuponhimbythepassionateintensitywithwhichshehadurgedthisplea，heassuredherthathiserrandwasimportant，butonesoquicklytoldthatitwoulddelayherbutamoment。”Butfirst，saidhe，withverynaturalcaution，”letmemakesurethatitistoMissDorisScottIamspeaking。Myerrandistoherandheronly。
Withoutshowinganysurprise，perhapstooengrossedinherownthoughtstofeelany，sheansweredwithsimpledirectness，”Yes，I
amDorisScott。Whereuponhebecamehismostpersuasiveself，andpullingoutafoldedpaperfromhispocket，openeditandhelditbeforeher，withthesewords：”Thenwillyoubesogoodastoglanceatthisletterandtellmeifthepersonwhoseinitialsyouwillfindatthebottomhappenstobeintownatthepresentmoment?
Insomeastonishmentnow，sheglanceddownatthesheetthusboldlythrustbeforeher，andrecognisingthe0andtheBofawell-knownsignature，sheflashedalookbackatSweetwaterinwhichhereadaconfusionofemotionsforwhichhewashardlyprepared。”Ah，thoughthe，”it’scoming。InanothermomentIshallhearwhatwillrepaymeforthetrialsanddisappointmentsofallthesemonths。
Butthemomentpassedandhehadheardnothing。Instead，shedroppedherhandsfromthedoor-jambandgavesuchunmistakableevidencesofintendedflight，thatbutonealternativeremainedtohim；hebecameabrupt。
Thrustingthepaperstillnearer，hesaid，withanemphasiswhichcouldnotfailofmakinganimpression，”Readit。Readthewholeletter。Youwillfindyournamethere。ThiscommunicationwasaddressedtoMissChalloner，but-”
Oh，nowshefoundwords！Withalowcry，sheputoutherhandinquickentreaty，begginghimtodesistandnotspeakthatnameonanypretextorforanypurpose。”Hemayrouseandhear，sheexplained，withanotherquicklookbehindher。”Thedoctorsaysthatthisisthecriticalday。Hemaybecomeconsciousanyminute。
Ifheshouldandweretohearthatname，itmightkillhim。””He！”Sweetwaterperkeduphisears。”Whodoyoumeanbyhe?””Mr。Brotherson，mypatient，hewhoseletter-”Buthereherimpatienceroseaboveeveryotherconsideration。Withoutattemptingtofinishhersentence，oryieldingintheleasttohercuriosityorinterestinthisman’serrand，shecriedoutwithsmotheredintensity，”Go！go！Icannotstayanothermomentfromhisbedside。”
ButathunderboltcouldnothavemovedSweetwaterafterthehearingofthatname。”Mr。Brotherson！heechoed。”Brotherson！NotOrlando?””No，no；hisnameisOswald。He’sthemanageroftheseWorks。He’ssickwithtyphoid。Wearecaringforhim。Ifyoubelongedhereyouwouldknowthatmuch。There！that’shisvoiceyouhear。Go，ifyouhaveanymercy。”Andshebegantopushtothedoor。
ButSweetwaterwasimpervioustoallhint。Witheagereyesstrainingintotheshadowydepthsjustvisibleoverhershoulder，helistenedeagerlyforthedisjointedwordsnowplainlytobeheardinsomenear-bybutunseenchamber。”Thesecond0。B。！heinwardlydeclared。”Andhe’saBrothersonalso，and-sick！MissScott，”hewhisperinglyentreatedasherhandfellinmanifestdespairfromthedoor，”don’tsendmeawayyet。I’veaquestionofthegreatestimportancetoputyou，andoneminutemorecannotmakeanydifferencetohim。Listen！thosecriesarethecriesofdelirium；hecannotmissyou；he’snotevenconscious。””He’scallingoutinhissleep。He’scallingher，justashehascalledforthelasttwoweeks。Buthewillwakeconscious-orhewillnotwakeatall。
TheanguishtremblinginthatlatterphrasewouldhaveattractedSweetwater’searnest，ifnotpitiful，attentionatanyothertime，butnowhehadearsonlyforthecrywhichatthatmomentcameringingshrillyfromwithin-”Edith！Edith！”
Thelivingshoutingforthedead！Aheartstillwarmsendingforthitslongingtothepiercedandpulselessone，hiddeninafar-offtomb！ToSweetwater，whohadseenMissChallonerburied，thissummonsofdistractedlovecamewithweirdforce。
Thenthepresentregaineditssway。Heheardhernameagain，andthistimeitsoundedlesslikeacallandmorelikethewelcomingcryofmeetingspirits。Wasdeathtoendthisseparation?Hadhefoundthetrue0。B。，onlytobeholdanotherandfinalsealfalluponthiscloselyfoldedmystery?Inhisfearofthispossibility，hecaughtatDoris’handasshewasabouttoboundaway，andeagerlyasked：”WhenwasMr。Brothersontakenill?Tellme，Ientreatyou；theexactdayand，ifyoucan，theexacthour。Moredependsuponthisthanyoucanreadilyrealise。
Shewrenchedherhandfromhis，pantingwithimpatienceandavaguealarm。Butsheansweredhimdistinctly：”OntheTwenty-fifthoflastmonth，justanhourafterhewasmademanager。HefellinafaintattheWorks。”
Theday-theverydayofMissChalloner’sdeath！”Hadheheard-didyoutellhimthenorafterwardswhathappenedinNewYorkonthatverydate?””No，no，wehavenottoldhim。Itwouldhavekilledhim-andmayyet。””Edith！Edith！cameagainthroughthehush，ahushsodeepthatSweetwaterreceivedtheimpressionthatthehousewasemptysaveforpatientandnurse。
Thisdiscoveryhaditseffectsuponhim。Whyshouldhesubjectthisyoungandlovinggirltofurtherpain?Hehadalreadylearnedmorethanhehadexpectedto。Therestwouldcomewithtime。Butatthefirstintimationhegaveofleaving，shelostherabstractedairandturnedwithabsoluteeagernesstowardshim。”Onemoment，saidshe。”YouareastrangerandIdonotknowyournameoryourpurposehere。ButIcannotletyougowithoutbeggingyounottomentiontoanyoneinthistownthatMr。Brothersonhasanyinterestintheladywhosenamewemustnotspeak。Donotrepeatthatdeliriouscryyouhaveheardorbetrayinanywayourintenseandfearfulinterestinthisyounglady’sstrangedeath。
Youhaveshownmealetter。Donotspeakofthatletter，Ientreatyou。Helpustoretainoursecretalittlelonger。OnlythedoctorandmyselfknowwhatawaitsMr。Brothersonifhelives。Ihadtotellthedoctor，butadoctorrevealsnothing。Promisethatyouwillnoteither，atleasttillthiscrisisispassed。Itwillhelpmyfatheranditwillhelpme；andweneedallthehelpwecanget。”
Sweetwaterallowedhimselfoneminuteofthought，thenheearnestlyreplied：”Iwillkeepyoursecretforto-day，andlonger，ifpossible。””Thankyou，shecried；”thankyou。IthoughtIsawkindnessinyourface。”Andsheagainpreparedtoclosethedoor。
ButSweetwaterhadonemorequestiontoask。”Pardonme，saidhe，ashesteppeddownonthewalk，”yousaythatthisisacriticaldaywithyourpatient。IsthatwhyeveryonewhomIhaveseensofarwearssuchalookofanxiety?””Yes，yes，”shecried，givinghimoneotherglimpseofherlovely，agitatedface。”There’sbutonefeelingintownto-day，butonehope，and，asIbelieve，butoneprayer。ThatthemanwhomeveryonelovesandeveryonetrustsmaylivetoruntheseWorks。””Edith！Edith！”roseinceaselessreiterationfromwithin。
Butitrangbutfaintlynowintheearsofourdetective。Thedoorhadfallento，andSweetwater’sshareintheanxietiesofthathouseholdwasover。
Slowlyhemovedaway。Hewasinaconfusedyetelatedconditionofmind。Herewasfoodforathousandnewthoughtsandconjectures。
AnOrlandoBrothersonandanOswaldBrotherson-relativespossibly，strangerspossibly；butwhetherrelativesorstrangers，bothgiventosigningtheirletterswiththeirinitialssimply；andboththeacknowledgedadmirersofthedeceasedMissChalloner。Butshehadlovedonlyone，andthatone，Oswald。Itnotdifficulttorecognisetheobjectofthishighheartedwoman’saffectionsinthismanwhosestrugglewiththemaster-destroyerhadawakenedthesolicitudeofawholetown。