Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1906-12-20

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 I.fiI.a2t. i1as.tl 1 iusA lis face, 7H HfS fresh book of disturbance. and fEo0 lone experience again changed her tac ties Laying the cigarette ease on the couch. she put one hand on his shoulder, the other OH his left arm. Hundreds of times this curcssng touch had quieted Chicotc
 Dear old boy" she said soothingly. her hand moving slowly down his arm.
 Tn flash of understanding the con sequences of this position came to him. Action was imperative, at whatever risk With an abrupt gesture he rose.
 The movement was awkward. He got to his feet precipitately. Lillian drew back, surprised and startled. catching involuntarily at his left hand to steady her position.
 Her fingers grasped at. then held his. He made no effort to release them. With a logged acknowledgment, he ad- mitted himself worsted
 How long she stayed immovable, holding his hand, neither of them knew. The process of d wolnan's instinct is so subtle, so obscure, that it would be futile to apply it 10 the commonplace test of time She kept her hold tcnaci- ouSly, as though his fingers possessed some peculiar virtue Then at last she spoke.
 Rings, Jack?" she said very slowly. And under the two short words d whole world of incredulity and surmse made itself felt.
 LoGer laughed.
 At the sound she dropped his hand and rose from her knees. What her suspicious, what her instincts were she could not have clearly defined, but her action was unhesitating. Without d moments uncertainty she turned to tlle fireplace. pressed the electric button and flooded the room with light.
 There is no force so demoralizing as unexpected light. Ioder took a step backward his hand hanging unguard- ed by his side, and Lillian, stepping forward, caught it again before he could protest Lifting it quickly, she looked scrutinizingly at the two rings.
 All women jump to conclusions, and
 it is extraordinary how seldom they jump short. Seeing only what Lillian saw, knowing only what she knew, ne man would have staked a definite opin- ion, but the other sex takes different view As she stood gazing Ut the rings her thoughts and her conclusions sped through her mind like arroWs-ali aim ed and all tending toward one point. She remembered the day when she and Chilcote had talked of doubles, her of the idea his sudden interest in tie book "Othcr Mems Shoes.2 and Ills anathema against life and it's irkShlne round of duties. She remembered her own first convinced recognition of the eyes that had looked at her ill the door way of her sisters house, and, last of all, she remembered Chilco1es naHr countable avoidance of the same sub. feet of lkeneSseS when she had men toned it yesterday driving through the park, and with it his unnecessarily curt repuaiation of his former opln ions. She reviewed each item, then she raised her head slowly and looked at Loder.
 He was prepared for the glance and met it steadily. In the long moment that her eyes searched his face 1t was she and not he who changed color. She was the first to speak. You were the man whose hands 1 saw in the tent" she said. She made the state plent in her usual soft tones, but q slight tremor of excitement undelran her voice. Poodles, Persian kittens. even crystal gazing balls. seemed very far away in face of this tangible. fabu- lous, present interest. You are not Jack Chilcote," she said very slowly. You are wearing his clothes and speaking in his voice, but you are not Jack Chilcote." Her tone quickened with touch of excitement. You needn't keep silent and lock at me- she said. Il know quite well what l am saying, though don't understand 1t, though have no real proof She ] paused. momentarily disconcerted by her companian's silent and steady gazc, and in the pause a curious ana unexpected thing occurred.
 Loder laughed suddenly-a full, cph l fdent. reassured laugh. All the wef' that the past half hour had spun about l him. all the intolerable sense of an inn pending crash, lifted suddenly. He saw his way clearly, and it was Lillian who had opened his eyes.
 1 Still looking at her, he smiled-a smile of reliant determination, such as 1 Chilcote had never worn in his life And with a calm gesture he released his hand.
 .sThe greatest charm of woman IS hel imagination" he said quietly. With out it there would be no color ill life