The Red Cloud chief., 1906-12-14


In drab surroundings such as these
than in the broad issues and weighty
responsibilities of his own life. Choos-
ing a corner seat, he called for coffee:
and there, protected by shadow and
wrapped in cigarette smoke, he set
about imagining himself some vagrant
unit who had slipped his mornings and
was blissfully adrift.
The imagination was pleasant while
1t lasted, but with hin nothing was
permanent. or late the greater part
Of his sufferings had been comprised
In the irritable fickleness of all his
aims-the distaste for and impossible
ty of sustained effort In any direction.
He had barely lighted a second cigar
cite when the old ~restlessness fell
upon him 'Tp stirred %nervously I'm his
seat, and the cigarette was scarcely
burned out when he rose. paid his
small bin and left the shop.
Outside on the pavement he halted,
pulled out his watch and saw that two
hours stretched in front before any
appointment claimed his attention. He
wondered vaguely where he might go
to, what he might do, in those two
hours. In the last few minutes n dis
taste for solitude had risen In his
mind, giving the close street a loneli-
ness that had escaped him before.
AS he stood wavering a cab passed
slowly down the street. The sight Of
a well dressed man reused the cab
man. Flicking his whip, he passed
Chilcotc close, feigning to pull up.
The cab suggested civilization. Chill
cote's MUD veered suddenly, and he
and he climbed in.
where, sir?" The cabman pecred
down through the roof door.
Chilcote raised his head. "Oh, any.
where near Pail Mall" he said. Then.
as the horse started forward. he put
up his hand and shook the %traploor.
"Wait!'' he called. "I'vc changed my
mind. Drive to Cadogan gardens. No.
49,"
The distance to Cadogan Gardens
was covered quickly. Chilcotc had
hardly realized that his destination
was reached when the cab pulled up.
Jumping out, he paid the fare and
walked quickly to the hall door of No.
33.
as Lady Astrupp at homer he ask
ed sharply as the door swung back In
answer to his knock.
The servant drew back d~eferentially.
"IIer ladyship has almost finished
lunch, sir" he said.
For answer Chilcote stepped through
the doorway and walked halfway
across the hall.
"All right" he said. But don't dis
turb her on my account. I'll wait in
the white DON till she has finished"
And, without taking further notice of
the servant, he began to mount the
stairs.
In the room where he had chosen to
wait a pleasant wood fire frightened
the dull January afternoon and sof-
tened the thick white curtains, the gilt
furniture and the venetian vases filled
with white roses. Moving straight
forward, Chilcote paused by the CRATE
and stretched his hands to the blaze:
then, with his usual instability, he
turned and passed to a couch that
stood a yard or two away.
On the coach, tucked away between
a novel and u crystal gazing ball, was
a white Persian kitten, fast asleep.
Chilcote picked up the ball and held 1t
between his eyes and the fire, then he
laughed superciliously, tossed 1t back
into It's place and caught the Kittens
tail. The little animal stirred, stretch
ed itself and began to pur. At the
same moment the door Of the room
opened.
Chilcote turned around. 81 particu,
larly said you were not to be disturb,
ed" he began. "Have l merited dis
pleasure?' He spoke fast, with the
uneasy zone that so often underran
his words.
Lady Astrupp took his hand with q
contiding gesture and smiled.
Never displeasure," she said llnger
. ingly, and again she smiled. The smile
might have struck a close observer Us
family artificial. But what man in
/. Chilcote's frame Of mind has time tc
be observant where women are con
+, cerned? The manner Of h smile was
, very sweet and almost caresslng, and
, that sufliced.
! fro DE Continued
fro BE Continued