The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-10-29
NyNS.
"Sit down" be said gently.

tons stirred her-distrust, uncertainty
and curious half dominant. half sup
pressed questioning that it was difficult
TO define. Loder remembered her
shrinking GOODNESS, her reluctant toler-
ance on the night of his first coming.
and his individuality. his certainty of
power, kindied afresh. Never had he
been SO vehemently himself; never had
Chilcote seemed SO complete shadow.
As Eve seated herself he moved for
ward and leaned over the back of his
chair. The impulse that had filled him
in his interview with Renwick. that
had goaded him as he drove to the re-
ception, was dominant again.
II tried to say something as we drove
to the BramfelIs' tonight. he began.
Like many men who possess eloquence
for an impersonal cause. he was
brusque, even blunt. in the stating OF
his own case. May I bark back, and
go on from where broke OFF,
Eve half turned. Her face was still
puzzled and questioning. "Of course"
She sat forward again, clasping her
hands.
He looked thoughtfulIy at the back
of her head, at the slim outline OF her
shoulders, the glitter OF the diamonds
about her neck.
do you remember the day, three
weeks ago, that we talked together in
this room-the day great many things
seemed possible:"
This time she did not look round.
She kept her gaze upon the fire.
DO you remembers" he persisted
quietly. In his college days men who
heard that tone of quiet persistence
had been won't to lose heart. Eve
heard it now for the first time and,
without being aware, answered to 1t.
Yes, / remember" she said.
"On that day you believed in me-"
In his earnestness he no longer simu-
lated Chilcote; he spoke with his own
steady reliance. He saw Eve stir.
unclasp and clasp her hands, but he
went steadily on ION that day you
saw me in a new light. You acknowl-
edged me-" He emphasized the slight
ly peculiar word. But since that
day"-his voice quickened-"since that
day your feelings have changed, your
faith In me has fallen away" He
watched her closely, but she made no
sign, save to lean still nearer to the
fire. He crossed his arms over the
back of her chair. you were justi-
fed" he said suddenly. i've not been
myself since that day" AS he said
the words his GOODNESS forsook him
slightly He Ioathed the necessary lie,
yet his egotisms clamored for vindica-
tion "All men have their lapses," he
went on. There are times-there are
days and weeks when I-when my
The word nerves. touched his tongue,
hung upon it, then died away I'M
spoken.
Very quietly, almost without
sound, Eve had risen and turned to-
ward him. She was standing very
straight, her face little pale. the hand
that rested on the arm OF her chair
trembling slightly.
John" she said quickly, don't say
that word! Don't say that hideous
word nerves. I don't feel that I can
bear it tonight-not just tonight. Can
you understand?
Loder stepped back. Without COM
pretending, he felt suddenly and
strangely at loss. Something in her
face struck him silent and perplexed.
1t seemed that without preparation he
had stepped upon dangerous ground.
With an underlined apprehension, he
waited, looking at her.
II can't explain it," she went on with
nervous haste, II can't give any rea-
sons, but quite suddenly the-the farce
has grown unbearable. I used not to
think-used not even to care-but sud-
denly things have changed-or / have
changed" She paused. confused and
distressed. why should it be? Why
should things changer? She asked the
question sharply, as il in appeal
against her own incredulity.
LoGer turned aside. He was afraid
OF the triumph, volcanic and irrepres-
sible, that her admission reused.
''Why?' she said again.
He turned slowly back. "You forget
that I'm not a magician" he said
gently. 81 hardly know what you are
speaking Of"
For moment she was silent, but in
that moment her eyes spoke. Pain,
distress, pride, all strove for express |
sion; then at last her lips parted.
do you say that in seriousness ?" she |
asked
1t was no moment for fencing. and /
Loder knew it. I'm seriousness" he |
replied shortly.
Then / shall speak seriously too"
Her voice shook slightly and the color |
came back into her face, but the hand |
on the arm Of the chair ceased to trem- |
bic. For more than four years / |
have known that you take drugs-for /
more than four years have acquiesced I
In your receptions, in your mean /
nesses'-
There was an instant's silence Then /
Loder stepped forward.
You knew-foE four years?' he said, |
very slowly. For the first time that |
night he remembered Chilcote and I
forgot himself
Eve lifted her head with quick
gesture, as if, in fiinging of discre-
ton and silence, she appreciated to the
full the new relief of speech
Yes, l knew. Perhaps should have
spoken when / first surprised the Sc
cret. but it's all so past that it's useless
to speculate now. 1t was fare, / sup
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