Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-11-01

enough, calling forth Eyes question and his own reply as a natural se- quence, yet in the pause that followed 1t each was conscious of jar, each was aware that in some subtle way the thread of sympathy had been dropped. though to one the cause was inex- plicable and to the other only too plain.
 Loder watched the ghost of his mes- sage grow whiter and thinner, then dissolve into airy fragments and futter up the chimney. As the last morsel wavered out of sight he turned and looked at his companion.
 "You almost made me commit my self" he said. In the desire to hide his feelings his tone was short.
 Eve returned his glance with quiet regard, but he scarcely saw it. He had a stupefied sense of disaster, feeling of bitter self commiseration that for the moment outweighed all other con alterations. Almost at the moment of Justification the good of life had crum- bled in his fingers, the soil given be- meath his feet, and with an absence of logic, lack of justice unusual in him, he let resentment against Chilcote sweep suddenly over his mind.
 Eve, still watching him. saw the dark ening of his expression and with a quiet movement rose from her chair.
 Lady Sarah has theater party to- night, and am dining with her." she said. Tt is an early dinner, so l must think about dressing. I'm sorry you think l tried to draw you into any thing. I must have explained myself badly" She laughed a little to cover the slight discomfture that her tone betrayed, and as she laughed she moved across the room toward the door.
 Loder, engrossed in the check to his own schemes, incensed at the sudden ness of Chilcote's recall and still more incensed at his own folly in not having anticipated 1t, was oblivious for the moment of both her movement and her words. Then quite abruptly they obtruded themselves upon him, break ing through his egotism with some thing of the sharpness of pain follow. ing a blow. Turning quickly from the fireplace, he faced the shadowy room across which she had passed. but si- simultaneously with his turning she gained the door.
 The knowledge that she was gone struck him with sense of double loss. "Waitw he called, suddenly moving forward. But almost at once he paus- cd, chilled by the solitude of the room.
 Ever he said, using her name un- consciously for the first time.
 But the corridor, as well as the room, was empty; he was too late. He stood irresolute: then he laughed shortly, turned and passed back toward the fireplace.
 The blow had fallen, the inevitable come to pass, and nothing remained ' but to take the fact with as good a :. grace as possible Chilcote's telegram had summoned him to Clifford's inn z at o'clock, and it was now well on z toward 6. He pulled out his watch Chilcote's watch, he realized with a touch of grim humor as he stopped to examine the dial by the light of the ! flre-then. as if the humor had verged to another feeling, he stood straight again and felt for the electric button fin the wall. His fingers touched it. and simultaneously the room was lighted.
 The abrupt alteration from shadow { to light came almost as a shock. The feminine arrangement of the tea table seemed incongruous beside the sober books and the desk laden with papers -incongruous as his own presence h 2 the place. The thought was unpleas- ant. and he turned aside ns If to avoid it. but at the movement his eyes fell on Chilcotc's cigarette box with its cleaning monogram. and the whim' sicaI suggestion of his first morning rose again. The idea that the inani' mate objects in the room knew him { for what be was. recognized the inter loper where human eyes saw the right ful possessor. returned 10 his mind Through all his disgust and chagrin smile forced itself to his lips. and crossing the room for the second time he passed into Chilcote's bedroom.
 There the massive furniture and somber atmosphere fitted better will his mood than the energy and actior which the study always suggested Walking directly to the great bed. h. sat on it's side and for several minute stared straight in front of him. appar ently seeing nothing: then at last th' apathy passed from him. as his pre- vious anger against Chilcote had pass cd. He stood up slowly. drawing hi long limbs together. and recrossed tn room. passing along the corridor al' through the door communicating witl the rest of the house. Five minutes later he was in the open afr and walk inS steadily eastward. his hat draw fo-war,i ant his overcoat buttoned ur
 As he trzrersed the streets be allow cd himself 10 thought once. as h waItei in Trafalgar square to find passage between the vehicles. the re membrznce of Chilcoteis voice cozni1' out of the fog on their first night mad itself prominent. but he rejected quickly. gS-arlins himself frUu evs' an irvoIrz.ary glance at the place Q their meeting The StrznI win It's u- teasing fife. cane tS him as sC-neth'ai sIu1s<- unfamiliar. Since his identiScs ton with ths new use no business l.1'
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