The Lake County times., 1906-12-24

UIeW away his uduu III ISdulueSS "
greet her.
Here comes my godchildr he said.
II often wish, Chilcote, that l could
do away with the prefix" He added
the last words in an undertone as he
reached them, then he responded
warmly to her smile.
"Whatr' he said Turning the ter
race into the garden of Eden in Jan.
uary! We cannot allow this"
Eve laughed. Blame Lady Sarah"
she said. I'VE met at lunch, and she
carried me Off Needless to say
hadn't to ask where"
They both laughed, and Loder joined,
little uncertainty. He had yet to
learn that the devotion of Fraide and
his wife was a long standing jest in
their particular set.
At the sound Of his tardy laugh Eve
turned to him. 81 hope didn't rob you
Of all sleep last night" she said. Il
caught him in his den," she explained,
turning to Fraide, "and invaded 1t most
courageously. l believe we talked
till Q"
Again Loder noticed how quickly she
looked from him to Fraide. The knowl-
edge reused his self assertion.
81 had an excellent night" he said.
do look as If l hadn't sleptY
Somewhat slowly and reluctantly
Eve looked back. NO" she said truth
fully and with a faint surprise that to
Loder seemed the first genuine emotion
she had shown regarding him. mo,
don't think I ever saw you look so
we'll" She was quite unconscious and
very charming as she made the admis-
sion. 1t struck Loder that her coloring
of hair and eyes gained by daylight
were frightened and vivifed by their
setting of somber river and somber
stone
Fraide smiled at her affectionately,
then looked at Loder. "Chilcote has
got new lease of nerves, Eve" he
said quietly. And I-believe-I have
got a new henchman. But l see my
wife beckoning to me. must have a
word with her before she fits away.
May l be excused?' He made a cour-
teous gesture of apology, then smiled
at Eve.
She looked after him as he moved
away. Il sometimes wonder what
should do if anything were to happen
to the Fraides," she said, little visit
fully. Then almost at once she laugh
ed, as If regretting her impulsiveness.
''You heard what he said" she went on
in q different voice. Am l really to
congratulate you"
The change OF tone stung Loder un-
accountably. ''Will you always disbe-
lieve in me?" he asked.
Without answering, she walked slow
ly across the deserted terrace and,
pausing by the parapet, laid her hand
on the stonework. Still in silence, she
looked out across the river.
Loder had followed closely. Again
her aloofness seemed a challenge.
''Will you always disbelieve in me?" he
repeated.
At last she looked up at him slowly.
"Have you ever given me cause to
believer she asked in a quiet tone.
To this truth he found no answer,
though the subdued incredulity nettled
him afresh
Prompted to further effort, he spoke
again. Patience is necessary with
every person and every circumstance, !"
he said. We've all got to wait and
see."
She did not lower her gaze as he
spoke, and there seemed to him some
thing disconcerting in the clear, candid
~, y
Of her next words, he moved forward
and laid his hand beside hers on the
parapet.
Patience is needed for every one" he
repeated quickly. Sometimes a man
is like a bit of wreckage He drifts
till some force stronger than himself
I gets in his way and stops him." He
I looked again at her face He scarcely
knew what he was saying. He only
/ felt that he was a man in an egregious-
/ " false position, trying stupidity to jus
4 tify himself. Don't you believe that
I Gotsam can sometimes be washed
ashore?'' he asked.
High above them Big Ben chimed the
/ hour.
Eve raised her head. 1t almost seem
ed to him that he could see her answer
trembling on her lips. Then the voice
Of Lady Sarah Fraide came cheerfuIly
from behind them.
Eve" she called Eve. We must
hy. It's absolutely 8 o'clockr'
(To BE Continued).