The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-10-26

coteS rooms, but moved onward down
the corridor toward Ewes private sit
ting room. He moved slowly till the
door was reached. Then he paused and
lifted his hand. There was moments
wait while his fingers rested on the
handle: then a sensation he could not
explain. reticence, reluctance TO in
trude upon this one precinct, caused
his fingers TO relax. With a slightly
embarrassed gesture he drew back
slowly and retraced his steps.
Once in Chilcote's bedroom, he walk
ed to the nearest bell and pressed it.
ReAJvick responded and at sight OF
him Loder's feelings warmed with the
same sense of fitness and familiarity
that the great bed and somber furni-
ture of the room had inspired.
But the man did not come forward
as he had expected. He remained close
to the door with a hesitation that was
unusual in trained servant. 1t struck
Loder that possibly his stolidity had
eXasperated Chilcote and that possibly
Chiicote had been at no pains TO con-
ceal the evaporation. The idea caused
him to smile involuntarily.
''Come into the room. Renwick," he
said. Its uncomfortable to see you
standing there. / want to know if Mrs.
Chilcote has sent me any message
about tonight"
Renwick studied him furtively as he
came forward. Yes, SIR he said.
Mrs Chilcote's maid said that the car
rage was ordered for 1915, and she
hoped that would suit you" He spoke
reluctantly, as if expecting a rebuke.
At the opening sentence Loder had
turned aside, but now. as the man fin
ished. he wheeled round again and
looked at him closely with his keen,
observant eyes.
Look here he said. II can't have
you speak to me like that. l may come
down on you rather sharply when my
my nerves are bad, but when I'm my
self l treat you-well, / treat you de-
Gently at any rate. You'll have TO learn
to discriminate. Look at me now" A
thrill of risk and of rulership passed
through him as he spoke. Look at me
now! Do l look as l looked this morn
ing-or yesterday"
The man eyed him half stupidity, half
timidly.
"Well?" Loder insisted.
well, SIR Renwick responded, with
some slowness, you look the same and
you look different-a healthier color,
perhaps. sir, and the eye clearer" He
grew more confident under Loder's
half humorous, half insistent gaze.
"Now that look closer, sir
Loder laughed. That's it.' he said.
"Now that you look closer. You'll have
10 nhSarxant nhcaryafinr iS
excellent quality in a servant. When
you come into room in future, look
first Of all to me and take you cue
from that. Remember that serving a
man with nerves is like serving two
masters. Now you can go, and tell
Mrs. Chilcotes maid that I shall be
quite ready at a quarter past TO-"
Yes, sir. And after that?'
Nothing further. 1 shan't want
you again tonight" He turned away
as he spoke and moved toward the
great fire that was always kept alight |
in Chilcote's room. But as the man
toward the door he wheeled /
back again. ooh, one thing more, !
Renwick! Bring me some sandwiches |
and a whisky" He remembered for
the first time that he had eaten moth |
ing since early afternoon.
A few minutes after 10 Loder left |
Chilcote's room, resolutely descended |
the stairs and took up his position in |
the hall. Resolution is a strong word |
to apply to such a proceeding, but |
in his bearing, in the atti- I
tude of his shoulders and head, in
suggested 1t.
CT
waited without impatience. Then at |
last the sound of a carriage stopping
before the house caused him to lift his
head, and at the same instant Eve ap-
peared at the head of the staircase
She stood there for a second, looking
down on him, her maid pace or two
behind holding her cloak The picture
she made struck upon his mind with
of revelation.
On his first sight of her she had ap-
Dealed to him as a strange blending of
youth and self possession-a girl with a
clearer perception of life.
Later he had been drawn to study her
II other respects-as a possible comrade
md friend. Now for the first time he
saw her as a power in her own world
l woman to whom no man could deny
She looked taller for
he distance between them, and the
distinction of her carriage added to the
effect Her black gown was exquisite
Y sofas soft as her black hair
Above her forehead was cluster Of
splendid diamonds shaped like a coro-
let, and band of the same stones en-
,ircled her neck. Loder realized in a
glance that only the most distinguished
If women could wear such ornaments
md not have her beauty eclipsed. With
touch of the old awkwardness that
lad before assailed him in her pres
,nce, he came slowly forward as she
descended the stairs.
"Can l help you with your cloak" he
lsked, and as he asked it something
ike surprise at his own timidity cross
d his mind
For a second Ewes glance rested on
lis face. Her expression was quite i'm
,assive. but as she lowered her lashes
faint CLEAN fickered across her eyes.
nevertheless, her answer, when it
CT,