The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-10-24

That had been the voice of suppressed
ambition, and now as he stood in the
new atmosphere a newer voice lifted
itself. The joy Of material things rose
suddenly, overbalancins the last rem
nant of the philosophy he had reared.
He saw all things in a fresh light
the soft carpets. the soft lights. the
numberless pleasant, unnecessary
things that color the passing land.
scape and oil the wheels of life This
was power-power made manifest. The
choice bindings of ones books. the
quiet harmony of ones surroundings,
the gratifying Difference of ones de-
pendents-these We're the visible. the
outward signs. the thing she had for
gotten.
Crossing the room slowly. he lifted
and looked at the different papers on
the desk. They had a substantial feel
ing, an Importance, an air of value.
They We're like the solemn keys TO so
many yexed problems. Beside the pa
pers We're heap of letters neatly ar
ranged and as yet unopened. He turn
ed them over one by one. They Were
all thick and interesting to look at
He smiled as he recalled his own
scanty mail-envelopes long and bulky
or narrow and thin, unwelcome manu-
scripts or very welcome checks. Hav.
ing sorted the letters, he hesitated. 1t
was his life task to open them. but he
had never in his life opened an envel-
ope addressed TO another man.
He stood uncertain, weighing them
in his hand. Then all at once a look
It.
face. and he raised his head. Some
one had Enthusiastically paused outside
the door which Greening had left ajar.
There was moment of apparent
doubt, then a stir of skirts, quick,
uncertain knock, and the intruder en-
tered
For couple of seconds she stood in
the doorway; then as Loder made no
effort to speak she moved into the
room. She had apparently but just re-
turned from some entertainment, for,
though she had drawn off her long
gloves, she was still wearing an even
ing cloak of lace and fur.
That she was Chilcote's wife Loder
instinctively realized the moment she
entered the room. But disconcerting
confusion of ideas was all that fol
lowed the knowledge. He stood by the
desk, silent and awkward, trying to fit
his expectations to his knowledge.
Then, faced by the hopelessness of the
task, he turned abruptly and looked 1t
her again.
She had taken off her cloak and was
standing by the fire. The compulsion
of moving through life alone had set
its seal upon her in a certain self pos
session, certain confidence of pose, |
yet her figure as Loder then saw it, |
backgrounded by the dark books and
gowned in pale blue, had a suggestion
of youthfulness that seemed contra
diction. The remembrance of Chill
cote's epithets cold and ''unsympa- |
thetic" came back to him with some
thing like establishment. He felt no
un.~ 'tainty, no dread of discovery and
in her presence as he had
felt in the maids. yet there was some
thing in her face that made him inf
nitely more uncomfortable, look he /
could find no name for, friendliness
that studiousIy covered another feel /
ing, whether question, distrust or ac-
tual dislike he could not say. With a
sensation of awkwardness he
sorted Chilcote's letters. waiting for
her to speak.
AS if divining his thought she turn.
ed toward him. I'm afraid / rather
ntrude," she said. IF you are busy
His sense of courtesy was touched.
He had begun life with high opinion
IF women, and the words shook up an
echo of the old sentiment.
Don't think that" he said hastily.
L was only looking through-my let
-ers. You mustn't rate yourself below
etters." He was conscious that his
one was hurried, that his words were
| little jagged, but Eve did not appear
o notice. Unlike Greening, she took
he new manner without surprise. She
lad known Chilcote for six years
81 dined with the Fraides tonight"
he said. Mr.. Fraide sent you a mes
age
Unconsciously Loder smiled There
vas humor in the thought of a mes
age to him from the great Fraide. To
tide his amusement he wheeled one of
he big lounge chairs forward.
Indeed" be said. won't you sit
Iown?'
They were near together now, and
e saw her face more fully. Again he
vas taken aback. Chilcote had spoken
f her as successful and intelligent,
mt never a. beautiful. Yet hnr beauty
ras rare and uncommon fact nr
air was black-not a glossy black, but
lie dusky black that is softer than any
rown-her eyes were large and of a
eculiarly pure blue, and her eyeiashes
ere black, beautifully curved and of
BILE thickness.
Won't you sit DOWN. he said again,
lifting short his thoughts with some |
,nfusion.
Thank you" She gravely accepted
lie proffered chair. But he saw that
ithout any ostentation she drew her
1irts aside as she passed him The
ction displeased him unaccountably.
WELL" he said shortly, what haG
raide to say?" He walked to tbs
antelpiece with his customary move
enr and stood watching her. The in
met toward hiding his face had lefi
N. Her instant and uninterested &c
ptanee of him almost nettled him