The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-11-08

yenor square. I'll remain there till a
reasonable excuse can be given for
Chilcote's going abroad. I will avoid
Fraide. l will cut politics-whatever
the cost Then at the first reasonable
moment | will do what / would do
now. tonight If ii were possible I'll
go away. start afresh: do in another
cylntry what have done In this
There was long silence; then Eve
turned TO him. The apathy of mo-
.lent before had left her face. In an
other c3untry:" she repeated. In an
other country"
YES. I fresh career in fresh coun
try. something clean 10 offer you. I'm
not too old to do what other men have
done"
lie paused. and for moment I've
looked ahead at the cleaning chain of
lamps. Then very slowly she brought
her glance back again. NO" she said
very slowly. -You are not too old. But
there are times when age-and things
like age-are not the real consideration.
Ii seems TO me that your own inclina-
ton your own Individual sense OF
right and wrong. has nothing to do
with the present moment. The ques-
ton is whether you are justified in go
ing away''-she paused, her eyes fixed
steadily upon hiS-''whether you are
free TO go away and make a new life,
whether it is ever justifiable to follow
q phantom light when-when there's
lantern waiting to be carried. Her
breath caught. She drew away from
him, frightened and elated by her own
words.
Loder turned TO her sharply. Eve"
he exclaimed; then his tone changed.
You don't know what you're saying"
he added quickly. You don't under.
stand what you're saying"
Eve leaned forward again. Yes
she said slowly Il do understand"
Her voice was controlled, her manner
convinced She was no longer the girl
conquered by strength greater than her
own. She was the woman strenuously
demanding her right to individual hap
piness!
Il understand it ALL" she repeated.
Il understand every point. 1t was not
chance that made you change your
identity, that made you care for me,
that brought about-his death. l don't
believe it was chance / believe it was
something much higher. You are not
meant to go away"
As Loder watched her the remem-
brance of his first days as Chilcote
rose again, the remembrance of how
he had been dimly filed with the be
lief that below her self possession lay
a strength-a depth-uncommon in wo-
man. As he studied her now the in
stinctive belief famed into conviction.
"Evew he said Involuntary.
With a quick gesture she raised her
head. "Nor' she exclaimed. mo; don't
say anything You are going to see
things as I see them-you must do So
you have no choice. No real man ever
casts away the substance for the shad-
ow." Her eyes shone-the color, the
glow, the vitality, rushed back into her
face.
John" she said softly, II love you, |
and I need you, but there is something
with greater claim-a greater need
than mine. Don't you know what 1t
is ?"
He said nothing. He made no ges-
tupe
TT is the party-the country. You |
may put love aside, but duty is differ |
ent You have pledged yourself. You |
are not meant to draw back"
Loder's lips parted.
Don't" she said again. Don't say |
anything. / know all that is in your /
mind But when we sift things right I
through it isn't my Iove-or our happi-
ness-that's really in the balance. 1t is
your future" Her voice thrilled. "You
are going to be a great man, and
great man is the property of his coun-
try He has no right to individual ac-
ton"
Again Loder made an effort to speak,
but again she checked him.
sWaitr she exclaimed. wait. You
believe you have acted wrongly, and
you are desperately afraid OF acting
again. But is it really truer,
more loyal for us to work out a long
probation in grooves that are already
overfilled than to marry quietly abroad
and fill the places that have need OF us?
That is the question I want you to an
swer. Is it really truer and nobler7
)h, see the doubt that is In your
mind! You think it finer to go away
nd make a new life than to live the
fe that is waiting you-because one is
and the other means the
se of another mans name and another
nan's money-that is the thought In
our mind But what is it that prompts
hat thought?" Again her voice caught,
ut her eyes did not falter. Il will
ell you 1t is not self sacrifice, but
ride" She said the word fearless1y.
A flush crossed Loder's face. "a
nan requires PRIDE" he said in low
dice.
Yes, at the right time. But is this
be right time? Is it ever right to
brow away the substance for the shad-
w? You say that don't understand
ont realize. l realize more tonight
han 1 have realized IN all my life.
~ q