The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1906-12-27

with the Fraides." she went on. "Afr.
Fralde talked so wisely and so kindly
about so many things. He recalled all
we had hoped for in you, and-and he
blamed me a little" She paused and
laid her cup aside. tie said that when
people have made what they call their
last effort they should always make just
one effort more. He promised that If
could once persuade you to take an In
terest in your work he would do the
rest. He said all that and a thousand
other kinder things, and | sat and lis
tened. But all the time / thought OF
nothing but their use1essness. Before
I left 1 promised to do my best, but my
thought was still the same It was
stronger than ever when / forced my
self to come up here She paused
again and glanced at Loder's averted
head But came, and then, as If by
conquering myself I had compelled a
reward, you seemed. you somehow
seemed different It sounds ridiculous,
1 know" Her voice was half amused,
half deprecating. TT wasn't a differ
ence in your face, though 1 knew direct
~ that you were free from nerves"
Again she hesitsted over the word. ct
was a difference in yourself, in the
things you said, more than in the way
you said them" Once more she paused
and laughed a little
Loder's discomfort grew.
But it didn't affect me then" She
spoke more slowly. II wouldn't admit
It then. And the next day when we
talked on the terrace l still refused to
admit it, though 1 felt 1t more strongly
than before But have watched you
since that day, and I know there is a
change. Mr. Fraide feels the same,
and he is never mistaken. know It's
only nine or ten days, but I've hardly
seen you in the same mood for nine or
ten hours in the last three years" She
stopped, and the silence was impressive.
It seemed to plead for confirmation of
her instinct
Still Loder could find no response.
After waiting for a moment she lean
ed forward in her chair and looked up
at him.
John she said, sis 1t going to last?
That's what l came to ask l don't
want to believe till I'm sure don't
want to risk a new disappointment"
Loder felt the earnestness OF her gaze
though he avoided meeting it.
81 couldn't have said this to you q
week ago, but today / can. l don't
pretend to explain why. The feeling is
too ineXplicable. l only know that
can say it now and that 1 couldn't q
week ago. Will you UNDERSTANDING
answer?'
Still Loder remained mute. His posi-
ton was horribly homogeneous. What
could he say? What dared he say2
Confused by his silence, Eve rose.
IF it's only a phase, don't try to hide
It." she said. But If It's going to last
If by any possibility it's going to
last She hesitated and looked up.
She was quite close to him. He would
have been less than man had he beer
unconscious of the subtle contact Of hel
glance, the nearness Of her presence
and no one had ever hinted that man
hood was lacking in him. 1t was mo
ment Of temptation. His own energy
his own intentions. seemed so near
Chilcote aud Chilcote's claims so dis
tant and unreal. After all, his life, his
ambitions, his determinations, were his
own. He lifted his eyes and looked a
her.
You want me to tell you that will
60 on?" he said.
Her eyes frightened. She took {
step forward Yes" she said; Il want
It more than anything in the world"
There was n wait The declaration
that wNuld satisfy her came to Loder's
tips. but he delayed it. The delay wa:
fateful. While he stood silent the door
opened, and the servant who hat
brought in the tea reappeared
He crossed the room apJ handed Lo
der a telegram. ANY answer, sirP' ht
said
Eve moved back to her chair There
was a flush on her cheeks, and her eyes
were still alsytly bright
Loder tore the telegram open, rea,
It, then threw it into the fire.
mo answer he said laconically.
At the brusqueness of his voice Ev
looked up. "Disagreeable news?" sh
said as the servant departed.
He didn't look at her He was watch
ing the telegram whitening in the cen
Ter Of the fire
NO" he said at last in straine
voice. no; only news that THAT
had forgotten to expect"
CHAPTER XT.