Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-03
xXxIII.

l.
der, bitterly aware that he had conquered
poignantIy conscious OF the appeal tina,
Ewes attitude made. found further endur-
ance impossible. Gently freeing his hand,
he moved away from her to the fireplace,
taking up the position that she had first
occupied.
Eve" he said, slowly. IT haven't fin
ished yet. 1 haven't said everything. I'm
going to tax your courage further
With touch of panied alarm. Eve lifted
her head. Further she said.
Loder shrank from the expression on her
face. Yes he said with difficulty.
| There's still another point to be raced.
The matter doesn't end with my going
back. To have the situation fully saved.
Chilcote must return-Chilcote must be
brought to realize his responsibilities.
| Ewes lips parted in dumb dismay.
TT must be done.'' he went on hurriedly.
and We have got to do it--you and !.
He turned and looked at her.
"If could do nothing. What could !
| dor Her voice failed.
Everything" be said. you could do
! everything. He is morally weak, but he
has one sensitive point-the fear of public
exposure. Once make 1t plain to him that
YOU know his secret, and you can compel
him to whatever course OF action you Sc
lect It was to ask you to do this-to beg
YOU to do this-thRt came to you tonight.
know that It's demanding more than a
| woman's resolution-more than woman s
| strength. But you are like no woman In
| the world!
Ever he cried. with sudden vehemence,
| cant you see that It's imperarive-the one
thing to save us both?"
| He stopped abruptly as he had begun,
| and again painful silence filed the room
| Then, as before, Eve moved instinctively
| toward him, but this time her steps were
| slow and uncertain. Nearing his side, she
put out her hand as II for comfort ana sup
port; and, feeling his fingers tighten round
| 1t, stood for moment resting In the con-
| tact.
Il understand she said at last. very
| slowly. Il understand. When VIII you
| take me to him?"
| For moment Loder said nothing, not
daring to trust his voice; then he answered,
low and abruptly. Now he said. Now,
| and remember that I know what it costs
| you" AS IL imbued with fear that his
courage might fail him, he suddenly re-
| leased her hand, and, crossing the room
| to where long, dark cloak lay as she had
| thrown 1T on her return home, he picked 1t
| up, walked to her side. and silently wrap
| ped it about her. Then, still acting auto
| maticaliy, he moved to the door. opened it.
| and stood aside while she passed out into
| the corridor
| In complete silence they descended the
| stairs and passed to the hall door. There
| Crapham, who had returned to his duties
! since Loder's entrance, came quickly for
| ward with an offer of service.
| But Lpder dismissed him CURLY: and with
! u
cote's regime, the man drew back toward
| the staircase.
/ With hasty movement Loder stepped
| forward, and, opening the door, admitted
! breath of chill air. Then on the threshold
| he paused. It was his first sign of hesita-
| tion-the one instant in which nature re-
| belled against the conscience so tardily
| awakened. He stood motionless for mo-
| nent, and 1t is doubtful whether even Eve
| fully fathomed the bitterness of his renun-
| ciation-the backness of the night that
| stretched before his eyes.
/ Behind him was everything; before him,
| nothing. The everything synlboIized by the
| luxurious house, the eagerly attentive
| wants, the pleasant atmosphere of response
| public thoroughfare, the passing figures,
| each unconscious of and uninterested in his
| existence. AS an interloper he had entered
| this house; as an interioper-a masquerad-
| er-he had played his part, lived his hour
| proved himself; as an interloper he was
now passing back into the dim world of
unrealized hopes and unachieved ambitions.
| He stood rigidly quiet, his strong figure
sflhouetted against the lighted hall, his
/ face cold and set; then, with a touch of ia
| tally, chance cut short his struggle.
An empty hanson wheeled round the cor
ner of the square; the cabman, seeing him.
| raised his whip In query, and involuntarily
| he nodded an acquiescence. A moment later
| he had helped Eve into the cab.
Middle Temple Lane"' he directed, paus-
| ing on the step.
| Middle Temple Lane is opposite TO Cliff
ford's Inn" he explained as he took his
| we have only to cross Fleet street.
Eve bent her head in token that she UNI
| dersteod, and the cab moved out into the
roadway.
Within few minutes the neighborhood
of Grosvenor Square was exchanged for
the noiser and more crowded one of Picca-
dilly, but either the cabman was over
cautious or the horse was below the aver
age, for they made but slow progress
through the more crowded streets. To the
two sitting in silence the pace was we'll
nigh unbearable. With every added move
ment the tension grew. The methodical
care with which they moved seemed like
the tightening OF a string already strained
to breaking point, yet neither spoke-be
cause neither had the courage necessary
for words.
Once or twice as they traversed the
Strand, Loder made movement as il to
break silence, but nothing followed 1t. He
continued to lean forward with a certain
dogged stiffness. his clasped hands resting
on the doors of the cab, his eyes staring
straight ahead Not once. as they thread
ed their way. did he dare to glance at Eve.
though every moment, every stir of her
garments, was forced upon his conscious
ness by his acuteiy awakened senses.
When at last they drew up before the
dark archway of Middle Temple lane, he
descended hastily. And as he mechanically
turned to protect Ewes dress from the
wheel, he looked at her fully for the first
time since their enterprise had been under
taken. As he lookd he felt his heart sink.
He had expected to see the marks of suffer
ing on her face, but the expression he saw
suggested something more than mere men
tai pain.
All the rich color that usually deepened
and softened the charm of her beauty had
been erased as If by a long illness: and
against the new pallor of her skin her blue
eyes her black hair and eyebrows seemed
startlingly dark. chill colder than re-
morse, a chill that bordered upon actual
fear touched Loder In that moment With
the first impuisive gesture he had allowed
himself, he touched her arm.
Eve" he began. unsteadily; then the
word died of his lips
Without sound. almost without a move
ment, she returned his glance, and some
thing in her eyes checked what he might
have said. In that one expressive look he
understood all she had desired, all she had
renounced-the full extent of the ordeal she
had consented to and the motive that had
compelled her consent He drew back with
the heavy sense that repentance and pity
were equally futile-equally out OF place.
Still in silence she stepped TO the pave
inf nr1d Str da NH