The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-11-01

think he recognized you in that tent
he insisted desperately
She held out the case Here are
your cigarettes. You know we're al
ways more social when we smoke
In the short interval while she looked
up into his face several ideas passed
through Loder's mind He thought OF
standing up suddenly and so regaining
his advantage. Ke wondered quickly
whether one hand could possibly suf-
flee for the taking out and lighting of
two cigarettes. Then all need for
speculation was pushed suddenly aside.
Lillian, looking into his face. saw his
fresh look of disturbance and from
long experience again changed her tao
tics. Laying the cigarette case on the
couch. she put one hand on his shoulder.
the other on his left arm. Hundreds of
times this caressing touch had quoted
Chilcote
Dear old boy she said soothingly.
her hand moving slowly down his arm.
In a flash of understanding the con-
sequences of this position came to him.
Action was imperative. at whatever
risk. With an abrupt gesture he rose
The movement was awkward He
got to his feet precipitately. Lillian
drew back, surprised and startled
catching involuntarily at his left hand
to steady her position.
Her fingers grasped at. then held his.
He made no effort to release them.
With a logged acknowledgment, he adj
nitted himself worsted.
How long she stayed immovable.
holding his hand, neither OF them knew.
The process of Il woman's instinct is SO
subtle. so obscure. that it would be
futile to apply it to the commonplace
test of time. She kept her hold tenaci
eusly. as though his fingers possessed
some peculiar virtue. Then at last she
spoke.
Rings. jack" she said very slowly.
And under the two short words whole
world Of incredulity and surmise made
itself felt
Loder laughed.
At the sound she dropped his hand
and rose from her knees. What her
suspicious, what her instincts We're she
could not have clearly defined, but her
action was unhesitating. Without
moments uncertainty she turned to the
fireplace, pressed the electric button
and flooded the room with light.
There is no force so demoralizing as
unexpected light. Loder took step
backward, his hand hanging unguard-
ed by his side, and Lillian, stepping
forward, caught it again before he
could protest. Lifting it quickly, she
looked scrutiniZingly at the two rings.
All women jump to conclusions, and
it is extraordinary how seldom they
jump short. Seeing only what Lillian
saw. knowing only what she knew, no
man would have staked II definite opin
ion. but the other sex takes different
view. AS she stood gazing at the rings
her thoughts and her conclusions sped
her mind like arrows-all aim
ed and all tending toward one point.
She remembered the day when she and
Chilcote had talked of doubles. her
and his vehement defense
Of the idea, his sudden interest in the
book "Other Mems Shoes" and his
anathema against life and its irl1some
round of duties. She remembered her
own first convinced recognition of the
eyes that had looked at her in the door
way of her sisters house, and, last of
nil she remembered Chilcote's unac-
avoidance of the same SUBJ
iect of likenesses when she had men |
toned 1t yesterday driving through the |
park, and with it his unnecessarily
curt reputation of his former opin- /
ions. She reviewed each item, then /
she raised her head slowly and looked !.
at LOder.
He was prepared for the glance and |
met it steadily. In the long moment /
that her eyes searched his face it was |
she and not he who changed color. |
She was the first to speak. You were /
the man whose hands l saw in the /
tent" she said. She made the state
nent in her usual soft tones, but /
slight tremor of excitement underran /
her voice. Poodles. Persian kittens, +
even crystal gazing balls, seemed very I
'ar away in face of this tangible. fabu-
Gus, present interest. you are not I
Tack Chilcote," she said very slowly. |,
You are wearing his clothes and t
speaking in his voice, but you are not
lack Chilcote." Her tone quickened I
with a touch Of excitement. You
needn't keep silent and look at me-"
The said. II know quite well what /
lm saying, though / don't understand
I, though I have no real proof She
momentarily disconnected by
Ter companions silent and steady
,aze. and In the pause a curious and
thing occurred.
Loder laughed suddenly-a full, con-
Ident treasured laugh. All the web
hat the past half hour had spun about
lin. all the intolerable sense of an i'm
crash, lifted suddenly. He
aw his way clearly, and it was Lillian
Who had opened his eyes.
Still looking at her, he smiled-a
mile Of reliant determination, such as
'hilcote had never worn in his life.
md with a calm gesture he released
is hand.
The greatest charm of woman is her
he said quietly. With
ut it there would be no color in life;
re would come into and drop out Of it
nth the same uninteresting tone of
rab reality" He paused and smiled
gain.
At his smile Lillian involuntarily
raw hooE tho 1oIor doopopipo in hor