The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1906-12-28

y
and a whisky" He remembered for /
the first time that he had eaten moth /
ing since early afternoon.
a few minutes after 10 Loder left
Chilcote's room, resolutely descended
the stairs and took up his position in
the hall Resolution is q strong word
TO apply to such a proceeding. but
something in his bearing, in the atti-
tude OF his shoulders and head, In
stinctively suggested it,
Five or six minutes passed, but he
waited without Impotence. Then at
last the sound of a carriage stopping
before the house caused him to lift his
head, and at the same instant Eve APP
peared at the head of the staircase.
She stood there for a second, looking
down on him, her maid q pace or two
behind holding her cloak. The picture
she made struck upon his mind with
something of a revelation.
On his first sight of her she had APP
pealed to him as a strange blending Of
youth and self possession-a girl with a
woman's clearer perception of life.
Later he had been drawn to study her
in other respects-as possible comrade
and friend Now for the first time he
saw her as a power in her own world
q woman to whom no man could deny
consideration. She looked taller for
the distance between them, and the
distinction of her carriage added to the
effect Her black gown was exquisite
ly soft-as soft as her black hair.
Above her forehead was a cluster of
splendid diamonds shaped like a coro-
net, and band of the same stones en-
circled her neck Loder realized in a
glance that only the most distinguished
of women could wear such ornaments
and not have her beauty eclipsed. With
a touch of the old awkwardness that
had before assailed him in her pres
ence, he came slowly forward as she
descended the stairs.
Can l help you with your CloakT he
asked, and as he asked it something
| like surprise at his own timidity cross
! ed his mind
For a second Ewes glance rested on
his face. Her expression was quite i'm
! passive, but as she lowered her lashes
faint CLEAN fickered across her eyes.
Nevertheless, her answer, when 1t
came, was studiously courteous.
Thank YOU" she said, "but Marie
will do all 1 want"
Loder looked at her for a moment,
then turned aside. He was not hurt by
his rebuff. Rather. by an interesting
sequence Of impressions, he was stirred
] Nv 2 do la hod
cote's help, and the self control that
had refused it graciously, moved him
to admiration. He understood and ap-
preciated both by the light of personal
experience.
The carriage is waiting, sir" Crap
hams voice broke in.
Loder nodded and Eve turned to her
maid. THAT will do, Marie" she said.
II shall want q cup of chocolate when
| get back probably at l o'clock" She
drew her cloak about her shoulders and
moved toward the door. Then she
paused and looked back. "Shall we
start?" she asked quietly
Loder, still watching her, came for
ward at once. Certainly" he said,
with unusual gentleness.
He followed her as she crossed the
fo0tpath, but made no further offer of
help, and when the moment came he
quietly took his place beside her in the
carriage. His last impression as the
horses wheeled round was of the open
hall doOr-Crapham in his somber liv-
cry and the maid in her black dress
both silhouetted' against the dark back.
ground of the hall; then as the carriage
moved forward smoothly and rapidly
he leaned back in his seat and closed
his eyes
During the first few moments of the
drive there was silence To Loder there
was a strange, new sensation in this
companionship, so close and yet so dis
tant. He was so near to Eve that the
Slight fragrant scent from her clothes
might almost have belonged to his own
The impression was confusing, yet
vaguely delightful. 1t was years since
he had been so close to a woman Of his
own class, his own caste. He acknowl
edged the thought with a curious sense
Of pleasure. Involuntary he turned
and looked at her.
She was sitting very straight, her fine
profile cut clear against the carriage
window, her diamonds quivering in thu
light that flashed by them from thu
street. For a space the sense Of unreal
ity that had pervaded his first entrance
, into Chtlcote's life touched him again
then another and more potent feeling
rose to quell it. Almost involuntaril.
as he looked at her his lips parted.
: May I say something?" he asked.
: Eve remained motionless. She diC
: not turn her head, as most womeI
| would have done. "Say anything yol
! Ike" she said gravely.
"AnythingY He bent a little nearer
filed again by the inordinate wish t.
dominate.
"Of course
It seemed to him that her voic
sounded forced and a little tired. Flo
a moment he looked through the win