The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-10-23


other day was not serious She was
very busy this morning She could
only spare me a quarter of an hour.
She is indefatigable over the social side
of your prospects. Chilcote You owe
her large debt A popular wife
means a great deal TO politician"
The steady eyes of his companion dis
turbed Chilcote
He drew away his hand.
Eve is unique he said vaguely.
Fraide smiled. THAT is right" he
said again. Admiration is too largely
excluded from modern marriages.
And with a courteous excuse he re-
Joined his friends.
II was dinner time before Chilcote
could desert the house. but the moment
departure was possible he hurried to
Grosvenor square.
As he entered the house the hall
was empty. He swore irritably under
his breath and pressed the nearest
bell. Since his momentary exaltation
in Fraide's presence his spirits had
steadily fallen until now they hung at
the lowest ebb.
As he waited in unconcealed imna-
thence for an answer TO his summons
he caught sight of his man Allsopp at
the head of the stairs
Come here.' he called. pleased to
find some one upon whom to vent his
irritation. HAS that wire come for
me-
NO, sir 1 inquired five minutes
back
Inquire again"
Yes, sir" Allsopp disappeared
A second later after his disappear
ance the bell of the hall door whizzed
loudi.
Chilcote started. All sudden sounds,
like all strong lights, affected him. He
half moved TO the door. then stopped
himself with Il short exclamation. At
the same instant Allsopp reappeared.
Chilcote turned on him excitedly.
what the devils the meaning of
this:' he said. "A battery of servants
in the house and nobody to open the
hall door,
Allsopp looked embarrassed. Crap
ham is coming directly, sir. He only
left the hall to ask Jeffries''-
Chilcote turned. "Confound Crap
ham, he exclaimed go and open
the door yourself"
Allsopp hesitated, his dignity strug-
Cling with his obedience. AS he wait
ed the bell sounded again.
did you hear me?" Chilcote said
Eyes, SIR Alsopp crossed the hall.
AS the door was opened Chilcote
passed his handkerchief from one
hand to the other in the tension of
hope and fear, then as the sound of
his own name in the shrill tones of a
telegraph boy reached his ears he let
the handkerchief drop to the ground.
Allsopp took the yellow envelope and
carried it to his master.
"a telegram, SIR" he said. "And the
boy wishes to know if there is an an
swer" Picking up Chilcote's handker-
chief, he turned aside with elaborate
dignity.
Chilcote's hands were SO unsteady
that he could scarcely insert his fin
ger under the flap of the envelope
Tearing off corner, he wrenched the
covering apart and smoothed out the
fimsy pink paper.
The message was very simple, con-
sisting of but seven words:
Shall expect you at II tonight.
LODER
He read it two or three times, then
he looked up. mo answer" he said
mechanically, and to his own ears the
relief in his voice sounded harsh and
unnatural
Exactly as the clocks chimed II
rooms. But this time there was more
IF haste than of uncertainty in his
steps. and. reaching the landing, he
crossed it in a couple of strides and
shocked feverishly on the door
1t opened at once, and Loder stood |
before him.
The occasion was peculiar. For a |
neither spoke; each involun-
-arily looked at the other with new !
eyes and under changed conditions. |
Each had assumed a fresh standpoint |
n the others thought. The passing /
the half impersonal Gu
'iosity that had previously tinged their
was cast aside. never to /
De reassumed. In each the other saw
something more
As usual, Loder was the first to re
,over himself
Il was expecting yOu, he said. |
Won't you come in:''
The words were almost the same as |
ais word Of the night before, but his |
voice had a different ring, just as his
face when he drew back into the |
room had different expression
of decision and energy that |
had been lacking before Chilcote
caught the difference as he crossed |
the threshold, and for a bare second
A flicker 'of something like jealousy
touched him, but the sensation was
tieeting.
Il have to thank you,'' he said, hold
ing out his hand. He was too well
bred to show by hint that he under
stood the drop in the others principles,
but Loder broke down the artifice
Lets be straight with each other,
since everybody else has to be deceiv
Cd he said, taking the others hand.
You have nothing to thank me for.
and you know it. It's a touch of the
Did Adam. You tempted me, and 1
ELL" He laughed, but below the laugh
an note of something like triumph