The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-10-29
CHAPTER XVII.

CHATTER AN1I.
.|@ HE necessary formalities of de-
parture were speedily got
III through. The passing of the
corridors, the gaining of the
carriage, seemed to Loder to be mar
velously simple proceedings. Then, as
he sat by Ewes side and again felt the
forward movement of the horses, he
had leisure for the first time to Won
der whether the time that had passed
since last he occupied that position had
actually been lived through.
/ Only that night he had unconscious
ly compared one incident in his life to
a sketch in which the lights and shad-
ows nave been obliterated and lost.
| Now that picture rose before him,
startlingiy and incredibly intact He
saw the sunlit houses of Santasalare,
backgrounded by the sunlit hills-saw
them as plainly as when he himself
had sketched them on his memory.
Every detail OF the scene remained the
same, even to the central figure; only
the eye and the hand of the artist had
changed.
| At this point Eve broke in upon his
thoughts Her first words were curl
ously coincidental
What did you think of Lillian As
trupp tonight" she asked. Wasn't
her gown perfectT
| Loder lifted his head with an almost
guilty start Then he answered straight
from his thoughts.
"I-I didn't notice it, he said, 'tbut
her eyes reminded me of a cats eyes
] and she walks like a cat 1 never
seemed to see it-until tonight"
Eve changed her position. "She was
very artistic" she said tentatively.
''Don't you think the gold gown was
beautiful with her pale colored hair?''
| Loder felt surprised. He was con-
WINGED that Eve disliked the other,
and he was not sufficiently versed in
women to understand her praise. Il
thought he began. Then he wisely
stopped 81 didn't see the gown he
substituted. a.
Eve looked out of the window. How
unappreciative men are"' she said. But
her tone was strangely free from cen
sure.
After this there was silence until
Grosvenor square was reached. Hav
ing left the carriage and passed into
the house, Eve paused for a moment
at the foot of the stairs to give an or
der to Crapham, who was still in at
tendance in the hall, and again Loder
had an opportunity of studying her.
As he looked sharp comparison rose
to his mind.
"a fairy princess.' he had heard the
red haired man say as Lillian Astrupp
came into view along the Bramfells'
corridor, and the smile had seemed
particularly apt. With her grace, her
delicacy, her, subtle attraction, she
might well be the outcome of imagi-
nation. But with Eve it was different.
She also was graceful and attractive,
but it was grace and attraction of a
different order. One was beautiful
with the beauty of the white rose
that springs from the dollhouse and
withers at the first touch of cold; the
other with the beauty of the wild rose
on the cliffs above the sea, that keeps
its petals fine and transparent in face
of salt spray and wet mist. Eve. too,
had her realm, but it was the realm
OF real things. A great confidence, a
feeling that here one might rely even
if all other faiths were shaken, touched
him suddenly. For a moment he stood
irresolute, watching her mount the
stairs with her easy, assured step.
Then a determination came to him.
Fate favored him tonight; he was in
luck tonight. He would put his for
tune to one more test. He swung
across the hall and ran up the stairs.
His face was keen with interest as
he reached her side. The hard outline
~ &c foo nd fhA ri svo yn
of his eyes were softened as when he
had paused to talk with Lakeley. Action
was the breath of his life, and his face
changed under it as another's might
change under the influence of stirring
music or good wine.
Eve saw the look and again the I'M
easy expression Of surprise crossed her
eyes. She paused, her hand resting
on the banister.
Loder looked at her directly. "Will
you come into the study as you came
that other night? There's something l
want to say" He spoke quietly. He
felt master Of himself and her.
She hesitated, glanced at him and
then glanced away.
will you conner" he said again.
And as he said it his eyes rested on
the sweep of her thick eyelashes, the
curve OF the back hair.
At last her lashes lifted and the per-
plexity and doubt in her blue eyes
stirred him. without waiting for her
answer, he leaned forward
Say yesr' he urged. II don't often
ask for favors."
sun sne neslIared- linen ner decision
was made for her. With a new bold
ness he touched her arm, drawing her
forward gently but decisively toward
Chilcote's rooms.
In the study fire burned brightly, |
the desk was laden with papers. the |
lights were nicely adjusted, even the |
chairs were in their accustomed places. |
Loder's senses responded to each sug- |
gestion. 1t seemed but a day since he /
had seen it last 1t was precisely as he |
had left 1.-THE niche needing but the |
man.
To hide his emotion he crossed the
floor quickly and drew a chair for
ward. In less than six hours he had |