Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-07
WON'T YOU SIT DowNa" HE SAID AGAIN

off her long gloves, she was still wearing
an evening cloak of lace and fur.
That She was Chilcotes wife Loder in
stinctively realized the moment she entered
the room. But a disconcerting confusion
of ideas was all that followed the knowl-
edge. He stood by the desk, silent and awk-
ward, trying to fit hi expectations to his
knowledge Then, faced by the hopeless
looked at her again.
She had taken off her cloak and was
standing by the fire. The compulsion OF
moving through life alone had set its seal
upon her in a certain self-possession, g.
certain confidence of pose; yet her figure.
as Loder then saw it, backgrounded by the
dark books and Gowned in pale blue, had
suggestion of youthfulness that seemed
a contradiction. The remembrance of Chill
cote's epithets cold and "unsympathetic'
came back to him with something like as
constituent. He felt no uncertainty, no
dread of discovery and humiliation in her
presence he had felt in the maids; yet
there was something in her face that made
him infinitely more uncomfortable A look
he could find no name fora friendllness
that studiouSly covered another feeling
whether question, distrust, or actual dislike
he could not say With a strange sensa-
ton OF awkwardness he sorted Chilcote's
letters, waiting for her to speak.
AS If divining his thought, she turned
towards him. I'm afraid I rather in
trude.'' she said. IF you are busy"
His sense of courtesy was touched: he
had begun life with high opinion of wom-
en-, and the words shook up an echo OF the
old sentiment.
Don't think that he said, hastily. 81
was only looking through-my letters. You
mustn't rate yourself below letters" He
was conscious that his tone was hurried,
that his words were a little jagged: but
Eve did not appear to notice. Unlike
Greening, she took the new manner with
out surprise. She had known Chilcote for
six years.
'I dined with the Fraides tonight" she
said. Mr.. Fraide sent you a message
Unconsciously Loder smiled There was
humor in the thought of a message to him
from the great Fraide. To hide his ainuse-
ment ne wheeled one of the big lounge
chairs forward.
Indeed" he said won't you sit down?''
They were near together now, and he saw
her face more fully. Again he was taken
aback. ChIlcote had spoken of her as Sue
ces6ful and intelligent, but never as beau
tiful. Yet her beauty was a rare and nm
common fact. Her hair was black-not a
glossy black, but the duSky black that Is
softer than any brown; her eyes were large
and of peculiarly pure blue; and her eye
lashes were black, beautifully curved and
of remarkable thickness.
won't YOU sit DOWN. he said again,
cutting short his thoughts with some con-
fusion.
THANK you" She gravely accepted the
proffered chair But he saw that without
any ostentation she drew her skirts aside
as she passed him. The action displeased
him unaccountably
well" he said, shortly, what had
Fraide to say?" He walked to the mantel-
piece with his customary movement aud
stood watching her. The instinct toward
hiding his face had left him. Her instant
and uninterested acceptance of him almost
ncttled him; his own Neutrality-suspicious. i'm
preston of Chilcote cane to him upleas-
antly. and with it the first desire to assert
his own individuality. Stung by the con-
ficting emotions, he felt in Chilcote's peck
cts for something to smoke.
Eva saw and interpreted the action Are
these your cigarettes" She leaned toward
a small table and took up box made OF
lizard-skin.