Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-21

| FOR the FRACTION of a second he stood IN
! the doorway. while the room seemed
| emptied of everything except a figure that
| rose slowly from a couch before the fire
| at sound OF Chllcote's name: then. with a
! calmuess that to himself seemed incredible,
| he moved forward into the room
He might Of course have beaten a retreat
| and obviated many things: but life is full
| OF might-have- beens. and retreat never pre-
| sents Itself agreeably to a strong man His
| impulse was to face the difficulty. and be
| acted on the impulse.
| Lillian had risen slowly and as he neared
| her she held out her hand.
| jack she exclaimed, softly How
| sweet OF YOU to remember"
| The voice and words came 10 him with
| great distinctness, and as they came one
uncertainty passed forever from his mind
| the question as to what relation she and
! Chilcote held to each other. with the
/ realization came the thought Of Eve, and
| in the midst OF his own diHicr'ty his face
| hardened
Lillian ignored the GOODNESS Waking his
| hand, she smiled. You're unusually pune
tual." she said. But your hands are cold.
| Come closer To the fire "
| Loder was not sensible that hts hands
were cold. but he suffered himself to be
! drawn forward.
One end Of the couch was In nrellght, the
! other IN shadow. BY fortunate arrange
ment OF chance Lillian selected the bright
err end for herself and offered the other to
| her guest. With quick sense Of respite
! he accepted it. At least he could sit secure
! from detection while he temporized with
| fate.
! For moment they sat silent. then Lii
liam stirred. Won't you smoker" she
/ asked
! Everything In the room seemed soft and
/ enervatng-the subdued glow Of the fire
/ the smell Of roses that hung about the air
and, last Of all. Lilan's slow, soothing
voice. With a sense Of oppression he stf-
fened his shoulders and sat siraighter IN
/ his place.
J smoke
She moved nearer to him. Dear Jack"
! she said. pleadingly. don't say you're IN
| bad mood. Don't say YOU want TO post
pone again She looked up az him and
| laughed little in mock CONSERVATION.
! Loder was at a loss.
Another silence followed. while Lillian
waited then she frowned suddenly and
rose from the couch. Like many indolent
| people she possessed a touch of obstinacy:
and now that her triumph over Chilcote
was obtained, now that she had vindicated
| her right to command him. her original
| purpose came uppermost again. Cold or In
| terested Indifferent or attentive, she in
| tended to make use Of him.
She moved to the fire and stood looking
! down into it.
Jack she began. gently. "a really
| amazing thing has happened 10 me. do
so want you to throw some light"
| Loder said nothing.
There fresh pause while she softly
| smoothed the silk embroidery that edgel
| her gown. Then once more she looked up
| at him.
Did I ever tell YOU" she began that
| was once in Il railway accident on a funny
| little Italian railway, centuries before I
| met you?' She laughed softly; and with
| a pretty air of confidence turned from the
! fire and resumed her seat.
| 'Astrupp had caught a fever in Florence,
and l was rushing away for fear OF the in
| lection, when our stupid little train ran
| off the rails Pistoria and smashed it.
| self up. Fortunately were within half
| a mile of village, so we weren't quite
bereft. The illage was impossibly like a
DAT RVb
| one would expect in Noah's ark. but it
| was all absolutely picturesque. l put up
at the little inn with my maid and no Ko-
| 80 10 was such sweet dog-a white
poodle. l tremendously keen on
poodles that year" She stopped and looked
thoughcfully toward the fire.
But to come to the point of the story.
| Jack, the toy village had a boy doll"
| She laughed again. He was an English
! man-and the first person Ia come to
| my rescue on the night of the sInash-up.
! He staying at the Noahs Ark Inn:
and after that first night I-he-we- on.
! Jack haven't you any Imagination" Her
| voice sounded petulant and sharp. The
man who is Indifferent to the recital of an
old love affair implies the wors, kind o.
/ listener. Il believe YOU aren't Interested"
| she added, in another and more rcoroach-
He leaned forward. You're wrong
there" he said, slowly. I'm deeply in
/ terested."
| She glanced at him again. His tone r.
| assured her. but his words left her uucer-
tain; Chilcote was rarely emphatic Win
! a touch of hesitation she went or with
| her tale:
LAS l told you. he was the first to lind us
/ to find me. ! should say for my stupid
| mind was having Mysteries farther up the
line, and 10 10 was lost. l remember
! the first thing l did 10 send him in
| search for 10 Ko--''
Notwithstanding his position, Lodar found
occasion to smile. Did he succeed H.
said drylY.
''succeed?" Oh yes. he succeeded" She
also smiled invountarily. Poor 10 10
was slowed away under the luggage yam;
and after quite a lot of trouble he pulled
him out. When it all done the dog
was quite unhurt and livelIer than ever,
but the Englishman had his finger almost
bitten through. Ko 10 was a dear but
| his teeth and his temper were both very
! sharp!" She laughed once more in soft
| amaZement.
Loder was silent for a second, then he.
too, Iaughed-Chilcote's short sarcastic
! laugh. And you tied up the wound, 1
| SUPPOSE
She glanced up. half displeased I'VE
were both staying at the little inn" she
said, though no further explanation
could be needed. Then again her manner
changed. She moved imperceptiblv nearer
| and touched his right hand. His left.
which was farther away from her, was
well in the shadow OF the cushions.
Jack she said. caressingly. 1t isn't
brought you here; it's really TO tell you
sort of sequel" She stroked his hand
gently once or twice LAS 1 say, I met
this man and we've had an affair. You
| understand? Then we arrelei-quarreled
quite badyAand | came away. I've remem-
! bered him rather longer than / remember
| most people-he was one of those oogged
| individuals who stick in ones mind. But
| he has stayed In mine for another rea-
| SON" Again she looked up. HE has
STAYED because you helped to keep him
| there You know how / have sometimes
| put my hands over your mouth and told
you that your eyes reminded me of some
| one else? Well, that some one else was
| my Englishman. But you mustn't be jeal-
| GUS: he was a horsid. obstinate person. and
! you-weI you know what think of you
| She messed his hand. But to to
/ the end of the story, [ never saw this man
! since that long-ago time, until-until the
night of Blanche's partyr' She spoke slow
! w. to give full effect to her words; then
| she waited for his surprise.
CTo be continued tomorrow
,d4f!fGli Ifttt1ff ffssHz|l