The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1906-11-08

| were equally INTELLECTUALLY out oil
| place.
Still in silence, she stepped TO the
pavement aud stood aside while Loder
dismissed the cab To both there was
something symbolic. something prophet
ic in the dismissal Without intention
and almost unc0nsciously they drew
closer together as the horse turned, its
! hoofs Gathering on the roadway, its
harness jingling. and, still without real
ization. they looked after the vehicle as
it moved away down the long. shadow
ed thoroughfare toward the lights and
the crowds that they had left At last
involuntarily they turned toward each
other
Come" Loder said abruptly. Its
only across the road
Fleet street is generally very quiet
once midnight is passed, and Eve had
no need of guidance or protection as
they crossed the pavement shining like
ice in the 1amplight They crossed it
slowly. walking apart. for the dread of
physical contact that had possessed
them in the cab seemed to have fallen
on them again.
Inquisitiyeness has little place in the
region of the city, and they gained the
opposite footpath unnoticed by the cas-
ual passerby. Then. still holding apart.
they reached and entered CIifford's inn.
Inside the entrance they paused, and
Eve shivered involuntarily. How
gray it is, she said family. And how
cold! Like graveyard
Loder turned TO her For one mo-
ment control seemed shaken. His blood
surged. his vision clouded. The sense
that life and love were still within his
reach filled him overwhelmingly. He
turned toward Eve; he half extended
his hands. Then. stirred by what i'm
pulse. moved by what instinct. it was
impossible TO say, he let them drop to
his sides again.
Gomez he said. Come! This is the
way. Keep close to me. Put your
hand on my arm
He spoke quietly, but his eyes We're
resolutely averted from her face as
they crossed the dim, silent court
Entering the gloomy doorway that
led to his own rooms, he felt her fin
gers tremble on his arm. then tighten
in their pressure as the bare passage
and cherries stairs met her view, but
he set his lips.
Gomez he repeated in the same
strained voice. Come! 1t isn't far
three or four fights
With a white face and a curious ex-
preston in her eyes Eve moved for
ward. She had released Loders arm
as they crossed the hall, and now,
reaching the stairs, she put out her
hand gropingly and caught the banis-
ter. She had a panied, numb sense of
submission, of suffering that had sunk
to apathy. Moving forward without re-
sistance. she began to mount the stairs
The ascent was made in silence. Lo
der went first, his shoulders braced,
his head held erect Eve, mechanically
watchful of all his movements fol-
lowed step or two behind. With
weary monotony one flight of stairs
succeeded another, each to her unae
customed eyes seeming more colorless,
more solitary, more desolate than the
preceding one.
Then at last, with sinking sense of
apprehension, she realized that their
goal was reached.
The knowledge broke sharply through
her dulled senses, and, confronted by
the closeness of her ordeal, she paused,
her head lifted. her hand still nervous
~ grasping the banister. Her lips part
cd as if in sudden demand for aid, but
"a the nervous expectation, the panied