Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-19

tempt at self-controi and reinsurance he
altered his voice. After all, we're being
very stupid!' he exclaimed. Were worry
Ing over something that doesn't exist"
Lillian was still lazily interested. To her
own belief, she had seen Chiicote last on
the night of her sisters reception. Then
she had been too preoccupied to notice
either his manner or his health, though SUI
perficially 1t had fingered in her minu that
he had seemed unusually reliant, unusually
we'll on that night. A remembrance -o1
the impression came to her now as she
studied his face, upon which imperceptibly
and yet relentlessly his vice was setting
Its mark-in the dull restlessness OF eye,
the unhealthy sallowness Of skim
Some shredso Of her thought, some sugges-
ton OF the comparison running through her
mind must have shown in her face. for
Chilcote altered his position with a touch
of uneasiness He glanced away across
the long sweep OF tan-colored drive stretch
ing between the trees; then he glanced
furtively back.
by the way" he said, quickly, you
wanted me for something7' The memory
or her earlier suggestion came as a sudden
boon.
She lifted her mum again and smelled
her roses thoughtfully. "Oh, it was moth
people give very shrewd suggestions some
times. and I've been rather wanting a sug-
gestfon on an-an adventure that I've had"
She looked down at her flowers with a
charmingly attentive air.
But Chilcote's restlessness had increased
Looking up she suddenly caught the ex-
preston. and her own face changed
MY dear Jack" she said softly, what
a bore am! Let's forget tedious things
and enjoy ourselves" She leaned toward
him caresstngly with an air Of concern and
reproach.
The action was not without effect Her
soothing voice, her smile her almost af-
fectionate gesture, each carried weight.
With swift return of assurance he re-
sponded to her tone.
Right he said. Right! We will en-
joy ourselves!" He laughed quickly and
again with a conscious movement lifted
his hand to his muffier
Then Wen postpone the advice?'' Lii
liam laughed. too.
Yes Right! Wen postpone 1t" The
word pleased him and he caught at it.
1--WE won't bother about 1t now. but we
won't shelve 1t altogether. Well postpone
it"
Exactly" She settled herself more COM
fortably. you'll dine with me one night
and we can talk 1t out then 1 see SO
little of you nowadays" she added. in a
lower voice.
M, my dear girl, you're unfair Chileote's
pleasantly. TT isn't I who keep away
It's the stupid affairs of the world that
keep me. I'd be with you every hour or
the twelve IL I had my way
She looked up at the bare trees. Her ex-
preston was delightful mixture of amuse-
ment, satisfaction, and scepticism Then
you will diner" she said at last
Certainly" His reaction to high spirits
carried him forward.
How nice! Shall we fix the day?'
"A day? Yes. Yes-if you like" He
hesitated for an instant, then again the
Impulse OF the previous moment dominated
i MS other Ire. feeling Yes he said, quickly
a sudden inclination toward anna bility he
opened his overcoat. thrust his hand into
an inner pocket, and drew out his engage
ment book-the same long, narrow book
htted with two pencils that Loder had
scanned so fnterestedly on his first morn
ing at Grosvenor square. He opened It,
turning the pages rapidly. What day shall
It be? Thursdays full-and Friday-and
saturday. What bore!" He still talked
fast
Lillian leaned across What a sweet
book" she said. But why the blue
crossesT She touched one OF the pages
Chilcote 1erked the book. then laughed
with a touch of embarrassment "Oh. the
crosses? Merely to remind me that certain
appointments must be kept. You know my
Shall we fix the day7" His voice was In
control. but mentally her trivial question
had disturbed and Jared him. What day
shall we say?'' he repeated Monday in
next week ?"
Lillian glanced up with a faint exclama-
ton of disappointment. How horribly far
away!" She spoke with engaging petu-
lance. and, leaning forward afresh, drew
the book from Chilcotes hand. What
about tomorrow" she exclaimed turning
back page. why not tomorrow 1 knew
l saw blank space"
Tomorrow, Om--I-I-" he stopped
Jack" Her voice dropped. 1t was true
that she desired Chlcote's opinion on her
adventure. for Chlcote's opinion on men
and manners had a certain bitter shrewd-
ness, but the exercise Of her own power
soI
had ended with the gain or loss Of tete-
a-tete with him, 1t is probable that, what
ever its utility, she would not have pressed
1t, but the underlying motive was the
stronger Chilcote had been satellite for
years, and 1t unpleasant that any
satellite should drop away into space
Jack! she said again, In a lower and
stu more erective tone; and, lifting her
muff. she buried her face in her flowers. Il
suppose I shall have to dine and go to
music hall with Leonard-or stay at home
by myself, she murmured, looking out
across the trees.
Again Chilcote glanced over the long tan
strewn ride. They had made the full cir
cult of the park.
TITS tiresome being by ones SELF" she
murmured
For while he was irresponsible then
slowly his eyes returned to her face. He
watched her for a second, and leaning
quickly towards her. he took his book and
scrubbed something in the vacant space
She watched him interestedly: her face
lighted up. and she laid aside her mufY
Dear Jackr' she said. How very sweet
of you,'' Then. he held the book to-
ward her, her face fell. ''Dine 33 Cadogan
Gardens, 8 o'c. Talk with L. she read
Why, you've forgotten the essential
He looked up The essential thing?"
She smiled. 1.-The blue cross" she said.
Isn't It worth even little one?"
The tone was very soft. ChilcOte yielded.
You have the blue pencil he said, IN
sudden response to her mood.
She glanced up in quiet pleasure at her
success, and, with a charming affectation
of seriousness, marked the engagement with
g big cross At the same moment the car
siackened speed as the chauffeur waited
for further orders.
Lillian shut the engagement book and
handed II back. Where can drop your
she asked. AT the club?"
The question recalled him to a sense of
present things. He thrust the book into
his pocket and glanced about him.
They had paused by Hyde Park corner
The crowd of horses and carriages had
thinned as the hour of lunch drew near and
the wide roadway OF the park had an air
of ADDED space The suggested loneliness
affected him. The tall trees, still bereft OF
leaves, and the colossal gateway incom-
prehensfvely stirred the sense of mental
panic that sometimes seized him In face
of vastness of space or Of architecture In
one moment lillian the INF he