Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-10-27

l know, that first appealed to me-. Sne sighed gently. with q touch of senti- | mental remembrance. And thought 1t so strong of you not to wear rings. It must be such temptation" She looked down at her own fingers. gilt tering with jewels.
 But the momentary pleasure of her touch was gone. Chilcote drew away his hand and picked up the book that lay between them.
 "'Other Mems Shoes.'" he read. "A novel, of courseY
 She smiled. "Of course. Such fan ! tastlc story--two men changing identi- 1 ties!'
 Chilcote rose and walked back to the mantelpiece.
 Changing identities" he said, with touch of interest.
 "Yes. One man is m artist, the oth- CT millionaire. One wants to know | what fame is like, the other wants to know how it feels to be really sinfully rich. So they exchange experiences for Q month," She laughed.
 Chilcote laughed as well. But howl" he asked.
 "Oh, told you the idea was absurd. Fancy two people so much alike that neither their friends nor their servants see ay difference! Such a thing couldn't be. could it?"
 Chilcote looked down at the fire. "No," he said doubtfully. "No. I SUD- pose not"
 "Of course not There are likenesses, but not freak likenesses like that.' Chllcote's head was bent as he spoke, but at the last words he lifted 1t.
 By love! Idon't know about that" he said. Mot so very long ago saw two men so much alike that I-T- He stopped.
 Lillian smiled.
 He colored quickly. "You doubt me?' he asked.
 | 'My dear Jackw Her voice was del icately reproachful.
 "Then you think that my-my i'm agination has been playing me tricks r ! My dear hoy! Nothing of the kind. Come back to your place and tell me the whole tale" She smiled again, and patted the couch invitingly.
 But Chilcote's balance had been up ! set. For the first time he saw Lillian as one of the watchful, suspecting crowd before which he was constantly on guard. Acting on the sensation, he moved suddenly toward the door.
 "I-I have an appointment at the house." he said quickly. "Ill look in another dag when-when I'm better company. l know I'm bear today My nerves. you know" He came back to the couch ond tnok her hand. Then he touched her cheek for an instant with his fingers.
 "Goodby," heNsaid. "Take care of yourself--and the kitten," he added with forced gayety, as he crossed the room.
 That afternoon Chilcote's nervous condition reached Its height. All day he had avoided the climax, but no evasion can be eternal. and this he realized as he sat In his place on the opposition benches during the half hour of wintry twilight that precedes the turning on of the lights. He real ized it in that half hour, but the appll. cation of the knowledge followed later. when the time came for him to ques. tion the government on some point re. lating to the proposed additional dry dock at Talkley, the naval base. Then for the first time he knew that the sui. ferings of the past months could have a visible as well as hidden slde-could dlsorganlze his daily routine as they had already demorallzed his will and character.
 The thing came upon him with ex. traordinary lack ofpreparation. He sat through the twilight with tolerable .calm, his nervousness showing only in the occasional lifting of his hand to his collar and the frequent changing of his position, but when the lights were turned on and he leaned back In his seat with closed eyes he became conscious of curious impression-a disturbing idea that through his closed lids he could see the faces on the op- poslte side of the house. see the rows of eyes, sleepy. interested or vigilant. Never before had the sensation pre- sented itself. but once set up 1t ran through all his susceptibIllties. By an absurd freak of fancy those varying eyes seemed to pierce through his lids. almost through his eyeballs. The cold precipitation that was his daily horror broke out on his forehead. and at the same moment Fraide. his leader. turn. ed, leaned over the back of his seat and touched his knee.
 Chilcote started and opened his eyes. "I-I believe I was dozing," he said confusedly.
 Fraide smiled his dry. kindly smile. "A fatal admission for a member of the opposition" he said. But 1 was looking for you earlier in the day. Chileote. There Is something behind this Persian affair. believe 1t to bs mere first move on Russia's par.. You big trading people will find i' worth watching"
 ChIicote shrugged his shoulders. "Oh. I don't know" he said. 'I scarcely believe in It. Lakely put a match tc the powder in the St. Georges. but twill only be noise and a pun of smoke"
 But Fraide did not smile. What is the feeling down at warkT' he askec. sUas if Awakened any interestT'