Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-11-09

catchlNs invoiuntarily at his ieft hano
 to steady her position.
 Her fingers grasped at then held his
 He made no effort to release them
 With dogged acknowledgement, he ad'
 mitted himself worsted.
 How long she stayed lmmovable holding his hand, neither of them knew The process of a womaRs instinct is sc
 subtle. so obscure, that 1t would be futile to apply 1t to the commonplace test of time. She kept her hold tenaci. ously, as though his fncers possessed some peculiar virtue. Then at last she spoke.
 Rings, Jackf' she said very slowly, And under the two short words whole world of incredulity and surmise made itself felt.
 Loder laughed.
 At the sound she dropped his hand and rose from her knees. What her suspicious, what her instincts were she could not have clearly defined. but her action was unhesitating. Without a moments uncertainty she turned to the fireplace, pressed the electric button and flooded the room with light.
 There is no force so demoralizing as unexpected light. Loder took a step backward, his hand hanging unguard- ed by his side, and Lillian, stepping forward, caught 1t again before he could protest. Lifting 1t quickly, she looked scrutinizingly at the two rings.
 All women jump to conclusions, and 1t is extraordinary how seldom they jump short. Seeing only what Lillian saw, knowing only what she knew, no man would have staked definite opin- ion, but the other sex takes a different view. As she stood gazing at the rings her thoughts and her conclusions sped through her mind like arrows-all aim ed and all tending toward one point. She remembered the day when she and Chilcote had talked of doubles. her skeptlcism and his vehement defense of the idea, his sudden interest in the book ''Other Mems Shoes," and his anathema against life and it's irksome round of duties She remembered her own first convinced recognition of the eyes that had looked at her in the door, way of her sisters house, and, last of all, she remembered Chilcote's unac- countable avoidance of the same sub ject of likenesses when she had men, toned 1t yesterday driving through the park, and with it his unnecessarily curt repudiation of his former opin- ions. She reviewed each item, then she raised her head slowly and looked at Lodcr.
 He was prepared for the glance and met it steadily. In the long moment that her eyes searched his face 1t was she and not he who changed color. She was the first to speak. You were the man whose hands I saw in the tent" she said. She made the state ment In her usual soft tones, but slight tremor of excitement underran her voice. Poodles, Persian kittens, even crystal gazing balls, seemed very far away in face of this tangible. fabu- lous, present interest. You are not Jack Chilcote." she said very slowly. You are wearing his clothes and speaking in his voice. but you are not Jack Chilcotc." Her tone quickened with touch of excitement. You needn't keep silent and look ut me-" she said. T know quite well what l am saying, though don't understand 1t, though l have no real proof She paused. momentarily disconnected by her companions silent and steady gaze, and in the pause a curious and thing occurred.
 Loder laughed suddenly-a full, con fident, rcassured laugh. All the web that the past half hour had spun about him. all the intolerable sense of an inn pending crash, lifted suddenly. He saw his way clearly. and It was Lillian who had opened his eyes.
 Stlll looking at her. he smiled-a smile of reliant determination. such as Chilcote had never worn in his life. And with a calm gesture he released his hand.
 "The greatest charm of woman is her he said quietly. With out 1t there would be no color in life: we would come into and drop out of 1t with the same uninteresting tone of drab reality" He paused and smiled again.
 At his smile Lillian involuntarily drew back. the color deepening in her checks. Why do you say that?" she asked.
 He lifted his head. With each mo. ment he felt more certain of himself. Because that is my attitude" he said. AS a man I admire your imagination. but as a man Fall to follow your req soning."
 The words and the tone both stung her. Do yol realize the positionf' she asked sharply. Do you realize that. whatever your plans are. can spoil thcn!"
 Loter still met her eyes. T realize of the scrt.'" be said.