Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-10-31

A shadowy smile had touched Lo. der's lips as the idea formed itself.
 Then would come the inevitable re call; then in earnest he might venture to put his hand to the blow. He never indulged in day dreams but something In the nature of vision had flashed over his mind in that instant. He had seen himself standing in that same building. seen the rows of faces first bored, then hesitatingly transformed under his personal domination. under the one great power he knew himself to possess-the power of eloquence. The strength of the suggestion had been almost painful. Men who have attained self repression are occasion ally open to perilous onrush of feel ing. Believing that they know them selves, they walk boldly forward to- ward the highroad and pitfall alike.
 These had been Loder's disconnected ideas and speculations on the first day of his new life. At 4 o'clock on the ninth day he was pacing with quiet confidence up and down Chilcotes study, his mind pleasantly busy and his cigar comfortably alight, when he paused in his walk and frowned, inter- rupted by the entrance of a servant.
 The man came softly into the room, drew a small table toward the fire and proceeded to lay an extremely fine and unserviceable looking cloth.
 Loder watched him in silence. He had grown to find silence very useful commodity. To wait and let things develop was the attitude he oftenest assumed, but on this occasion he was perplexed. He had not rung for tea, and in any case cup on a salver sat isfied his wants. He looked critically at the fragile cloth.
 Presently the servant departed and solemnly re-entered carrying a silver tray, with cups, a teapot and cakes. Having adjusted them to his satisfac- tion, he turned to Loder. .-.
 Mrs. Chilcote will be with you In five minutes, sir" he said.
 He waited for some response. but Loder gave none. Again he had found the advantages of silence, but this time it was silence of a compulsory kind. He had nothing to say.
 The man, finding him Inexpensive, retired, and, left to himself, Loder stared at the array of feminine trifes; then, turning abruptly, he moved to the center of the room.
 Since the day they had talked on the terrace he had seen Eve only thrice and always in the presence of others. Since the night of his first coming she had not invaded his domain. and he wondered what this new departure might mean.
 His thought of her had been less vivid in the last few days, for, though still using steady discretion. he had been drawn gradually nearer the fas- chatting whirlpool of new interests and new work. Shut his eyes as he might, there was no denying that this moment, so personally vital to him, was politically vital to the whole coun' try and that by a curious coincidence Chllcote's position we'll nigh forced him to take an active interest in the situation. Again and again the sug, gestion had arisen that should the smoldering fire in Persia break into a flame Chilcote's commercial interests would facilitate = would practically compel-his standing in in the cam paign against the government.
 [ The little incident of the tea table recalling the social side of his obliga- tions, had aroused the realization of greater things. As he stood meditative- ly in the middle of the room he saw suddenly how absorbed he had become in these greater things-how, fin tht swing of congenial interests, he had { been borne insensibly forward, his ca pacities expanding. his intelligence as serting itself. He had so undeniabl, ! found his sphere that the idea of usur patton had receded gently as by natu ral laws until his own personality hat 1 begun to cnlor the days work.
 As this knowledge came he wondered quickly if it held solution of th' present little comedy; if Eve had seel what others. be knew, had observed that Chilcote was showing grasp O things flat he had not exhibited fo years. Then. as a sound of skirts cam softly down the corridor, he square' his shoulders with his habitual abrup gesture and threw his cigar into tn fire.
 Eve entered the room much as sh had done on her former visit. but witt one differenee-in passing Loder sh quietly held out her hand.
 He took 1t as quietly. Why am s honored?' he asked.
 She laughed little and looked acros at the fire. How like a man. To