The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1906-12-27

regard, but he scarcely saw 1t. He had
a stupehed sense of disaster, a feeling
of bitter self commiseration that for
the moment outweighed all other CON
siderations. Almost at the moment OF
justification the good Of life had crum-
bled IN his fingers, the soil given be-
meath his feet, and with an absence of
logic, a lack Of justice unusual In him,
he let resentment against Chflcote
sweep suddenly over his mind
Eve, still watching him, saw the dark
ening OF his expression and with q
quiet movement rose from her chair.
Lady Sarah has a theater party to-
night, and am dining with her." she
said. 1T is an early dinner, so l
must think about dressing I'm sorry
you think tried to draw you into any
thing. 1 must have explained myself
badly" She laughed a little to cover
the slight discontinue that her tone
betrayed, and as she laughed she
moved across the room toward the
door
Loder, engrossed in the check to his
own schemes, incensed at the sudden
ness of ChiIcote's recall and still more
incensed at his own folly in not having
anticipated it, was oblivious for the
moment of both her movement and
her words. Then quite abruptly they
obtruded themselves upon him, break
ing through his egotism with some
thing Of the sharpness Of pain follow
ing blow. Turning quickly from the
fireplace, he faced the shadowy room
across which she had passed, but 81
multaneously with his turning she
gained the door.
The knowledge that she was gone
struck him with a sense Of double loss.
''WaitI" he called, suddenly moving
forward. But almost at once he paus-
ed, chilled by the solitude of the room.
"Eve!" he said, using her name IN
consciously for the first time.
But the corridor, as we'll as the room.
was empty; he was too late. He stood
irresolute; then he laughed shortly,
turned and passed back toward the
| fireplace.
The blow had fallen, the inevitable
come to pass, and nothing remained
but to take the fact with as good a
grace as possible Chilcote's telegram
had summoned him to Clifford's inn
at Z o'clock, and 1t was now we'll on
toward 6. He pulled out his watch
Chilcote's watch, he realized with a
touch of grim humor as he stopped to
examine the dial by the light Of the
fire-then, as if the humor had verged
to another feeling, he stood straight
again and felt for the electric button
in the wall. His fingers touched it.
and simultaneously the room was
lighted
The abrupt alteration from shadow
to light came almost as a shock. The
feminine arrangement Of the tea table
seemed incongruous beside the sober
books and the desk laden with papers
l-incongruous as his own presence ii
the place. The thought was unpleas
ant, and he turned aside as if to avoid
1t, but at the movement his eyes fell
on Chilcote's cigarette box with its
cleaning monogram, and the whim
steal suggestion Of his first morning
rose again. The idea that the mani
mate objects in the room knew hin
for what he was, recognized the inter
loper where human eyes saw the right
full possessor, returned to his mind
Through all his disgust and chagrin 6
smile forced itself to his lips, and
crossing the room for the second time
he passed into Chilcote's bedroom.
There the massive furniture anC
somber atmosphere fitted better witt
his mood than the energy and actor
which the study always suggested
Walking directly to the great bed. ht
sat on its side and for several minute:
stared straight in front Of him, appar
emily seeing nothing; then at last tht
apathy passed from him, as his pre-
vious anger against Chilcote had pass
ed. He stood up slowly, drawing hi:
long limbs together, and recrossed tn,
room, passing along the corridor an(
through the door communicating witt
the rest of the house Five minute:
later he was in the open air and walk
ing steadily eastward, his hat drawn
forward and his oyercoat buttoned up
AS he traversed the streets he allow
ed himself no thought Once, as h'
waited In Trafalgar square to find {
passage between the vehicles. the re
membrance Of Chilcote's voice cominl
out Of the fog on their first night mad,
itself prominent. but he rejected l
quickly, guarding himself from ever
an involuntary glance at the place o
their meeting. The Strand, with It's IN
ceasing life. came to him as somethin,
almost unfamiliar Since his identified
ton with the new life no business hat
drawn him east of Charing Cross, an
his first sight of the narrower strear
of traffic struck him as garish and Ut
pleasant. AS the impression came b
accelerated his steps, moved by th
! wish TO make regret and retrospectio
; alike impossible By a contact with az
tual forces.
Still walking hastily. he entered Gil.
ford's inn. but there almost uncoI
SciouSlv his feet halted Thora We