Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-10-31

Westminster. The walk and lunch were both memorable. In that hour he learned many things that had been sealed to him before. He tasted his first draft of real elation, his first drop of real discomfture. He saw for the first time how a great man may con- descend-how unostentatiously, how fully, how delightfully."-. He felt what tact and kindness perfectly combined may accomplish, and he burned in wardly with sense of duplicity that crushed aud elated him alternately. He was John Loder, friendless, penni- less, with no present and no future, yet he walked down Whitehall in the full light of day with one of the greatest statesmen England has known.
 Some strangers were being shown over the terrace when he and Fraide reached the house, and, noticing the open door. the old man paused.
 q never refuse fresh air." he said. 'Shall we take another breath of it before settling down?" He took Lo- der's arm and drew him forward. As they passed through the doorway the pressure of his fingers frightened. T shall reckon today among my pleasant est memories, Chilcote," he said grave ly. T can't explain the feeling, but l seem to have touched Eyes husband. the real you. more closely this morning than ever did before. It has been a genuine happiness" He looked up with the eyes that through all his years of action and responsibility had remained so bright.
 But Loder paled suddenly, and his glance turned to the river-wide, mys- terious, secret Unconsciously Fraide had stripped the Illusion. It was not John Loder who walked here; it was ChIlcote- Chllcote with his position, his constituency-his wife. He half extri- cated his arm, but Fraide held it.
 "No," he said. Don't draw away from me. You have always been too ready to do that. It Is not often have a pleasant truth to tell. won't be de- prived of the enjoyment"
 "Can the truth ever be pleasant. sir?' Involuntarily Loder echoed Chilcote.
 Fraide looked up. He was half a head shorter than his companion, though his dignity concealed the fact. "Chilcote," he said seriously, give up cynicisln! It is the trademark of fail ure, and I do not like 1t in my friends"
 Loder said nothing. The quiet in- sight of the reproof, its mitigating Kindness, touched him sharply. In that moment he saw the rails down which he had sent his little car of ex- istence spinning, and the sight daunted him. The track was sleeper, the gauge narrower, than he had guessed; there were curves and sidings upon which he had not reckoned. He turned his head and met Fraide's glance.
 Don't count too much on me. slr," he said slowly. q might disappoint you again." His voice broke off on the last word, for the sound of other voices and of laughter came to then, across the terrace as group of two women and three men passed through the open door. At a glance he realized that the slighter of the two womer was Eve.
 Seeing them, she disengaged herself from her party and came quickly for ward. He saw her cheeks flush anC her eyes brighten pleasantly as they rested on his companion, but he noticed also that after her first cursory glance she avoided his own direction.
 As she came toward them Fraidt drew away his hand in readiness tt greet her.
 "Here comes my godchild!' he said 'I often wish, eIilco!e. that l could do away with the prefix" He adde, the last words in an undertone as h' reached them, then he responded warmly to her smile.
 What he said. "Tu ug the ter race into the garden of EIen in Jan nary. We cannot allow this"
 Eve laughed. Blame Lady Sarah.' she said. We met at lunch, and sh' carried me of. Needless to say hadn't tO ask where"
 They both laughed, and Loder joined a little uncertainty. He had yet t' learn that the devotion of FraiCe an' his wife was long standing jest 1T their particular set
 At the sound of his tardy laugh Ev, turned to him. 'I hope didn't rob yo' of all sleep last night" she said. '' caught him in his den" she explained turning to Fraide. ''agj invaded it mos coursgeously. I believe we take Jill 2"
 Again Loder noticed how quickly sh looked from him to Fraide. The knowl edge reused his self assertion.
 "I had an excellent night" he said >Do look as if hadn't SleptT"
 Somewhat slowly and reluctantl. Eve looked back. Nc she said truth fully and with a faint surprise that ( Lo,ier seemed the first genuine emotion eae had shown regarding him. 'NO. don't think I ever saw you look s we'll She wes quite uncOnsciors am very charming as she made the admis sion. IL struck LOier that her cOiOrini cf hair and eyes Sained by daylight- were bFs=h,eRe,i and vivifei hy thei rptfi-e Of somber river and sombe stone.
 Frahre smiled at her affectiOnsteiy then looked at LS;eT- --ChilcOte ha ryf a new lease of nerves. Eve. b sail quiesly. And I-ieIieVe-I hav' gJt a rev heuchu-1n- But I see E!