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

hours stretched in front before any
appointment claimed his attention. He
wondered vaguely where he might go
10, what he might do in those two
hours In the last few minutes a dis
taste for solitude had risen In his
mind, giving the close street a loneli-
ness that had escaped him before.
AS he stood wavering a cab passed
slowly down the street. The sight of
a well dressed man reused the cab
man. Fllcking his whip, he passed
Chllcote close, feigning to pull up.
The cab suggested civilization. Chill
cote's mind veered suddenly, and he
raised his hand The vehicle stopped,
and he climbed in
Where. sirT' The cabman peered
down through the roof door.
Chilcote raised his head ooh, any
where near Pail Mall" he said. Then.
as the horse started forward, ne put
up his hand and shook the trapdoor
"Waitr' he called. i've changed my
mind. Drive to Cadogan gardens, No
49,"
The distance to Cadogan Gardens
was covered quickly. Chilcote had
hardly realized that his destination
was reached when the cab pulled up.
Jumping out, he paid the fare and
walked quickly to the hall door of No.
33.
''Is Lady Astrupp at homer" he ask
ed sharply as the door swung back in
answer to his knock
The servant drew back deferentially.
Her ladyship has almost finished
lunch, sir" he said.
For answer Chilcote stepped through
the doorway and walked halfway
across the hall
"All right" he said. But don't dis
turb her on my account. TIL wait IN
the white room till she has finished"
And, without taking further notice of
the servant, he began to mount the
stairs
In the room where he had chosen to
wait a pleasant wood fire Frightened
the dull January afternoon and sof-
tened the thick white curtains, the Gilt
furniture and the venetian vases filed
with white roses Moving straight
forward, Chilcote paused by the CRATE
and stretched his hands to the blaze;
then, with his usual instability, he
turned and passed to a couch that
stood yard or two away.
On the coach, tucked away between
novel and a crystal gazing ball, was
white Persian kitten, fast asleep.
Chilcote picked UP the ball and held 1t
between his eyes and the fire, then he
laughed superciliously, tossed it back
into its place and caught the Kittens
tail. The little animal stirred, stretch
ed itself and began to pur At the
same moment the door of the room
opened
Chilcote turned around. II particu-
larly said you were not to be disturb
ed he began Have l merited dis
pleasure2" He spoke fast with the
uneasy tone that SO often underran
his words.
Lady Astrupp took his hand with a
confding gesture and smiled.
Never displeasure,' she said lilger-
ingly, and again she smiled. The smile
might have struck a close observer as
family artificial But what man IN
Chilcote's frame of mind has time TO
be observant where women are con
cerned? The manner of the smile was
very sweet and almost caressing, and
that sufficed.
What have you been dolng?" she
asked after a moment. 4 thought
was quite forgotten" She moved
across to the couch. picked up the kit.
ten and kissed it. Isn't this SWEET
she added
She looked very graceful as she turn
ed, holding the little animal up. She
was woman of twenty-seven, but she
looked a girl The outline Of her face
was pure the pale gold of her hair
almost ethereal, and her tall, slight
figure still suggested the suppleness,
the possibility of future development,
that belong to youth. She wore a lace
colored gown that harmonized with
the room and with the delicacy of her
skin
Now sit down and rest or walk
dUOut the IOOLu- i sQaU l ulluQ W ulID.
She nestled into the couch and picked
up the crystal ball.
What is the toy forT' Chilcote
looked at her from the mantelpiece.
/ against which he was resting. He had
never defined the precise attraction
that Lillian Astrupp held for him.
/ Her shallowness soothed him; her in
i consequent egotism helped him to for
i get himself She never asked him
how he was, she never expected i'm
possibilities She let him come and 20
and act as he pleased. never demand
ing reasons. Like the kitten, she was
charming and graceful and easily
amused 1t was possible that, also ike
the kitten, she could scratch and be
/ spiteful on occasion, but that did not
weigh with him. He sometimes ex-
pressed a vague envy of the late Lord
Astrupp, but even had circumstances
permitted 1t is doubtful whether be