The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-02-08

the DIR which Grecning bad LETT alar.
Tlere was a moment Of apparent
doubt. then stir Of skirts, quick.
uncertain knock. and the intruder en-
tered
For a couple OF seconds she stood in
the doorway: then as Loder made no
sfort to speak she moved into the
room. she had apparently but Just re
turned from some entertainment Tor,
though she had drawn or her long
gloves. she was still wearing an even
ing cloak Of lace and fur.
That she was Chilcote's wife LOder
inst.nctively realized the moment she
entered the room But disconeertng
confusion OF ideas was all that fol-
lowed the knowledge. He stood by the
desk. silent and awkward, trying 70 at
his expectations to his knowledge.
Then, faced by the hopelessness Of the
task. he turned abruptly and looked ct
her again
She had taken OF her cloak and was
standing by the fire. The compassion
Of moving through life alone had set
It's seal upon her In a certain self pos
session, 4 certain confidence Of pose,
yet her figure as Loder then saw II,
baekgrounded by the dark books and
Rowned In pale blue had a suggestion
Of youthfulness that seemed contra
diction. The remembrance Of Chill
cote's epithets cold" and 'unsympa-
theticn came back to him with some
thing like establishment. He felt no
uncertainty, no dread of discovery and
humiliation in her presence as ne hao
felt in the maids, yet there was some
thing in her face that made him inti-
nitely more uncomfortable, look be
could find no name for, friendliness
that studiously covered another feel
ing. whether question. distrust or &C
tuaI dislike he could not say. With a
strange sensation of awkwardness he
sorted Chilcote's letters, waiting for
her to speak.
AS If divlning his thought she turn
ed toward him. .''F'm afraid | rather
intrude," she said IF you are busy n
His sense of courtesy was touched.
He had begun life with high opinion
of women, and the words shook up an
echo Of the old sentiment.
Don't think that" he said hastily.
II was only looking through-my let
tiers. You mustn'terat yourself below
letters" He was conscious that his
tone was hurried, that his words were
a little Jagged, but Eve did not appear
to notice. Unlike Greening, she took
the new manner without surprise. She
had known Chilcote for six years.
"I dined with the Fraides tonight"
she said Mr.. Fraide sent you "a mes
sage"
Unconsciously LOder smiled. There
was humor in the thought OF a mes
sage to him from the great Fraide. TO
hide his amusement he wheeled one OF
the big lounge chairs forward.
Indeed he said Won't you sit
DOWN.
They were near together now, and
ne saw her face more fully. Again he
was taken aback Chilcote had spoken
of her as successful and Intelligent
but never as beautiful. Yet her beauty
was rare and uncommon fact he
hair was black--not glossy black, bu
the dusky black that is softer than any
brown-her eyes were large and Of
peculiarly pure blue, and her eyelashe'
were black, beautifully curved and o
remarkable thickness.
Wont YOU, sit DOWN. he said again
cutting short his thoughts with some
confusion.
'"Thank YOU" She gravely accepted
the proffered chair. But he saw tina
without any ostentation she drew he
skirts aside as she passed him. TIT
action displeased him unaccountably.
"Well,' he said shortly, what ha'
Fraide to say" He walked to thu
mantelpiece with his customary move
ment and stood watching her The in
stinct toward hiding his face had lief
him. Her instant and uninterested &C
ceptance of him almost nettled him
His own half contemptuous impression
of Chilcote came to him unpleasant.
and with 1t the first desire to assert hi
own individuality. Stung by the con
filcting emotions, he felt in Chiicotel
pockets for something to smoke
Eve saw and interpreted the action
Are these your cigarettes She lean
ed toward a small table and took up
box made of lizard skin.
Thanks" He took the box iron
her. and as 1t passed from one to tn
other he saw her glance at his rings
The glance was momentary. Her lip
parted to express question or surprise
then closed again without comment
More than any spoken words the Incl
dent showed him the gulf that sepa
rated husband and wife.
WELL" he said again, what aDou
Fraide?"
At his words she sat straighter an
looked at him more directly, as If brat
ing herself to task.
.Mr. Fraide isis as interested
ever In you" she began.
"Or in you?" Loder made the intel
ruption precisely as he felt Chilcot
would have made it, Then instantly D
wished the words back.
Ewes warm skin colored more deeI
~. :, .ooopd fha inqcrnt0 BILE Ill