The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-04-26

~
IR and the hour OF , or the day
foIlow.ns his dismissal Of
u Chllcote found him again in his
sitting room.
He sat IT tue center table surrounded
by a cloud OF smoke; a pipe was be
tween his lips and the morning.
newspapers lay in a heap beside bis
elbow. To the student of humanity
his attitude was intensely interesting
1t was the attitude of man tram
meled by the knowledge of his
strength. Before him as he sat smOk-
ing stretched a future of absolute
nothingness. and toward this blank fu-
ture one rOrt:oa of his consciousness
a struggling and as yet scarcely sen
tent pOrtion-pushed him inevitably;
while another-a vigorous, persistent,
human pOrtion-cried to him to pause.
So actual, so clamorous, was this silent
mental combat that had ragged unceas-
ingly since the moment of his renun-
citation that at last in physical response
to it he pushed back his chair.
Its too late" he said aloud. I'm a
/ fool. It's too late"
Then abruptly, astonishingly, as
though in direct response to his spoken
thought. the door opened and Chilcote
i walked into the room.
Slowly Loder rose and stared at him.
! The feeling he acknowledged to him
self was anger but below the anger
very different sensation ran riotously
strong And it was in time to this sec
ond feeling, this sudden, lawless joy,
that his pulses beat as he turned cold
face on the intruder
"Well?'' he said sternly.
But Chilcote was impervious to stern
ness. He was mentally shaken and dis
tressed, though outwardly irreproacha-
BILE, even to the violets in the lapel of
his coat-the violets that for a week
past had been brought each morning
to the door of Loder's rooms by Ewes
maid For one second, az Loder's eyes
rested on the flowers, a sting Of ungov
ernable jealousy shot through him;
then as suddenly it died away, super
seeded by another feeling-a feeling of
new, spontaneous joy. Worn by Chill
cote or by himself, the flowers were a
symbol!
"WeIly' he said again in a gentler
voice.
Chilcote had walked to the table and |
laid down his hat. His face was white |
and the muscles of his lips twitched |
nervously rs he drew off his gloves.
THANK heaven. you're herew he said !
shortly. Give me something to drink"
In silence Loder brought out the
whisky and set it on the table: then in
stinctively he turned aside. AS plainly
as though lie saw the action he men
tally figured Chilcotes furtive glance.
the furtive movement of his fingers to
his waiStcoat pocket the hasty drop
ping Of the tubloids into the glass
For an instant the sense of his tacit
connivance came to him sharply; the
next, he flung it from him. The hui
man, inner voice was whispering Its
old watchword. The strong man has
no time to waste over his weaker
brother.
When he heard Chilcote lay down his
tumbler he looked back again well,
what Is it?" he said. What have you
come fOrT' He strove resolutely to
keep his voice severe but, try as he
might, he could not quite subdue the
eager force that lay behind his words
Once again, as on the night Of their
second interchange, life had become
phoenix, rising to fresh existence even
hn elf oil h..
aid once again.
Chilcote had set down his glass He
vas nervously passing his handker-
hief across his lips There was some
hing in the gesture that attracted Lo
er. Looking at him more attentively.
e saw what his own feelings and the
theirs conventional dress had blinded
i'm to-the almost piteous panic and
excitement In his visitors eyes
Something's gone wrong"~ he said,
nth abrupt intuition.
Chilcote started "Yes-no-that Is.
es," he stammered.
Loder moved around the table
Something's gone wrong" he repeat n
l. land you've come to tell me-" IL
The tone unnerved Chllcote. He sud al
emily dropped into a chair. 'It-it ~
asn't my faultr' he began. I'll have ID
I'd a horrible timer' II
Loder's lips frightened. yes" he
i'd, Eyes, l understand" y
The other glanced up with a CLEAN Al
his old suspicion Twas all my "
srves, Loder''-
"Of course. Yes, of course" Lo- 81
RS interruption was curt. al
Chilcote eyed him doubtfully. Then j
collection took the place of doubt "a
I'd a change passed over his express
on. ut wasn't my fault" he began nc
Silly. con my soul, 1t wasn't! 1t On
ls Crapham's beastly fault for show
3 her into the morning ROOM IN
Loder kept silent. His curiosity had ma
red into sudden life at the others hs
,rds, but he feared to break the shat mn
ed train of thought even by n word 60
n the silence Chilcote moved un,
silly. You see." he went on at last
.hA, I faNN |