The Red Cloud chief., 1907-01-18
The MaSQuGrader
Continued from Page Three.)

comstituency-hls wife. He half extri-
Gated His arm, but Fraide held it.
NO. he said. Don't draw away
from me. You have always been too
ready to do that. 1t is not often have
u pleasant truth to tell. l won't be de-
prived of the enjoyment"
"Can the truth even be pleasant, sirT'
Involuntarlly Loder echoed Chilcote.
Fralde looked up. He was half a
head shorter than his companion,
though his dignity concealed the fact.
"Chilcotc," he said seriously. give Up
cynlcism! 1t Is the trademark of fail
IRE, and l do not like it 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 dauntcd
him. The track was sleeper. the gauge
narrower, than lie had guessed; there
were curves and sidings upon which
nc n1u not rptkDDtu. lie lUIltu ulS
head and met Fraide's glance.
Don't count too much on me, sir"
he said slowly. II might disappoint
you again" His voice broke off on
the last word. for the sound of other
voices and OF laughter anne to them
across the terrace as n group of two
women and three men passed through
the open door. At a glance he realized
setting of somber river and somber
stone.
Fraide smiled ut her affe%ctionately,
then looked ut Loder. "Chilcote has
got a new lease of nerves.. Eve" he
said quietly. "And l-belleve-1 have
got a new henchman. But | see my
wife reckoning TO ne. ! must have Il
word with her before she fits away.
May | be excused Z" lie made II our
teous gesture of apology. then smiled
at Eve.
She looked after him rs he moved
away. Il sometimes wonder what |
should do If anything were to happen
to the Fraides," she said, Il little visit
fully. Then almost ut once she laugh
ed. as if rcgrctting her impulsivencas
'You heard what he said" she went Oh
In a different voice. Am | really &c
congratulate yout"
The change of one stung Loder un
accountably. viii you always disbe
lieve in me-" he asked.
Without answering, she walked slow
ly across the deserted terrace and
pausing by the parapet, laid her hanC
on the stonawork. Still in silence, sh'
looked out across the river.
Loder had followed closely. Again
her ~aloofness seemed a challenge
Twill you always disbelleve in me?" Ia
repeated.
At last she looked up at him slowly.
, "IIave you ever given me cause t
believer" she asked in Il quiet tone.
To this truth he found no answer
I though the subdued %incredulity nettle,
I him afresh.
$ Prompted to a further effort, he spok
u again. Patience is necessary wit
every person and every circumstance.
c he said. We've all got to wait an
y sec"
She did not lower her gaze as Il
g spoke, and there seemed 10 him SOM
II thing disconcerting in the clear, candi
g blue of her eyes. With Il sudden drea
); of her next words, he moved fOrwar
N and laid his hand beside hers on Ii
:! parapct,
Patience is needed for every one
repeated quickly. sometimes Il ma
is Ike a bit of wrecGagc. He driI'
e. TIL some force stronger than hlmse
gets in his way and stops him. Il
20 looked again at her face. He scarce
,. knew what he was saying, lie on
Il. felt that he was Il man In an cgregiou
n. ly false position, trying stupidity to ju
o.. tify himself. Don't you believe tn
" notSam can sometimes be wash'
m ashore?' he asked.
High above them Big Ben chimed t
lg hour.
Eve raised her head. 1t almost seel
cd to him thnt he could see her anSw
MS trembling on her lips. Then the vol
on Of Lady Sarah Fraide came cheerful
m from behind them,
no Eve" she called. Eve! We mt
tiy. It's absolutely . o'clock