The Red Cloud chief., 1907-02-15

ness slowly. but with u slow complete
ness. and In its light the incidents of
the past hour stood oft in q new al.
poet. The echo of recollection stirred
by Lady Bramfells voice, the re-echo
Of it In the sisters tones: his W
blindness, his W egregious assurance
all struck across his mind.
Meanwhile the party about Lillian
drew nearer. lie felt with instructive
certainty that the supper room was its
destination, but he remained motion
less. held by Il species Of fatalism. He
watched her draw neal with an un.
moved face, but In the brief space that
passed while she traversed the corridor
he gagged TO the full the hold that the
new atmosphere, the new existence,
had gained over his mind. With an I'M
looked for rush of feeling he realized
how dearly he would part with it.
As Lillian came closer the meaning
Of her manner became clearer To him.
She talked necessarily, laughing now
and then, but her eyes were never
quiet. These skinned the length Of the
corridor, then glanced over the heads
crowded in the doorway.
"Tll have something quite sweet,
Godfrey" she was saying to the man
beside her as she came within hearing.
You know what / Ikea sort of snow
fake wrapped up in sugar" As she
said the words her glance wandered.
Loder saw ii rest unintercstedly on a
boy a yard or two in front of him. then
move to the man over whose head he
gazed, then lift itself inevitably to his
face.
The glance was quick and direct. He
saw the look Of recognition spring
suddenly as the crowd in the corridor
parted to let her pass. Then lie saw
what seemed to him n miracle.
Her whole expression altered, her lips
parted, and she colorcd with annoy
ance. She looked like q spoiled child
who, seeing Il bonbon box, opens it
to find it empty.
AS the press about the doorway
melted to give her passage the red
haired man in front of Loder was the
first to take advantage of the space.
"Jovc, Lillian" he said, moving for
ward. you look AS If you expected
ChilcOte to be somebody else. and are
disappointed to find he's only himself.'
He laughed delightedly at his own
joke. /
The words were exactly the tonic
Lillian needed. She smiled her usual
~undisturbed smile as she turned her
eyes upon him.
MY dear Leonard, you're using your |
eycglass. When that happens you're
never responsible for what you see"
Her words came more slowly and with I
a touch of languid amusement. Her !
composure was suddenly restored.
Then for the first time Loder chang !
ed his position. Moved by an impulse
he made no effort TO disscct. he stepped |
back to Ewes side and slipped his arm
through hers-successfully concealing
his left hNnd.
The Wi..Gth of her skin through her
long glove thrilled him unexpectedly. !
His impulse had been one of self de.
Tense, but the result was of Il differ.
ent character. At the quick contact |
the wish TO fight for-to hold and de-
fcnd--the position that had grown so
dear woke in renewed force. With a
new determination he turned again to-
ward Lillian. ,
Il caught the same Impression |
without an eycglass," he said. 'VVhy |
did you look like that" lie asked the |
question steadily and with apparent !
carclcssness, though through it all his
reason stood aghast his common
sense cried aloud that it was impossi.
bic for the eyes that had seen his face
IN admiration, in love, in contempt, to
iail now in recognition. The air seem |
ed GREATNESS while he spoke and
waited. His impression of Lillian
was "A mere shimmering of gold dress
and gold hair; I'LL that he was really
conscious of was the pressure Of his
hand on Ewes arm and the warmth