The Red Cloud chief., 1907-03-01

March 20 that Loder, in response to n
long standing invitation. lunchcd quiet
ly with the Fraides. Being delayed by
some communications from Wark. he
was a few minutes late in keeping his
appointment, and on being shown into
the drawing room found the little group
of three that was TO make Up the party
already assembled-Fraide. Lady Sa-
rah-and Eve. AS he entered the room
they ceased to speak. and all three
turned I'm his direction.
In the first moment he had a vague
impression Of responding suitably TO
Lady Sarah's cordial greeting, but he
knew that Immediately ana uncon-
sciously his eyes turned to Eve, while
a quick sense of surprise aud satisfac-
ton passed through him at sight Of
her. For an instant he wondered how
she would mark his avoidance OF her
since their last cventful interview: h
instantly he blamed himself for the
passing doubt. For, before all things,
he knew her to he a woman of the
world.
He took Fraide's outstrctchcd hand,
and again he looked toward Eve, wait
ing for her to speak.
She met his glance, but said nothing.
Instead of speaking she smiled ut him
ii smile that was far more rclSsuril';
than any words, n smile that in II
single second conveyed forgiveness,
appreciation and Il warm, almost ten
der sense of sympathy and comprehel'
sion. The remembrance of that smile
stayed with him long after they were
seated ut table and far into the future
the remembrance of the lunch itself,
with its pleasant private sense OF sat
isfaction. was destined to return TO
him in retrospective moments. The
delightful atmosphere of the FraiGes'
home life had always been Il wonder
and an enigma to him, but on this day
he seemed to grasp its meaning by Il
new light as he watched Eve often
under It's influence and felt himself
drawn impcrccptibly from the position
of Il speculative outsider to that OF an
intimate. 1t was Il fresh side TO the
complex. fascinating life of which
Fraide was the master spirit.
lutSc t'lCttioiiS h'' S''"h 80
ably familiar to his mind. The talk,
m~omentarily diverted into social chan.
nels. was quietly drifting back to the
inevitable question of the situation
that in private moments was neve far
from their lips, when the event that
was to mark and separate that day
, from those that had preceded it was
unceremoniously thrust upon them.
Without announcement or apology
! the door was suddenly flung open and
Lakeley entered the room.
His face was trimming with excite
I ment, and his eyes flashed. In the
q first haste OF the entry he failed to see
O that there were ladies in the room and
I crossing instantly to Fraide, laid N
( open telegram before him. This Il
official, sir" he said. Then at last ht
a glanced round the table.
Z Lady SARAH" he exclaimed. Ca
Il you forgive me! But I'd have givel
o a hundred pounds TO be the first witt
this.' lie glanced back ut Fraide.
Lady Sarah rose and stretched on
$ her hand. MIR. Lakeley," she said, I"
Il more than understand There was
e thrill in her warm, cordial voice, ant
II her eyes also turned toward her hus
band.
n OF the whole party Fraide alone wa
or perfectly calm. He sat very still, hi
II small, thin figure erect and digniiied
ST as his eyes scanned the message tina
he meant so much.
Eve, who had sprung from her sea
and passed round the table at sound {
Lakeley's news, was leaning over h
a shoulder reading the telegram wit
N him. At the last word she lifted he
I'd head, her face flushed with eXcitemen
ne How splendid it must be to be
IL man. she exclaimed, and withol
H. generalization her eyes and Loder
IN met.
OF In this manner came the news fro
Il Persia ard with 1t Loder's defini'
call. In the momentary stress of a
ton 1t was impossible that any thougl
of Of Chilcote could obtrude itself. Even
Is had followed each other too rapid
tn, decisive action had been too mu'
in thrust upon him, to allow of hesit
ton, and ii was in this spirit. und
es' this vigorous pressure. that he MAJ
ro' his attack upon the government on Il
lrk day that followed Fraide's lunche'
party.
That indefnable attentlveness, tn
alert sensation of impending storl
,ur that is so strong m index OF the pa
90 liamentary atmosphere was very Ike
on the steady southwark advance
Russia into Persian territory from I
Va distant days when, hy II curious iro