Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1907-03-28

CO0ch, she put n hand on his shoulder,
the other on his left arm. Hundreds Of
times this caressing touch had auieted
Chilccte.
"Dear old boy" she said soothingly,
her hand moving slowly down his arm.
In a flash of understanding the con-
sequences Of this position came to him.
Action was imperative, at whatever
risk. With an abrupt gesture he rose.
The movement "a awkward. He
got to his feet pre%cipitately. Lillian
drew back. surprised and startled,
catching involuntarily at his left hand
to steady her position.
Her fingers graSped at. then held his.
He made no effort to release them.
With a logged acknowledgment, he adj
mitted himself worstcd.
How long she stayed immovable.
holding his hand, neither of them knew.
The process of a woman's instinct is so
subtle, so obscure, that it would he
futile to apply it to the commonplace
test of time. She kept her hold tenaci-
ously, as though his fingers possessed
some peculiar virtue. Then at last she
spoke.
'Rings, Jack?" she said very slowly.
And under the two short words a whole
world of incredulity and surmise made
itself felt.
Loder laughed.
At the sound she dropped his hand
and rose from her knees. What her
suspicious, what her instincts were she
could not have clearly defined. but her
action was unhesitating. Without Il
moments uncertainty she turned to the
fireplace, pressed the electric button
and flooded the room with light.
There is no force so demoralizing as
unexpected light. Loder took a step
backward, his hand hanging unguard-
ed by his side, and Lillian, stepping
forward, caught it again before he
could protest. Lifting it quickly, she
looked scrutiniZingly at the two rings.
All women jump to conclusions. and
it is extraordinary how seldom they
jump short. Seeing only what Lillian
saw, knowing only what she knew, no
man would have Staked Il definite opin-
ion. but the other sex takes a different
view. AS she stood gazing at the rings
her thoughts and her conclusions sped
through her mind like arrows-all aim
ed and all tending toward one point.
She remembered the day when she and
Chilcote had talked of doubles, her
skepticism and his. vehement defense
of the idea, his sudden interest in the
book "Other Mems Shoes and his
anathema against life and it's irksome
round Of duties. She remembered her
W first convinced recognition of the
eyes that had looked at her in the door
way of her sisters house, and, last of
all, she remembered Chllcote's unac-
countable avoidance of the same sub
ject of likenesses when she had men-
toned it yesterday driving through the
park, and with it his unnecessarily
curt reputation of his former opin-
ions. She reviewed each item, then
she raised her head slowly and looked
at Loder.
He was prepared for the glance and
met it steadily. In the long moment
that her eyes searched his face it was
she and not he who changed color.
She was the first to speak. You were
the man whose hands / saw in the
tent" she said. She made the state
ment in her usual soft tones. but q
slight tremor of excitement underran
her voice. poodles. Persian kittens.
even crystal gazing balls, seemed very
far away in face of this tangible. fabu-
lous, present interest. You are not
Jack Chilcote,' she said very slowly.
You are wearing his clothes and
speaking in his voice. but you are not
Jack Chilcote." Her tone quickened
with a touch of excitement. You
needn't keep silent and look at me-"
she said. II know quite we'll what l
am saying, though l don't understand
it, though l have no real proof She
her companions silent and steady
gaze, and in the pause Il curious and
unexpected thing occurred.
Loder laughed %suddenly-a full, CON
fdent. treasured laugh. All the web
that the past half hour had spun about
him, all the intolerable sense of AN i'm
pending crash, lifted suddenly. He
saw his way clearly. and it was Lillian
who had opened his eyes.
Still looking at her, he smiled-a
smile of reliant determination, such as
Chilcote had never Worn In his life.
And with a calm gesture he released
his hand.
The greatest charm of woman is he:
imagination" he said quietly. with
out it there would be no color in life:
we would come into and drop out Of it
with the same un%interesting tone of
drab reality" He paused and smiled
again.
At his smile Lillian i%nvoluntarily
drew back, the color deepening in her
cheeks. why do you say that!" she
asked.
! He lifted his head. With each mo-
ment he felt more certain of himself
Because that is my attitude" he said.
GAS a man l admire your imagination
but as a man I fail to follow your rea-
soning."
The words and the tone both stung