Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1907-01-10
(oontinued from Third Page. J

S.lS q rare and uncommon fact. her
lair was black-not glossy black, but
he lusky black that is softer than any
brown--h eyes We're large and Of a
peculiarly pure blue, and her eyelashes
were black, beautifully curved and of
remarkable thickness.
Wont you sit DOWN. he said again,
cutting short his thoughts with some
confusion.
.gTnhank you" She gravely accepted
the proffered chair. But he saw that
without any ostentation she drew her
skirts aside as she passed him. The
action displeased him unaccountably
well" he said shortly, what had
Fraide to sayY' He walked to the
mantelpiece with his customary move
ment and stood watching her. The in
stinct toward hiding his face had left
him. Her instant and uninterested ac-
ceptance of him almost nettled him.
His own half contemptuous impression
of Chilcote came to him unpleasantly
and with it the first desire to assert his
own individuality. Stung by the con-
ficting emotions, he felt in Chilcote's
pockets for something to smoke.
Eve saw and interpreted the action.
Are these your cigarettesY She lean
ed toward a small table and took up a
box made of lizard skin.
"Thanks.' He took the box from
her and as it passed from one to the
other he saw her glance at his rings.
The glance was momentary. Her lips
parted to express question or surprise,
then closed again without comment.
More than any spoken words the incl
dent showed him the gulf that sepa-
rated husband and wife.
We'll" he said again, what about
Fraide?'
At his words she sat straiglter and
looked at him more directly, as if brac-
ing herself to task.
"Mr. Fraide isis as interested as
ever in you" she began.
"Or in your Loder made the inter-
ruption precisely as he felt Chilcote
would have made it. Then instantly he
wished the words back.
Ewes warm skin colored more deep
~. For a second the inscrutable I'M
derlying expression that puzzled him
showed in her eyes, then she sank
back into corner of the chair
"Why do you make such a point of
sneering at my friends?' she asked
quietly. 81 overlook it when you are
nervous" She halted slightly on the
word. "But You are not nervous to-
night"
Loder, to his great humiliation, red
dened. Except for an occasional out
burst on the part of Mrs. Robins, his
charwoman, he had not merited wo-
mans displeasure for years.
1.-THE sheer was unintentional," he
said
For the first time Eve showed per-
sonal interest. She looked at him in a
puzzled way. eff your apology was
meant she said hesitatingly, Il should
be glad to accept it,
Loder, uncertain of how to take the
words, moved back to the desk. He
carried an unlighted cigarette between
his fingers.
There was an interval in which neil
Their spoke. Then at last, conscious of
it's awkwardness, Eve rose. With one
hand on the back of her chair she look
ed at him.
sMr. Fraide thinks it's such pity
that"-she stopped to choose her words
that you should lose hold on things
lose interest in things-as you are do
ing. He has been thinking good deal
about you in the last three weeks, ever
since the day of your-your illness in
the house, and it seems to him''-again
she broke off. watching Loder's avert