Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1907-01-10
ne mao not recKoned. He turned g.
head and met Fraide's glance.

DSA VIVA W SS wa NSs ShA
he said slowly. II might disappoint
you again" His voice broke off OH
the last word, for the sound of other
voices and of laughter came to them
across the terrace as Il group Of two
women and three men passed through
the open door. At a glance he realized
that the sllghter If the two women
was Eve.
Seeing Yhcm. she diSengaged herself
from her party and came quickly for
ward. He saw her cheeks flush and
her eyes brighten pleasantly us they
rested on his companion, but he noticed
also that after her first curSory glance
she avoided his own direction.
AS she came toward them Fraide
drew away his hand in readiness to
greet her.
Here my %godchild!" he said.
Il often wish, Chilcote. that 1 could
do away with the prefix" He added
the last words in an undertone as he
reached them, then he responded
warmly to her smile.
"What!!" he said. Turning the ter
race into the garden of Eden in Jan
uary! We cannot allow this"
Eve laughed. Blame Lady Sarah.'
she said. I'VE met at lunch, and she
carried me off. Needless to say /
hadn't to ask where"
They both laughed, and Loder joined,
a little uncertainty. He had yet to
learn that the devotion of Fraide and
his wife was a long standing Jest in
their particular set.
AT the sound of his tardy laugh Eve
turned to him. II hope l didn't rob you
of all sleep last night" she said. 81
caught him in his den," she explained,
turning to Fraide, land invaded it most
courageously. 1 believe we talked
till 2"
Again Loder noticed how quickly she
looked from him to Fraide. The knowl-
edge reused his self assertion.
II had an excellent night" he said.
"Do l look as if l hadn't slept"
Somewhat slowly and reluctantly
Eve looked back. NO." she said truth
fully and with a faint surprise that to
Loder seemed the first genuine emotion
she had shown regarding him. mo, 1
don't think l eve saw you look so
we'll" She was quite unconscious and
very charming as she made the admis-
sion. 1t struck Loder that her coloring
Of hair and eyes gained by daylight
were frightened and vivitied by their
setting Of somber river and somber
stone.
Fraide smiled at her ~affectionately,
then looked at Loder. 'Chilcote has
got a new lease of nerves, Eve" he
said quietly. And I-believe-I have
got a new henchman. But l see my
wife reckoning to me. l must have a
word with her before she fits away.
May I be excused?" He made a cour
teous gesture of apology, then smiled
at Eve.
She looked after him as he moved
away. II sometimes wonder what 1
should do if anything were to happen
to the Fraides," she said, a little visit
fully. Then almost at once she laugh
ed, as if regretting her impulsiveness.
You heard what he said," she went on
in a different voice. Am l really to
congratulate you?"
The change of tone stung Loder I'M
%accountably. will 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 hand
on the stonework. Still in silence. she
looked out across the river.
Loder had followed closely. Again
her aloofness seemed a challenge.
"Will you always disbelieve in me:" he
repeated.
At last she looked up at him slowly.
"Have you ever given me cause to
believer" she asked in a quiet tone.
To this truth he found no answer,
though the subdued incredulity nettled
him afrash.
Prompted to a further effort, he spoke
again. Patience is necessary With
every person and every circumstance"
he said. We've all got to wait and
see"
She did not lower her gaze as lie
spoke, and there seemed to him some
thing disconcerting in the clear, candid
blue of her eyes. With a sudden dread
Of her next words, he moved forward
and laid his hand beside hers OH the
parapet.
Patience is needed for every one,' lie
repeated quickly. Sometimes Il man
is like Il bit Of wreckage. He drifts
till some force stronger than himself
gets in his way IL stops him." llc
looked again at her face. He scarcely
knew what he was saying. He only
felt that he was a man in an egregious.
ly false position, trying stupidity to jus.
tify himself. Don't you believe that
lotsam can sometimes be washed
ashore?' he asked.
High aboN them Big Ben chimed tho
hour.
Eve raised her head. 1t almost seem
ed to him that he could see her answer
trembling on her lips. Then the voice
of Lady Sarah Fraide came cheerfully
from behind them.
'Eve!' she called. Eve! We mus
fly. It's absolutely 3 O'clock"