The Princeton union., 1907-04-18

AAA'AA. ~ lAdI uASuI, IlOuSn Clio not
know It, took up my position; made
my determination. Do you know what
that determination was?"
She shook her head.
1T was the desire to stamp out Chill
cote's footmarks with my own, to
prove that personality is the great force
capable Of everything. forgot to reck-
on that when we draw largely upon
Fate she generally EFFORTS a crushing
interest.
First came the wish for your re-
spect, then the desire to stand we'll
with such men as Fraide-to feel the
STIR of emulation and competition-to
prove myself strong in the one career
! knew myself fitted for. For a time
the second ambition overshadowed the
hrst, but the first was bound to reas-
sert itself, and in moment of egotism
l conceived the notion Of winning your
enthusiasm as well as your respect
Ewes face, alert and questioning,
suddenly paled as doubt crossed her
mind.
"Then it was only-only to stand well
with me?' .
Il believed it was only the desire to
stand we'll with you. I believed it un-
til the night Of my speech-if you can
credit anything so absurd. Then on that
night, as came up the stairs to the
gallery and saw you standing there,
the blindness fell away, and I knew
that loved you." AS he said the last
words he released her hands and turn
ed aside, missing the quick wave Of
JOY and color that crossed her face.
Il knew it, but it made no difference.
was only moved to higher self glori-
tcation. I touched supremacy that
night. But as we drove home expert
enced the strangest coincidence of my
life. You remember the block in the
traffic at Piccadilly?"
Again Eve bent her head.
well, when I looked out of the car
riage window to discover its cause the
first man I'saw was-Chilcote."
Eve started slightly. This swift, un-
expected linking Of Chilcote's name
with the most exalted moment Of her
life stirred her unpleasantly. Some
glimmering of Loder's intention in so
linking it broke through the web of
disturbed and conflicting thoughts.
"You saw him on that night"
"Yes, and the sight chilled me. 1t
was big drop from supremacy to the
remembrance of-everything."
1nvoluntarily she put out her hand.
But Loder shook his head. "No," he
said; "don't pity me! The sight of him
came just in time. had reaction in
that moment and, such as it was,
acted on it. I went to him next morn
Ing and told him that the thing must
end. But then-even then-I shirked
being honest with myself. I had meant
to tell him that it must end because I
had grown to love you, but my pride
rose up and tied my tongue 1 could
not humiliate myself. I:put the case
before him in another light. It was a
tussle Of wills, and won, but the vic
tory was not what it should have been.
That was proved today when he re-
turned to tell me of the loss of this
telegram. It wasn't the fear that Lady
Astrupp had found it. It wasn't to
save the position that jumped at the
chance of coming back. It was to feel
the Joy of living, the joy Of seeing you,
If only for dayv' For one second he
turned toward her; then as abruptly
he turned away again.
II was still thinking Of myself" he
said. ''1 was still utterly self centered
when I came to this room today and al
lowed you to talk to me, when asked
you to see me tonight as we parted at
the club. I shan't tell you the thoughts
that unconsciuosly were in my mind
when asked that favor. You must
understand without explanation.
II went to the theater with Lady AS
trupp ostensibly to find how the land
lay in her direction-really to heighten
myself esteem. But there fate or the
power we call by that nameswas lying
In wait for me, ready to claim the first
interest in the portion Of life had
dared to borrow" He did not glance
toward Eve as he had done in his pre-
vious pause. His whole manner seem
ed oppressed by the gravity Of what he
had still to say.
II doubt if man has ever seen more
In half an hour than have tonight" he
said. "I'm speaking of mental seeing,
of course. In this play, Other Mems
Shoes, two men change identities-as
Chilcote and have done-but in doing
50 they overlook one fact-the fact that
one Of them has wife! That's not my
way of putting it. It's the way it was
put to me by one Of Lady Astrupp's
party"
Again Eve looked up. The doubt and
question in her eyes had grown unmis-
takably. AS he ceased to speak her
lips parted quickly.
"John," she said, with sudden con-
viction, you're trying to say something
something that's terribly hard"
Without raising his head Loder an
swered her. eyes," he answered, "the
hardest thing man ever said''-
His tone was short, almost brusque,