Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1907-02-14

ly his glance passed from one to the
other. He was no sentimentalist and
no dreamer. His act was simply the
act Of a man whose interests, robbed
Of their natural outlet. turn Instructive
ly toward the forms and symbols of
the work that is denied them. His
scrutiny was steady-even cold. He
was raised to no eXaltation by the
vastness of the building, nor was he
chilled by any dwarfing of himself. He
looked at it long and thoughtfully;
then, again moving slowly. he turned
and retraced his steps.
His mind was full as he walked back,
still oblivious of the stone parapet of
the embankment, the bare trees and
the faring lights of the advertisements
across the water. Turning to the left,
he regairred Fleet street and made for
his w habitation with the quiet ac-
curacy that some men exhibit in mo-
mepts Of absorption.
He crossed Clifford's inn with the
same slow, almost l~istless. step; then,
as his own doorway came into view, he
stopped. Some one was standing in its
recess.
For a moment he wondered if his
fancy were playing him a trick. Then
his reason sprang to certainty with so
fierce a leap that for an instant his
mind recoiled. For we more often
stand aghast at the strength of Our
own feelings than before the enormity
of DIR npiphb0r'S actions.
SIS that you, Chilcote!" he said below
hiS breath.
AT the sound of his voice the other
wheeled round. "Hello..' lie said. Il
thought you were the ghost of some old
inhabitant. | suppose am very uneX-
pected?"
Loder took the hand hat he extended
and pressed the fingers unconsciously.
The sight of this man was like the find
ing of an oasis at the point where the
desert is sandiest, deadliest, most un-
bearable.
eyes, you neutrality-suspicious. he an
swered.
Chilcote looked at him, then looked
out into the court. I'm done up" he
oalo. LII llSil al tHS ClI vi tiS
tether." He laughed as he said it, but
in the dim light of the hall Loder
thought his face looked i'll and harassed
despite the flush that the excitement of
the meeting had brought to it. Taking
his arm, he drew him toward the stairs.
$50 the rope has u out, eh?" he
said, in imitation of the others tone.
P,+ ,,,,Inr fhD n,,iot ,f Into ,or,,, l;.
own nerve We're throbbing with the
peculiar alertness of anticipation, a
sudden ems of mastery over life that
lifted him above surroundings and
above persons-a n Of stature.
mental and physical, from which he
surveyed the world. He felt as if fate
in the moment of utter darkness had
given him a sign.
AS they crossed the hall Chilcote
had drawn away and was already
mounting the stairs. And as Loder
followed it came sharply to his mind
that here, in the slipshod freedom of a
door that was always open and stairs
that were innocent of covering, lay his
companions real niche-unrecognized
III OulN alU uNON III, puL dChllON leuSeu
by the inward, keener that mani
tests the individual.
In silence they mounted the stairs,
but OH the first landing Chilcote
paused and looked back, surveying
Loder from the superior height of two
steps.
II did very we'll at first" he said. 81
did very we'll. l almost followed your
example for a week or so. l found
myself on q sort of pinnacle, and
chung on. But in the last ten days I've
I've rather lapsed."
"Why?' Loder avoided looking at
his face. He kept his eyes fixed de-
terminedly on the spot where his own
hand gripped the banister.
"Why" Chilcote repeated. ooh. the
prehistoric tale-weakness stronger
than strength. "I'm-Im sorry to
come down on you like this, but it's
the social side that bowls me over. It's
the social side l can't stick"
"The social side? But l thought
Don't think. I never think; it en-
tails such a constant upsetting of prin.
ciples and theories. We did arrange
for business only, but n can't set UP
barriers. Society pushes itself every.
where nowadays, into business most
Of all. l don't want you for theate1
parties or dinners. But a big reception
with a political flavor is different. A
man has to be seen at these things. He
needn't say anything or do anything
but it's bad form if he fails to show
up"
I1oder raised his head. You must
explain" he said abruptly.
Clilcote started Slightly at the sud.
den demand.
al suppose I'm rather irrelevant
he said quickly. Fact is, there's a re.
ception at the Bramfells' tonight. You
know Blanche Bramfell-Viscountess
Bramfell, sister to Lillian Astrupp.'
His words conveyed nothing to Loder,
but he did not consider that. All ex-
plantations We're irksome to him and lie
invariably chafed to be done with
them.
"And you've got to put in an appear.