Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-02-28
CHAPTER XVII.

had leisure for the first time TO won
der whether the time that had passed
since last he occupied that position had
actually been lived through.
Only that night he had unconscious
" compared one incident in his life to
a sketch in which the lights and shad-
ows have been oblterated and lost.
Now that picture rose before him,
startingly and incredibly intact. He
saw the sunlit houses of Santasalare,
backgrounded by the sunlit hills-saw
them as plainly as when he himself
had sketched them OH his memory.
Every detail of the scene remained the
same, even to the central figure: only
the eye and the hand of the artist had
changed.
At this point Eve broke in upon his
thoughts. Her first words We're curl
ously coincidental.
What did you think of Lillian AS
trupp tonight" she asked. Wasn't
her gown perfect"
Loder lifted his head with an almost
guilty start. Then he answered straight
from his thoughts.
her eyes reminded Inc Of cats eyes
and she walks like a cat. never
seemed to see .t-until tonight"
Eve changed her position She was
very artistic" she said tentatively
Don't you think the gold gown was
beautiful with her pale colored hair?'
Loder felt surprised. He was con-
WINGED that Eve dlslked the other,
and he was not sufficiently versed in
women to understand he: praise. Il
thought he began. Then he wisely
stopped 81 didn't see the gown" he
substituted.
Eve looked out of the window. Bow
unapprecative men are" she said. But
her tone was strangely free from cen
sure.
After this there was silence until
Grosvenor square was reached. Hav-
ing left the carriage and passed into
the house, Eve paused for a moment
at the foot of the stairs to give an Or
der to Crapham, who was still in at
tendance in the hall, and again Lodcr
had an opportunity of studying her.
As he looked sharp comparison rose
TO his mind.
"A fairy princess he had heard the
red haired man say as Lillian Astrupp
came into view along the Bramfels
corridor, and the smile had seemed
particularly apt With her grace, her
dclicacy, her subtle attraction, she
might well be the outcome of imagi-
nation. But with Eve it was different
She also was graceful and attractive,
but it was grace and attraction of a
different order. one was beautiful
with the beauty Of the white rose
that springs from the dollhouse and
withers at the first touch of cold; the
other with the beauty Of the wild rose
on the cliffs above the sea, that keeps
its petals fine and transparent in face
Of salt spray and wet mist. Eve. too
had her realm, but 1t was the realm
OF real things. A great confidence, a
feeling that here one might rely even
If all other faiths were shaken, touched
him suddenly. For a moment he stood
irresolute, watching her mount the
stairs with her easy. assured step
Then a determination came to him.
Fate favored him tonight; he was in
luck tonight. He would put bis for
tune to one more test. He swung
across the hall and ran up the stairs
His face was keen with interest as
he reached her side. The hard outline
Of his features and the hard grayness
of his eyes We're softened as when he
had paused to talk with Lakeley. Action
bo - &c
changed under it as another's might
change under the influence of stirring
music or good wine.
Eve saw the look and again the I'M
easy expression of surprise crossed her
eyes. She paused, her hand resting
on the banister.
Loder looked at her directly. will
you come into the study as you came
that other night? There's something
want to say" He spoke quietly. lie
felt master Of himself and her
She hesltated, glanced at him and
then glanced away.
"Wlll you Gomez" he said again
And as he said 1t his eyes rested on
the sweep Of her thick eyelashes, the
curve Of the back hair.
At last her lashes lifted and the per.
plexity and doubt in her blue eyes
stirred him. Without waiting for her
answer, he leaned forward
"Say yes" he urged. II don't often
ask for favors."
Still she hesitated. Then her decision
WAS made for her. With new bold
ness he touched her arm, drawing her
forward gently but decisively toward
rhilcote's rooms.
In the study fire burned brightly
the desk was laden with papers, the
lights We're nicely adjusted, even the
chairs We're in their accustomed places
I.oder's senses responded to each sug
gestion. 1t seemed but day since he
had seen it last. 1t was precisely as he
had left 1.-THE niche needing but the
man.
To hide his emotion lie crossed the
soor quickly and drew chair for
ward. In less than six hours he had
run up and down the scale OF emotions
He had looked despair in the face til
the sudden sight of Chllcote had lifted
him to the skies; since then surprise
had assailed him in It's strongest form
he had known the full meaning of thu
word risk" and from every contin