Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-03-16

had his hours OF BLACK apprehension.
II is all very well 10 exercise a ghost
by sheer strength OF viii. but one has
also 10 eliminate the idea that gave Il
existence. Lillian Astrupp. with her
manifested evidence and her ephemeral
interest. gave him no real uneasiness.
but Chilcote AID Chilcote's possible
summons We're matters OF graver con
sideraton. and there were times when
they doomed very dark and sinister
What II so the very moment OF fulfill
ment- But Invariably De snapped the
thread OF the supposition and turned
with fercer ardor 20 his work OF prep
aration.
And so the last morning OF his pro
baton dawned. and for the first time
he breathed freely.
He rose early on the day that was 70
witness his great effort and dressed
slowly. IL was n splendid morning.
The spirit OF the spring seemed em-
bodied in the air. in the pale blue sky.
in the shafts OF cool sunshine that
danced from the mirror 60 the dressing
table. from the dressing table 90 the
pictures on the walls OF Chucote's vast
room. Inconsequently with it's dancing
rose memory of the distant pasta
memory OF long forgotten days when.
as q child. he had been hidden to watch
the same sun perform the same fan
tastic evoiutions. The sight and the
thought stirred him curiously with an
unlocked for sense Of youth. lie drew
himself together with an added touch
Of decision as he passed out into the
corridor. and as he walked downstairs
he whistled "a bar or two OF an luspirit-
ing tune.
I'm the morning room Eve was al
ready waiting She looked up. colored
and smiled as DE entered. Her face
looked very fresh and young. and she
wore gown OF the same pale blue
that she had worn on his first coming.
Size looked up from an open letter as
he came into the room. and the sun
that fell through the window caught
her in shaft OF light. intensifyng
her blue eyes her blue gown and the
bunch OF vioiets fastened in her belt.
To Loder. stan under the influence OF
early memories. she seemed the cm-
bOdimcut OF some youthful ldeal-some-
thing lost. sought for aud found again
Realization OF his feeling for her al
most came 90 him as hc stood there
looking at her 10 lowered about him.
IL tipped him. as 10 were. with It's
wings; then it rose again and scared
away. Men like him-men keen TO
grasp an opening where their careers
are con, "ruel and tenacious 90 hold it
when once graspcd-arc frequently the
last 90 look into their own hearts. He
glanced az Eve. he acknowledged the
stir OF his feeling, but he made no
attempt T. define its cause. He could
no more have given reason for his
sensations than he could have told
the precise date upon which. coming
downstairs at s o'clock. he had first
found her waiting breakfast for him
The time when all such incidents were
TO stand out each Go nicely m it's APP
pointed place. had not yet arrived. For
the moment his youth had returned 10
him; hc possessed the knowledge OF
work done. The sense Of present com
panionship iu world OF agreeable
things, above an the steady. quiet con-
viction a. his own capacity All these
things came 10 him in the moment OF
his entering the room, greeting I've
and passing % the breakfast table:
then, while his eyes stlu rested con
tentedly on the pleasant array Of china
and silver. while his senses were stu
alive 10 the fresh. earthly scent Of
Ewes viOlets. the blow SO long dreaded
so slow IN coming fell with accumu-
lated force.