The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1907-03-01
THE ~>EAIrc
Masquer%&.' %&''
copyriaht. 1904. by H.-,
CECIL TH11ps
Author OF ..The cir.,. .. "a.

vo,, Ahieht ulS1p1bO
you again." His voice broke ofp
tne last word, for the sound ne ~,
voices and Of laughter came 70 49,
across the terrace as n pronn y, -.
women and three men passed thr,,,,
the open door. At a rlanco ho raoI,.
that the slighter of the two womo
was Eve. willie
seeing them. she dIsengaced berso
rom her party and came quickly fo,
""fu. LIE saw her cheeks f,ush IN
eyes brighten pleasantly as tbe
s'eu on his companion, but he notice.
so 'hat atter her first eursovy eJonc
S'e avoided his own direction.
sic came toward them Fra;d,
ure" away his hand in readiness =,
greet her. y
., here comes my godchildw he said
otten wish. Chilcote. that I could
uo away with the prefix" He added
the iast words in an undertone nc no
teached them, then he responded
warmly to her smile
What!" he said. "Turn,ng t,o g..
race into the garden of Eden in 1on
uary! We cannot allow this"
Eve laughed. "BIame I.ody or,,w
she SAID. I'VE met at lunch. and she
me OH. Needless to say
hadn't to ask where"
tney both laughed, and Loder ,o,na<,
nttie uncertainty. He had vet 70
learn tnat the devotion Of Fraide and
us wire was long standing lest in
eheir particular set.
AT the sound Of his tardy laugh Eve
turned to him. Il hope 1 didn't rob Won
"f all sleep last night" she said .I
eaught MIN In his den," she expIained
turning to Fraide. "and invaded II moSt
ILL Q" we talked
again Loder noticed how ouick,v oh.
looked from him to Fraide The knowI.
edge reused his self assertion.
i had an excellent night" no soid
10 look as If hadn't sIept?"
somewhat slowly and reluctantly
~ ~ looked Dack. NO" she said truth |
1uiiv and with faint surprise that to
1,ooer seemed the first genuine emotion
sue nau SHOWN regarding him. "No. 7
uont thlnk l ever saw you look so
wen. She was quite unconscious and
very charming as she made the admis.
Sf lfiurtf rtf dttlu dSttrtlucl Loder that her colorinp
were frightened and viviticd Uy lneh
setting Of somber river and somber
stone.
Fraide smiled at her affectionately,
then looked ut Loder. "Chilcote has
got a new lease Of nerves. Eve" he
said quietly. "And I-beleve-I have
got a new henchman. But l see my
wife beckoning to me. l must have
word with her before she fits away. !
May I be excusedY He made cour-
teous gesture of apology, then smiled |
at Eve.
She looked after him as he moved
away. II sometimes wonder what l
should do if anything were to happen
to the Fraides," she said, little visit
fully. Then almost at once she laugh
ed, as II 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 un-
accountably. "Will you always disbe-
lieye in me?" he asked.
Without answering she walked slow
ly across the deserted terrace and,
pausing by the parapet, laid her hand
on the StOne"OTh. SIlll SiichSSp BLU
looked out across the river.
Loder had followed closely. Again
her aloofness seemed 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 quiet tone.
To this truth he found no answer,
though the subducd incredulity rettled
him afrcsh.
Prompted to 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 he
spoke, and there seemed to him some
thing disconcerting In the clear. CANDID
blue of her eyes. With sudden dread
Of her next words, he moved forward
md laid his hand beside hers on the
parapet
Patience Is needed for every one," he
repeated quickly. Sometimes man
is like a bit Of wreckage. He drifts
till some force stronger than himself
gets in his way and stops him." he
looked again at her face. He scarcely
knew what he was saying He only
felt that he was man in an egregious
Iy false position. trying stupidity to JUS
tify himself Don't you believe ina,
flotsam can sometimes be washed
ashoreT" he asked.
High above them Big Ben chimed TIT
hour.
Eve raised her head. 1t almost seem
ed to him that he could see her answe
+ro,nt,ipo on her Inns Then the vOic