Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-01-31

thls?' he said. "a battery Of servants
in the house and nobody to open the
hall doorl'
Allsopp looked embarrassed. Crap
ham is coming directly, sir. He only
left the hall to ask Jeffries"--
Chilcote turned. "Confound Crap.
ham, he exclaimed. eco and open
the door yourself"
Allsopp hesitatcd, his dignity strug.
Cling with his obedience. AS he walt
ed the bell sounded again.
ibid you hear me" Chilcote snid.
eyes, sir" Allsopp crossed the hall.
As the door was opened Chilcoie
passed his handkerchief from ono
hand TO the other in the tension Of
hope and fear, then as the sound of
his own name in the sbrill tones Of n
telegraph boy reached his ears he Let
the handkerchief drop to the ground.
Allsopp took the yellow envelope ans
carried It TO his master.
"a telegram. sir" he said. And the
boy wishes to know if there is an an
ewer." Picking up Chilcote's handker-
chief. he turned aside with elaborate
dignity.
Chilcote's bands were so unsteady
that he could scarcely insert his fin
ger under the flap of the envelope
Tearing off n corner he wrenched the
covering apart ana smoothed out the
himsy pink paper.
The message was very simple. con
sisting of but seven words:
Shall expect you at II tonight
LODER.
/ He read it two or three times. then|
| he looked up. NO answer" he sil|
mechanically. and to his own cars thel
relief in his voice sounded harsh and|
unnatural.
! Exactly "a the clocks chimed III
! Chilcotc mounted the stairs to Loder i
rooms. But this time there was more|
II haste than of uncertainty in his
! steps. and, reaching the landing, bel
crossed it in n couple of strides and|
Knocked feverishly on the door
| 1t opened at once, and Lo1er stood
| before him
! The occasion was peculiar. For al
moment neither spoke; each involun-|
| tarly looked at the other with newt
! eyes and under changed conditions
Each had assumed fresh standpoint
IN the others thought. The passing
establishment the half impersonal cu|
riosity that had previously tinged thei1
relationship, was cast aside, never ii
be reassumed. In each the other saw
himself--and something more.
As usual, Loder was the first to rel
cover himself
Il was expecting you" he said
won't you come in?'
The words were almost the same al
his word OF the night before, but hi
voice had different ring, Just as hi |
face when he drew back into til !
room had different expression -
suggestion Of decision and energy tina
had been lacking before. Chico,
caught the difference as he crosse
the threshold, and for a bare secon
flicker OF something like JEALOUSY
touched him, but the sensation wa
feeting.
81 have to thank you" he said. hold
Ing out his hand He was too we
bred to show by hint that he uuderj
stood the drop in the others principles
but Loder broke down the arttlce.
Lets be straight with each Other F
since everybody else has to be deceiN
ed" he said. taking the others HAND
You have nothing to thank me fol
and YOU know IT, It's Il touch of th I
old Adam. You tempted me. and
fell" He laughed, but below the lauG
ran note Of something like triumph .
the curious triumph of a man who Ia
known the tyranny Of strength an
suddenly appreciates the freedom Of
weakness.
You fully realize the thing you hay
proposed:" he added in diherel
tone ITS not too late TO retract eve
now"
Chilcote opened his lips, paused, the
laughed in imitation of his companion
but the laugh sounded forced.
My dear fellow lie said at last,
never retract.'
Never"
NO"
Then the bargains sealed
I.oder walked slowly across the roo
and, taking up his position by the ma
telpiece, looked at his companion. II
similarity between them as they face
each other seemed abnormal. defyHX
even the closest scrutiny. And yet.
mysterious is nature even in her lapse
they were subtly, ndetinably diGerer
Chilcote was Loder deprived of one c
sential; LOlcr. ChilcOte with that
sential bestowed. The difference
neither in feature. in colorng nor
height. but in that battling, illuSi
inner illumination that some call inl
: viduality and others soul.
Something of this idea, mlsted a
tangled by nervous IMAGINATION, eros
cd Chilcotc's mind in that moment
; scrutiny, but he shrank from II app
: hensivey.
II came to discuss details"
said quickly. crossing the space I'd
divided him from his host. "Shi
WEI Are you?'- He paused u
easily.
I'm entirely in your hands Lod
spoke with abrupt decision. Moving
the table. he indicated a chair Il
drew another forward for himself.
Both men sat down.