The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1907-02-15


many vexed problems, Beside the pa
pers were heap Of letters neatly ar
ranged and as yet unopened. He turn
ed them over one by one. They were
all thick and interesting to look Mt.
BE smiled as he recalled his own
scanty mail-envelopes long and bulky
or narrow and thin, unwelcome manu-
scripts or very welcome checks. Hav-
Ing sorted the letters. he hesltated. 1t
was his life task to open them. but he
had never In his life opened an envel.
ope addressed to another man. -
He stood uncertain. weighing them
In his hand. Then all at once look
OF attention and surprise crossed his
face. and he raised his head. Some
one had unmistakably paused outside
the door which Greening had left ajar.
There was a moment Of apparent
doubt, then a stir Of skirts, a quick,
uncertain knock, and the intruder en-
tered.
For a couple Of seconds she stood In
the doorway; then as Loder made no
effort to speak she moved into the
room. She had apparently but Just re-
turned from some entertainment, for,
though she had drawn of her long
gloves, she was still wearing an even
Ing cloak Of lace and fur.
That she was Chilcote's wife Loder
instinctively realized the moment she
entered the room. But a disconcerting
confusion Of Ideas was all that fol-
lowed the knowledge. He stood by the
desk. silent and awkward trying to fit,
fn ~ y
Then, faced by the hopelessness of the
task. he turned abruptly and lookedsat
her again.
She had taken Off her cloak and was
standing by the fire. The compulsion
OF moving through life alone had set
Its seal upon her In certain self pos.
session. certain confidence Of pose
yet her figure as Loder then saw it.
backgrounded by the dark books and
gowned In pale blue. had n suggestion
Of youthfulness that seemed contra
dlction. The remembrance of Chill
cote's epithets cold and "unsympa-
thetic" came back to him with some
thing like astonishment He felt no
uncertainty. no dread of discovery and
humiliation In her presence as he had
felt In the maids, yet there was some
thing in her face that made him inf
nitely more uncomfortable, a look he
could find no name for, friendliness
that studiously covered another feel
ing. whether question, distrust or ac-
tual dislike he could not say. With q
strange sensation Of awkwardness he
sorted Chilcotes letters, waiting for
her to speak.
AS If divining his thought she turn
ed toward him. "Pm afraid l rather
intrude," she said. IF you are busy
His sense Of courtesy was touched.
He had begun life with a high opinion
of women, and the words shook up an
echo Of the old sentiment
Don't think that" he said hastily.
Il was only looking through-my let
ters. You mustn't rate yourself below
letters" He was conscious that his
tone was hurried, that his words were
little Jagged. hut Eve did not appoar
to notice. Unlike Greening, she took
the new manner without surprise. She
had known Chilcote for six years.
II dined with the Fraides tonight"
she said. "ir. Fraide sent you a mes
sage"
Unconsclously Loder smiled There
was humor In the thought Of a mes
sage to him from the great Fraide. To
hide his amusement he wheeled one Of
the big lounge chairs forward.
Indeed" he said Wont you sit
DOWN.
They were near together now, and
he saw her face more fully. Again he
was taken aback. Chilcote had spoken
Of her as successful and intelligent,
but never as beautiful. Yet her beauty
was a rare and uncommon fact Her
hair was black-not glossy black. but
the dusky black that is softer than any
brown-her eyes were large and of a
peculiarly pure blue, and her eyelashes
were black, beautifully curved and Of
remarkable thickness
Wont you sit down." he said again,
cutting short his thoughts with some
confusion.
Thank you" She gravely accepted
the protfered chair. But he saw that
without any ostentation she drew her
skirts aside as she passed him. The
action displeased him unaccountably.
"Well,' he said shortly, what had
Fraide to say?" He walked to the
mantelpiece with his customary move
ment and stood watching her. The in
stinct toward hiding his face had left
him. Her instant and uninterested ac-
ceptance of him almost nettled him.
His own half contemptuous impression
OF Chilcote came to him unpleasantly
and with 1t the first desire to assert his
own individuality. Stung by the con-
ficting emotions. he felt In Chilcote's
pockets for something to smoke.
Eve saw and interpreted the action.
Are these your cigarettes?' She lean
ed toward small table and took I'D q