Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1907-03-21

ment Of his mind was altered by the
turning of the handle and the opening
of the door.
The newcomer was Eve herself. She
was dressed in outdoor clothes anG
walked into the Dol quickly; then, as
Loder had done, she, too, paused.
The gesture, so natural and sponta.
neous, had Il peculiar attraction. AS
she glanced up at him, her face aligh1
with inquiry. she seemed extraordi.
narily much the owner and designer
of her surroundings. She was framed
by them as naturally and effectively
Is her eyes and her face were framed
by her black hair. For one moment
he forgot that his presence demanded
explanation; the next she had made
explanation needless. She had been
looking at him %intently; now she came
forward slowly.
john she said, half in appeal. half
in question.
He took a step toward her. Look
at me-" he said quietly and involun-
tarily. In the sharp desire to estab-
lish himself in her regard he forgot
that her eyes had never left his face.
But the incongruity of the words did
not strike her. "Oh," she exclaimed,
IL believe 1 knew directly 1 saw
you here" The quick ring Of life vi
brating in her tone surprised him. But
ha ha1 nfhor THOUGHTS n,0ro ,,,ro,,
than surprise.
In the five days Of Punishment just
lived through the need for a readjust-
ment of his position with regard to
her had come to him forcibly. The
memory of the night when weakness
and he had been at perilously close
quarters had returned to him persist
emily and uncomfortably, spelling the
remembrance Of his triumph. 1t had
been we'll enough to smother the
thought of that night in days of work.
But had the ignoring Of it blotted out
the weakness? Had it not rather
thrown it into bolder relief? A man
strong in his WI strength does not
turn his back upon temptation. He
faces and quells it. In the solitary days
in Clifford's inn, in the solitary night
hours spent in tramping the city
streets, this had been the conviction
that had required again inc again. this
the problem to which, after much con
sideration, he had found q solution, sat
%isfactory at least to himself. When
1nnvt (hilopfn 0o11o1 him II uya nntn-
bic that he had used the word when
and not off" When next Chilcote called
him he would make a new departure. He
would no longer avoid Eve. He would
successfully prove to himself that one
interest and one alone filled his mind
the pursuance of Chilcote's political
career. SO does man satisfactorily con-
vince himself against himself. He had
this intention fully in mind as he came
forward now.
Well" he said slowly, has it been
very hard to have faith these last five
days. 1t was not precisely the tone
he had meant to adopt. but one must
begin.
Eve turned at his words. Her eyes
were trimming with life. her cheeks
still touched to a deep, soft color by
the keenness of the wintry air.
NO" she answered. with a SHY, re-
sponsive touch of confidence. Il seem
ed to keep on believing. You know
converts make the best deYotees." She
laughed With slight embarrassment
and glanced up at him. Something i'm
the blue of her eyes reminded him un-
eApectedly of spring skies-full of youth
and promise.
He moved abruptly and crossed the
room toward the window. Eve" he
said, without looking around. 81 want
your help"
He heard the faint rustling of hel
dress as she turned toward him. and
he knew that he had struck the right
chord. All true women respond to an
appeal for aid as steel answers to the
magnet. He could feel her expectancy
in the silence.
you know-we all know-that the
present moment is very vital. That it's
impossible to deny the crisis in the air