Gloucester County Democrat., 1907-01-24

before the house caused him to lift his
4 head, and at the same instant Eve ap-
peared at the head of the staircase.
She stood there for a second, looking
down on him, her maid a pace or two
behind holding her cloak The picture
she made struck upon his mind with
something of a revelation.
On his first sight of her she had ap-
pealed to him as strange blending Of
youth and self possession-a girl with a
woman's clearer perception Of life.
Later he had been drawn to study her
in other respects as a possible comrade
and friend. Now for the first time be
saw her as a power in her own world
woman to whom no man could deny
consideration She looked taller for
the distance between them, and the
distinction Of her carriage added to ths
effect. Her black gown was exquisite
" soft-as soft as her black hair.
Above her forehead was cluster of
splendid diamonds shaped like coro-
net, and a band of the same stones en-
! circled her neck. Loder realized in a
glance that only the most distinguished
| Of women could wear such ornaments
and not have her beauty eclipsed. With
| a touch of the old awlwardness that
had before assailed him in her pres
ence, he came slowly forward as she
/ descended the stairs.
"Can help you with your cloak? ?" he
asked, and as he asked it something
| like surprise at his own timidity cross
/ ed his mind
For a second Ewes glance rested on
| his face. Her expression was quite i'm
| passive, but as she lowered her lashes
/ faint gleam fiickered across her eyes.
/ Nevertheless, her answer, when IL
came, was studiously courteous.
"Thank you," she said, "but Marie
will do all l want"
Loder looked at her for moment,
then turned aside. He was not hurt by
| his rebuff. Rather, by an interesting
sequence of impressions, he was stirred
! by it, The pride that had refused Chill
| cote's help, and the self control that
had refused it graciously, moved him
! to admiration. He understood and ap-
preciated both by the light of personal
| experience.
"The carriage is waiting, sir,' Crap
| hams voice broke in.
Loder nodded, and Eve turned to her
maid. "That will do Marie, she said.
II shall want cup of chocolate when
get back, probably at o'clock" She
4 drew her cloak about her shoulders and
moved toward the door. Then she
| paused and looked back. Shall we
startY' she asked quietly
Loder, still watching her. came for
ward at once. Certainly" he said,
| with unusual gentleness.
He followed her as she crossed the
! footpath, but made no further offer of
help, and when the moment came ne
quietly took his place beside her in the
carriage. His last impression as the
horses wheeled round was of the open
hall door Crapham in his somber liy-
| cry and the maid in her black dress,
| both silhouetted against the dark back
| ground of the hall; then as the carriage
moved forward smoothly and rapidly
he leaned back in his seat and closed
| his eyes.
| During the first few moments Of the
| drive there was silence To Loder there
| was a strange, new sensation in this
companionship, so close and yet SO dis
| tant. He was so near to Eve that the
slight fragrant scent from her clothes
| might almost have belonged to his own.
The impression was confusing, yet
vaguely delightful. 1t was years since
own class, his own caste. He acknowl-
| edged the thought with curious sense
| of pleasure Involuntarily he turned
and looked at her.
She was sitting very straight, her fine
| profile cut clear against the carriage
| window, her diamonds quivering in the
| light that flashed by them from the
| street. For space the sense of unreal
| ity that had pervaded his first entrance
| into Chilcote's life touched him again;
| then another and more potent feeling
rose to quell it. Almost involuntarily
| as he looked at her his lips parted.
s'May / say something's" he asked.
| Eve remained motionless She did
| not turn her head, as most women
would have DONE "Say anything you
! like" she said gravely.
.Anything?" He bent little nearer.
filed again by the inordinate wish to
| dominate.
.'Of course
1t seemed to him that her voice
sounded forced and a little tired. For
a moment he looked through the win
dow at the passing lights; then slowly
| his gaze returned to her face.
ssYou look very beautiful tonight y he
said. His voice was low and his man
ner Unconditional but his words had the
effect he desired.
! She turned her head, and her eyes
met his in a glance of curiosity and
surprise.
Slight as the triumph was, it thrilled