Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-03-07

"Eue," he said, II 1Udnt your help"
Nobody feels it more than I do. No
body is more exorbitantly keen to have
a share, part, when the real fight
comes He stopped; then he turned
/ slowly and their eyes met. "If man
is to succeed in such desire" he went
on deliberately, 'he must exclude all
others. He must have one purpose,
one interest, one thought He must for
get that
Eve lifted her head quickly that
he has n wife, she finished gently. II
think l understand"
There was no annoyance in her face
or voice, no suggestion of selfshness
or of hurt vanity. she had read his
meaning with disconcerting clearncss
and responded with dsconcerting gen
crosby. A sudden and very human dis
satisfaction with his readjustment
scheme fell upon Loder. Opposition is
the whip to action; too ready acqui-
escence the slackened rcin
Did | say that" he asked quickly.
The tone was almost Chilcote's.
She glanced up; then a sudden in
comprehensive smile lighted up her
face
You didn't say. but you thought"
she answered gravely. Thoughts are
the same as words to woman. That's
why we are so unreasonable Again
she smiled. Some idea. battling and in
comprehensive to Loder, was stirring
in her mind.
Conscious Of the impression, he NOV
ed still nearer. You jump to conclu-
sions,' he said abruptly. What
meant to imply
was precisely what I've under
stood" Again she finished his SEN
tence. Then she laughed softly. How
very wise. but how very, very foolish
men are. You come to the conclusion
that because n woman isis Interested
in you she is going to hamper you in
some direction. and after infinite pains
you summon all your tact and you set
about saving the situation" There was
interest, even a touch Of amusement,
III her tone; her eyes We're still fixed
upon his in an indefnable glance. You
think you are being very diplomatic"
she went on quietly, but in reality
you are being very transparent. The
woman reads the whole of your mean
ing in your very first sentence-if she
hasn't known it before you began to
speak"
Again Loder made an interruption,
but again she checked him.
NO" she said still smiling. you
should never attempt such a task.
Shall l tell you why?'
lie stood silent, puzzled and inter
estcd.
Because" she said quickly. when a
woman really is interested, the mans
career ranks infinitely higher in her
eyes than any personal desire for
power"
For moment their eyes met, then
abruptly Lodcr looked away. She had
gagged his intentions Incorrectly. yet
with dsconcerting insight. Again the
suggestion of an unusual personality
below the serenity Of her manner re-
cured to his Imagination.
With an impulse altogether foreign
to him he lifted his head and again
met her glance. Then at last lie spoke,
: but only two words. Forgive me-" he
said, with simple, direct sincerity.
CHAPTER NXII.
"A FTER his interview with Eve,
n Loder retired to the study and
MN! spent the remaining hours of
the day and the whole span of
the evening in work. At l o'clock, still
feeling fresh in mind and body, he dis
missed Greening and passed into Chill
cotes bedroom. The interview with
Eve, though widely different from the
one he had anticipated, had left him
stimulated and alert. In the hours that
followed it there had been an added
!, anxiety to put his mind into harness,
an added qualification in finding ii
answer to the rein.
A pleasant sense OF retrospectlon
settled upon him as he slowly I'M
dressed, and a pleasant sense of inter
est touched him as. crossing to the
dressing table, he caught sight of Chill
cote's engagement book, taken with
other things from the suit he had
changed at dinner time and carefully
laid aside by Renwick,
He picked 1t up and slowly turned
the pages. 1t always held the sugges
J ton Of lottery, this dipping into an
; other mans engagements and drawing
: a prize or blank. 1t was a sensa
ttM that even custom had not duled.
= At first he turned the pages slowly
then by degrees his fingers quickened
: Beyond the fact that this present
} evening was free he knew nothing OF
t his promised movements. The abrupt
! ness of Chicote's arrival at Cllfford's
inn in the afternoon had left no time
, for superAuous questions. He skim
med the writing with a touch Of inter
. ested haste, then all at once he paused
, and smiled.
t big enough for a tombstone" he
said below his breath as his eyes rest
r ed on a, large blue cross. Then he