Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-02-07
tho day and surely sufficient for

| filed tho day and surely sufficient for
the day.
That was his frame of mind as he
| opened his eyes on the following morn
ing and lay appreciative Of his com
| fort. of the surrounding space, even OF
the light that filtered through the cur
tain chinks, suggestive of n world re-
| created, With day all things seemed
| possible to healthy man. lie stretch
ed his arms luxuriously, dellghtng in
the glossy smoothness of the sheets.
| What was it Chlcote had saldI Bet
| ter live for n day than exist for life
time. That was true, and life had be-
! gun. At thirty-six he was to know it
for the first time.
lie smiled, but without irony. Man
is at his best at thirty-six, he unused.
| lie has retained his enthusiasms and
| shed his exuberanccs; lie has learned
/ what to pick up and what to pass by
| he no longer inagines that to drain
cup one must taste the dregs He
/ closed his eyes and stretched arnln
! not his arms only, but his whole body .
| The pleasure of his mental state in
/
sitting up in bed. he pressed the cleo
, tlic bell
Chilcote's new valet responded.
"Pull those curtains Eenwck." he
said. Whats the timer He had
passed the ordeal of Nenwlcks eyes
the night before
The man was slow even n little stu
pid. lie drew back the curtains care
fully, then looked at the small clock OF
the dressing table. EIGHT O'Clock. sir
didn't expect the bell 50 early, sir"
Loder felt reproved and a pause fol
lowed
May I bring your cup OF tea, sir?"
"No, not just yet. I'll have a bait
first"
Renwick showed ponderous uncer
tainty. Warm, sir?' he hazarded.
mo, cold"
Still perplexed, the man left tn
room.
Loder smiled TO himself. The chance
of discovery in that quarter were nc
large. He was inclined to think thu
Chilcote had even overstepped necess
ty in the matter Of his Wallets dullnea
He brcalifasted alone. following Chi
cote's habit. and after breakfast foun
his way to the study.
AS he entered Greening rose wit
the same concillatory haste that he he
shown the night before.
LoGer nodded to him. "Early
work." he said pleasantly.
The little man showed instant.
most ridiculous, relief. Good NOR
ing, sir" he said. you, too, are earl
| rather feared your nerves trouble
you after left last night. for 1 fouI
your letters still unopened this NOR
ing. But l am glad to see you look
we'll"
Loder promptly turned his back
the LIGHT. "Oh. last nights letters
he said "'ro tell you the truth. Gree
ing, my wife"-his hesitation was We
slight-"ny wife looked me up aft
you left. and we gossped. I clean fc
got the post" He smiled In an G
planatory way as he moved to Il
desk and picked up the letters.
With Greetings eyes upon him the
was no time for scruples, With We
creditable GOODNESS he began openi
the envelopes one by one The lette
were unlmportant, and he passed the
one after another to the secretary.
periencng a slight thrill of author
as each left his hand. Again the fa
mat power Is visible in little thin
came 10 his mind,
"Give me my engagement boo
Greenlne." he said when the lette
had been disposed Of.
The book that Greening handed h
was neat in shape and bound like CT
cotes cigarette case. in lizard skin.
As Loder took it the gold monOgra
u. c." winked ut him in the brig
morning light The incident moved
sense Of humor He and the book WI
co-operators IN the fraud, it seem
lie felt an inclination to wink ba
Nevertheless he opened it with pro
gravity and skinned the pages.
The page devoted to the day was
most full. On every other line W
jottngs in Chilcote's irregular ha
and twSe among the entries appea
prominent cross In blue pencili
Loders interest Quickened as his
caught the mark. 1t had 0een agrl
between them that only engageme
essential 10 ChilcUte's public life n
be carried through during his absel
,, and these to save his confusion W
to be crossed III blue pencil. The +
for the most part social claims. W
: to he left TO circumstance and Lod
inclination. Chilcote's erratic mem
always accounting for the breaking
trivial promises.
But Loder in his new energy
anxious for Obligations. The desire
fresh and greater tests grew with
diligence lie scanned the two Ii
with eageruess. The first was an
teryiew with Gresham, one of {
cotes supporters in Wurk; the other
engagement 10 lunch with Fraide
, the idea Of the former his into
quickeucd, but at thought of the Ia
) it Quailed mOmentarily. Had the Ell
been royal command 1t would h
; affected him infinitely less. Fol
-. space his assurance faltered. Then
coincidence the recollection of Eve
Ewes words OF last night came bac
him, and his mind was filled wit
new sensation.
AF & hn