Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-03-02
CHAPTER XVII.

1 parture were speedily got
through. The passing OF the
IL corridors. the gaining OF the
carriage. seemed to Loder to be mar
velously simple proceedings. Then. as
he sat by Ewes side and again felt the
forward movement OF the horses. he
had leisure Tor the first time 10 won
I der whether the time that had passed
since last he occupied that position had
actually been lived through.
Only that night he had unconscious
~ compared one incident I'm his life TO
a sketch In which the lights and shad-
ows nave been obiterated and lost
Now that picture rose before him.
staruingly and incredibly intact lie
saw the suniit houses of Santasalare
backgrounded by the suulit hills-saw
/ them as plainly as when be himself
! had sketched them on his memory.
Every detail or the scene remained the
same. even 10 the central figure: only
the eye and the hand Of the artist had
changed.
At this point Eve broke in upon his
thoughts. Her first words were curl
ously coincidental
What did you think OF Lillian As
trupp tonightf" she asked. Wasn't
her gown pcrfccty'
Loder lifted his head with an almost
guilty start Then he answered straight
from his thoughts.
IL DIDN'T notice It," he said. "but
her eyes reminded me of eats eyes
and she walks Ike q cat / never
seemed 60 see it-uutl tonight"
I've changed her position. "She was
very artistic she said tentatively.
Don't you think the gold gown was
beautiful with her pale colored hairy'
Loder felt surprised. lie was con-
! vinced that Eve dlsliked the other.
and he was not sufficiently versed Ia
women 20 understand her praise. Il
/ thought he began. Then be wisely
| stopped. Il didn't see the gown" nc
4 substituted.
Eve looked out OF the window. How
uuapprcciauvc men arc.' she said. But
her tone was strangely free from cen
sure
After this there was silence until
| GrOsvenor square was reached. Hav-
| Ing LEFT the carriage ana passed into
the house. Eve paused for a moment
at the foot OF the stairs TO give an or
| der 10 Crapham. who was stu In at
| tendance In the hail. and again Loder
had an opportunity OF studying her.
/ AS be looked a sharp comparison rose
I to his mind.
a fairy princessr' he had heard the
/ red haired man say as LILLIAN Astrupp
| came into view along the Bramfells'
| corridor. and the simlle had seemed
particularly apt With her grace. her
/ deacacy. her subtle attraction, she
might well be the outcome OF ina cl-
| nation. But with Eve Il was different
! She also was graceful and attractive.
/ but 10 was grace and attraction OF
/ different order One was beautiful
with the beauty OF the white rose
/ that springs from the dollhouse and
( withers at the first touch Of cold: the
/ other with the beauty Of the wild rose
on the cliffs above the sea. that keeps
I its petals fine and transparent in face
OF salt spray and wet mist Eve. too.
had her realm. but IL was the realm
, OF real things. 4 great confidence. a
/ feeling that here one might rely even
/ II all other faiths were shaken. touched
him suddenly. For a moment he stood
irresOlute. watching her mount the
stairs with her easy. assured step
d Then a determination came 10 him.
Fate favored him tonight: he was in
luck tonight. lie would put his for
tune 10 one more test He swung
F across the hall and ran UP the stairs.
His face was keen with interest as
he reached her side The hard outline
OF his features and the hard grayness
OF his eyes were softened as when he
had paused to talk with Lakeley. Action
was the breath Of his life. and his face
changed under II as another's might
change under the influence OF stirring
music or good wine.
Eve saw the look and again the IN
easy expression OF surprise crosse her
eyes. She paused. her hand resting
on the banster.
Loder looked It her directly. "Wln
you come into the study as you came
that other night? There's something
want 20 say" lie spoke quietly. He
felt master Of himself and her.
She hesitated. glanced at him and
then glanced away
"Wln you Gomez" he said again.
And as he said IL his eyes rested on
the sweep OF her thick eyelashes the
curve, OF the back hair
At last her lashes lifted and the per-
plexity and doubt in her blue eyes
stirred him without waiting for her
answer. he leaned forward.
''Say yes" he urged. Il don't often
ask for favOrs."
Suii she hesitated. Then her decision
was made for her. With a new bold
ness he touched her arm. drawing her
forward gently but decisively toward
Chilcote's rooms.
In the study fire burned brightly,
the desk was laden with papers. the
lights were nicely adjusted. even the
chairs were in their accustomed places.
Loder's senses responded to each sug-
gestion. IL seemed but day since lie
had seen IL last. 1t was precisely as he
had left 1.-THE niche needing but the