The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1907-01-25

the head of the stairs.
Come here" he called, pleased to
find some one upon whom to vent his
Irritation. HAS that wire come for
meT"
"No, sir. inquired five minutes
back"
Inquire again.
YES. sir" AllsoDp disappeared.
A second later after his disappear
ance the bell of the hall door whizzed
loudly.
Chllcote started. All sudden sounds,
like all strong lights, af'ec.e, him. He
nalf moved II the door. then stopped
himself with IL short exclamation. At
the same instant Allsopp reappeared.
Chilcote turned on him exc.tedly.
what the DEVILS the meaning Of
this?" he said. "a battery of servants
IN the house and nobody to open the
hall doorr'
Alsopp looked embarrassed. Crap
nam Is coming directly. sir He only
left the hall to ask Jeffries"-
Chilcote turned. "Confound Crap
ham" he exclaimed. Go and open
the door yourself"
Allsopp hes!tated, his dignity strug.
Cling with his obedience. AS he wait
ed the bell sounded again.
Did you hear me?" Chilcote said.
Yes, sir" Allsopp crossed the hall.
AS the door was opened Chilcote
passed his handkerchief from one
hand to the other in the tension Of
hope and fear. then as the sound OF
his own name in the shrill tones of a
telegraph boy reached his ears he let
the handkerchief drop to the ground.
Allsopp took the yellow envelope and
carried it to his master.
"a telegram, SIR" he said. "And the
boy wishes to know If there Is an an
swer." Picking up Chilcote's handker-
Chief, he turned aside with elaborate
dignity.
Chilcote's hands were so unsteady
that he could scarcely insert his fin
ger under the flap Of the envelope.
rearing of corner, he wrenched the
covering apart and smoothed out the
fimsy pink paper.
ihe - message was very simple, con-
VI ou' ~>van words:
Shall expect you at IL ton,s,.>
LODE9.
He read it two or three times. then
b. looked up. "No answer" he said
mechanically, and to his own ears the
relief in his voice sounded harsh and
unnatural.
Exactly as the clocks chimed IL
Chilcote mounted the stairs to Loder's
rooms. But this time there was more
of haste than of uncertainty in his
steps. and. reaching the landing, he
crossed 1T in a couple Of strides and
knocked feverishly on the door.
1t opened at once, and Loder stood
before him.
The occasion was peculiar. For
moment neither spoke; each involun-
tarily looked at the other with new
eyes and under changed conditions.
Each had assumed a fresh standpoint
IN the others thought. The passing
establishment, the half impersonal Gu
rfosreJ ti,rrt hu,1 r'rvvrouDry trngru-tnec7
relationship, was cast aside, never to
be reassumed. In each the other saw
himself-and something more.
AS usual, Loder was the first to re-
cover himself
"I was expecting you," he said.
"Won't you come In?"
The words were almost the same as
his word Of the night before, but his
voice had different ring, just as his
face when he drew back into the
room had a different expression "a
suggestion Of decision and energy that
had been lacking before. Chilcote
caught the difference as he crossed
the threshold, and for a bare second
flicker Of something ike jealousy
touched him, but the sensation was
feeting.
II have to thank you," he said, hold
ing out his hand. He was too we'll
bred to show by hint that he under
stood the drop in the others principles.
but Loder broke down the artifice.
Lets be straight with each other,
since everybody else has to be deceiv-
ed" he said, taking the others hand.
"You have nothing to thank me for,
and you know 1t. It's touch of the
old Adam. You tempted me, and I
fell" He laughed, but below the laugh
ran & note Of something like triumph
the curious triumph Of man who has
known the tyranny Of strength and
suddenly appreciates the freedom Of a
weakness.