The Red Cloud chief., 1907-02-22

ll'NN Nv N'Nl' AiNh IL ti !" us 'N' |
forward gently but dccisivcly toward
Chilcote'S rooms.
In the study II fire burned brightly,
the desk was laden with papers, the
lights were nicely adjusted. even the
chairs were in their accustomed places.
LOdcr'S senses responded 10 each suG.
gcstion. 1t seemed but II day since he
had seen it last. 1t was precisely as he
had left 1.-THE niche needing but the
man.
To hide his emotion he crossed the
door quickly and drew a chair for
ward. In less than sin hours lie had
! run MP and down the scale Of emotions.
He had looked despair i'm the face till
the sudden sight of Chilcotc had lifted
him to The skies; since then surprise
had aSsailCd him in its strongest form;
he had known the fun meaning of the
word risk" and from every cOntin-
gcncy he had coinc Il conpucrOr. He
bent over the chair rs he pulled it for
ward to hide the expression in his
eyes.
"Sit down" he said gently.
Eve moved toward him. She moved
slowly, as if half afraid. Many emo
tons stirred hcr-distrust, uncertainty
and Il curious half dominant, half sup
pressed questioning that ii was difficult
to define. Lodcr remembered her
shrinking coldness, her reluctant tolcr-
ancc on the night Of his first coming,
and his Individuality. his certainty of
power, kindled afrcsh. Never had he
been so vchcmcntly himself: never had
Chilcotc seemed so complete Il shadow.
As Eve seated herself he moved for
ward and leaned owe the back of his
chair. The impulse that had filed him
in his interview with Itcnwick, that
had Soadcd him rs he drove to the re-
ccption, was dominant again.
Il tried to say something rs we drove
to the Bramfclls' tonight he began.
Like many men who possess cloquence
for an impersonal cause, he was
brusquc, even blunt, in the stating of
his own case. "Alay l bark back, and
go on from where / broke off,"
Eve half turned. Her face was still
puzzled ana questioning. "Of course"
She sat forward again, clasping her
hands.
He looked ~tloughtGully Mt the back
OF her head, at the slim outline of her
shoulders, the glitter of the diamonds
about her neck.
"Do YOU remember the day. three
weeks ago. that we talked together in
this room-the day a great many things
seemed possible!'
This time she did not look round.
She kept her gaze upon the fire.
DO you rcmcmbCri' he persisted
quietly. III his college days men who
heard that one OF quiet persistence
had been wont Il lose heart. Eve
heard 1t now for the first time and,
without being aware, answered to it.
Eyes. l remember" she said.
ION that day you believed in me-"
- his earnestncsS he no longer simu-
lated Chilcotc; he spoke with his own
steady reliance. He saw Eve stir,
unclasp and clasp her hands, but he
went steadily on. "On that day you
saw me in Il new light. You acknowl-
edged me-" lie emphasized the slight
ly peculiar word. But since that
day"-his voice quickened-"since that
day your feelings have changed, your
faith in me has fallen away" He
watched her closely, but she made no
sign, save to lean still nearer to the
fire. lie crossed his arms over the
back OF her chair. You were justl-
fed" he said suddenly. I've not been
myself since that day" AS he said
the words his GOODNESS forsook him
plinbtlt VIn Innthnl thn t,nsnSGnpy lin
yet his cgotism clamored for vindica-
. ton. "All men have their lapses," he
went IN. "There are t~lmes-there are
/. days and weeks when when my
) The word NERVES" touched his tongue,
, hung upon it, then died away un-
spoken.
Very quietly, almost without a
|. sound, Eve had risen and turned to-
|, ward him. She was standing very
straight, her face n little pale, the hand
that rested OF the arm of her chair
|, trembling slightly.
John she said quickly. don't say
/, that word! Don't say that hideous
word 'nerves! / don't feel that | can
! bear it tonight-not just tonight. Can
you understands"
Loder stepped back. without COM
l pretending, he felt suddenly and
, strangely at a loss. Something IN her
face struck him silent and perplexed.
: 1t seemed that without preparation he
5 had stepped upon dangerous ground.
r With an underlined apprehension, he
waited, looking at her.
! II can't explain it," she went on with