The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1907-02-15

The door opened on n short, wide pes.
sage. On ono side stood tho study. ON
the other the bed, bath and dressing
rooms. With n blind sense Of knowl.
edge and unfamiliarity, bred Of much
description on Chilcote's part. he put
his hand on the study door and, still
exalted by the omen Of his first sue.
cess. turned the handle.
| inside the room there was freIipht
and lamplight and studious air Of
peace. The realization Of this and
slow incredulity at Chilcote's voluntary
renunciation were his first Impressions.
Then his attention was needed for more
Imminent things.
AS he entered the new secretary was
returning volume to Its place on the
book shelves. At sight Of him he push
ed 1t hastily into position and turned
| round.
Il was making few notes on the
political position Of lhorasan," he said
glancing with slight apprehensiveness
Mt the others face. He was q small.
shy man. with few social attachments,
but an extraordinary amount Of learn
lng-the antithesls Of the alert Bless
| ington, whom he had replaced.
Loder bore his scrutiny without
finching. Indeed. 1t struck him sud.
denly that there was fund Of inter
est, almost Of excitement in the en-.
| countering Of each new pair Of eyes.
At the thought he moved forward to
the desk.
THANK you. Greening" he said. "a
very useful bit Of work."
The secretary glanced up, slightly
puzzled. His endurance had been Sc
verely taxed In the fourteen days that
he had filed his new post.
I'm glad you think so, sir" he said,
| heSltatingly. You rather poohpoohed
the matter this morning. If you remem-
ber."
Loder was taking Off his coat, but
stopped In the operation.
This mornlng?' he said. ooh, did
l? Did II" Then struck by the op-
portunity the words gave him he turn
cd toward the secretary. you've got
to get used to me, Greening" he said.
You haven't quite grasped me yet, 1
can see. I'm a man Of moods, you
know. Up to the present you've seen
my slack side, my Jared side, but
have quite another when care to
show 1t. I'm sort of Jekyll and Hyde
affair" Again he laughed, and Green
Ing echoed the sound difldently. Chill
cote had evidently discouraged famil-
iarity.
Loder eyed him with abrupt under
standing. He recognized the loneli-
ness In the anxious, conciliatory man
ner.
You're tired" he said kindly. Go
to bed. I've got some thinking to do
Good night" He held out his hand
Greening took 1t, still half distrust-
full Of this fresh side to so complex a
man.
Good night, Sir" he said. "Tomor-
row, II you approve, shall go on with
my notes. I hope you will have a
restful night"
For a second Loder's eyebrows went
UP. but he recovered himself instantly.
"Ah, thanks, Greening." he said
Thanks. I think your hope will be
fulfilled"
He watched the little secretary move
softly and apologetically to the door,
then he walked to the fire and. rest
took his face In his hands.
For a space he stood absolutely
quiet then his hands dropped to his
sides, and he turned slowly round In
that short space he had balanced
things and found his bearings. The
slight nervousness shown in his
brusque sentences and overconfident
manner faded out, and he faced facts
steadily.
With the return Of his calmness he
took long survey of the room. His
glance frightened appreciatively as it
travelled from the walls lined with we'll
bound books to the lamps modulated to
the proper light; from the lamps to the
desk fitted with every requirement.
/ Nothing was lacking. All he had once
possessed, all he had since dreamed of,
was here, but on a greater scale. To
enjoy the luXuries Of life q man must
! go long without them. Loder had lived
severely-so severely that until three
weeks ago he had believed himself ex-
empt from the temptations Of hui
manity. Then the voice Of the world
had spoken. and within him another
voice had answered with a tone so
clamorous and inslstent that 1t had
outcried his surprised and incredulous
wonder ut its existence and it's claims.
That had been the voice Of suppressed
ambition. and now as he stood in the
new atmosphere newer voice lifted
Itself. The JOY Of material things rose
suddenly, overbalancing the last rem
nant OF the philosophy he had reared.
He saw all things in fresh light
the soft carpets. the soft lights. the
numberless pleasant unnecessary
things that color the passing land