The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-01-03

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run up and down the scale Of emotions
He had looked despair in the face till
/ the sudden sight Of Chilcote had lifted
him TO the skies; since then surprise
/ had assailed him in its strongest form;
he had known the full meaning OF the
word risk" and from every contin
gency he had come out conqueror. He
bent over the chair as 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 her-distrust, uncertainty
and a curious half dominant, half sup
pressed questioning that 1t was difficult
to define. Loder remembered her
shrinking coldness, her reluctant toler-
ance on the night Of his first coming
and his individuality, his certainty Of
power, kindled afresh. Never had he
been so vehemently himself; never had
Chilcote seemed so complete a shadow.
AS Eve seated herself he moved for
ward and leaned over the back of his
chair. The impulse that had filed him
in his interview with Renwick, that
had goaded him as he drove to the re
ception, was dominant again.
Il tried to say something as we drove
to the Bramfells' tonight" he began.
Like many men who possess eloquence
for an impersonal cause, he was
brusque, even blunt, in the stating of
his own case. May bark back, and
go on from where 1 broke OFF,"
Eve half turned. Her face was still
puzzled and questioning. "Of course"
She sat forward again, clasping her
hands.
He looked thoughtfully at 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 great many things
seemed possible?'
This time she did not look round
She kept her gaze upon the fire.
do you remember?" he persisted
quietly. In his college days men who
heard that tone of quiet persistence
had been wont to lose heart Eve
heard it now for the first time and,
without being aware, answered to it.
Yes, l remember" she said
ION that day you believed in me-"
In his earnestness he no longer simu-
lated Chilcote; he spoke with his own
steady reliance. He saw Eve stir,
Unclasp and clasp her hands, but be
| went steadily on. ION that day you
saw me in new light. You acknowl-
edged me-" He emphasized the slight
II peculiar word. But since that
day"-his voice quickened-"s 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. He crossed his arms over the
back Of her chair. "You were tusti-
fed" he said suddenly. I've not been
myself since that day" AS he said
the words his GOODNESS forsook him
slightly. He loathed the necessary lie
yet his egotism clamored for vindica-
ton. ''All men have their lapses." he
went on. There are times-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 little pale, the hand
that rested on the arm of her chair
trembling slightly
John" she said quickly, don't say
that word! Don't say that hideous
word nerves. l don't feel that l can
bear it tonight-not just tonight Can
you understand"
Loder stepped back. Without com
pretending, he felt suddenly and
strangely at loss. Something In her
face struck him silent and perplexed.
It seemed that without preparation he
had stepped upon dangerous ground
With an underlined apprehension. he
waited, looking at her
Il can't explain it," she went on with
nervous haste. I can't give any rea-
sons, but quite suddenly the-the farce
has grown unbearable. l used not to
! tuIAA-uS0O not even 10 CdEe-Uul SUI
denly things have changed-or 1 have
changed" She paused, confused and
distressed. Why should 1t be? Why
should things changer She asked the
question sharply. as If in appeal
against her own incredulity.
Locer turned aside. He was afraid
Of the triumph. volcanic and irrepres-
sible, that her admission reused
Why" she said again.
He turned slowly back You forget
: that I'm not a magician" he said
gently. II hardly know what you are
speaking Of
For moment she was silent, but IN
that moment her eyes spoke. Pain
distress. pride, all strove for expires
: sion; then at last her lips parted.
DO you say that In seriousnessf' r. she
asked.