The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-01-07

pointment he knocked again; then,
pressing his determination still fur
Their. he turned the handle and entered
the room.
No private room is without mean
ing. whether trivial or the reverse. In
a room perhaps more even than in
speech, in look or in work does the
impress of the individual make itself
felt There on the wax of outer things
the inner self imprints its seal. en-
forces its feeting claim TO separate in
dividuality. This thought, with its
arresting interest, made Loder walk
slowly, almost seriously, halfway
across the room and then pause TO
study his surroundings.
The room was Of medium size-not
too large for comfort and not too small
for ample space. At first Impression
1t struck him as unlike any anticipa-
ton of woman's sanctum. The walls
paneled in dark wood, the richly
bound books, the beautifully designed
bronze ornaments, even the flowers,
an air Of somber harmony that was
scarcely feminine. With a strangely
pleasant impression he realized this,
and, following his habitual impulse,
moved slowly forward toward the fire
place and there paused, his elbow rest
ing on the mantelpece.
lie had scarcely settled comfortably
into his position, scarcely entered on
his second and more comprehensive
study Of the place, than the arrange
ment of his mind was altered by the
turning of the handle and the opening
Of the door
The newcomer was Eve herself. She
was dressed in outdoor clothes and
walked into the room quickly then, as
Loder had done, she, too, paused.
The gesture. SO natural and sponta-
neous, had peculiar attraction. AS
she glanced up at him, her face aliSht
with inquiry, she seemed extraordi
narily much the owner and designer
Of her surroundings. She was framed
by them as naturally and effectively
as her eyes and her face were framed
by her black hair For one moment
he forgot that his presence demanded
explanation; the next she had made
explanation needless. She had been
looking at him intently; now she came
forward slowly.
'John?" she said, half in appeal, half
in question.
He took a step toward her. Look
at me-" he said quietly and involun-
tarily. In the sharp desire to estab-
lish himself IN her regard he forgot
that her eyes had never left his face.
But the incongruity of the words did
not strike her. "Oh," she exclaimed,
IL believe | knew directly I saw
you here" The quick ring of life Vi
brating in her tone surprised him. But
he had other thoughts more urgent
than surprise.
In the five days of Punishment just
lived through the need for q readjust
ment of his position with regard to
her had come to him forcibly. The
memory of the night when weakness
and he had been at perilously close
quarters had returned to him persist
emily and uncomfortably, spelling the
remembrance Of his triumph. 1t had
been well enough to smother the
thought of that night in days of work.
But had the ignoring of it blotted out
! the weakness? Had it not rather
| thrown it into holder relief? A man
! strong in his own strength does not
turn his back upon temptation. He
/ faces and queIls it. In the solitary days
/ in Clifford's inn, in the solitary night
/ hours spent in tramping the city
streets, this had been the conviction
that had required again and again, this
the problem to which, after much con-
sideration, he had found a solution, sat
| isfactory at least to himself When
next Chilcote called him 1t was nota-
Bile that he had used the word when
and not eff" When next Chilcote called
him he would make a new departure He
would no longer avoid Eve. He would
successfully prove to himself that one
interest and one alone filed his mind
the pursuance of Chileote's political
career. SO does man satisfactorily con-
vince himself against himself. He had
this intention fully in mind as he came
/ forward now.
We'll" he said slowly, ''has it been
very hard to have faith these last five
days?" 1t was not precisely the tone
he had meant to adopt, but one must
begin.
Eve turned at his words. Her eyes
were trimming with life, her cheeks
still touched to a deep, soft color by
the keenness of the wintry air.
NO." she answered, with a shy, re
sponsive touch of confidence. Il seem
ed to keep on believing. You know