Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1907-01-03
EouSe

The l1Dlt Ot sell GeGe.t is as iQSili- ous and tenacious as any vice. For one | moment on the night of his great | speech as lie leaned out of Chi!c1te's carriage and met Chi!cote's eyes I.odcr 1 had seen himself and under the shock of revelation had taken decisive action. But in tie hours subsequent to that action the plausible, inner voice had wh:SDefed uaceHsill2if. soothing his wounded self esteem, re'uiIdiug stone by stone the temple of his ogot!sln. un- til at last when Chilcote, panic stricken at his own action, had burst into his rooms ready to plead or to coerce he had found no need for ettiycr coercion or eutreaty. By a power more subtle and effective than any at !.:s ntaanl Losler had been prepared for his com ing -tlnconsciously ready with an ac- quie%cence before his appeal had been made. 1t was the fruit of this pre,tara- ton. the inevitable outcome of it. that strengthened his step and steadied his hand as he mounted the steps and opened the hall door of Chileote's house on that eventful afternoon.
 The dignity, the air of quiet solidity. impressed him as it never failed to do. as he crossed the large hail and ascend cd the stairs-the same stairs that he had passed down almost as an outC;st not so nlany hours before He was lill= ed with the sense Of things rcaained Belief in his oWn str 5a.sei hiln. as It had done hundred times before in these same surroundings
 He uuicienc1 his steps as the sensa- ton came t. him Then. reaching tho head of the stairs. ile turned directly toward EVr's Sittin" roe@ aud, gaining the door. knocked. Tha strength of lis, eaeerness, the et7iek 6eating of his pulse as lie Ne3itel f9r response, sur prisel him. He had told himself many times that his passion. however strong would never again coHG:;rr as it had done two riGll,@ ;!.o and the fact that he haa come tAes caas,ally to Eyes room WAS "a his mind q proof that temptation could 4e dared Nevcrtlle- less tiere was ~ot.etiJ!4c ltseoaceftine ta 2 strao~ nan iH t9.i> afs.''alY physical perturbation ana Hi.z.5z 12a's voice came 10 hi,. 4f.,s14a ,,as.-. .:sezan b on t~~ he r-tnerEf t'p:. =e.r '-z.t-'Vt=fo efea!y' htes"lf l!4=sa. wit. za5sr.= decision he z3raI2s,I g1s. d#@ a.. r.ai.:"d Into the rno5
 Thr bifnt,.s Wl.42 24art12 l@a~M. tl4"1n was a sceii, o! :oiee :1 .s a;' a.a 2 fire elowoCl warmly i.l l,.' &H2te He noted these thi}.1s "a"alj!!lY. telling himself that a man should always ha alertly sensible of his surroundings Then all at once the nice balancing of detail suddenly gave way. He forgot everything hut the one ecircumstancet that Eve was standing ill the window, her back to the light, her face toward him. With his pulses beating faster and an unsteady sensation in his brain. he nov ed forward, holding out his hand.
 "Eve'- he said below his breath.
 But Eve remained motionless. As he came into the room she had glanced at him-a glance of quick. searching ques tion. then with equal audiences she had averted her eyes. As he drew close to her now she remained immovable.
 "Eve''- he said again. Il wanted to see you--I wanted to explain about yes terday and about this morning." He paused, suddenly disturbed. The full remembrance of the scene in the brougham had surged up at sight of her-had risen fierce. unQuenchable recollection. Eve he began again In new. abrupt tone.
 And then it was that Eve showed herself in a fresh light. From his en- trance into the room she had stayed motionless, save for her first glance of acute inquiry, but now her demeanor changed. For almost the first time i'll Loders knowledge of her the vitality and force that he had vaguely appre- hended below her quiet, serene exte- rior sprang up like flame within whose radius things are illuminated. With a quick gesture, she turned to- ward him, her warm color deepening, her eyes suddenly alght.
 'I understand" she said-"I under stand. Don't try to explain. Can't you see that it's enough toto see you as you are"-
 Ioder was surprised. Remembering their last passionate scene and the damper Chilcote's subsequent presence must inevitably have cast upon it, he had expected to be doubtfully received. but the reality of the reception left him bewiidered. Eyes manner was not that of the ill used wife. It's vehe- mence, its note of desire and deprecia- tion, were more suggestive of his own ardent seizing of the present as distin' guished from past or future. With an odd sense of confusion he turned to her afresh.
 "Then am forgiven:' he said. And unconsciousIy as lie moved nearer he