Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-03-20

Masquera
BY KATHERINE CECIL THURSTON,
Author 1.-THE Circle
copyrisht. 1904 by Harper & Brothers
y KATHERINE CECIL THURsTON,

Author Of 1.-The Circle

seemed incongruous beside the sober
books and the desk laden with papers
-incongruous as his own presence. In
the place The thought was unpleas-
ant and he turned aside as IL to avoid
1t, but at the movement his eyes fell
on Chilcotes cigarette box with its
cleaning monogram, and the whim-
steal suggestion Of his first morning
rose again. The idea that the mani
mate objects in the room knew him
for what he was, recognized the inter-
loper where human eyes saw the right
full possessor, returned to his mind.
Through all his disgust and chagrin a
smile forced itself to his lips, and,
crossing the room for the second time,
he passed into Chllcote's bedroom.
There the massive furniture and
somber atmosphere fitted better with
his mood than the energy and action
which the study always suggested.
Walking directly to the great bed, he
sat on it's side and for several minutes
stared straight in front Of him, appar-
emily seeing nothing; then at last the
apathy passed from him, as his pre-
vious anger against Chilcote had pass
ed. He stood up slowly, drawing his
long limbs together, and recrossed the
room, passing along the corridor and
through the door communicating with
the rest Of the house. Five minutes
later he was in the open air and walk
Ing steadily eastward, his hat drawn
forward and his overcoat buttoned up.
AS he traversed the streets he allow
ed himself no thought. Once, as he
waited in Trafalgar square to find a
passage between the vehicles, the re-
membrance of Chilcote's voice coming
out OF the fog on their first night made
itself prominent. but he rejected 1t
quickly. guarding himself from even
an involuntary glance at the place OF
their meeting. The Strand, with It's un-
ceasing life came to him as something
almost unfamiliar. Since his Identified
ton with the new life no business had
drawn him east Of Charlng Cross, and
his first sight OF the narrower stream
Of traffic struck him as garish and I'M
pleasant. AS the impression came he
accelerated his steps, moved by the
wish to make regret and retrospection
alike impossible by a contact with ac-
tual forces.
Still walking hastily, he entered Cliff
ford's inn, but there almost uncon-
sciously his feet halted. There was
something In the quiet immutability Of
the place that sobered energy. both
mental and physical; a sense OF
changelessness-the changelessness Of
inanimate things, that rises in such SOL
emn contrast to the variableness OF
mere human nature, which new en-
vironment, new outlook, sometimes
even new presence, has power to up.
heave and remold. He paused, then
with slower and steadier steps crossed
the little court and mounted the ia.
miliar stairs Of his own house.
AS he turned the handle Of his own
door some one stirred inside the sitting
room. Still under the influence Of the
stones and trees that he had just left,
he moved directly toward the sound
and, without waiting for permission,
entered the room. After the darkness
Of the passage it seemed we'll alight,
for, besides the lamp with its green
shade, a large fire burned in the CRATE
and helped to dispel the shadows.
AS he entered the room Chilcote rose
and came forward, his figure thrown
into strong relief by the double light.
He was dressed in shabby tweed
suit; his face looked pale and set with
slightly nervous tension. But, besides
the look and certain added restless
ness Of glance. there was no visible