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


corridors, the gaining of the
carriage, seemed to Loder to be mar
velously simple proceedings. Then, as
he sat by Ewes side and again felt the
forward movement of the horses, he
had leisure for the first time to won
der whether the time that had passed
since last he occupied that position had
actually been lived through.
Only that night he had unconscious
Iy compared one incident in his life to
q sketch in which the lights and shad-
ows have been <}l!terated and lost.
Now that picture rose before him,
stnrtlingly and incredibly intact. He
saw the sunllt houses of Santasalare,
backgrounded by the gunlit hills-saw
them as plainly as when he himself
had sketched them on his memory.
Every detail of the scene remained the
same, even to the central figure; only
the eye and the hand of the artist had
changed.
At this point Eve broke in upon his
thoughts. Her first words were curl
ousIy coincidental.
what did you think of Lillian AS
Irupp lOnlGnLE sue dSkc0 w uSH
her gown perfectY
Loder lifted his head with an almost
guilty start. Then he answered straight
from his thoughts
I'll didn't notice it, he said ''but
her eyes reminded me of q cats eyes
and she walks like a cat / never
seemed to see it-until tonight"
Eve changed her position. "She was
very artistic" she said tentatively.
Don't you think the gold gown was
beautiful with her pale colored hair?"
Loder felt surprised. He was con-
vinced that Eve disliked the other,
and he was not sufficiently versed in
women to understand her praise. Il
thought he began. Then he wisely
stopped 81 didn't see the gown he
substituted
Eve looked out of the window. How
unappreclative men arer' she said. But
her tone was strangely free from cen
sure.
After this there was silence until
Grosvenor square was reached. Lav-
ing left the carriage and passed into
the house. Eve paused for moment
at the foot of the stairs to give an or
der to Crapham, who was still il at
tendance III the hall, and again Loder
had an opportunity of studying her.
AS he looked a sharp comparison rose
to his mind.
~ fairy priucessw he had heard the
red haired man say as Lillian Astrupp
came into view along the Bramfells'
corridor, and the smile. had seemed
particularly apt With her grace, her
deHcacy, her subtle attraction, she
might well be the outcome Of imagi-
nation. But with Eve it was different
She also was graceful and attractive,
but 1t was grace and attraction Of a
different order. One was beautiful
with the beauty of the white rose
that springs from the dollhouse and
withers at the first touch of cold; the
other with the beauty of the wild rose
on the cliffs above the sea, that keeps
its petals fine and transparent In face
of salt spray and wet mist Eve, too,
had her realm, but it was the realm
OF real things. A great confidence. a
feeling that here one might rely even
If all other faiths were shaken, touched
him suddenly. For a moment he stood
irresoiute, watching her mount the
stairs with her easy. assured step.
Then q determination came TO him
Fate favored him tonight; he was in
luck tonight. He would put his for
tune to one more test He swung
across the hall and ran up the stairs
His face was keen with interest as
he reached her side The hard outline
of his features and the hard grayness
of his eyes were softened as when he
had paused to talk with Lakeley Action
was the breath of his life, and his face
change under the influence of stirring
music or good wine.
Eve saw the look and again the I'M
easy expression of surprise crossed her
eyes. She paused. her hand resting
on the banister.
Loder looked at her directly. "WiIl
you come into the study as you came
that other night? There's something
want to say" He spoke quietly. He
felt master Of himself and her
She hesitated, glanced at him and
then glanced away.
''Will you Gomez" he said again.
And as he said it his eyes rested on
the sweep OF her thick eyelashes, the
curve OF the back hair.
At last her lashes lifted and the per-
plexity and doubt in her blue eyes
stirred him Without waiting for her
answer, he leaned forward.
sscov vol -, no T1rDed esI don't offou
ask for favors."
Still she hesitated. Then her decision
was made for her. With q new bold
ness he touched her arm, drawing hel
forward gently but decisively toward
Chileote's rooms.
In the study a fire burned brightly
the desk was laden with papers, the
lights were nicely adjusted, even the
chairs were in their accustomed places