The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-03-22
CHAPTER XVII.

he sat by Ewes Sue anu dsaih A0i' 80
forward movement of the horses, ne
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
" compared one incident In his life to
a sketch in which the lights and shad-
/ ows have been obliterated and lost.
Now that picture rose before him,
startlingly and incredibly intact. he
saw the sunlit houses of Santasalare,
backgrounded by the sunlit 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 eve and the hand of the artist had
changed.
At this point Eve broke in upon his
/ thoughts. Her first words were curl
ously coincidental
what did you think of Lillian AS
trupp tonight" she asked wasn't
her gown perfectY'
Loder lifted his head with an almost
guilty start. Then he answered straight
from his thoughts.
81 didn't notice it," he said. but
her eyes reminded me of a cats eyes
and she walks like a cat. never
seemed to see it-until tonight.
Eve changed her position. "she was
gerry artistic" she said tentatively.
Don't you think the gold gown was
beautiful with her pale colored hairF
! Loder felt surprised. He was CON
WINGED that Eve disliked the other,
and he was not sufficiently vefsed IN
women to understand her praise.
thought he began. Then he wisely
stonned. Il didn't see the gown, he
substituted.
Eve looked out of the window. How
unappreciative men are! she said. But
her tome was strangely free from cen
sure.
After this there was silence until
Grosvenor square was reached. HAY
ing left the carriage and passed into
the house. Eve paused for a moment
at the foot of the stairs to give an OF
der to Crapham, who was still IN at
tendance in the hall, and again Loder
had an opportunity of studying her'
AS he looked sharp comparison rose
to his mind.
| "A fairy princessw he had heard the
red haired man say as Lillian Astrupp
came into view along the BramTells
corridor, and the smile had seemed
particularly apt. With her grace, her
delicacy, her subtle attraction, she
might we'll be the outcome OF imagi-
nation. But with Eve 1t was different.
She also was graceful and attractive
but it was grace and attraction or a
different order. One was beautiful
with the beauty of the white rose
that springs from the dollhouse ana
witbers at the first touch Of cold; the
other with the beauty Of the wild rose
Oh the cliffs above the sea, that keeps
its petals fine and transparent in race
Of salt spray and wet nit. Eve, too
had her realm, but it was the realm
Of real things. A great confidence, a
feeling that here one might rely even
n all other faiths were shaken, touched
him suddenly For moment he STOOD
irresolute, watching her mount TIC
stairs with her easy, assured step
Then a 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
i've reached her side. The hard outline
of his features and the hard grayness
Of his eyes were softened as when ne
had paused to talk with Lakeiey. Action
was the brea tn Of his life. and his face
changed under 1t as another's might
change under the influence Of stirring
music or good wine.
Eve saw the look and again the un-
easy expression OF surprise crossed her
eyes. She paused, her hand resting
on the banlster.
Loder look ed at her directly. "Will
YOU come into the study as you came
that other niyht2 There's something |
want to say" He spoke quietly BE
felt master Of himself and her.
She hesitated, glanced at him and
then glanced away.
"Wlll you Gomez? he said again
And as he said 1t his eyes rested OF
the sweep Of her thick eyelashes, the
curve Of the back hair.
At last her lashes lifted and the per
plexitv and doubt in her blue eTH
stirred him. without waiting for hei
answer. he lrrncd forward.
"Say yes" he urged. Il don't Otter
ask for favorS."
Still she hesitated. Then her deci
sion was made for her. With new
holiness he touched her arm, drawini
her forward gently but decisively to
ward Chilcote's rooms.
In the study a fire burned brightly
the desk was laden with papers, thu
lights were nicely adjusted, even tbs
chairs were in their accustomed placer
Loder's sense responded to each sug
restion. II seemed but day since NJ
had seen It last. It was precisely a.