The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1907-03-14
CHAPTER XXI.

had parted with Lillian-but
MI at o'clock in the afternoon
~ Loder, dressed in Chilcote's
clothes and with Chilcote's heavy
overcoat slung over his arm, walked
He walked steadily, neither slowly nor
yet fast. The elation of his last jour-
ney over the same ground was temper
ed by feelings he could not satisfac-
torily bracket even to himself. There
was less Of vehement elation and more
of matured determination in his gait
and bearing than there had been on
which they were the outcome were
very complex.
On reaching Chilcote's house he
passed upstairs, but, still following the
routine Of his previous return, he did
not halt at Chilcote's door, but moved
onward toward Ewes sitting room and
there paused.
In that pause his numberless irreg-
ular thoughts fused into one.
He had the same underlined sense Of
standing upon sacred ground that had
touched him on the previous occasion,
but the outcome Of the sensation was
different. This time he raised his
hand almost Immediately and tapped
on the door.
He waited, but no voice responded
to his knock. With a sense of disap-
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 it's seal, en-
forces it's feeting claim to separate in
dividuality. This thought, with it's
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 a first impression
1t struck him as unlike any anticipa-
ton of a Woman's sanctum. The walls
paneled in dark wood, the richly
bound books, the beautifully designed
bronze ornaments, even the flowers,
deep crimson and violet blue in tone, had
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 mantelpiece.
He 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 a peculiar attraction. AS
she glanced up at him, her face alight
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 step toward her. "Look
at me- he said quietly and involun-
tarily. In the sharp desire to estab-
fish 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 I knew directly 1 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 a 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 bolder relief? A man
strong in his own strength does not
turn his back upon temptation. He
faces and quells 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-