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

career RANKS INFINITELY higher in her
eyes than any personal desire 70,
power
For moment their eyes met: then
abruptly Loder looked away. She had
gagged his intentions Incorrectly, yet
with disconcerting insight. Again the
suggestion of an unusual personality
below the serenity Of her manner re-
CURED to his Imagination
With an impulse altogether foreign
to him he lifted his head and again
met her glance. Then at last he spoke.
but only two words. Forgive mev' he
said, with simple, direct sincerity.
| CHAPTER XXI.
| 4 FTER his interview with Eve.
| III Loder retired to the study and
|H\I spent the remaining hours of
- the day and the whole span of
| the evening in work. At 1 o'clock, still
feeling fresh in mind and body, he dis
missed Greening and passed into Chill
cote's bedroom. The interview with
Eve, though widely different from the
one he had anticipated, had left him
| stimulated and alert. In the hours that
followed it there had been an added
anxiety to put his mind into harness.
| an added qualification in finding it
| answer to the rein.
A pleasant sense Of retrospection
settled upon him as he slowly un-
dressed, and a pleasant sense of inter-
est touched him as, crossing to the
dressing table, he caught sight of Chill
cote's engagement book, taken with
other things from the suit he had
changed at dinner time and carefully
laid aside by Renwick.
He picked it up and slowly turned
the pages. 1t always held the sugges-
ton Of a lottery, this dipping into an
other mans engagements and drawing
a prize or blank. 1t was a sensa-
ton that even custom had not dulled.
At first he turned the pages slowly,
| then by degrees his fingers quickened.
Beyond the fact that this present
evening was free he knew nothing of
| his promised movements. The abrupt
! ness of Chilcote's arrival at Clifford's
inn In the afternoon had left no time
for superduous questions. He skim
med the writing with touch Of inter-
ested haste, then all at once he paused
and smiled.
"Big enough for a tombstone!" he
said below his breath as his eyes rest
ed on a large blue cross. Then he
smiled again and held the book to the
light.
"Dine 33 Cadogan gardens, 8 o'c.
Talk with L." he read, still speaking
softly to himself
He stood for moment bordering on
| the entry, then once more his glance
reverted to the cross.
"Evidently meant it to be SEEN" he
unused. "But why the deuce isn't he
more explicit?" AS he spoke look of
comprehension suddenly crossed his
face and the puzzled frown between
his eyebrows cleared away.
With feeling Of satisfaction he re-
melnbered Lakeley's frequent and
pressing suggestion that he should dine
with him at Cadogan gardens and dis
cuss the political outlook.
Lakeley must have written during
his absence, and Chilcote, having mark
ed the engagement, felt no further re-
sponsibility. The invitation could
scarcely have been verbal, as Chilcote,
he knew, had lain very low in the five
days of his return home.
SO he argued as he stood with the
book still open in his hands, the blue
cross staring imperatively from the
white paper. And from the argument
rose thoughts and suggestions that
seethed in his mind long after the lights
had been switched off, long after the
fire had died down, and he had been
left wrapped in darkness in the great
canopied bed.
And so it came about that he took
his second false step. Once during the
press of the next mornings work it
crossed his mind to verify his convic-
tons by glance at the directory, but
for once the strong wish that evolves
thought conquered his caution. His
work was absorbing; the need of veri-
fication seemed very small. He let the
suggestion pass.
At o'clock he dressed carefully. His
mind was full Of Lakeley and Of the
possibilities the night might hold; for
more than once before the weight of
the st. Georges Gazette, with Lakeley
at it's back, had turned the political
scales. To be marked by him as a
coming man was at any time a favora-
able portent; to be singled out by him
at the present juncture was momen-
tous. A thrill Of expectancy, almost
excitement, passed through him as he
surveyed his appearance preparatory
to leaving the house.
Passing downstairs, he moved at
once to the hall door; but almost as
his hand touched it he halted, attracted
by movement on the landing above
him. Turning, he saw Eve.
She was standing quite still, looking
down upon him as she had looked once
before. AS their eyes met she changed
her position hastily. ~.