Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-03-28
-THE-~~
Masquerader
By KATHERINE CECIL THURSTON,
Author OF 1.-THE Circle"
copyrisht. 1904. by &
Author of THE Circl

genCy he had come out conQuerOr. lie
bent over the chair as he pulled 1t for
ward to hide the expression IN his
eyes,
"Sit down." he said gently.
Eve moved toward him. She moved
slowly. as il half afraid Many emo
| tons stirred her--distrust, uncertainty
and curious half dominant, half sup
pressed questioning that 1t was difdcult
to define. Loder remembered her
shrinking GOODNESS, her reluctant toler-
ance on the night Of his first coming.
and his individuality, his certainty OF
power, kindled afresh. Never had be
been so vehemently himself; never had
Chilcote seemed so complete shadow.
| AS Eve seated herself he moved for
ward and leaned over the back Of his
chair. The impulse that had filled him
In his interview with Renwick, that
had goaded him as he drove to the re-
ception, was dominant again.
II tried to say something as we drove
to the Bramfells' tonight" he began.
Like many men who possess eloquence
for an impersonal cause, he was
brusque, even blunt, in the stating of
his own case. MAY bark back. and
| 60 ON from where broke off?"
Eve half turned. Her face was still
puzzled and questioning. "Of course"
She sat forward again, clasping her
1 hands
| He looked thoughtfully at the back
of her head, ut the slim outline Of her
shoulders. the glitter Of the diamonds
about her neck.
"Do you remember the day, three
| weeks ago, that we talked together in
| this room-the day a great many things
seemed possible?"
This time she did not look round.
She kept her gaze upon the fire.
'.Do you remember" he persisted
quietly. In his college days men who
heard that tone of quiet persistence
| had been wont to lose heart. Eve
heard it now for the first time and.
without being aware. answered to It.
"Yes, remember" she said.
ION that day you believed In me-
In his earnestness he no longer simu-
lated Chilcote; he spoke with his own
steady reliance. He saw Eve stir.
unclasp and clasp her hands. but he
| went steadily on. ION that day you
saw me in q new light. You acknowl-
edged me-" He emphasized the slight
| " peculiar word. "But since that
day"-his voice quickened-"since that
day your feelings have changed, your
faith in me has fallen away" He
watched her closely. but she made no
sign, save to lean still nearer to the
fire He crossed his arms over the
back Of her chair. you were justi-
fed" he said suddenly. 1--WE not been
!! myself since that day" As he said
the words his GOODNESS forsook him
slightly. He loathed the necessary lie,
yet his egotsm clamored for vindica-
ton. .All men have their lapses.' he
went on. "There are times-there are
days and weeks when I--when my
The word nerves touched his tongue,
hung upon it, then died away un-
spoken.
Very quietly, almost without a
sound, Eve had risen and turned to-
ward him. She was standing very
straight her face a little pale, the hand
that rested on the arm of her chair
trembling slightly.
John" she said quickly, don't say
that word! Don't say that hideous
word nerves. don't feel that can
bear it tonight-not just tonight. Can
you understand"
Loder stepped back Without COM
pretending, he felt suddenly and
strangely at loss. Something In her
face struck him silent and perplexed.
It seemed that without preparation he
had stepped upon dangerous ground.
With an underlined apprehension, he
waited, looking at her.
II can't explain 1t, she went on with
nervous haste, II can't give any rea-
sons, but quite suddenly the-the farce
has grown unbearable. L used not to
think-used not even to care but sud-
denly things have changed-or I have
changed" She paused, confused and
distressed. why should it be? Why
should things changer" She asked the
question sharply, as If In appeal
against her own incredulity
Loder turned aside. He was afraid
of the triumph, volcanic and irrepres-
sible, that her admission reused.
"Why?" she, said again.
He turned slowly back. you forget
that I'm not a magician" he said
gently. 81 hardly know what you are
speaking Of"
For moment she was silent, but in
that moment her eyes spoke. Pain,
distress, pride, all strove for express
sion; then at last her lips parted.
do you say that in seriousness?' she
asked.
1t was no moment for fencing, and
Loder knew 1t. I'm seriousness" he
replied shortly.
.Then l shall speak seriously too"
Her voice shook slightly and the color
came back into her face, but the hand
on the arm of the chair ceased to trem-
BILE. "For more than four years l
have known that you take drugs-for
more than four years have acquiesced
in your receptions, in your mean
nesses"-
There was an instant's silence. Then
lLoder stepped forward.
you knew-for four yearsY he said,
very slowly For the first time that