Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-04-16
CHAPTER xxxI1.
awhile there was silence
\ then I.oder, bitterly aware that
he had conquered, polgnantly

l~1OR awhile there was silence
then Loder, bitterly aware that
he had conquered, poignantly
conscious of the appeal that
| Ewes attitude made. found further en-.
durance impossible. Gently freeing his
hand, he moved away from her to the
fireplace, taking up the position that
| she had first occupied.
eve" he said slowly. II haven't
finished yet. haven't said everything.
I'm going to tax your courage further.
With a touch Of panied alarm, Eve
lifted her head. Further" she said.
| Loder shrank from the expression on
her face. "Yes," he said with difficulty,
there's still another point to be faced.
The matter doesn't end with my going
back. To have the situation fully saved
| Chilcote must return-Chilcote must be
brought to realize his responsibilities.
Ewes lips parted in dumb dismay.
ut must be DONE" he went on hur-
riedly, "and we have got to do it--you
and l." He turned and looked at her.
81? could do nothing. What could
] do?" Her voice failed.
Everything" he said. You could 90
everything. He is morally weak, but
he has one sensitive point--the fear OF
a public exposure. Once make it plain
| to him that you know his secret and
you can compel him to whatever course
OF action you select. 1t was to ask you
to do this-,to beg you to do this that
l came to you tonight. know that it's
demanding more than woman's reso.
lution-more than woman's strength.
But you are like no woman in the
world!
Eve" he cried. with sudden vehe.
mence, cant you see that it's impera,
| tive--the one thing to save US bothy'
He stopped abruptly as he had be-
gun, and painful silence filled the
room. Then. as before, Eve moved In
sinctively toward him, but this time
her steps were slow and uncertain.
Nearing his side, she put out her hand
as II for comfort and support and, feel
ing his fingers tighten round 1t, stood
for moment resting in the contact
81 understand" she said at last very
slowly. II understand. When will you
take me to himi'
For moment Loder said nothing,
not daring to trust his voice. Then he
answered low and abruptly. Now"
he said. Now, at once! Now, this
moment il may. And-and remem.
Der that l know what it costs you"
As if imbued with fear that his cour
age might fail him, he suddenly re-
leased her hand, and crossing the room,
to where long, dark cloak lay as she
had thrown it on her return home, he
picked it up, walked to her side and
silently wrapped it about her. Then,
still acting automatically, he moved
to the door, opened it and stood aside
while she passed out into the corridor.
In complete silence they descended
the stairs and passed to the hall door.
There Crapham, who had returned ia
his duties since Ioder's entrance, came
quickly forward with an offer of serv
ice.
But Loder dismissed him CURLY, and,
with something OF the confusion bred
of Chilcote's regime, the man drew
back toward the staircase.
With a hasty movement Loder step
ped forward and opening the door
admitted breath OF chill air. Then
on the threshold he paused. 1t was his
first sign of hesitation-the one instant
In which nature rebelled against the
conscience so tardily awakened. He
stood motionless for a moment, and II
Is doubtful whether even Eve fully
fathomed the bitterness Of his renun
ciation-the blackness Of the night that
stretched before his eyes.
Behind him was everything; before
him nothing. The everything symbolic
ed by the luxurious house, the eagerly
attentive servants, the pleasant atmos
phere of responsibility; the nothing rep
resented by the broad public thorough
fare, the passing figures, each uncon
scious of and uninterested in his exist
ence. AS an interloper he had entered
this house; as an interloper-a mas
querader-he had played his part, lived
his hour, proved himself; as an inter
loper he was now passing back into the
dim world of unrealized hopes and I'M
achieved ambitions.
He stood rigidly quiet, his strong fig
ure silhouetted against the lighted hall,
his face cold and set; then, with a
touch of fatality, chance cut short his
struggle.
An empty hanson wheeled around
the corner of the square. The cabman,
seeing him, raised his whip in query,
a.,d in.r,I,,,, 70 ,;lr- hn ,,f,ddod IN aonlli.