The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-01-21

the Tightening of a string already
strained to breaking point. yet neither
spoke, because neither had the courage
necessary for the words.
Once or twice as they traversed the
Strand, Loder made a movement as If
to break the silence, but nothing fol-
lowed 1t. He continued to lean for
ward with a certain logged stiffness,
his clasped hands resting on the doors
of the cab, his eyes staring straight
ahead Not once as they threaded their
way did he dare to glance at Eve,
though every movement, every stir of
her garments, was forced upon his
consciousness by his acutely awakened
senses
When at last they drew up before
the dark archway of Middle Temple
lane he descended hastily, and as he
mechanically turned to protect Ewes
dress from the wheel he looked at her
fully for the first time since their en-
terprise had been undertaken. AS he
looked he felt his heart sink. He had
expected to see the marks of suffering
OA1 A4Cl IdSC, OuI lHC CAPA CSolOA1 AZ % y"
suggested something more than mere
mental pain.
All the rich color that usually deep
ened and softened the charm of her
beauty had been erased as If by d
long illness, and against the new pal
lor of her skin her blue eyes, her
black hair and eyebrows seemed
startlingly dark. A chill colder than
remorse, a chill that bordered upon
actual fear, touched Loder in that
moment. With the first impulsive
gesture he had allowed himself, he
touched her arm.
Eve he began unsteadily. Then
the word died off his lips
Without a sound, almost without q
movement, she returned his glance, and
something in her eyes checked what he
might have said. In that one express
I've look he understood all she had de-
sired, all she had renounced-the full
extent of the ordeal she had consented
to and the motive that had compelled
her consent. He drew back with the
heavy sense that repentance and pity
were equally futile equally out Of
place.
Still in silence, she stepped to the
pavement and stood aside while Loder
dismissed the cab. To both there was
something symbolic, something prophet
ic, in the dismissal. Without intention
and almost unconsciously they drew
closer together as the horse turned, its
hoofs Gathering on the roadway, its
harness jingling, and, still without real
ization, they looked after the vehicle as
1t moved away down the long, shadow
ed thoroughfare toward the lights and
the crowds that they had left. At last
involuntarily they turned toward each
other.
only across the road"
Fleet street Is generally very quiet
once midnight is passed, and Eve had
no need of guidance or protection as
they crossed the pavement, shining like
ice in the lamplight They crossed II
slowly, walking apart, for the dread Of
physical contact that had possessed
them In the cab seemed to have fallen
on them again.
Inquisitiveness has little place in the
region of the city, and they gained the
opposite footpath unnoticed by the cas-
ual passerby Then, still holding apart
they reached and entered Clifford's inn
Inside the entrance they paused, anG
Eve shivered involuntar!ly. "Hov
gray It is" she said family. And how
cold, Like a graveyard"
Lo6er turned to her. For one no
| ment control seemed shaken. His blooi
surged, his vision clouded. The sens,
that life and love were still within hi:
reach filled him overwhelmingly He
] turned toward Eve; he half extended
! his hands. Then, stirred by what i'm
| pulse, moved by what instinct, 1t wa
| impossible to say, he let them drop Il
his-sides again.
Come" he said. Come! This is tn
way. Keep close to me. Put you
hand on my arm"
He spoke quietly, but his eyes wer
resolutely averted from her face a
they crossed the dim, silent court.
Entering the gloomy doorway tina
led to his own rooms, he felt her fin
gers tremble on his arm, then tightel
! in their pressure as the bare passag
! and cherries stairs met her view, bu
he set his lips.
Gomez he repeated in the sam
strained voice Comet 1t isn't far
three or four fights"
With white face and a curious e1
preston in her eyes Eve moved fol
ward She had released Loder's arr
as they crossed the hall. and nov
reaching the stairs, she put out he
hand gropingly and caught the bani.
ter She had panied, numb sense c
submission, of suffering that had sun
to apathy. Moving forward without T,
sistance. she began to mount the stair
The ascent was made in silence. l.
!. der went first. his shoulders brace,
his head held erect Eve, mechanical
watchful Of all his movements, 70
lowed n step or two behind Wit