Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1907-02-14

And. with smile of farewell, he turn
ed, opened the door and passed into the
road.
The thrill of that one moment was
still warm as he reached Cadogan gar
dens and mounted the steps of No. 3d.
SO vitality warm that he paused for an
instant before pressing the electric
bell. Then at last, dominated by antici-
patton, he turned and raised his hand.
The action was abrupt, and it vas
only as his fingers pressed the bell that
a certain unexpectedness a certasE
want of suitability in tbe aspect C TIA
house, struck him. The door was white;
the handle and knocker were of mass
i've silver. The first seemed disap-
pointing index of Lakeley's private
taste, the second a ridiculous tempta-
ton to needy humanity. He looked
again at the number of the house, but
it stared back at him conyincingly.
Then the door opened.
SO keen was his sense of unfitness
that, still trying to fuse his impression
of Lakeley with the idea of silver door
fittings, he stepped into the hall with
out the usual preliminary question.
Suddenly realizing the necessity, he
turned to the servant, but the man fore
stalled him:
will you come into the white room,
sir? And may take your coat?"
The smooth certainty of the mans
manner surprised him. 1t held another
SAVIOR of disappointment, seeming as
little in keeping with the keen, bust
nesslike Lakeley as did the house. Still
struggling with his impression, be al
lowed himself to be relieved of his hat
and coat and in silence ushered up the
shallow staircase.
AS the last step was reached it came
to him again to mention his hosts
name, but simultaneously with the sug-
gestion the servant stepped forward
with a quick, silent movement and
threw open door.
"Mr. Chilcoter' he announced in a
subdued, discreet voice.
Loder's first impression was of a
room that seemed unusually luxurious,
soft and Swallowed. Then all impress
sion of inanimate things left him sud-
denly.
For the fraction Of a second he stood
in the doorway, while the room seemed
emptied of everything except figure
that rose slowly from couch before
the fire at sound of Chilcote's name.
Then, with calmness that to himself
seemed incredible, he moved forward
into the room.
He might, of course. have beaten
retreat and obviated many things, but
life is full of might have beens. and re-
treat never presents itself agreeably to
a strong man. His impulse was to face
the difficulty, and he acted on the i'm
pulse.
Lillian had risen slowly, and as he
neared her she held out her hand.
slack" she exclaimed softly, "how
sweet of you to remember
The voice and words came to him
with great distinctness, and as they
came one uncertainty passed forever
from his mind-the question as to
what relation she and Chilcote held to
each other With the realization came
the thought of Eve, and in the midst
of his own difficulty his face hardened.
Lillian ignored the coldness. Taking
his hand, she smiled. you're unusual
" punctual," she said. But your
hands are cold. Come closer to the
fire."
Loder was not sensible that his
hands were cold, but he suffered him
self to be drawn forward.
One end of the couch was in fire.
light, the other in shadow. By for
tunate arrangement of chance Lillian
selected the brighter end for herself
and offered the other to her guest.
With a quick sense Of respite he ac-
cepted it. At least he could sit secure
from detection while he temporized
with fate.
For a moment they sat silent, then
Lillian stirred. won't you smoker
she asked.
Everything in the room seemed soft
and enervating-the subdued glow of
luG LITE, Tic oAIlCl1 Vi A0SCS SAAeAI AAe--s7
about the air and, last Of all. Lillians
slow, soothing voice. With sense Of
oppression he stiffened his shoulders
and sat straighter in his place.
NO. he said, 81 don't think shall
smoke"
She moved nearer to him. Dear
Jack" she said pleadingly, don't say
you're in a bad mood. Don't say you
want to postpone again" She looked
up at him and laughed little in mock
CONSERVATION.
Louer was at a loss.
Another silence followed, while Lii
liam waited; then she frowned sudden
ly and rose from the couch. Like
many indolent people. she possessed a
touch of obstinacy, and now that her
triumph over Chilcote was obtained,
now that she had indicated her right
to command him, her original purpose
came uppermost again. Cold or inter
ested, Indifferent or attentive, she in
tended 10 make use of him.