Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-02-09
TdE MlSQJERaOERS.
CONTINUED FROM SECOND PAGE

eNasiNe DISLIKE underlying her glance.
IL was trivial thng but &c touched
his pride as man. That was how he
put 10 TO himself IL wasn't that be
valued this wOman's opiniOn-any wo-
mans opinion tx was merely that It
touched his pride. he turned again 20
the window and Eazcd ont. the engage
ment book stil between his hands
What u he compelled her respectg
What If 10y his own personality cloak
ed under Ch,lcotc's identity he forced
her 10 admit bis capabiHty? II was a
matter OF pride. after all-scarcely even
OF pride; self respect was a better
word
Satisfied by his own reasoning. he
turned back into the room.
"See 20 those letters. Grceniug." he
said. And for the rest OF the morn
ing's work you might 20 on with your
Khorasan notes. believe wen all
want every inch OF knowledge we can
get iu that quarter before were much
older In see you again later" With
a reassuring nod he crossed the room
and passed through the door.
lie lunchcd with Fraide at his club
and afterward walked with him 90
Westminster. The walk and lunch
were both memorable. I'm that hour he
learned many things that had been
sealed 90 him before. He tasted his
FIRST draft OF real elation. his first drop
or real discontinue. He saw for the
FIRST time how great man may con-
desccnd-hOw unostentatiously. how
fully. how delightfully."-. lie felt what
tact ana Kindness perfectly combined
may accomplish. and be burned in
wardly with a sense OF dupliyity that
crushed aud eloted him alternately
lie was John Lodcr. friendless. peunl-
less. with no present and no future. yet
he walked down Whitehall in the fun
light OF day with one OF the greatest
statesmen England has known.
Some strangers were being shown
over the terrace when nc and Fralde
reached the house. and. noticing the
open door the ola man paused
Il never refuse fresh air" be said
shall we take another breath OF Il
before settling DOWN." He took Lo-
dcr's arm and drew him forward. As
they passed through the doorway the
pressure OF his fingers frightened. 81
shall reckon today among my pleasant
est memories. Chilcote." he said grave
". Il can't explain the feeling. but I
seem 10 have touched Ewes husband.
the real YOU, more closely this morning
than ever did before. IL has been q
genuine happiness" lie looked up with
the eyes that through all his years OF
action and responsibility had remained
so bright
But Loder paled suddenly. and his
glance turned 20 the river-wlde. mys-
FERROUS. secret Uuconsciously Fralde
had stripped the illusion II was not
John LOder who walked here: Il was
Chilcote-Chilcote with his position. his
constltuency-hl wife. lie half extri-
Gated his arm. but Fraide held IT,
NO" he said. Don't draw away
from me. You have always been too
ready TO do that IL is not often have
a pleasant truth 20 tell. won't be de-
prlved OF the enjoyment"
"Can the truth ever be pleasant STRIP
InvOluntarily Loder echoed Chllcote.
Fraide looked up. lie was half a
head shorter than his companion,
though his dignity concealed the fact.
"Chllcote." he said seriously. give up
cynicisml IT is the trademark Of fail
ure. and do not like IL In my
friends"
Loder said nothing. The quiet in
sight OF the reproof, its mitigating
kindness. touched him sharply. In
that moment he saw the rails down
which he had sent his little car OF ex-
istence spinning. and the sight daunted
him. The track was sleeper. the gauge
narrower. than he had guessed; there
were curves and sidings upon which
he had not reckoned. He turned his
mead and met Fraide's glance.
Don't count too much on me. sir"
he said slowly. Il might disappomt
you again" His voice broke of on
the last word. for the sound OF other
voices and of laughter came to them
across the terrace as a group OF two
women and three men passed through
the open door. At a glance he realized
that the slighter of the two women
was Eve.
Seeing them. she disengaged herself
from her party and came quickly for
ward He saw her cheeks flush and
her eyes brighten pleasantly as they
rested on his companion. but he noticed
also that after her first cursory glance
she avoided his own direction
AS she came toward them Fraide
drew away his hand in readiness to
greet her.
Here comes my godehildP' ne said.
'I often wish. Chilcote. that ! could
do away with the prefix" He added
the last words in an undertone as he
reached them. then he responded
warmly 10 her smile.
-Whatr' be said. Turning the ter
race into the garden OF Eden In Jan
uaryl We cannot allow this"
Eve laughed. Blame Lady Sarah"
she said. I'VE met at lunch, and she
carried me of. Needless to say
hadn't 10 ask where"
They both laughed. and Loder Joined,
a little uncertainty. lie had yet to
learn that the devotion OF Fraide and
his wife was a long standing Jest In