The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1907-01-03
ssat, and the cigarette was scarcely
burned out when he rose, paid his
small bill and left the shon.

Il
small bill and left the shop.
Outside on the pavement he halted.
| pulled out his watch and saw that two
hours stretched in front before any
appointment claimed his attention. He
wondered vaguely where he might 90
to-, what he might do, in those two
hours. In the last few minutes a dis
taste for solitude had risen in his
mind, giving the close street loneli-
ness that had escaped him before,
| AS he stood wavering a cab passed
slowly down the street. The sight Of
well dressed man reused the cab
man. Flicking his, whip, he passed
Chilcote close, feigning to pull up.
The cab suggested civilization. Chill
cote's mind veered suddenly, and he
raised his hand. The vehicle stopped.
and he climbed in.
"Where, sir?' The cabman peerei
down through the roof door.
Chilcote raised his head. ooh, any
where near Pail Mall,' he said. Then.
as the horse started forward, he put
up his hand and shook the trapdoor.
'Wait!' he called. 1--WE changed nv
mind. Drive to Cadogan gardens, No.
49,.
The distance to Cadogan Gardens
was covered quickly. Chilcote had
hardly realized that his destination
was reached when the cab pulled up.
Jumping out, he paid the fare and
walked quickly to the hall door of No.
33. ,@.....
us Lady Astrupp at home?' he ask
ed sharply as the door swung back in
answer to his knock. .,,
The servant drew back deferentially.
Her ladyship has almost finished
lunch, sir,'' he said. ..
For answer Chilcote stepped through
the doorway and walked halfway
across the hall.
"All right" he said. But don't dis
turb her on my account. I'll wait in
the white room till she has finished"
And, without taking further notice of
the servant, he began to mount the
stairs. =.. ,:.s
In the room where he had chosen to
wait a pleasant wood fire frightened
the dull January afternoon and sof-
tened the thick white curtains, the gilt
furniture and the venetian vases filled
with white roses. Moving straight
forward, Chilcote paused by the crate
and stretched his hands to the blaze:
then, with his usual instability, he
turned and passed to a couch that
stood yard or two away.
On the coach, tucked away between
novel and crystal gazing ball, was
white Persian kitten, fast asleep.
Chilcote picked up the ball and held it
between his eyes and the fire, then he
laughed superciliously, tossed it back
into it's place and caught the kittens
tall. The little animal stirred, stretch
ed itself and began to pur. At the
same moment the door of the room
opened.
Chilcote turned around. II particu-
larly said you were not to be disturb
ed,' he began. "Have I merited dis
pleasure?" He spoke fast, with the
uneasy tone that so often underran
his words. >.+ e.
Lady Astrupp took his hand with
con6ding gesture and smiled .'|'>.
"Never displeasure," she said linger-
lngly, and again she smiled. The smile
might have struck a close observer as
family artificial. But what man in
Chilcote's frame of mind has time to
be Observant where women are con
cerned? The manner of the smile was
very sweet and almost caressing, and
that suficed.
what have you been doing?" she
! asked after moment. II thought I
was quite forgotten" She moved
across to the couch, picked up the kit.
ten and kissed it. "Isn't this sweet?"
she added.
She looked very graceful as she turn
ed, holding the little animal up. She
was woman Of twenty-seven, but she
looked girl The outline of her face
was pure, the pale gold Of her hair
almost ethereal, and her tall, slight
figure still suggested the suppleness,
the possibility of future development,
that belong to youth. She wore lace
the room and with the delicacy of her
skin.
"Now sit down and rest or walk
about the room. I shan't mind which,"
She nestled into the couch and picked
; up the crystal ball.
"What is the toy for?' Chilcote
looked at her from the mantelpiece,
against which he was resting. He had
never defined the precise attraction
that Lillian Astrupp held for him.
Her shallowness soothed him; her in
| consequent egotism helped him to for
get himself. She never asked him
how he was, she never expected i'm
| possibilities. She let him come and go
and act as he pleased, never demand
ing reasons. Like the kitten, she was
| charming and graceful and easily
amused. It was possible that, also like
! the kitten, she could scratch and be
| spiteful on occasion, but that did not
weigh with him. He sometimes ex-
pressed q vague envy of the late Lord