Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-04-04


rtood-I have had you in my thoughts
You and no one else"
She raised her eyes to his face
DO you realize he began afresh.
DO you know what this-this thing
rrans?'
stu she remained silent.
at means that after tonight there
will be no such person In London as
John Loder. Tomorrow the man who
was known by that name will be found
in his rooms: his body will he removed.
and at the post mortem examination 1t
will be stated that he died of an over
dose Of morphia His charwoman vii.
identify him as solitary man who liv-
ed respectfully for years and then sud
denly went down hill with remarkable.
speed. 1t will be quite n common case.
Nothing of interest will be found In his
rooms. No relation win claim his body
After the usual time he will he given
the usual burial of his class, These de-
tails are horrible, but there are times
when we must look at the horrible side
of life. because life is incomplete with
out IT,
These things / speak of are the
things that will meet the casual eye,
but in our sight they will have very
different meaning.
Eve" he said. more vchcmcntly. "a
whole chapter in my life has been clos
cd tonight. and my first instinct Is to
, shut the book and throw il away. But
/ I'm thinking of you. Remember. I'm
thinking Of you. Whatever the trial,
whatever the difficulty. no harm shall
come to you. You have my word for
that
"1'll return with you now TO eros
vcnor square I'll remain there till a
reasonable excuse can bn given for
/ Chilcotc's going abroad | will avoid
/ Fraide ! will cut politics whatever
the cost. Then at the first reasonable
moment | will do what would do
/ now, tonight. if It were possible. III
/ go away, start afresh; do III another
country what have done in this"
! There was n long silence; then Eve
( turned to him. Tho apathy Of Il mo-
mcnt before had left hcr face. "In an
/ other country?" she repeated. in an
| other country
yes, q fresh career in g fresh couI-
/ try, something clean to offer you. I'm
/ not too old to do what other men have
done"
( lie paused, and for moment Eve
/ looked ahead at the cleaning chain of
! lamps Then very slowly she brought
/ her glance back again. ESQ., she aid
very slowly. "Iou are not too old. But
/ there are times when age and things
| like age-are not the real consideration.
1t seems to me thdt your own inclina-
ton. your own individual sense Of
right and wrong, has nothing to do
! with the present moment The ques-
ton IS whether you are justified in go
ing away"-she paused her eyes fixed
steadily upon his whether you are
free 10 so away and make new life,
whether it is ever justfiable to follow
phantom light when--when there's q
lantern waiting to he carried Her
breath caught She drew away from
him. frightened and claied by her own
words.
Loder turned to her sharply. Eve"
he exclaimed, then his tone changed
You don't know what you're saying
he added quickly You don't under
stand what you're saying" .;
Eve leaned forward again, Yes"
she said slowly. Il 10 understand"
Her voice was controlled, her manner
convinced. she was no longer the girl
conquered by strength greater than her
own. She was the woman Strenu0usly
demanding her right to individual hap
piness.
81 understand it all She repeated
II understand every point. 1t was not
chance that made you change your
identity, that made you care for me,
that brought about-his death | don t
believe it was chance. | believe it was
something much higher. You are not
meant to go away"
As Lodcr watched her the remem-
brance of his first days as Chilcote
rose again, the remembrance of how
he had been dimly Allied with the be
lief that below her self possession lay
a strength-a depth uncommon in wo-
man. AS he studied her now the in
stnctive belief hamCd mo conviction
Eve he said invo!untarily.
With Il quick gesture she raised her
head. NO" she exclaimed. no; don t
say anything. You are going to see
things as ! see them-you must do So
you have no choice. No real man ever
casts away the substance for the shad
ow." Her eyes shone-the color. the
glow, the vitality rushed back into her
face.
John" she said softly, Il love You,
and | need you. but there is something
with greater claim-a greater need
than mine. Don't you know what 1t
IsT
lie said nothing. Re made no ges-
ture.
at is the party-the country. You
may put love aside. but duty is differ
ent. You have pledged yourself You
are not meant to draw back
Loder's lips parted.
Don't" she said again. Don't say
anything. | know al that is in yoW
mind. But when we sift things right
through it isn't my love or our happi-
ness-thats really in the balance, 1t is
your future" Her voice thrilled. You
are going to be a great man, and n