The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-04-12


toned il yesterday driving through the
park. and with II his unnecessarily
curt reputation Of his former Opin-
ions. She reviewed each item. then
she raised her head slowly and looked
at Loder
He was prepared for the glance and
met it steadily. In the long moment
that her eyes searched his face it was
she and not be who changed color.
She was the first to speak. You were
the man whose hands | saw in the
tent" she said. She made the state
ment In her usual soft tones. but a
slight tremor of excitement underTan
her voice. POodles. Persian kittens,
even crystal gazing balls, seemed very
far away in face of this tangible. fabu-
loHS. present interest You are not
Jack Chilcote," she said very slowly.
You are wearing his clothes and
! speaking in his voice, but you are not
| Jack Chilcote" Her tone quickened
with a touch of excitement You
needn't keep silent and look at me"
| she said Il know quite well what
am saying, though l don't understand
II, though / have no real proof She
paused, momentarily disconnected by
her companions silent and steady
gaze, and in the pause curious and
unexpected thing occurred.
Loder laughed suddenly full, con.
hdent, reassured laugh. All the web
that the past half hour had spun about
hlm, all the lntolerable sense Of an i'm
pending crash, lifted suddenly. He
saw his way clearly. and it was Lillian
who had opened his eyes.
Still looking at her. he smiled-a
smile Of reliant determination, such as
Chilcote had never worn in his life
And with a calm gesture he released
his hand.
THE greatest charm of woman Is her
Imagination" he said quietly. with
out it there would be no color in life;
we would come into and drop out Of it
with the same embarrassing tone of
drab reality" He paused and smiled
again.
At his smile Lillian involuntarily
drew back, the color deepening in her
cheeks. why do you say that?" she
asked.
He lifted his head. With each mo
ment he felt more certain of himself.
Because that is my attitude he said |
"As man / admire your imagination |
but as a man / fail to follow your rea-
soning"
The words and the tone both stung /
her. do you realize the position 2" she .
asked sharply. do you realize that,
whatever your plans are, can spoil
them"
Loder still met her eyes. Il realize
nothing of the sort" he said.
Then you admit that you are not
Jack Chilcote?"
81 neither deny nor admit. Ny idcn
tity is obvious. | can get twenty men
to swear to it at any moment that you
like. The fact that I haven't worn
rings till now will scarcely interest
them
But you do admit-to me, that you
are not jack
II deny nothing-and admit nothing.
still offer ny congratulations
Upon whatY'
1.-THE same possession your ina gina
hon"
Lillian stamped her foot. Then by
quick effort she conquered her temper. ,
Prove me to be wrungw she said.
nth a fresh touch Of excitement.
Take off your rings and let me see
our hand
With deliberate gesture Loder put
is hand behind his back. Il never
ratify childish curiosity" he said. with
mother smile. .
Again fash Of temper crossed her :
yes. Are you sure she said, that :
s. quite wise to talk like that?" II
Loder laughed again. lis that
lreatY =
Perhaps" :
Then it's an emI:-y one.' =
"WhyT
Before replying ha waited a moment, /,
'oking down at hsr. r
- reonclude," be- began quietly, that n
our idea Is to spread this wild, i'm =.
-obable story-to ask people to believe h
vat John Chilcote. whom they see be- :
ire them, Is not John Chilcote, but "
else. Now. you'll find that h
lrder task than you imagine This Is /,
skeptcal world. and people are alb
IDLY fond of their own eyeslght. We n
e all journalists nowadays--we all /,
ant facts The first thing you will be HI
ked for is your proof And what does r.
'ur proof consist Of? The clrcum- NJ
ance that John Chlcote who has al II
avs despised jewelry, has lately taken Il,
wearing rings! Your own testimony,
ATTENDED by any witnesses, that with u
ose rings Off his finger bears scar ",
longing TO another man! No; on Ia
Use examination | scarcely imagine in
nj your case would hold He stop In
d. fred by his own logic. The future n
gilt he ,Chilcotes, but the present q,
Is his, and this present, with lts i'm st
possibilities, had been res. M
ed from catastrophe NO" he said n,
ain. when you get your proof per Nh
ps wen have another talk, but TIL M
M he