Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-03-16

HOW NohE she stayed lfnmONaDie.
holding his hand. neither Of them knew
The process OF a woman's instinct Is so
subtle. so obscure. that Il would be
futile to apply it to the commonplace
test OF time. she kept her hold tenaci-
ously. as though his fingers possessed
some peculiar virtue. Then at last she
spoke.
rings. Jack?'' she said very slowly.
And under the two short words a whole
world Of incredibly and surmIse made
itself felt
LOder laughed.
At the sound she dropped his hand
and rose from her knees. What her
suspicious. what her instincts were she
could not have clearly defined. but her
action was unhesitating Without
moments uncertainty she turned to the
fireplace. pressed the electric button
and flooded the room with light
There is no force so demoralizlng as
unexpected light. Loder took a step
backward. his hand hanging unguard-
ed 10y his side. and Lillian. stepping
forward, caught it again before he
could protest Lifting it quickly, she
| looked scrutinizingly at the two rings.
All women jump 20 conclusions, and
II IS extraordinary how seldom they
jump short. Seeing only what Lillian
saw. knowing only what she knew, no
man would have staked a definite opin-
ion. but the other sex takes a different
view. AS she stood gazing at the rings
her thoughts and her conclusions sped
through her mind like arrows-all aim
ed aud all tending toward one point.
She remembered the day when she and
Chiicote had talked Of doubles. her
skepticism and his vehement defense
OF the idea. his sudden interest i'm the
book "Other Mems Shoes" and his
anathema against life and it's irksome
round OF duties. She remembered her
own first convinced recognition OF the
eyes that had looked at her in the door
way of her sisters house. aud. last OF
all. she remembered Chilcote's unac-
countnhle avoidance OF the same sub
ject OF likenesscs when she had men
toned &c yesterday driving through the
park. and with &c his unnecessarily
curt repudiation OF his former opin-
ions She reviewed each item. then
she raised her head slowly and looked
az Loder.
He was prepared for the glance aud
met it steadily. In the long moment
that her eyes searched his face IL was
she and not ne who changed color
She was the hrst.tO speak You were
the man whose hands / saw In the
tent" she said. she made the state
mcnt IN her usual soft tones. but a
slight tremor OF excitement underran
her voice. Poodles, Persian kittens.
even crystal gazing balls. seemed very
FAR away In face OF this tangible. fabu-
lOus. 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 az me-"
she said II know quite well what /
am saying. though I don't understand
10. though I have no real proof She
paused. momentarily Disconnected by
her companions silent and steady
gaze, and Ia the pause a curious and
unexpected thing occurred.
Loder laughed suddenly full. con
hdent reassured laugh. All the web
that the past half hour had spun about
him. all the intolerable sense OF an inn
pending crash. lifted suddenly. He
saw his way clearly. and Il was Lillian
who had opened his eyes.
Stll looking at her. he smiled-a
smile OF reliant determination, such as
Chilcote had never worn I'm his life.
And with a calm gesture he released
his hand.
The greatest charm OF woman Is her
Imagination" he said quietly. with
out IL there would ~ no color In life;
we would come into and drop out OF Il
with the same uninteresting tone OF
drab reality" He paused and smiled
again.
At his smile Lillian involuntarlly
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 man / fail 10 follow your rea-
soning"
The words and the tone both stung
her. do you realize the positiong" she
asked sharply. do you realize that
whatever your plans are, can spoil
them?"
Loder still met her eyes II realize
nothing OF the sort" be said
''Then you admit that you are not
Jack Chilcote?"
Il neither deny nor admit. Ny iden-
tity is obvious. ! can get twenty men
to swear to it az any moment that you
like. The fact that l haven't worn
rings till now will scarcely interest
them"
But you DO admit-tO me. that you
are not JACKIE"
Il deny nothing-and admit nothing.
I still Offer my congratulations"
Upon what?"
''The same possessiOn--your imagina-
ton"
Lillian stamped her foot Then by a
quick effort she conquered her temper
Prove me to be wrongp' she said,
with a fresh touch OF excitement.
Take OF your rings and let me see
I l..