Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1907-01-03

was IlS L ldCh w SPOL1 hSAhs WV ~
had never in his life opened an envel-
ope addressed to another man.
He stood uncertain, weighing them
in his hand. Then all at nce a look
of attention and surprise crossed his
face. and he raised his head. Some
one had Enthusiastically paused outside
the door which Greening had left aiar.
There was a moment of apparent
doubt. then a stir of skirts, Il quick,
uncertain knock, and the intruder en-
tered.
For a couple of seconds she stood in
the doorway; then as Loder made no
effort to speak she moved into the
room. She had apparently but just re-
turned from some entertainment, for.
though she had drawn off her long
gloves, she was still wearing an even
ing cloak of lace and fur.
That she was Chilcote's wife Loder
instinctively realized the moment she
entered the room. But a disconcerting
confusion of ideas was all that fol-
lowed the knowledge. He stood by the
desk, silent and awkward, trying to fit
his expectations to his knowledge.
Then, faced by the hopelessness of the
task, he turned abruptly and looked at
her again.
She had taken off her cloak and was
standing by the fire. The %compulsion
of moving through life alone had set
its seal upon her in a certain self pos
session, a certain confidence of pose,
yet her figure as Loder then saw it,
backgrounded by the dark books and
gowned in pale blue, had a suggestion
of youthfulneSs that seemed Il contra
diction. The remembrance of Chill
cote's epithets cold" and %'unsylnpa-
thetic" came back to him with some
thing like establishment. lie felt no
uncertainty. no dread of discovery and
humiliation in her presence as he had
felt in the maids. yet there VAS some
thing in her face that made him inf
nitely more uncomfortable. 81 look he
could End no name for. Il ~frienGlinesS
that sludiomsiy covered another feel
ing, whether question. diStrnst OF ac-
tual dislike lac could not say. With a
strange sensation of awkwardneSs he
sorted Chilcote's letters. waiting for
her to speak.
AS if divining his thought she turn
ed toward him. I'm afraid l rather
intrude," she said. IF YOU are busy
His of courtesy was touched.
He had begun life With a high opinion
Of women, and the words shook up an
echo of the old sentiment.
Don't think that he said hastily.
II was onl looking through-my let
tiers. You mustn't rate yourself below
letters" He was conscious that his
tone was hurried, that his words We're
a little jagged, but Eve did not appear
to notice. Unlike Greening. she tool.
the new manner without surprise. She
had known Chilcote for six years.
II dined with the Fraides tonight
she said. mfr. Fraide sent YOU a mes
sage"
Unconsciously Loder smiled. There
was humor in the thought of a mes
sage to him from the great Fraide. To
hide his amusement he wheeled one of
the big lounge chairs forward.
Indeed" he said. won't you sit
down."
They were near together now. and
he saw her face more fully. Again he
was taken aback. Chilcote had spoken
Of her as successful and intelligent,
but never as beautiful. Yet her beauty
was q rare and uncommon fact. l1e.
hair was %black-not q glossy black, but
the dusky black that is softer than ANY
brown-her eyes were large and OF q
peculiarly pure blue, and her eyeiashe*
were black, beautifully curved and OF
remarkable thickness.
Won't you sit down." he said again.
cutting short his thoughts with so.:.e
confusion.
"Thank Yea" She gravely accepted
the protferei chair. But he saw that
without any ostentation she drew her
skirts aside as she passed him. The
action displeased him un%accountaolv.
Well he said shortly, what lad
Fraide to say" He walked to the
mantelpiece with his customary mo:e-
ment and stood watching her. The ia
stinct toward hiding his face hau lest
him. Her instant and uninterested &c
ceptance of him almost nettieN him.
His w hall contemptuous Impression
OF Chilcote came to him unoleasantly
and with it the first desire to assert his
W individuality. stung by the csn-
hicting emotions, he felt in Ch;ico,es
pockets for something to smoke.
Eve saw and interpreted the action.
Are these Your cigarettes" She lean
ed toward a small table and took up a
box made of lizard skin.
'"Thanks.' He tool the box from
her, and as it passed from one to the
other he saw her glance at his rings.
The glance was m%omentary. Her Lips
parted to express question OF surprise,
then closed again without comment.
More than amy spoken words the Incl
dent showed him the gulf that sepa-
Ated husband and wife.
WELL" he said again. what about
Fraide?"
At his words she sat straighter and
looked at him more directly, as if brac-
ing herself to a task.
"Mr. Fraide isis as interested as
ever in YOU" she began.