Gloucester County Democrat., 1907-03-14

W0&H came 10 lttlS E00iti l9tiSty ttfta slt-
lowed you to talk to me, when asked
you to see me tonight as we parted at
the club. j shan't tell you the thoughts
that unconsciuosly were in my mind
when / asked that favor. You must
understand without explanation.
II went to the theater with Lady AS
trupp ostensibly to find how the land
lay in her direction really to heighten
my self esteem. But there fate or the
power we call by that name was lying
in wait for me, ready to claim the first
interest in the portion of life had
dared to borrow" He did not glance
toward Eve as he had done in his pre-
Yious pause. His whole manner seem
ed oppressed by the gravity of what he
had still to say.
II doubt il q man has ever seen more
in half an hour than have tonight" he
said. "I'm speaking of mental SEEING
of course. In this play, Other Mems
Shoes, two men change identities-as
Chilcote and have done-but in doing
SO they overlook one fact-the fact that
one of them has wife! That's not my
way of putting it, It's the way it was
put to me by one of Lady Astrupp's
party"
Again Eve looked up. The doubt and
question in her eyes had grown unnlis-
takably. AS he ceased TO speak her
lips parted quickly.
"John," she said, with sudden con-
viction, s'you're trying to say something
something that's terribly hard"
Without raising his head Loder an
swered her Yes he answered, sfhe
hardest thing man ever said.
His tone was short, almost brusque,
but to ears sharpened by instinct it
was eloquent. Without word Eve
took step forward and standing quite
close to him. laid both hands on his
shoulders.
For space they stood silent, she
with her face lifted, he with aserted
eyes. Then very gently he raised his
hands and tried to unclasp her fingers,
There was scarcely any color visible in
his face, and by a curious effect of
emotion it seemed that lines. never be-
| fore noticeable. had formed about his
mouth
s.What is it, Eve asked apprehen-
siYely what is it?"
BY a swift involuntary movement
she had tightened the pressure Of her
fingers, and, without using force, 1t
was impossible for Loder to unloose
them. with his hands pressed irreso-
lutely over hers he looked down into
her face.
aAs | sat in the theater tonight, Eve, 4
he said slowly, .sall the pictures haG
formed of life shifted Without desir-
| ing it, without knowing II, my whole
point Of view was changed. ] suddenly
saw things by the worlds searchlight
instead of by my own miserable can
die. l suddenly saw things for you, in
stead of for myself"
Ewes eyes widened and darkened,
but she said nothing.
Il suddenly saw the objectionable
wrong that have done Won, the inn
perative duty Of cutting it short." He
spoke very slowly in dull, mechanical
voice
Eve, her eyes still wide, her face
panied and alarmed withdrew her
hands from his shoulders. You
mean she said, with difficulty, "that
/ it is going to end? That you are going
away? That you are giving every
thing up? Oh, but you can't You
can't.v she exclaimed, with sudden ex-
citement, her fears suddenly oVermas-
tering her fncredulity You can'tl
/ You mustn't! The only proof that
could have interfered'
Il wasn't thinking of BE proof"
.sThen Of what? OF what?n
Loder was silent for a moment. "Of
our love- he said steadily.
She colored deeply eBut why?'' she
stammered. why? We have done ilu
wrong. We need do no wrong. We
would be friends, nothing more, and
/ Lob. I SO need a friendH'
Fer almost the first time in Ioder's
knowledge of her her voice broke, her
control deserted her She stood before
him in all the pathos of her lonely girl
hood her empty life.
The revelation touched him with sud
den poignancy The real strength that
lay beneath his faults, the chiTalry
buried under years of callousness, stir
red at the birth of a new emotion. The
resolution preserved at such a cost, the
sacrifice that had seemed well nigh i'm
possible, all at once took on different
shape. What before had been bar
rem duty became suddenly sacred
right Holding out his arms, he drew
her to him as if she had been a child.
"Eve,v he said gently, Z have learned
tonight how fully woman's life is at
the mercy of the world, and how
scanty that mercy is. II circumstances
had been different belieye-I am con-
sinced-I would have made you a good
husband-wo have used my right to
protect you as well as man could use
it. And now that things are different
/ / want-I should like He hesitated
| a varu iiffIo Nav fbaf 7 have no