Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-03-18

coincidence the recollection or Eve ana
Ewes words of last night came back to
him, and his mind was filed with a
new sensation.
Because of Chilcote he was despised
by Chiicote's wife! There was no de-
nying that In all the pleasant excite
ment OF the adventure that knowledge
had ranked 1t came to him now link
ed with remembrance OF the slight, re-
luctant touch of her fingers, the family
evaslve dislike underlying her glance.
1t was trivial thing. but 1t touched
his pride as q man. That was how he
put 1t to himself 1t wasn't that he
valued this woman's opinion-any wo-
mans opinion. 1t was merely that it
touched his pride. He turned again to
the window and gazed out, the engage
ment book still between his hands.
What IL he compelled her respect?
What IL by his own personality cloak
ed under Chllcote's identity he forced
her to admit his capability? 1t was
matter of pride, after all-scarcely even
of pride; self respect was q better
word.
Satisfied by his own reasoning, he
turned back into the room.
''See to those letters, Greenfng," he
said. "And for the rest Of the morn
ing's work you might go on with your
Khorasan notes. believe we'll all
want every inch of knowledge we can
get in that quarter before we're much
older. I'll see you again later" With
reassuring nod he crossed the room
ard passed through the door.
He lunched with Fraide at his club
and afterward walked with him to
Westminster. The walk and lunch
were both memorable. In that hour he
learned many things that had been
sealed to him before. He tasted his
first draft Of real citation, his first drop
of real discontinue. He saw for the
first time how a great man may con-
descend-how unostentatiously, how
fully, how delightfully."-. He felt what
tact and kindness perfectly combined
may accomplish, and he burned in
wardly with sense Of duplicity that
crushed and elated him alternately.
He was John Loder, friendless, penni-
less, with no present and no future, yet
he walked down Whitehall In the full
light Of day with one Of the greatest
statesmen England has known.
Some strangers were being shown
over the terrace when he and Fraide
reached the house, and, noticing the
open door, the old man paused.
II never refuse fresh air." he said.
rShall we take another breath of 1t
before settling DOWN. He took Lo-
der's arm and drew him forward. AS
they passed through the doorway the
pressure of his fingers frightened. Il
shall reckon today among my pleasant
est memories, Chilcote," he said grave
". II can't explain the feeling. but l
seem to have touched Ewes husband,
the real you, more closely this morning
than ever did before. It has been
genuine happiness" He looked up with
the eyes that through all his years of
action and responsibility had remained
SO bright.
"a Out 1lO0CI RdlOu 0uoAOA4AyS SeAA AAAS
glance turned to the river-wide, mys-
FERROUS, secret. Internationally Fraide
had stripped the illusion. It was not
John Loder who walked here; it was
Chilcote Chilcote with his position, his
constituency-his wife. He half extri-
Gated his arm, but Fraide held it.
NO" he said. Don't draw away
from me. You have always been too
ready to do that. 1t Is not often have
a pleasant truth to tell | won't be de-
prived Of the enjoyment"
"Can the truth ever be pleasant, sir?"
Involuntarily Loder echoed Chilcote.
Fraide looked up. He was half a
head shorter than his companion,
though his dignity concealed the fact.
"Chilcote,'' he said seriously, "give up
cyniclsm! It is the trademark Of fail
ure, and I do not like it in my
friends"
Loder said nothing. The quiet in
sight of the reproof, its mitigating
kindness, touched him sharply. In
that moment he saw the rails down
which he had sent his little car of ex-
istence spinning, and the sight daunted
him. The track was sleeper, the gauge
narrower, than he had guessed; there
were curves and sidings upon which
he had not reckoned. He turned his
head and met Fraide's glance.
"Don't count too much on me, SIR"
he said slowly. 81 might disappoint
you again. His voice broke of on
the last word, for the sound Of other
voices and Of laughter came to them
across the terrace as group OF two
women and three men passed through
the open door. At a glance he realized
that tho slighter Of the two women
was Eve
Seeing them, she disengaged herself
from her party and came quickly for
ward. He saw her cheeks flush and
her eyes brighten pleasantly as they
rested OH his companion, but he noticed
also that after her first cursory glance
she avoided his own direction.
AS she came toward them Fraide
drew away his hand in readiness to
greet her.
Here comes my godchild!" he said.
II often wish, Chilcote, that could
do away with the prefix" He added
the last words in an undertone as he
reached them, then he responded
warmly to her smile.
.'Whatv' he said. Turning the ter
1P in