The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-02-22

r
vile W7ITS aC1---iliy tolerant d me Tor
nine or ten days after my return.
thought your representation was % be
quite lmpersonaIf I'm not jealous.
be laughed. I'm not jealous. assure
you. but the burned child shOuldn'
grow absentninded-"
At his tone and his laugh Lode-'s
blood stirred. With q sudden. unex-
pected impulse bis hand frightened on
the banlster. and. looking up. he caught
sight OF the face above him-his own
face II seemed, alighted with malicious
interest. At the sight strange sensa-
tiou seized him. his grip on the BANS
ter loOsened, and. pushing past Chill
cote. he hurriedly mounted the stairs.
Outside his own door the other over
took him.
"Loder!" he said "LOder, l meant
no harm \ man must have a laugh
sometimes"
But Loder was facing the door and
did not turn round.
\ A sudden fear shook Chilcote. ''Lo-
ler.' he exclaimed again. "You would
not desert me? l can't go back to-
night l can't 20 back"
Still Loder remained immovable.
Alarmed by his silence, Chilcote step
ped closer to him.
"Loderi Loder. you won desert
me?" He caught hastily at his arm.
With quick repulsion Loder shook
him off, then almost as quickly he
turned round
What fools we all arev' he said
abruptly "We only differ in degree
Come in and let us change our
clothes"
CHAPTER XIII.
@1HE best moments of mans life
are the moments when, strong
in himself, he feels that the
\ world lies before him Gratlfied
ambition may be the summer, but an
ticipation is the ardent springtime of
a mans career.
AS Loder drove that night from Fleet
street to Grosvenor square he realized
this, though scarcely with any degree
of consciousness, for he was no accom-
plished self analyst But in wave of
feeling too vigorous to be denied he
recognized his regained foothold-the
step that lifted him at once from the
pit to the pinnacle.
In that moment OF realiza lion he look
ed neither backward nor forward The
present was all sufficing. Difficulties
might loom ahead. but difficulties had
but one object-the testing and sharp
ening Of mans strength. In the first
deep surge of egotistical feeling he al
most rejoiced in Chilcote's weakness
The more Chilcote tangled the threads
Of his life the stronger must be the
fingers that unraveled them. He was
by a great impatience. The
Joy of action was stirring in his blood.
Leaving the cab. he walked confident
Y to the door of Chilcote's house and
Inserted the latchkey. Even In this
mail act there was grain Of indi-
Ie opened the door and crossed the hall.
AS he entered, a footman was ar
angling the fire that burned in the big |
rate. Seeing the man, he halted.
where Is your mistress2" he asked |
n unconscious repetition of his FIRST /
question in the same house.
The man looked up. "She has just |
Inished dinner, sir She dined alone in |
'er own room" He glanced at LOder +
n the quick, uncertain way that was
noticeable in all the servants of the
ousehold when they addressed their
Master. Loder saw the look and won
cred what depth Of curiosity it be-
rayed, how much OF insight into the
omestic life that he must always be
ontent TO skim. For an instant the old
sentiment against ChiIcote tinged his
xaltation. but he swept 1t angrily
side. without further remark he be-
an to mount the stairs.
Gaining the landing. he did not turn,
3 usual. to the door that shut off Chill
Dte's rooms. hut moved onward down
he corridor toward Ewes private nit.
ng room. He moved slowly till the
oor was reached. Then he paused and
fled his hand. There was moments
ait while his fingers rested on the
lndle: then sensat ton he could not
xplain, reticence, reluctance to in
ude upon this one precinct, caused
Is fingers to relax With slightly
EMBARRASSED gesture he drew back
owly and retraced his steps.
Once In Chilcote's bedroom, he walk
| to the nearest bell and pressed it.
enwick responded, and at sight Of
M Loder's feelings warmed with the ,
me sense OF fitness and familiarity .
at the great bed and somber furni
re of the room had inspired. .
But the man did not come forward
he had expected. He remained close
the door with hesitation that wasI !,
usual In a trained servant. 1t struck !.
oder that possibly his stolidity had
asperated Chilcote and that possibly
lilcote had been at no pains to con-
al the evaporation. The idea caused