Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-02-28
asst down" he said gently.


to define. Loder remembered her
shrinking GOODNESS, her reluctant toler-
ance on the night of his first coming,
and his individuality, his certainty of
power kindled afresh. Never had he
been so ,ohemently himself; never had
Chilcote seemed so complete n shadow.
As Eve seated herself he moved for
ward and leaned over the back of his
chair. The impulse that had filed him
in his interview with Renwick, that
had goaded him as he drove to the re-
ception, was dominant again.
81 tried TO say something as we drove
to the Bramfels tonight" he began.
Like many men who possess eloquence
for an impersoual cause. he was
brusque, even blunt, 10 the stating of
his own case. May 1 bark back, and
go on from where broke OFF,"
Eve half turned. Her face was still
puzzled and questioning. "Of course"
She sat forward again clasping her
hands.
He looked thoughtfully at the back
of her head. at the slim outline of her
shoulders, the glitter of the diamonds
about her neck
do you remember the day. three
weeks ago that we talked together IN
this room-the day great many things
, seemed possible?'
This time she did not look round
She kept her gaze upon the fire.
DO you remembcr?' he persisted
quietly. In his college days men who
heard that tone Of quiet persis tence
had been wont to lose heart Eve
heard 1t now for the first time and,
without being aware, answered to it.
Yes. l remember" she said.
"On that day you believed in me-"
In his earnestness lie no longer simu-
lated Chilcote; he spoke with his own
steady reliance. He saw Eve stir.
unclasp and clasp her hands. but he
went steadily on. ION that day you
saw me in new light. You acknowl-
edged me-" He emphasized the slight
ly peculiar word. But since that
dsy'-his voice quickened- "since that
day your feelings have changed, your
faith in me has fallen away" He
watched her closely, hut she made no
sign, save to lean still nearer TO the
fire. He crossed his arms over the
back Of her chair. You were JUST
fed" he said suddenly. Eve not been
myself since that day" As he said
the words his GOODNESS forsook him
snghtly. He loathed the necessary lie,
yet his egotism clamorei for vindca-
ton. "All men have their lapses." he
went on. There are times-there are
days and weeks when when my
The word nerves" touched his tongue,
/ hung upon it, then died away I'M
spoken.
/ Very quietly, almost withou: a
sound, Eve had risen and turned to-
ward him. She was standing very
! straight. her face little pale, the hand
that rested on the arm Of her chair
trembling slightly.
John" she said quickly. don't say
/ that word. Don't say that hideous
! word nerves" | don't feel that can
bear it tonight-not just tonight. Can
you underestimate"
Loder stepped back. without com
! pretending, he felt suddenly and
strangely at Il loss. Something in her
face struck him silent and perplexed.
1t seemed that without preparation he
had stepped upon dangerous ground.
With an underlined apprehension, he
waited, looking at her.
Il can't explain it, she went on with
nervous haste, Il can't give any rea-
sons, but quite suddenly the the farce
has grown unbearable. | used not to
think-used not even to care-but sud
denly things have changed or ! have
changed" She paused, confused and
distressed. "Why should it be? Why
should things change?" She asked the
question sharply. as If in appeal
against her own ncredulity.
IoGer turned aside. He was afraid
Uf the triumph, volcanic and irrepres-
slhle, that her admission reused.
"WhyY" she said again.
He turned slowly back. you forget
that I'm not q magician" he said
gently. II hardly know what you are
speaking Of"
For IA moment she was silent, out in
that moment her eyes spoke. Pain,
distress, pride all strove for express
sion; then at last her lips parted
"Do YOU say that in seriousness:' she
asked.
1t was no moment for fencing, and
Loder knew It. I'm seriousness" he
replied shortly
Then | shall speak seriously too"
Her voice shook slightly and the color
came back into her face. but the hand
on the arm of the chair ceased to treIn-
bic. For more than four years /
have known that you take drugs-for
more than four years have acquiesced
in your receptions, in your mean
nesSeB'-
There was an instant's silence. Thel
Loder stepped forward.
You knew-for four years." he said
very slowly. For the first time tina
night he remembered Chlcote an,
forgot himself.
Eve lifted her head with quicl
gesture, as If, in tlngng off discre
ton and silence. she appreciated to thu
full the new relief OF speech,
Yes, knew. Perhaps should hav
spoken when l first surprised the sc
cret but it's all so past that it's useles
TO speculate now. 1t was fate, sup
pose. | was very young, you Wer