Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-02-16
CHAPTER II.

y Il
break. after Loder spoke. The
episode of the telegram was.
- 20 an appearances. ordinary
enough. calling forth Ewes question
and his own reply as natural Sc
| Qucnce. yet in the pause that followed
IL each was conscious OF "a jar. each
was aware that i'm some subtle way the
thread OF sympathy had been dropped.
| though 90 one the cause was mex
| plica5le and to the other only too plain
Loder watched the ghost OF his mes
sage grow whittier aud thinner. then
I dissolve into airy fragments and iu,ter
up the chimney. As the last morsel
wavered out OF sight he turned and
looked at his companion
you almost made me commit my
self" he said. ln the desire TO hide
his feelings his tone was short.
Eve returned his glance with quiet
regard. but be scarcely saw It, He had
a stupeded sense OF disaster. a feeling
OF bitter self comm iseration that for
the moment outweighed all other CON
siderations. Almost at the moment or
Justification the gooG OF life had crum-
meath his feet. aud with an absence of
logic. a lack OF justice unusual In him,
he let resentment against ChilcOte
sweep suddenly over his mind
Eve, still watching him, saw the dark
! enlng of his expression and with a
quiet movement rose from her chair
Lady Sarah has thcater party to-
night, and / am dining with her" she
said. 1T is an early dinner. so /
must think about dressing. I'm sorry
you think l tried 20 draw you into any
thing. l must have explained myself
badly" She laughed a little to cover
the slight discontinue that her tone
/ betrayed. and as she laughed she
moved across the room toward the
door
LOder. cngrOssed IN the check 20 his
own schemes. incenscd at the sudden
ness OF Chilcote's recall and stu more
/ incensed at his own folly in not having
/ anticipated IL. was oblivious FOR the
moment OF both her movement and
I her words. Then quite abruptly they
/ Obruded themselves upon him. break
| ing through his cc0tism with some
/ thing OF the sharpness OF pain follow
Ing blow. Turning quickly from the
/ fireplace, he faced the shadowy room
across which she had passed. but ST.
simultaneously with his turning she
/ gained the door
| The knowledge that she was gone
| struck him with a sense Of double loss.
"Waltr be called. suddenly moving
| forward. But almost at once he paus-
ed, chilled by the solitude OF the room.
Eve" he said. using her name IN
consciously for the first time.
But the corridor, as we'll as the room,
was empty; ne was too late. He stood
irresolute; then he laughed shortly.
turned and passed back toward the
fireplace
The blow had fallen, the inevitable
come TO pass, and nothing remained
but 10 take the fact with as good a
grace as possible. Chilcote's telegram
had summoned him TO Clifford's inn
at o'clock, and il was now well on
| toward g He pulled out his watch
/ Chilcote's watch, he realized with a
touch Of grim humor as he stopped to
| examine the dial by the light OF the
flre-then. as IL the humor had verged
10 another feeling. he stood straight
again and felt for the electric button
IN the wall His fingers touched It.,
and simultaneously the room was
lighted.
The abrupt alteration from shadow
70 light came almost as shock. The
| feminine arrangement of the tea table
| seemed incOngruous beside the sober
books and the desk laden with papers
--incongruous as his OWE presence In
the place. The thought was unpleas-
ant, and he turned aside as n TO avoid
1t, but at the movement his eyes fell
| on Chilcote's cigarette box with its
| cleaning monogram. and the within.
steal suggestion OF his first morning
rose again. The idea that the mani.
mate objects in the room knew him
for what he was, recognized the inter
loper where human eyes saw the right
full possess0r. returned 10 his mind.
Through all his disgust and chagrin a
smile forced itself to his lips, and,
crossing the room for the second time
he passed into Chilcote's bedroom.
There the massive furniture and
somber atmosphere fitted better with
hts mood than the energy and action
which the study always suggested
Walking directly TO the great bed. he
sat on its side and for several minutes
stared straight in front OF him, appai
emily seeing nothing; then at last the
apathy passed from him, as bis pre-
vious anger against Chilcote had pass
ed. he stood up slowly, drawing his
long limbs together, and recrossed hi
room, passing along the corridor and
through the door communicating witt