Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-03-07
CHAPTER XXI.

CIOtneS ana with CDlicOte nenNy
overcoat slung over his arm, walked
from Fleet street to Grosvenor square.
He walked steadily, neither slowly nor
yet fast. The elation of his last jour
ney over the same ground was temper
ed by feelings he could not satisfac-
torly bracket even to himself. There
was less Of vehement elation and more
of matured determination in his gait
and bearing than there had been on
that night. though the Incidents of
which they were the outcome were
very complex.
On reaching Chilcote's house he
passed upstairs. but, still following the
routine of his previous return, he did
not halt at Chilcote's door, but moved
onward toward Ewes sitting room and
there paused.
In that pause his numberless irreg-
ular thoughts fused into one
He had the same underlined sense of
standing upon sacred ground that had
touched him on the previous occasion,
but the outcome of the sensation was
different. This time he raised his
hand almost Immediately and tapped
on the door.
lie waited, but no voice responded
to his knock. With a sense of disap-
pointment he knocked again then,
pressing his determination still fur
Their, he turned the handle and entered
the room.
No private room is without mean
ing, whether trivial or the reverse. In
room perhaps more even than in
| speech, in look or in work does the
| impress of the individual make itself
felt. There on the wax of outer things
the inner self imprints its seal, en-
forces its flectiug claim to separate in
| dividuality. This thought, with its
arresting interest, made Loder walk
! slowly. almost seriously, halfway
across the room and then pause. to
study his surroundings
The room was of medium si2e-not
too large for comfort and not too small
for ample space, At n first impression
it struck him as unlike any anticipa-
| ton of woman'S sauctum. The walls
paneled in dark wool, the richly
! bound books, the beautifully designed
| bronze ornaments, even the flowers
/ deep crimson and violet blue in tone. had
an air of sombcr harmony that was
| scarcely feminine. With Il strangely
| pleasant impression he realized this
and. following his habtual impulse,
moved slowly forward toward the fire
| place and there paused, his elbow rest
ing on the mantelpicce.
He had scarcely settled comfortably
into his position, scarcely entered on
his second and more comprehensive
study OF the place than tie arrange.
! mont of his mind was altered by the
! turning Of the handle and the opening
of the door.
The newcomer was Eve herself. She
was dressed in outdoor clothes and
walked into the room quickly: then. as
Loder had done, he, TOO. paused
The gesture, so uaturat and sponta-
neous, had a peculiar attraction. As
she glanced up athim, her face alght
with inquiry, she seemed extraorIi-
narily much the owner and designer
of her SURROUNDINGS. She was framed
by them as naturally and effectively
as her eyes and her face We're framed
by her black hair. For one moment
he forgot that his presence demanded
explanations: the heNt she had made
explanation needless She had been
looking at him intently; now she came
forward slowly.
john" she said. half in appeal. half
in question.
He took a step toward her. look
at me-" he said quietly and involun-
tarily. In the sharp desire to estab-
fish himself in her regard he forgot
that her eyes had never left his face.
But the incongrulty Of the words did
not strike her. ooh" she exclaimed
Il believe l knew directly | saw
you here The quick ring Of life Vi
brating in her tone surprised him. But
he had other thoughts more urgent
than surprise.
In the five days OF Punishment just
lived through the need for readjust
ment OF his position with regard tc
her had come t. him forcibly. The
memory of the night when weakness
and he had been at perIlously close
quarters had returned to him persist
entity and uncomfortaby, spelling the
remembrance of his triumph. 1t hat
been well enough TO smother the
thought of that night in days Of work
But had the ignoring Of it blotted ou
the weakness? Had it not rather
thrown it into boldcr relief? A mar
strong In his own strength does NO
turn his back upon temptation. He
faces and Quells It, In the solitary days
in Cliffords inn, in the solitary nigh
hours spent In tramping the cit,
streets. this had been the conviction
that had required again AND again. thi
the problem to which. after much con
sideration, he had found a solution, sat
isfactory at least 10 himself. Whel
next ChllcOte called him 1t was nota
bic that he had used the word when
and not IF" When next Chllcotc called
him he would make new departure. Ill
would no longer avoid Eve. He woult
successfully prove to himself that ont
interest and one alone filled his mind
the pursuance of Chilcote's polltlca
career. So does man satisfactorily con
vince himself against himself. He hac
this intention fully in mind as he came