Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-03-16

NOASes eIFNck MN. he door was white:
the handle and knOcker were Of mass
I've silver. The first seemed disap-
pointing index of Lakeley's private
taste. the second a ridiculous tempta-
ton 10 needy humanity He looked
again at the number OF the house. but
Il stared back at him cony incingly.
Then the door opened.
So keen was his sense OF undtness
that still trying TO fuse his impression
OF Lakeley with the idea OF silver door
fittings he stepped into the hall with
out the usual preliminary question.
suddenly realizing the necessity. he
turned 90 the servant, but the man fore
stalled him:
"Win you come into the white room,
/ sirf And may I take your coatg"
The smooth certainty Of the mans
I manner surprised him. 1t Held another
/ SAVIOR of disappointment seeming Is
| little in keeping with the keen. bust
| ncssiike La6elcy as did the house. Still
/ struggling with his impression. he al
/ lowed himself 20 Doe relieved of his hat
and coat and in silence ushercd up the
shallow staircase
As the last step was reached 10 came
20 him aIain % mention bis hosts
name. but simultaneously with the sug-
gestion the servant stepped forward
with O qu'ck. silent movement and
threw open door
"Nr. ChIcote-' be- announced In a
subdued. discreet voice.
Loder's first impression was OF a
room that seemed unusually luxurious.
soft and Swallowed Then an impress
sion of inuuimatc things left him sud
denly.
For the fraction OF "a second he stood
in the doorway. while the room seemed
euptied of everything except a figure
that rose slowly from couch before
the fire at sound of Chilcote's name
Then. with q calmness that 20 himself
seemed Incredible he moved forward
into the room
lie might OF course. have beaten a
retreat and obyiated many things. but
life is fun of might have beens. and re-
treat never presents itself agreeably to
strong man. His impulse was TO face
the difficulty. and he acted on the i'm
pulse
Lillian had risen slowly. and as he
neared her she held out her hand.
Jack" she exclaimed softly, how
sweet OF you 20 remember
The voice and words came 10 him
with great distinctness. and as they
| came one uncertainty passed forever
| from his mind-the question as 10
what relation she and Chllcote held 70
each other With the realization came
! the thought OF Eve and in the midst
OF his own difficulty his face hardened.
Lillian ignored the coldness Taking
/ his hand she smiled. You're unusual
| ~ punctual," she said but your
] hands are cold. Come closer 10 the
FIRE"
Loder was not sensible that his
hands were cold, but he suffered him
/ self 20 be drawn forward.
One end OF the couch was In Ere
| light. the other I'm shadow. BY a for
tunate arrangement Of chance Lillian
| selected the brighter end for herself
and offered the other 10 her guest.
With quick sense OF respite he ac-
cepted u. AT least he could sit secure
from detection while he temporlzed
with fate
For a moment they sat silent, then
LILLIAN stirred. Wont you smoker
she asked
Everything IN the room seemed soft
and enervatlng-the subdued glow OF
the fire. the smell OF roses that hung
about the air and. last Of all. Lillian's
slow, soothing voice. With a sense OF
oppression he stiTened his shoulders
and sat straighter in his place.
NO" he said, Il don't think 1 shall
smoke"
She moved nearer 10 him. Dear
Jack" she said pleadingly. don't say
you're in "A bad mood. Don't say you
want TO postpone again" She looked
up at him and laughed a little in mock
CONSERVATION.
LOder was at a loss.
Another silence followed, while Lii
Han waited; then she frowned sudden
~ and rose from the couch. Like
many indOlent people, she possessed a
touch OF ObStinacy. and now that her
/ triumph over Chilcote was obtained.
now that she had indicated her right
10 command him, her original purpose
came uppermOst again. Cold or inter
ested, Indifferent or attentive, she in
tended 10 make use OF him
She moved TO the fire and stood look.
ing down into II.
Jack she began gently. "a really
amazing thing has happened to me. ]
do so want you TO throw some light"
Loder said nothing
There was a fresh pause while she
softly smoOthed the silk embroidery
that edged her gown. Then once more
she looked up at him.
did / ever tell you" she began
that / was once in a railway accident
on funny little Italian railway cen.
turtles before l met youg" She laughed
softly and with a pretty air of conf.
dence turned from the fire and re
sumed her seat.
"Astrupp had caught fever In Flor.
ence, and was rushing away for fear
OF the Infection. when our stupid little
train ran of the rails near Pistoria
and smashed itself up. Fortunately we
were within half mile OF village, 50
we weren't quite bereft. The village
n