The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-02-15
CHAPrnR I.

| - bPOAo Hcu kOr AA4 QuAltQoA
J Many q man placed in the same re
sponslble and jet strangely lrresponsi
bic position might have bSsa excused II
for the time at least, he gave himself
loose rein. But LoAeF kept free OF
the temptation.
Like all other experiments. his show,
Cd unlocked for features when put 10 a
working test Its expected difficulties
ImOothed themselves away. whlleothers.
scarcely anticipated, came into promi,
hence. Most notable Of all. the physical
likeness between himself and Chllcote,
the bedrock OF the whole scheme, which
had been counted ON to offer most dam
ger. worked without a hitch. He stood
literally amazed before fhe sweeping
.redulity that met him on every hanc.
lfen who had known Chiicote from his
youth, servants who had been in his
employment for years. joined issue in
the unquestionIng acceptance At times
the ease Of deception bewildered him.
There were moments when he re'li-e1
that, should circumstances force him to
declaration Of the truth. he would
not be believed. Human nature pre-
fers its own eyesight to the testimony
of any man.
But in face Of this astonishing sue
cess he steered steady course. In the
first exhilaration of Fralde's favor, in
the first egotistical wish to break down
Ewes skepticism, he might possibly
have plunged into a vortex of action.
let it be in what direction it might;
but, fortunately for himself, for Chill
cote and for their scheme. be was liable
to strenuous second thoughts those
wise and necessary curbs that go fur
Their to the steadying OF the universe
than the universe guesses. Sitting in
that be had spoken with Eve on the
terrace he had weighed possibilities
slowly and cautiously. Impressed to
the full by the atmosphere of the place
that in his eyes could never lack char |
acter, however dull it's momentary busi- /
ness, however prosy the voice that fill !
ed it, he had sifted impulse from ex- /
pedience as only a man who has lived /
within himself can sift and distinguish, I
and at the close of that first day his I
had been formed. There
must be no rush. no headlong plunge,
le had decided. Things must work
around 1t was his first expedition /
nto the new country. and 1t lay with
ate to say whether it would be his
asst.
He had been leaning back In his seat.
lis eyes on the ministers opposite, his
rms folded in imitation Of Chilcote's
most natural attitude, when this final
peculation had come to him, and as 1t
anne his lips had frightened for mo-
neEt and his face become hard and
old. 1t Is an unpleasant thing when
man first unconsciously reckons on
lie weakness of another. and the look
hat expresses the idea Is not good to
ee. BE had stirred uneasily, then his
ps had closed again. He was tena
Ious by nature, and by nature intol
rant of weakness. At the first sug.
estion Of reckoning upon Chilcote's
pses his mind had drawn back In
sgust, but as the thought came again
lie disgust had lessened.
In week-two weeks, perhaps Chill
tie would reclaim his place. Then
ould begin the routine of the affair.
hilcote, fresh from indulgence and
eedom, would find his obligations
ousand times more irksome than be-
re; he would struggle for time,
en-
A shadowy smile had touched Lo-
rs lips as the idea formed itself.
Then would come the inevitable re-
II; then In earnest he might venture
put his hand to the plow He never
lulged in day dreams, but something
the nature of vision had flashed
or his mind in that instant. He had
III himself standing In that same
llding, seen the rows of faces first +
red. then hesltatingly transformed
der his personal domination, under =
, one great power he knew himself
possess-the power of eloquence.
e strength OF the suggestion had <
IN almost painful. Men who have I
aimed self repression are occasion N
7 opea TO Il ie."ou, Uarush of feel
Believing that they know them
ves they wal; Oddly forward to-
I'd the highroad and pitfall alike ar
hese had been Lodcr's disconnected lie
IS and speculations Oh the first day ar
his new life. At ( O'Clock on the tai
tn day he Was pacing With quiet II
Hdence up and town ClIilco.e's PEI
h. his MAD PLEASANTLY busy aud roc
cigar comfortably allght. whea he fol
sed In his walk All frownel. inter. SID
tcd i The entrance Of Il servant VII
he man came softly into the room. :
" n small table toward TIE fire and
'eedcd to lay an extremely fine and poi
arviccnble looking cloth Gro
,der watched him ln silence. lie lD!
grown to find silence a very useful pre-
modify. To wait and let things her
.lop was the attitude he oftenest iar.
Imed, but OH this occasion he was est
'lexed. He had not rung for tea, sne
=. 80 49, ~ II imr