The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1907-04-05

eyes than any personal desire 70
power
For a moment their eyes met; the
abruptly Loder looked away. she hal
KaUged his intentions incorrectly. ye
with disconcertIng insight Again thu
suggestion Of an unusual persOnaiit,
below the serenity of her manner re
-urred 10 his imagination.
With an impulse altogether foreigr
TO him he lifted his head and agair
met her glance. Then at last he spoke
but only two words. Forgive mer' b.
said, with simple. direct sincerity.
CHAPTER XXI.
"FTER his interview with Eve
H LOder retired to the study and
/" spent the remaining hours Of
the day and the whole span OF
the evening In work. At O'Clock, still
feeling fresh In mind and body. he dis,
missed Greening and passed into Chill
cote's bedroom. The interview with
Eve. though widely different from the
one he had anticipated. had left him
stimulated and alert In the hours that
followed it there had been an added
anxiety to put his mind into harness,
an added qualification in finding IT
answer TO the rein.
A pleasant sense of retrospection
settled upon him as he slowly I'M
dressed, and a pleasant sense Of inter
est touched him as, crossing to the
dressing table, he caught sight Of Chill
cOte's engagement book. taken with
other things from the suit he had
changed at dinner time and carefully
laid aside by Renwick.
He picked it up and slowly turned
the pages 1t always held the sugges-
ton Of lottery, this dipping into an
other mans engagements and drawing
a prize or a blank. 1t was a sensa-
ton that even custom had not dulIed
At first be turned the pages slowly,
then by degrees his fingers duickened.
Beyond the fact that this present
evening was free he knew nothing Of
his promised movements The abrupt
ness of Chilcote's arrival at Clifford's
Inn In the afternoon had left no time
for superfiuous questions He skim
med the writing with touch Of inter
ested haste, then all at once he paused
and smiled.
big enough for a tombstone!' he
said below his breath as his eyes rest
ed ON large blue cross. Then he
smiled again and held the book to the
Hight
@Dine SO Cadogan gardens, 8 o'c.
Talk with L." he read, still speaking
softly to himself.
He stood for a moment pOnderlng on
che entry, then once more his glance
reverted to the cross.
Evidently meant It to be seem" he
unused But why the deuce isn't be
more explicitY' As he spoke look OF
comprehension suddenly crossed his
face and the puzzled frOwn between
his eyebrows cleared away.
With feeling of satisfaction he re-
membered Lakeiey's frequent and
pressing suggestion that he should dine
with him at Cadogan gardens and dis
cuss the political outlook
Lakeiey must have written during |
his absence, and Chilc0te, having mark
ed the engagement. felt no further re-
spOnsibility. The invitation could |
scarcely have been verbal, as Chilcote,
he knew. had lain very low In the five /
days OF his return home
So he argued as he stood with the
book still open IN his hands, the blue
cross staring imperatiysIy from the
white paper. And from the argument
rose thoughts and suggestions that
seethed in his mind long after the lights
had been switched on, long after the
ire had died down, and he had been
eft wrapped in darkness In the great
.anopied bed.
And SO 1t came about that he took
his second false step. Once during the /.
,ress Of the next mornings work 1t
.rossed his mind to verify his convic-
ions by glance at the directory. but
or once the strong wish that evolves
! thought conquered his caution. His
york was absorbing; the need Of veri
cation seemed very small. He let the
pass
At o'clock he dressed carefully. His
lind was full Of Lakeley and Of the
disabilities the night might hold; for
lore than once before the weight Of
he st. Georges Gazette. with Lakeley
t its back, had turned the political
Gales. To be marked by him as
Dming man was at any time favora-
BILE portent; to be singled out by him
the present juncture was momen- y
nus. A thrill Of expectancy, almost
xcitement, passed through him as he y
rveyed his appearance preparatory =
J leaving the house.
Passing downstairs, he moved at
ice to the hall door; but almost as y
8 hand touched 1t he halted, attracted y
! movement on the landing above
m. Turning, he saw Eve. g
She was standing quite stili looking q
,wn upon him as she had looked once q
fore. AS their eyes met she changed %
4 position hastily. GO
You are going out?" she asked. And O.
struck Loder quickly that there was Ie
suggestion, a shadow OF disappoint-