Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-03-30

l nEiN Slnee the moment OF nus renun-
citation that at last in physical response
TO II he pushed back his chair.
ITS too late" he said aloud I'm q
fool. It's too late"
Then abruptly. astonishingly. az
though in direct response TO his spoken
| thought. the door opened and Chllcote
walked into the room.
Slowly Loder rose and stared at him.
( The feeling he acknowledged TO him
self was anger. but below the anger a
very different sensation ran riotOusly
strong And It was in time TO this sec
ond feeling. this sudden. lawless Joy.
that bis pulses beat as he turned a cold
face on the intruder.
'WellT' he said sternly.
But ChilcOte was impervIous to stern
ness. He was mentally shaken and dis
tresSed. though outwardly irreproacha-
( bic. even 10 the viOlets in the lapel OF
his coat-the violets that for a week
past had been brought each morning
10 the door OF LOder's rooms by Ewes
maid. For one second. as LOder's eyes
rested on the flowers. a sting OF ungOv-
ernable jealousy shot through him;
then as suddenly il died away. super
seeded by another feeling-a feeling OF
new. spontaneous JOY. Worn by Chill
cote or by himself the flowers We're .
symbol
''wellT" he said again in a gentler
voice.
Chilcote had walked TO the table aud
laid down his hat His face was white
and the muscles OF his lips twitched
nervously as he drew or his gloves.
Thank heaven. you're here"' he said
shortly. Give me something 20 drink. {"
In silence Loder brought out the
whisky and set il on the table: then In.
I stinctively be turned aside. As plainly
I as though he saw the action he men
] tally figured Chiicotes furtlve glance.
1 the furuve movement Of his fingers to
his waistcoat pocket. the hasty drop
l ping OF the tabloids into the glass.
| For an instant tho sense OF his tacit
cOnnivance came 20 him sharply: the
next ne flung 10 from him The hui
| man. inner voice was whispering its
old watchword. The strong man has
no time 60 waste over his weaker
+ brother,
When he heard Chilcote lay down his
| tumhler ne looked back again. well.
! what is itf' De said what have YOU
! come forF lie strovc resolutely 10
I keep his voice severe but try as he
might he could not quite subdue the
eager force that lay behind his words.
1 Once again. as ou the night OF their
second Interchange. life had become n
phoenix rising to fresh existence even
while be s'ftel its ashes. "Wcllv' he
said once arain.
ChIlcote had set down his glass lie
was uervoue'v passing his handkcr.
| chief across his lips There was some
thing .n the gesture that attracted Io-
der. Loo',iug at him more attentively.
! he saw what his own feelings and the
others conventional dress had blinded
| him to-thc almost pitcous panic and
excitement in his visitors eyes.
Something gone wron-.' he said.
/ with abrupt intuition.
2 Chilcote started. "Ycs-no-that As.
/ YES" Dee stammercd.
Loder moved around the table.
I Sometimes gone wrong" De repeat
( cd. "aud you've come CD ten me-"
/ The tone unncrved Chilcote. lie sud
! denly dropped into a chair "It-it
wasn't nay fault DE began II have
| had q horrible timc~'
Loder's lips frightened Yes" he
/ said. yes. I understand"
The other glanced up with n CLEAN
or his OH suspicion. Twas all my
nerves. Lodcr"-
cor course. Tes. OF course" To
der's interruption was curt
Chilcote eyed him doubtfuHy. Then
recollection took the place OF doubt.
and change passed over his express
sion. 1T wasn't my fault" he began
I hastily "On my soul. 80 wasn't, II
was Crapham's beostly fault for show
| ing her into the morning room
Loder kept silent HIS curiosity had
nared into sudden lie at the others
words. but he feared 20 break the shat
tered train OF thought even 10y a word.
In the silence CAilcote moved un-
I easily. you see" he went on ut last.
when I was here with YOU II felt
! strong. II lie stopped
/ Yes. yes When you were here with
me you felt strong"
"Nes, that's IT, While was here I
felt could DO the thing. But when l
went hOme-when ! went up 10 my
4 rooms Again he paused. passing his
handkerchief across his forehead
when you went up TO your rooms?"
Loder strove hard 10 keep his control
ITO my room?- Oh. IL forget
about that. forget about the night
I He hesitated confusedly. "All / re-
; member is the coming down 10 break
fast next morning-this morning at
! u o'clock
Loder turned 90 the table and poured
himself out some whisky. YES" he
acquiesced in a very quiet voice
At the word Chllcote rose from his
seat His disquietude was very evil
/ dent "Oh. there was breakfast on the
| table when | came downstalrs-break-
! fast, with flowers and horrible, daz-
zling glare OF sun. IL was then, Loder.
as ! stood and looked into the room,
that the impossibility OF IL all came to
me-that / knew ! couldn't stand it
I cOuldn'f 90 on