The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1907-04-05

tiating tones were sounding once
more.
''Its the passing of my hands over
yours while look into the crystal that
sets up sympathy''-a slender hand
moved swiftly into the lighyand picked
up the ball-"and makes 3y eyes see
the pictures in your mind Now. will
you please take Off your riIgsT
The very naturalness odthe request
disarmed him. 1t was a rsSk. But as
Chilcote had said. risk washe salt Of
life! -
I'm afraid you Think ne very
troublesome" The voice cine again,
delicately low and conciliatry.
For brief second Lode3 wondered
uncertainty how long or how we'll Chill
cote knew Lady Astrupp; tfen he dis
missed the question. Chtcote had
never mentioned her until tAight, and
then casually as Lady Bramfllls sister.
What coward he was becoming In
throwing the dice with fate4 Without
further delay he drew off lhe rings.
slipped them into his pock4 and re-
placed his hands on the smSoth table
top.
Then, at the moment that hkreplaced
them, peculiar thing occurred.
From the farther side of the dark
partition came the quick, rushing stir
of skirt and the slight scrSpe Of Il
chair pushed either backward Of for
ward. Then>there WIS asslsa.ttS
NOW, SllenCG can ~ HibllS
from profound Thought to iSpecility,
but In this case It's auSso.faon. Ras nil.
That something had happened, that
some change had taken .rface, was as
patent to Loder as ths,darkness Of the
curtain or the band d light that crossed
the floor, but what had occasloned 1t,
or what 1t stood for, he made no at
tempt to decide. He sat bitingly con-
scious of his hands spread open on the
table under the scrutiny of eyes that
were Invisible to him, wildly aware
Of the awkwardness of his position.
He felt with instructive certainty that
new chord had been struck; but a
man seldom acts on instructive, certain
ties. If the exposure OF his hands had
struck this fresh note, then anyaraoel
eNtiOh NOVit pul iclShhSh SiS ~
He sat silent and motionless.
Whether his impassivity "~sany
bearing on the moment he hsS T way
.p.-...-,r;,-. b,.i -.o Iuftner mOpkeIHeHt
came from behind the partition. What
ever the emotions that had caused the
sharp swish Of skirts and the sharp
scrape Of the chair, they had evidently
subsidized or been dominated by, other
feelings.
The next Indication Of life that came
to him was the laying down OF the
crystal ball. 1t was laid back upon the
table with slight jerk that indicated
decision come to; and almost silnul-
taneously the seer's voice came to HIM
again. Her tone was lower now tan
1t had been before, and its extrGne
ease seemed slightly shaken-whetISer
by excitement, surprise or curiositYit
was impossible to say.
"You will think it straI Asfi8-
gan. You will think faTs1e
waited for some help, but E6def re-
manned mute. In difficulty sAent
tongue and cool head are uspaiy
mans best weapons. w.
| His SllcUCe WAC
heard her stir again. ,o
"You will think it strange she u.
gan once more. Then quite suuueh'!
sho checked and controlled her voice
mYou must forgive ME for what "n
r,;no to saw" she added In coh
D,etelv different tone, "but crystal ga.
ino 60 such an. illusive thing. Direc''
Won put your hands upon the Mo'.
selt that there would be no result, p'
r 1you,dn't admit the defeat. Woms
. ora such keen anglers that they ca
!, never acknowledge that any ~, he :,
, ever big, has slipped the hoof' .
n laughed softly. .Gp -.
the souuu IL IA. ,",.nsh l.
- cd his position for the hrs. CTR,
could not have told why' pu' eua,
~ him with a slight sense or cor,"S -
:. =. A prcclpitate wish TO rse "r r,
10 uon the doorway into thF WI
IN ~ the conservatory game
Oh sl,n, though he made no attcmFt 70
s' .,.,nn a. He knew that. for soile -
-, ne ,i,coble reason, this woman petl
IN ,.no, p had lied to HMM the coh'
IA ,n os her speech, in her chahse
,at, voice. There had peeh ono .,a, ro,
,Sn ,' which an impulse or an e'no.,1n .,n,nS
III most found voice; then tin,na, ,,u.,an,
ics st,nct or IL might have been u'p'u,n
on I'D conquered, and the mohi.n'
uii- noesed. There was rluoie ~ .ns =,
''" atmosphere of the piace-anu Nc
u 'h pnt Lady Astrupp-wus aps0l OK ot
,,dn own concerns. Again she cha
\ M her position, and to Loder, .,,n .lS.' ,'
attentlyely, @ it seemed that she !, !,
forward and examined MS
n.resh The sensation was SO