La Grande evening observer., January 13, 1923, Image 9

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Saturday, January 13, 1923.
THE LA GRANDE EVENING OBSERVER
THE
UE
This famous novel is printed in serial form by arrangement -with Richard Walton Tully. in "whose screen version, a
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Current rust rmrionai ununiuii uuupmi tivui jvmi iiuuih uuuius uiuiuuiuuuuu, vuy ixiics rosi is now appearing
MASQ
RARER
M
3
FIFTEENTH INSTALLMENT
CHAPTER XXVIII
ODER'S plan of action was ar
" rived at before he reached
Trafalgar Square. The facts of the
case were Vlmple. Chtloote had left
an Incriminating telegram on the
bureau In the uiornl tig-room at ! rot
ten or Square; by an unlucky chance
Lillian Astrupp had been shown up
Into that room, where she had re
mained alone until the moment Hint
Eve, either hy request .or by accident,
had found her there. The facts re
solved themselves Into one question.
Wit fit use had Lillian nunle of those
aolltary moments? Without devia
tion, I.oder's mind turned towards
one answer. Lllllim was not the
woman to lose an opportunity,
whether the space at her command
were long or short. True, Kve too
hart been alone In the mom, while
Chilcote bud tn-conipniiied Lillian to
1he donr; hut of this he made small
account. Kve had been ihere, but
Lillian had been there first. Judging
by precedent, by personal character,
by all human probability, It was not
to he supinf"'d that anything would
have been left for the second-comer.
So convinced was he that, reaching
Trafalgar Square, he stopped and
hulled a hansom.
TaifciKiip Hardens !" he culled.
"No. Mil."
The moments seemed very few be
fore. the cab drew up beside the
curb and he can slit hi second
glimpse of the enamelled door with
lt silver fittings. The white and
i!rer gleamed In the sunshine :
banks of creani-eolored hyacintJis
clustered on the window-sills, Oiling
the clear air with a warm and fra
grant sent. With that strange sen
sation, of having lived through the
scene before. Loder loft the cjb and
walked up Ihe steps. Instantly be
pressed the bell the door was opened
by Lillian's discreet, inferential man
servant.
"Is Lady Astrupp at home?" he
avked.
The man looked thoughtful. "Her
ladyship lunched at home, sir " he
bey an, cautiously. .
Hat Loder interrupted him. "Ask
her to see me." he said laconically.
The servant expressed no surprise
His only comment was to throw the
f door wide
"If you'll wail in the white room,
sir," he shIiI, TU inform her lady-
t ship." Chlleot. whs evidently fro-
! quent and favored visitor.
In this manner Loder for the sec
j nnrt lime entered the house so unfa
! miliar anil yet so familiar in all
J that It suggested. Kntoiing the draw
t lug-room, he bad leisure to look about
IiIhi. It was a beautiful room, large
and lofty ; luxury was evident on
I every hand, but It was not the Invito
tlbnt palls or offends. Ka h , object
was graceful, and possessed Its-own
Intrinsic value. The atmosphere was
too effeminate to appeal to- him; nut
he acknowledged the taste and artis
tic delicacy it conveyed. Almost at
th'e moment of acknowledgment the
door opened to admit Lillian.
jj; She wore the same gown of pale
j colored 'eloth, warmed am softened
Ijjby rich furs, that she had worn on
Sjihe day she and rhllcote had driven
jfjlin the park. She was drawing on
a her gloves as she came Into the
room ; and pausing near tin door,
she looked across at Loder ami,
laughed in bcr slow, amused way.
"I thought It would be you," she
said enigmatically.
Loder came forward. "You ex
pected toe?" he said. guardedly. A
sudden i-onvii'on lllied him that It
was ii"t 1 1 vi-len'-e of her eyes, but
something at -.cbtler and imr"
defiuTt" tint prompted her recogni
tion of li!"i
She s-nH.-i. -'V.'hy should I expee!
you? On t'te (Mii'!;'ry. I'tn waiting
o know whv vo;',e lr-re;"
He vas sll-iit for an instant: then
o an'.vrcd in h r own liItt t"H
A f:r as ih.it h a:d. i-i-t'
nake it my duty call having dined
villi you. I'm an o'd-fashioned per
son." I-'or a full s"'ond she surveyed him
amusedly : then at last she sjMke.
"My dear .1 i' k"- she laid particular
stress on the name "I never ImaiT
Ined you p'inctilions. I should ,ae
thought boiieiiilan would have been
more the word."
Loder felt dlsisjn--erted and an
nnyed. Kit her, like himself, she was
ftshlnc for Information, or she was
deliberately playing wltb him. In
Ms perfihulty he irlanced across the
room towards the tlreplafre.
Lillian saw the look. "Won't you
It down?" she said, indicating the
'f Jtch. "I promise not to make you
J oke. I shan't even ask you to
j rak off your gloves :
; I-oder made no movement. His
mind sua unpleasantly upset. It was
nearly a fortnight since he had seen
I Lillian, and In the Interval tier atti
j tude had rbanced. and the. chance
! pti7Rled him. It mitfht niean the pliil
';oaophy oT a womnn "hn. kivwlnc
j herself withmr adequate tapons,
withdraw fr.ti a ttunbar that has
proved fniitles: or r-might Imply
the merely a;i:ke d!re fo ur with
1 a eertainty Me looked M'ik!y at
: fte delicate f...e. Hio urepn
: somewhat ofdiqncry set. the unrli
able month: and intamly he Im lined
to tb Isftr thory. The cnnvl'-tlon
- t3i she poepd th tP'.Afrsm fiMM
; bio tnaVJenlr. snd with !t cam rhp
' iArt tt put his belief to th ' t
tr kw bycnd quv'on whhr
aosUlatf luconcem ciet n.i-i
"When you firat came Into the
room." be said, quietly, "you said, '1
thought it would be you.' Why did
you say that?"
Ajniin she smiled the smile that
might be malicious or might be merely-amused,
"nit,' she answered at
last, " only meant that though I had
been told .lack fhikxite wanted me.
It wasn't Jack Chilcoto 1 expected
to see!"
After her statement there was a
pause. Loder's position was ditltcult.
Instinctively convinced that, strong
in the possession of her proof, she
was enjoying his tantalized discom
fort, be yet craved the actual evi
dence tiiat should set bis suspicions
to rest. Acting upon the desire, he
made a new beginning.
"I. to you know why I came?' be
asked.
Lillian looked up Innocently. "It's
so hard to be pertain of anything In
this world," she wild. "Hut one Is
always nt liberty to guess."
Again he was perplexed. Her atti
tude was not quite the attitude of
one who controls the game, and yet
lie looked at her with a puzzled
scrutiny. Women for him 1md always
spelled the incomprehensible: be was
at his best, his strongest, bis surest
In the presence of men. Feeling his
disadvantage, yet determined ti gam
tils end, he made n last nitcnipr.
"HowMlid you amm-e yourself at
(Jrosvenor Square th's too nlng be
fore Kve on me to ' '", -isked.
The effort was awl. ' lunt. but
it was direct.
Lillian was bu : r glove.
She did not rais - .l us he
spoke, but her li it; tj o.i.vi! in their
task. I-'or a sc-ond sje remained
motionless, then slu- looked up slowly.
"Oh." she said, sweetly, ": I v;
right In my guess? Vo i eome to
Ind out whether 1 sat in thi morning
room with my hands In my lap or
wandered nhout In search of enter
:ainnini ?"
Loder co'ored whli annoyance and
apprelienston. 10 very louk, every
tone of Lillian's was distasteful to
him. No microscope n;iid have re
vealeil her more fully to hint than
did his own ees:h;. lint It was not
the moment for personal antipathies:
i hern "were other Interests than bis
own at stake. With new resolution
he returned her glance.
"Then I must still my first
question, why did you say, -I thotiuht
it would be you?'" His gare Wtl
diriM't, so direr-i that It dN'oncerted
her. She laughed a Utile uneasily.
"Hecause I knew " "
" "How did you ;,. .,?"
"Itci-nuse " she bo-.-ii: then
again she laughed. "Ile;nqse, she
added, quh kly, as If i:io. eil hv a
fresh itiqaiNe, "Jack Chil.ofe made
it very obvious to jmy one who was
in bis niorninv-rooiii tit twelve
oYhirk today that It would be you
and icq he who would be found 1111-iiu-hia.
place this ii-fierucon ! Ii's alt
very well o talk about Imn tr, but
when.oiij' walk?, into an empty room
Hid sees a tcleuraui as long as a tet
ter open nn a bureau"
lint her sentence was never tin
ished. Loder hud heard what be
eame to hear ; any nipft !"ti she
nuuht otfer was uf iv moment In his
.eves.
'.My d'.'ar trirl." be broke In.
brnsipicly. '-don't n-i.uble! I should
make a most unsatisfactory father
confessnr." He spoke quickly. lis
eolor was still hiiih. but not of an
noyance. 1 Us suspense was trans
formed Into unpleasant certainty :
but the exchange li ft him surer of
himself. His perplexity had dropped
o a quiet sense of self-reliance; his
iiaraiiLonut desire wa for solitude in
which to prepare for I lie task that
lay before Id in; the most congenial
task the world p.isseed I he nn
ravelling of ridicule's tamrln! sl;e;:is
!oking Into Lillian's eye, he sinlled.
"(iiiod-bye ;' he said. hoMim: out ii'--lianl.
I think we've finished f.ir
ro-day."
She slowly e tended her li Mirers.
Her expresiun and attitude were
slightly pu;'.::lcd - a puz.tcneMii ;ia!
was either spontaneous nr singularly
well assumed.. As tlieir hands torn-lied
she smiled airaln.
"Will yon drop in at tie .re.idlau
lo-tilyht':" she said. "It's the di'aina
lized version of 'Oilier Men's :-.Int.s f
The temptation t' ift.ilie oti see it
was too jrresNt ib!e a yt mi know."
There was a pause while she wait
ed for lils answer her head In' llned
to one side, vr green eyes gleainhiu.
Loder, consebius of her regard,
hesitated for a moment. Then bis
face cleared. "Hignrr he said, slow
ly. "'The Arcadian to-ninhi !"
CHAPTER XXIX.
I ODER'S frame of mind as he left
radoan (iMrden ;h pi-cuiiar. .
Hnc more he was livins !n the pres
ent the forceful, exhilarating pre. .
ent. and the knowleile braced him.
I'lMin one point his mind was patis--lied.
Liili;n Antrum, luol found ihe!
teteirrsm. and it reti.-ained him t
render hr find valueless How lie
npt-d (o ,. thi, ltfT Im fO""poi'd
tn rnmo nut trluioi.bsnt In fjH f of I
sin h A situation. ws tnstter tbM )
s yet ws sltspeiei in bis mind : I
t!Prprlhees, tlie rtanper the sense ;
of linjiendinc r,nnfltcl--bii saor ;
of lif aftr thp Inaction of thp day '
nd night Just arl. rhibotp In
weknpts und his pntansIemenT
bsi turned to him: and h In bin;
iTrenjrrh snd c&paclty bad repvonded i
the'charactersIn the story
JOHN CHILCOTE, member of the House of Commons, a party to a love
less marriage and a continued -drug addict, changes places in life
with
JOHN LODER, his exact counterpart in appearance. So successful is
the deception that the masterful Loder becomes not only the strong
political ally of
FRAIDE, the great party lender, but he is not suspected by the servants
nor by Chilcute's beautiful but unhappy wife,
EVE, who, however, is mystified by her husband's change in manner. At
a social function Loder is inveigled into a darkened tent, where
LADY LILLIAN ASTRUPP, intimate of Chilcote, indulging her hoVuy
of crystal-gazing, makes him remove his rings, exposing the give-away
scar on his finger. Loder, recognizing her as the woman who had jilted
him in the past, eludes her without explanation. Loder is recalled by
Chilcote, who resumes his own life.. Chilcote makes an appointment to'
dine with Lady Lillian. He forgets the appointment and again changes
places with Loder, who, noting the date and the initial "L" in Chilcote's
engagement book, mistakes it for a political appointment with i
LAKELY. editor of St. Georce's. Loder is startled when he is ushered
into the home and presence of Lady
bis rine-s. Ho refuses. She declares
nies nor affirms, but warns her before leaving that none will believo j
her story. Russian nets of aggression again British trading interests-
in Persia give Loder his great political opportunity. ' 'News or ine as-.
sassination of a British consul-general fires him to an epochal speech,
in Parliament that overturns the cabinet. He is the hero of the hour
and there are tears of joy in Eve's eyes. Realizing that he loves her '
he goes back to Chilcote and announces that ho intends to quit the(
masquerade. The wretched Chilcote leaves for home, but he is not;,
gone for long. He returns to Loder with the news that an incrim-;
inatinir teletrram he had written Loder imploring him to resume the(
deception disappeared after a .visit
mines to unravel the tang.
a :
-W'4WU
Chilcote eyed him doubtfully.
Masquerader,'
Ills step :is (inn a d his bcarins !
i:s;iired as be turned into tlrosveiior.
Sqi'are :in-l walked towards Ho fam-,
lllar house.
The h;d'!t of ;iel f-di'ccjt is as Tit- '
sidiotis and t na. '.to;; as Miy vii e.
1-or one tnonicm u;i t!,e niht of hi .
ureal speech, as he leant d nut of
Chib-ote's i-iin iae and met I 'Ml
cote's eyes. Loder had sen Itli:it-I r
ami litoler the shock of revelation
had taken dceuite ;iii'"i. Imt IiV
the hours oihscuiieni to ilia: acttt.n
the platt'dlde. imi'T id'e brol wit's,
pert-d uni-eas nL'Iy. simili'ny his
wounded se p-eteem. renidldiiv
senile by stone the temple nf his e.i- '
tlsm: until at lust wh'-n rhilcot", '
panlc-stri'-kcn at bis own c tion. had
burst Into his rooms read to (dead ;
or to coerce, be bud found no need
for either coercion nr entreaty I'.y a
imwer more subtle and efTi'eiive than ;
any at Ids command, Loder had been
prepared for Irs cointny tincon-
!i'i(HIt' re.ely Wit'l all ariflosrelire
before les jippc; l had beli made.
was the fruit of this preparation, l!.";
It, evil old nii-(.iiie of ft, ;h-ii
"I rrnuthened Inn 'ep and steaitid'
bis hand us he nciirred ih st-p-and
opened the hall d..r of rirl-
"tes hnijM' on lii.it evp-lttfid after-,
noon. 1
The dignity, the air of oiict .did-;
ity, inipres"- b:m as if never failed
o do. ns be -rospf the lare bail i
and BM-etid'd (lie Mair- iIip a:i(" .
siairs that he lin l paed ilown id j
o'ost a an onteai not ma jr.
hoers before. He m:is filled wPh tie!
sense of thitiLs rc-aincfl ; belief in
h's own star llftrd him as it had
d'.ne n hundred tim.s before In tlo-pj
B!iip surroundings. j
Hp 0,ui'kene-l lli t'pf ft tl.e 5Cl j
sit. t! nr. came to h r. T'-in. rertr'-iuf ;
the lif.id of tn ffjfir. (.. furr.ed di-j
re;,r -rkr K. ? 5 s',"Vj ;r.i!n,i
Astrupp.' She asks him to remove .
he is not Chilcote. He neither de
by Lady Astrupp. Loder deter-lf
Guy Bate Post in "The,
nd, training Ihe door, knocked. The
strength of his eaaerness. the quick
beailn of bis pulse ns he waited for,
rf response, surpt'ise'i nun. lie Inn
told himself many times that Ut.
pas-don, however strong, would
never :'L';:in compter as It hail done
nvn ui: in iinu I nr wo i hum nr
had come bus rand idly In Kve' I
I'o.itu was to bis mind a proof thai
tetoplal ion could be dared. Never
tlx lc-3 there was something discoil
cer'ini' to u strong man In this mere
ly ph '-ieal pert i;r'.i:i" h ; ami wlni
I've's vitji-e came to him. clvin per
cii -.jou to en''T. he pausod for at
ili-'atit to steady him-e'f: then w'f!
-c'dden di'eision be opcneil the doo.
and walked into the room.
The blinds were p.irt Iv draw u
be:-e w.ii a s.-eTit of violets in tie
air. and a iir slowed warmly In tin
srrate. H'- n"tcd thi'se tliincs en re
fit II v, let lii's hime'r that a man
should al-Aavs be alertly aenHlble f
lit-; -urr mndi n s:1-: I hen nil at once
t!.e ttie .a i ', n l' f detail suddenly ,
:m u;-. Ite fo,..t cveryttilng butt:
:!,. oie ir':'o-ian e ibat Ke was
-'i.nddiL' in : T ; v.ipdow -her bark
fo t,,e !!'.'. lor face towards hlra.
",'U his pu (;..' lo-:'i in ir fjister ard
idi'-c.-Iv r--nat:.n in his braii;"
be iihimmI JoiMjnl holding out bl
Land. J
Li' " l.e oaid below bit kf
Hilt live reaialrted molioaiaa Kt
he -a me Into tlie room tfc h4
2hiri'-d st him - a glmre af f '
spanhin ques'lon; then wltk
sud'li-nn.-KH stie hnd ttrt berj
ces. As he di P T clou t few Mai, j
she r'-mn nM rjineTb'a. '
"'. " nt ii(J tr' 1 mn;
f-d to hep ro j -I wat4 t trplata
abo'it fi'ff,9f tn4 aHmtt this
Tierntrj" ft aaa4, iV34nlf AJ'
ty'f-i. TV fall fvvnfcraaee t
iocd up at sljsbt of her l,aA rlior.
a fierce, unquencbable recolUotiuU.
"tJ.o ' he began again la a dmw
abrupt tone.
Ami then It was that Kve uhbwtd
i.erstlf hi a fresh light, tioiii his
entrance Into, the room she hud
stuyed motionless, save for her first
glance of acute Inquiry; but now
her demeanor changed, ior almost
the first time In Loder's knowledge
of her the vitality und force thut he
hnd vaguely apprehended below her
quiet, serene exterior sprang up like
a tlame within whose radius things
are Illuminated. With a quick ges
ture she turned towards him, her
warm color deepening, her eyes sud
denly alight.
"! understand," she. said, "I under
stand, lton't try to explain! Can't
jpou see that It's enough to to see
you oc you are Y
t Loder was surprised. Iteinember
ng -tlutlr lust passionate scene; and
jt he damper Chlhrote's, subsequent
presence inttst Inevitably have -cast'
upon . If, he had expected: to : bo
doubtfully received ; but the reality
nf the reception left him bewildered.
Kves -manner was not that of the
ill-used wife: Its vehemence, Its note
of; desire nnd depreciallon, were
more suggestiye of Ills own ardent
seizing of the present, ,us jdlstln-'
gulshed from past or future With
an odd sense of confusion ho turned
to her d fresh:
"Then I nm forgiven?" he said.
And unconsciously, ns he moved
nearer, he touched her nrm.
At his touch she started. All the
yielding sweetness, all the submis
sion, that hnd marked her two
nights ago was gone; in Its place
she was possessed hy a curious ex
citement that silrred. while it per
plexed. Loder, moved by the sensation,
took nnnther step forward. "Then I
nm forgiven?" he repeated, more
softly.
Her face was averted ns he spoke,
but he felt her arm quiver; and
when nt last she lifted her bend,
their eyes met. Neither spoke, but
In an Instant Loder,'s arms were
round her.
Kor a long, silent space they stood
holding each id her 'closely. Then,
with a sharp movement, Kve freed
herself. Her cn ir was st III high
her eyes still peculiarly bright, but
the bunch of violets she bad worn
in her belt had falb n to the ground.
"John " she said, quickly; but
on the word her breath caught.
With a touch of nervousness she
stooped to pick up the flowers.
Loder noticed both olee and ties
ture. "What is It?" he said, "What
were you going to say?"
Hut she . made no answer. I-'or n
second longer she searched for the
vjolets: then, as he bent to amidst
lief, sue stood up quickly and
laughed a short,; embarrassed
laugh. : " t
"How absurd imd nervous I nm!"
she -exclaimed.. "Like a sehool-glrl
Instead of n.r.'rtnan of twenty-four.
You must help ine to be sensible."
Her cheek" h still burned, her man
ner was still excited, like one who
hotdH uu emotion or an impulse at
hay.
Loder looked at her uncertainly.
"Kve " he began afresh with bis
odd, characteristic perseverance, but
she Instantly checked blui. There
was a finality, a faint suggestion of
fenr, In her protest.
"imn't!" she said. ."Don't! I
don't want explanations. I want to
to enjoy the moment without hav
ing things analyzed or smoothed
a way. Can't ymi understand? Can't
yon see that I'm wonderfully, terri
bly happy to to have you as you
are!" Again bcr voice broke a
break that might have been a laugh
or a sob.
The sound was an emotional
crisis, as such n sound invariably
Is. It nrrested nnd steadied her.
Kor a moment she stood absolutely
still ; 1hcn. with something very
closely resembling her old repose of
mnnner, she stooped again and
quietly picked up Ihe flowers still
lying at her feet.
"Now," shp said, quietly. "I must
sar what I've warned to say all
along. How doe It feel to be "
great man?" H r manner wa con
trolled, ho looked at him evenly
and directly; sae for ihe faint vi
bration In her vnien there was
nothing (o Indicate Ihe tumid t of
a moment ago.
Itut Loder was Mill mo-ertnln. Tie
caught her hand, his eyes searching
hers.
"Hut Kve" lie bei'ati.
Then Tiio played the lnt card In
her tin srei'Ions game. Lair: bin::
quickly nnd oervoeiy, sh" freed her
band and laid U "wt his mouth.
"No;" she said. "Not one word!
All this past fnrinigbt b is lodon::ed
t.i ou; now it's my turn. Today
mine."
CHAPTER XXX.
ilNI pn, otire again, the woman
! ennq'tpred. Whatever K's
j Intentions were, whatever she wish-
ed to evnde or ward off, she w is
isuc!ful In gaining her end. For
more ibsn to hours she kept Loder
;at her aid p. 'I'Iotp may hae b-en
!monienra In t!op two hours when
the t'niinn was high, nhrn Ihe ef
ffrta fch ins dp to i,i(-ir;t inul h -bi
! turn wpi p. :."ti..' nar i i :.h.-u. ion
. v :l t!:
-AUi 'tug tftcr ies. had been fcerved,
ioiif after iiive had ott'eied to do ptn-,
ance for i.er monopoly of him by
thivU.g i.ha tc; CidUte'a cuib, tiat
loder reailiOti with any decreo of
dlstirejtuess that it w&3 she and
not he who had taken the lead In I
their Interview; that It was she ftud
not be who hnd bridged the dlthYuIt
silences nnd given a fresh direction
to dangerous el tunnels of talk. It
was long before be recognized this;
hut It was- still longer before he
realized the far inure potent fact
that, without any coldness, without
inv lessening of the subtle consid
eration she ulwuys showed him, site
had given htm no further opportuni
ty of making love.
Talking continuously, elated with
the sense of conflict still to come,
fie drove with her to the clu. Con
sidering that drive In the light "f
ufteri aventtvhhi pwn .fmmfi f mind;
luVip-'-nhdy' filled Mm wlt;lf Inncdiii-lfyJ.,;-
in1 tbe' eyct1 :bc;any :Hith8i ninn
his.piUlonhviilV.oi'tli; nh ,hoi)r'fl
purchase. ;' yet In, Lhe;i ilind . self-ctin-
lidence of thrt, nimntmt lie woun :noi.
baVf .ehnnged.. iJaceH i' w(tli r KraHle;
himself. . The givnt.iiongof Self, was.,
sounding In h(s cat's uh he, drove l
through: tbq ciwiletl street n coiv 1
sclous of lite ciadf crltp.1nlrt,of;1I;ve,B;.
close preAeibMvbfi tite.in,niihirleas In
nnliesiimil ilUncw Mdit wont it o make
tip. the value, of life. Jt.. wu.i this
acknowledgment of personality Ilia!
upheld hltni 'th perscihillly, the
power thai Juid carried him nn
swervlngly through eleven colorless
years; that had Impelled him to
wards this nuv career when the new
career bad first been opeid to lilm:
that had hewn away fo , '- 'n Ihh
fresh existence ar-rc "lossnt
itdds. The indomitable l -e hat
had trampled mil Chilcote's Tool
marks in public life, in private lh'e
In love. It was a triumphant
paan that clamored In his cars,
something persistent nnd prophetic
with an undernote of menace. The
cry of the human soul that has dar
ed to stand alone.
His glance was keen nnd bright
as he waited for a moment at Ihe
carriage door and look Kve's hand
before entering the club.
"You're dining nut tonight?" ho
said. IPs lingers, always tenacious
and masterful, continued to hold
hers. The .compunction that had
driven him lejiipornrlly towards flnA
rilice had passed. His pride, his
confidence, and with them his de
sire, had Mowed hack In full mea
sure. Kve, wnt chin? him altcntlvely.
paled a little. "Yes." she uald, "I'll'
dining with the llriiinfelK"
"What time will you get home?"
He Vearcidy realized why be put Ihe
qiies!b'n. Tbl' song of Self still
sounded 'triumphantly, and" he re
sponded without .reflection. . :
, His eyes, bold hers.' his; lingers
pressed , her haml,; tlie intense .mas
tery of his will passed tliroru'h her
fit a sudden sense of fear, llep lips
purled In deprecation, hut he
closely attentive of her expression
spoke again quickly,
"When can I see you?" he asked,
very -piletly.
Again she was about to speak. She
leaned forward, as If soma thoimht
long suppressed trembled on her
lips; then her courage or her de
sire failed her. She leaned back,
letting her lashes droop over her
eyes, ' i shall be home at eleven,"
siie said below her breath.
Loder dined with Lakely nt Chll
eete's club; nnd R" absorbing were
'he political interests of the hour
the resignation of Sir Hubert Sef
boroiigh, the King's summoning of
Kraide, the probable features of the
new ministry--that It was after nine
o'clock when at last he freed hlmseir
and drove to the "Arcadian" The
atre. The sound of music came to him
j,s he entered the (hen Ire ll;dil.
measured music suggestive , tiny
streams, toy lambs, and i.:int"d
shepherdesses. It soiirdd s'ngu
hirly Inappropriate to IiI-j in.od -n
Inappropriate as ihe Ibcafe Itself
with Its gay gliding Ha pale tines
of iii uk nnd blue. Il was tl tting
nf H different world- a world of
hinuhJer, light thoughts, and shal
low impulses, In which be bad no
part. He halted for in Instant nut
wjde the box to which the attendant
had shown blm ; Ihen, nn the do.ir
wi:s thrown open, lie M ralgliteurd
himself resolutely and stepped for
ward.
Tt was the Infcrval between the
brut and second acts. The box was
n shadow, and Loder's Ibst Impt'es-
j 'lion mm of voices and riMtllug
t skirt, broken In upon by the mur
'uiur of freipsent. nniused lutighier:
later. s hU e " grew iicci-inmed
i to Ihe light, lie distinguished the
j i.cciipaiMs - t wo wonn-n and a man.
The man was speaking as he enter
ed, and Hie story be was relating
was evidently interesting from the
jfiitnt etclnmathins of question Mild
'delicht that ptini'tunted It In Hie lis
teners' higher, Pofter voices. A the
' new-ct.tncr entered they all three
turned nnd looked at til in.
"Ah, here comes (ho legislator;"
ert;t lined Leoiiartl Kalne. For It
! a he u ho f oi med the male ele
. no-nt in the party.
( 'The llevolutloiinry, t.cnnle!'
I.IHi.in ct' cted, softly, nrnmfell
lt)a he hah (h;.r.H tbe n li,e face
' -. : 'Mr Si" '.avghcl smlr aai
intAr.L.gljf it aiie cloi "Kit Taff,"".
"i'o good of yea to coiue, Jack I" the
nit did. "iit n.e Introduce you to
MUs li4fcUyn ; 1 don't think you two
have met. Tali Is Mr. Chilcote,
Mary the treat, new Mr. Chilcote."
Again she laughed.
Loder bowed and moved to the
front of the box. nodding to Kaln
aa he passed.
"Ifa only for an hour," he ex
plained to Llllina. "I have an ap
pointment for eleven." He turned
and bowed to the third occupant of
the box a remarkably youut and
well-dressed girl with wide-awake
eyes and a retrousse nose.
"Only nn hour! Oh, how unkind I
How should I punish him, Lennle?"
Lillian looked round at Kulae with
a lingering, caressing glunce.
He bent towards her In quick re-
ponso and answered In a whisper.
i She! laughed and , repMedj In .an
equally 'low. it oniVj l'MV"j; f H;!;
X.(MV-'rii!y iwiHHii'! not!) remarna' natu ;
beep .Inn'uillble, ivippetjlrlnto tlifl ;.t!
c'nnt'S'eat MeVlde;1MHV.v;l,!s8itytr.J'!llr! i
limVjbHSinSaSllciJ 'ieeijng tl'mt Ibltlga: ! :
wer nob ifiillliig;; out exactly ke 1
hhd'ciilcul'ated.' ' I . U . . . !
U'lmt It !ilie plliy ;ilke?"-ht Mnr.- j
nrded! as be h'ked towards his cam- :
ptinlon. ; At all. (hues social trivial- j
ltles!boied;!lil(ii.; tonight they were'!
iitoloriiblej ;,Ue 'had tome ta fight, . ;
nit all tit otice'lt seemed that ther!r
wits tin opponent. Lillian's attltudo ,
llstitrbed him; . her careless gra-
i-lousnesa, her evident Ignoring ef
him for ICalne, might mean nothing.
but also it might mean much. ,
So ha speculated as be put bis
liiesilnn nnd spurred his attention
own ids the girl's answer; hut with
he speculation cntne the resolve te
hold his own to meet his enemy
ipon whatever ground she chose 14
appropriate.
The girl looked nt him with inter
st. She, too, had heard of all
triumph.
"It Is a good piny," she responded.
"I like It better than the book.
You've read tlje book, of course?'
"No." Loder tried hard to fix hit
thoughts. "'
."It's amusing hut far-felcaeil.M
"Indeed?" He picked up Ihe re
;nim lying on the edge" of the box.
Ills ears were slrnlned to calch the
tone nf Lillian's voice as she laugh
d and whispered with lvalue.
"Yes ; men exchanging identities,
nil know." , .
He looked up and caught (lie girl's
u'lf-possessed glance. , "(Hi !" he
(aid, "Indeed?" Then again he
'nuked away. It wits iniolerahle this
feeling of being caged up! A sene
if anger crept through his mind. It
a I most seemed Hint Lillian hrfd
brought him there to prove that aht
had llnlsjicd with hint had cast'
him aside, having used linn for the
lay's excitement as she hud tiftfd
tier poodles, her. Persian cats, her
rysial-gaKlng., AH at once the hn
potency anil uncertainty of his posi
tion goaded hllu. Turning swiftly
in bis seat, be glanced back to where
she sat, slowly swaying her fan, her
pale, golden hair and her pslo-col-ored
gown delicately silhouetted
against the background of the box.
"What's your idea of the play,
Lillian?" he said, abruptly. To hia
own ears there whs a note of chal
lenge In his voice.
She looked round languidly. "Oh,
it's qulto amusing," she said. "It
makes a delicious farce absolutely
French."
"French?"
"Quite. Don't you think ao, Mf
tile?"
"Oh, quite," KHlne ogreed.
"They mean that It's so very light
and yet so very 'auntie, Mr. Chil
cote,'' Mary Ksseltyn explained.
"Indeed?" be said. "Then my
imagination was at fault. I thought
the piece was serious."
"Serious:" Lillian smiled again.
"Why, where's your senso of humor?
The motive of the piny debars all
nerloiisness."
Loder looked down st the program
still between bis hrmU "What It
the motive?" he aaked. ,
Lillian waved her fnn once on
rwlce, then closed II softly. "Lovej
Is the motive," she said. (
Now ftie balancing the adjusting
of impression nnd Inspiration K of
all processes In life, the r.iot
cutely line. The sltr.;.lo rmnd t
the word "lore" eonilns at lUnt pt
else juncture changed the. I.Me cur
rent of Loder's thought. It f-II li'o
a seed; and like a seed In ultra pro
ducilve soil, It bore fuiit vrit
itmar.lng rapidity.
The w ml itself was :.ti:ll .;:.'! Cio
manner in which it wri ..ii.:i i.-'v-ial.
hut Loder's m.tid ::.v.c!e.!
ami held by It. Th? t: M l:f Uf
had met his ears bis i :, li . nt: .ev.t
had been .i.slly dlv.i'.t: a:-.l this
echo of it In an r:v a atr.: v
pin-re fduug hlni t i r-er.:i.irm. 'I'-te
vision of live, the l!" t:ai t vt Kve,
been hip mtdilenly d-"r tr'i.i.
"LoeV be re;-r:?, co;x!!y. "io
love Is the nn;i'':
"Yes." Ti '.s t:-.? I: i:.:!a
who respoin'i d l;t N u'.i' i.
contented volet. ' 1 i's rov!lv of
ihe play .is I.e., a L!lH.i h;9.
And whin v.m lot tv? tti.s i.i
a three ;-.t - n f ? Iho
stage'.' He !a?.A t'rF .T '.s
spar, irr." In &U r-(Ua, iei
laxity sci;.; .Si '.1U i
ii7
J