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About La Grande evening observer. (La Grande, Or.) 1904-1959 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 3, 1923)
PAGBtM Saturday, February 3, 1923. RANKS EYENIN6 OBSERVER THE . MASaUERADER BY KATHERINE CECIL THURSTON1 This famous novl is printed hi serial form by arrangement -with Richard Walton Tully, in "whose sCi'CCii version, a current First National Attraction adapted from John Hunter Booths dramatization, Guy Bates Post is now appearing rvj - THE LA d s . VjNTBN7H INSTALLMENT ...j apter XXXII Continued i . J Conclusion j Th revelation touched him with i sudd) '-igtieiicy ; the rMl strength ' that !luy beneath kit (nulla, the ' aNtvalry burled under years ,of cal I ktiuiflest, stirred at Die lilrlh tit u i new emolluH. The resolution pre : aervue lit luck a cmt, the sacrifice that bud aeeuird wellnlgh luiposai M, aH it nun tuok ..u a different a'kape. What before hail been a . barren duty became auddenly a sa ; cril right. Holding mil hia arint, ' at 'drew her tu kiln al It the had been a child. ,"Kve," ha aalil, gently, "I have ; learned tonight huw fully a woman's ; Hf la at tk merry of Hit world . aal haw Beauty that merry l. If '. ehrcumstancea hail been different, I 'HWteve I am convinced t would Have mail you a good husband , weald haft used my right to pro ject you aa well aa a enan could use : It. 'And iiiiw that things are differ ent,,! want I should like " He :kealtated a very little. "Now that I have n right to protect you eicept the right my love gives I Vant IB guard you a closely f rum til tkat la .sordid an any husband .cesld gutrd k!a wife. ; "In lif there are really unly two had ..Issues right and . wrong. 'Whlrr we may say, whatever wu way profess to believe, wt know 4it, our action la always a choir between right and wrong. A month t a nwk ag I would have de .' splsul'1 a H4nn who could talk like iflit-niid have- thought myself str for despising him.' Now I Va-w il.at suvugih la something more ihaa the traiiipllnx Hihcra late the duit that we ouiaelves ninj ire a clear road: that It 1 - .'tlat jiincM harder and lullvli Ytlnaauhant than , thai that: It l atandlnf aalde to let aomehody else paaa on. e,' he exclaimed; ami Amir. -I'm irvlnt t do thla tor - ya. '. lon't you ace? - Ion't you; lmderaland? The eay com ae,.. I lie . kll'T cMiirae, wmild he to lot thlUK , .ilrKr. Krery Inatlnct la calllna- M . me,:ta take that cnurae to no on. aa I hat 'ne, tiadinit on Chllciite'a 'weakaeaa and your jeneroalty. But I wen't il It! 1 can't do It!" With a awift kwpiilae h looaeil kit anus .a4:kl her away from him, -Kve. !lt' tht.flrat time I hae put' allot her : human '.hehiK'fhetore myself!" ' '. Vept. her: head lfit. .Painful, . IiiaHdllilt toln were ahakinn ' her froaji-head ta foot. ' "1ft aumelhlin In yim aometliltii lincomcloua-r aomelhlnif hiich and .' Ana, -that holdt me back Dial liter-1 ally hart the way. live, can t you : tec '-that I'm ' rljhllil -tlfliliHK . lUrd?" ! ' 1 ,' t:.Vfter;h kail tpokeirthcre was ii; lame-a lont; painful' tilciu-c dm---' fits J which Kir wajfeil 1 the 1ml- tie ithltf an many of iher sei 'har 'aiM' lufor; thf,btt In rt hlt'h, . Wiihla ,are' SaVleat; and ieanti iit fii ; account.. ' She looked very slight.- fk'ry 7nn, ' very fjo'loin, lit alio there. Then, In the oppreaolve ' ane of waltiiiK thai hlleil Hie , Whole room, ahe looked ll at lllm. .' .: Her face w stained with tcnis. . ker thick, hlack iashea were allll wet wllh ihem: hut her expression, aa her eyes met I.oder'a, wn a iranitJ exmiiple of h cnuraue, the NriKiieas. tlie p.iwer nf sacrlllc e thnl niHT he hidden In a fraslle veasel. ! . She aald nnlhllK, for In such a : moment words do not come easily. hut with the almplpat, most auhiiila , tire, moat eloiuent sesllire in the ; world the set his perplexity to real. Tnkinf his hand helween hers. lie ; lifted It and for a lout;, silent space I held It aialnst her lips. CHAPTER XXXIII. we FOA a while there wns ailence; then I .oder, Mllerly a'.vnre that he had conquered, poiiiantly , cnnarimia of the appeal that Kve't attitude made, found fililhej- endlir anet Impoaslhle. (Jeiilly freeliis his hand, he noted away from her to the dreplace. taklmt up the pnal tt.n that she had first occupied. "Ere." he aald, slowly, "I haven't Itnlaherf yet. I haven't said cvery-thlrt- I'm folng to tax jour cour t(e further." With a touch nf ptlned alarm, Kve i Mgti ker head, "furtherr the thrank from the expression ft. Tn lla ),! with aax.iaer .. - HSUllty. "Theret atill another JTJM to b faced. The matter feejta't end with my cnlnr hack. To Wt tka tltuatlon fully ttved, C'hil fSta mutt return Obllrote mult he muM to retllte hit respontlbll- BsM Prtd In dumb dismay. rjjt snft be donV he went en Iniejly, "b4 we have ot to do 4-.fB and I." He turned and Uk4 ftt ker. Mt I ld do nettling. What atoll I dot" Her votce failed. rerrtblng," he etld, "ynu could U eTenthlnt. He It mortlly weak. I(4 ke kit one itctltlve point the (eay el t pnhlle eipoaure. n'-e Hike It pllin te him that yen knw (H teoret, ttd you can compel him te whatever eonrae of action you eelect It wat to ask yon to do th i te g yon te do thii that I catr.t te yen tonight. I know that It's de BUAdtsc mere than t wotnan't ret eictlra K:t fttn A xu'i ttrength. Itut you lire like no n ouiau In the world I "h!ve!" he cried, .with audden ve hemence, "can't you tee that iFe Im perative the one thing to lave us both?" lie- ttopped abruptly as he hail he iiti, and again a painful ailence fill ed toe room. Then, aa before, Kve moved Ir Mictlvely towarda him, but thla time her steps were slow aud uncertain. Netti'lu hit tide, the put out her hand aa If for comfort and siipiurt : and. feeling bis finger tighten round It, stood for t moment resting In the contact. "I undertttind," she said at last, very slowly. ''I understand. When will you take lue to him?" For a moment I.oder said nothing, not daring to trust his voice; then he answered, low and abruptly. "Now!" he said. "Now, at once! Now, thlt moment, If I amy. And and remember that I know what It coats you." Aa It Imbued with fenr that his courage might fall him, he suddenly released her hand, and, crossing the ruom to where a long, dark cloak lay as the had thrown It on her return home, he picked It up, walked to her side, and silently wrapped It about her. Then, still acting automatically, he moved to the door. Aliened It, and stood aside while the passed out inte the cor ridor. In complete silence they descend ed the Hairs and passed to the hall door. There O'Kpham, who had re turned to hit dutiea' alnce I.oder't entrance; came quickly forward with an offer of .service. Hut I.oder dismissed him curtly : and with something nf the conTuslon bred of f'hllcote's regime, the man drew back towards the staircase. With a luisty movement I.oder stepped forward, and, opening the door, admitted a breaih of chill air. Then on the threshold he paused. It was his first sign of hesitation the one instant 111 which nature rebelled against the conscience so tardily awakened. He stood motbiniesa for a ' moment, and It Is doubtful whether even l'.ve filly fathomed the biilerness of i bis renunciation --the blackness t the night I lint stretched before his eyes. . , ' llehlnd him was evenythtlllt : ' b fnre him. nolliing. The everything symboli.ed by-the luxurious house, the eagerly attentive servants, the pleasant atmosphere of responsibil ity; the, nothing represented by the broad public thoroughfare. :ihe pass ing' figures; each unconscious of. and uninterested 111 his existence. As all :lnleroiel' he hnd entered this house: as an Interloper a imis liierader he had played his mM. lived his iMiurj proved himself;! as an Interloper lie whs now .passing back :liilo. the .d!in ".world; sf vi'ivsl iicil hopes - and unachieved ambi- llotlS.. t ' ; . '' 1 ! : ' . I 1 let atooif rlsldly quiet, his sirnns fttfiirf silhouetted auaHtrst; .tlie1 jUi-'IH-ed lirill, i li'iat face cold tiliit. fel ).H;ii. with a touch iif fatniity, ("Imnee hoi't his struggle. All empty hansom wheeled round I he corner of llip square: the cab man, seeing lllm, raised his whip in query, ami Involuntarily he nodded an acquiescence. A moment later he had helped Kve Into the cab. "Middle Temple I.nlie!" he direct ed, pr using on the slep. ".Middle Temple Lane is opposite to Clifford's Inn." he explained as lie took his place beside her. "When we get out there we have only to cross Kleet Street." Kve bent her head In token that she understood, and the cab moved out Into the roadway. Wllhln a few minutes the neigli- tnii-h I of tlroavenor Square was exchaiiited for the noisier and more crowded .me of Piccadilly, but either the cabman was overcaul ions or tin horse was below the average, for Ibey made but slow progr-ss through the more crowded streets. To I In nvn sitting in ailence tile pace w:v wellllith unbearable. Willi every added' movement the tension grew. The methodical car witli which liiey inoviil seemed like the lightening of a string already strained to ,bicaK- Ingpo'.nt. yet neither spoke- be cause neither ban the courage ne cessary for words. unce or twice as they traverse I the Strand. I.oder made a movement as If to break the ailence, but noth ing followed It. lie continued to lean forward with a certain dogged stiffness, his clasped hands rrsilnj on the doors of the cab, his eyes staring straight sliend. Not mice, at they threaded their way, did he dare to glance at Kve, though every movement, every ttlr of hPrx gar ment!, wat forced Usm hia con sciousness by his acutely awakened senses. , When It last they drew up be fore the dark archway of Middle Temple I.ane. he descended hastily. And aa he mechanically turned to prr.te.-t Kve'l drest from the wheel, he looked at her fully for the first time since their enierprlse had been undertaken At he looked he felt hit heart sink. He lis! expected to see the Bnsrks of suffering en her face, hilt the expression he saw sug gested aomething more than mere mental plin. A'l the rich coir.r that usually depened and tiftened the charm of her beauty Bed been erased is if by t lor.g llinets; sad igalnst the new (,'.. or of bar skla ber blue eye, her t;dt Stir isi t-&!-! tfctC THE CHARACTERS IN THE STORY JOHN CHILCOTE, member of the House of Commont, a party to a love. less marriage and a confirmed drug addict, changet placet in life'j with , JOHN LODER, his exact counterpart In appearance. So auccesaful is : the deception that the masterful Loder becomes not only I. political power, but is not tuspected by Chilcote't beautiful but unhappy wife, KVE. At a social function LADY LILLIAN ASTRUPP, intimate of Chilcote, makes Loder remove his rings, exposing the give-away scar, then he eludes her. Loder is recalled by Chilcote, who resumes his own life. Chilcote makes an ap pointmi: t to dine with Lady Lillian. He forgets and changes places 1 with Loder, who, noting the date and initial "L" in Chilcote't engage-1 ment book, mistakes it for a political appointment with I LA K ELY, editor of St. George's. Loder is ttartled when he is ushereJ into Ladv AstruDn'a Dresence. She declares he is not Chilcote. He I warns her before leavine that none will believe her story. Russian i, acts of aggression against British trading interests in Persia cul minating in the assassination- of a British consul-general give Loder his big political opportunity. He delivers a great speech that over turns the cabinet. There are tears of joy in Eve's eyes. Realizing he loves her, he decides to quit the masquerade. The wretched Chil cote cannot, however, continue aud he returns to Loder with the news that an incriminatinir telegram he had written imploring Loder to re sume the deception disappeared after a visit by Lady Astrupp. Loder, in Chilcote's clothes attends the theatre that night with Lady Astrupp. The play is about two men who have exchanged identities. Before the end of the second act Loder excuses himself and goes home to Eve. He confesses all to her, then learns that she already has teen the tele gram. She lovea him and wants him to continue the masquerade ai a friend. But he forms an unselfish resolution. : . She ceased to apeak; there wat a moment of suspense: then Loder turned; Guy Bates Pott as John Loder and Ruth Sinclair as Eve Chilcote in "The Masquerader." ittiirtllngly dark. A chill colder than remorse, a chill that bordered upon actual fear, touched 1, oiler l;i that lilouicnt. Willi the tlrat Impulsive gesture he hud allowed h'm.solr, he loiiched her arm. "Kve ' he began, unsteadily ; then the word died off his lips. Without a sound, almost without a movement, ' she returned his glance, and sonielhing In her eyes j checked what be might have said. I In that one 'ixpresslve look he uu- derst I all she bad desired, all she Iliad renounced the full exient of I -he ordeal she had consented to, j and the motive that had compelled j lier consent, lie drew back with the heavy sense that repentance ami ;;illy were eqiiHlly futile equally out ' .if place. . ! Still in silence she stepped to the ' p:i VHnitsp t and stood aside while I.oder dismissed the cab. To both jibre was something symbolic, soiuc i ihiiig prophetic. In tlie dismissal. ! Without lutein ion mid almost un- consciously tbey drew closer to igclber as the horse turned, its hoofs ! lattcritiz on the roadw ay, lis har ' ness lingliog: and, atill without i reatir'atlon. liiey looked afler the ; jvcbii le as It moved away down the . j long, shadowed t boroilglifa re to- j ' w-sr. is Ihe ligh:s and tiiP crowds thai 1,'cv had left. At last Involuntarily liiey turni'd towards each other. "Come!" I.oder sabL abruptly. "It's only across the road." Fleet Street Is generally very quiet, once midnight Is passed; and Kve had no need of guidance or pro tection as they crossed the pave ment, shining like Ice In ttie lamp light. Thev crossed It alowiy. wnlk- j Ing apart; for the dread of physl (cnl contact that hud posseaaed Ihcm In the cab spetned to have fallen on them again. Inquisitlveness has little place In the reginll'of tiie city, and tbey gain ed the opposite footpath umiotl'-ed : bv the casual passer-by. Then, , still holding apart, they reached and entered Clifford's lun. Inside the entrance they paused, and Kve shivered Involuntarily. "How gray It I !" she said, faintly. "And bow cold! I.Ike a grave yard. ' Loder turned to her. For one mo ment cotlirol B'-Plncd sltiken: his blood surk-ed. his vision clot.ded : the 1 i sense that lite ansl inve ere ami I g::i ii an iiiihsmb a ' i within his rench filled hlin over) Almost at the mora ant IksJ she) j ei hetmingly. He turned to ards ( reached hie side he extended hie 'F.ve; he half extended his hands 'hand inward the door. The action! l-ThA. fitirrAd tiv what LoiluiiSA. ! v a declre and hurried, aa Lhatlttkl D,i II Rl "sr. si o. i:ir " s ' possible lo any, he let them drop ( -his sides again. '('oine!" lie said. "Come! Thl' is the way. Keep close to me. I'll your hand on my arm." lie spoke qurelly, but his eye! were resolutely averted from hei face as they crossed the dim, alien court. Ktilerlng the gloomy doorway thai led to hia own rooms, he felt hei Hugera tremble on his arm. Hip lighten in their pressure nlhe ban passage and cheerless si airs met hei view; but he set his lips. "Come!" he repealed, in the Baltic ai rained voice. "Come! It Isn't: far three or four filgliia." .With a while face and a curious; expression III her eyes, Kve moved' forward. She had released I.oder'a arm as they crossed the hall ; and now, reaching tlie stairs, she put out her hand gropingly nnd caught the! banisier. She had a pained, numb) sense of r.uliinisslon--of suffering that had sunk to apathy. Movlngi forward without resistance, she be-' gan to mount the stairs. The ascent was made In silence. I.oder went first, his shoulders braced, his head held ere.-t; Kve, mechanically w atchful of all his! Movements, followed a Step or two' behind. With weary monotony one, flight of slulrs si ceded another; each, lo her unaccustomed eyes, soeming more colorless, more soli tary, more desolate than the pre. ceding one. Then at last, with a sinking tenia of apprehension, she realized that llielr gun! was reached. The knowledge broke lharptf through her dc.lir.l senses: and, cca-. f-onted by tbe lost-r.shs of her deal, s!ie .,'iiip'I, he lead ti?le4. her hand slitl n-voir;iy srer-!..fi; tlo. banister. Her II; v..!-.l tit If sudden ilet.iar-d f-'f t'd: but In IV hprvous r;ii c'atb.n, the paliu-t apprehen s-onid e:. loll, of the It'ollKlit lo aped tlo m. I.oder, -s' i- Iqiely -crossing -the Ian. ling, t.ie.- Codling of t;.o sile.lt 4-fcrl. For a, second she tcd 'eraa . Ing; then her ir-n tuar' own ahrlnMiia ' d.eae. spot esa merged In lie In. . eat) at? M eneee nieiiia. Slonlt i.f i-r-tfaat ttte eemsdav Ing a'epa. O.e .Wtoejest ktet a If' fisclnated -r tV test) tbftfi e Weil ta Oxtl showed ditig'tr eaanea-Aeejeeaa n" - 'J ' , .ust-i. : 1 . For a space he fumbled with the lock. And Kve, standing close be hind hlui, board the hnndlo crenk and turn under hia pressure. Then lie s'took the door. ' At last, slowly, altuost rcltictnnt ly, lie turned round. "I'm afraid things aren't qulte quite right," be said, In n low voice. "The door 'is locked nntl I can tee no light." She rulsed her eyes quickly. "Hut von have a key?" she whispered. "Haven't you got a key?" It was obvious thut, to both, the unexpect d check to their designs wns .'r.iught with danger. "Yes, but " He looked towards the door. "Yes I huve a key. Yes, you're right 1" he added, quickly. 'II use It. Walt, while I go In side." Filled wllh n new nervousness, impressed by the loneliness, the si lence obotit her, Eve drew back obe diently. The sense of mystery con veyed by the closed door weighed upon her. Uor susceptibilities were tensely nlert ns she watched Loder search for his key and Insert It In tho lock. With mingled dread and cariosity she suw the door yield, and gape open like a black gash in the lingy wall; and with s sudden sense of desertion she saw hlin pass through the aperture and heard lllm strike n match. The wait that followed seenied extraordinarily long. 'Listening In tertty, she heard him move softly from one room to the other. Ano at Inst, to her ncutcly nervous sus- ceptihllllles, It scorned Hint he paused In absolute silence.. In the Intensity of listening, she henrd hci'8 ,,, j,nr. Tomorrow the mini own faint, irregulnr breathing, mid the sound tilled her with panic. The quiet, the solitude, the vague, In sllnctlvo apprehension, became sud denly imenduri'hle. Then all at once ' the tenolnn was relieved. Loder renppeured. He panted for n second In the shadowy doorway; Hicn he turned j tinstcauiiy, urew iiie.uoor to, nun locked It . Eve stepped forward. - Her glimpse of lilui hnd been momentary nnd she had not heard his voice yet tho consciousness of his bear- innj filled lier with Instinctive ilarm. Abruptly, nnd without rea son, tier nanus turned coin, ner heart began to beat violently. "John " she said below her breath. For answer, be moved towards her. Ills face was .bereft -of color: there was a look of consternation In Eve, looklrc tip Ill linn, ctioio bis bond. "Why? W "C " Honed. - Her tone ! ow scared. - ' ; Without replylntt, bo drew' -her lm-1 pemtlvely townrila the stairs. "llo very softly," he coiii'iiaiule. "No j oo roust see nu here." ! In tbo first moment she obeyed I V . k . .. . , i . ' i blm lntancuvely:-..he.:r..achlng ''i head, .of the Btalrs, kIio stopped. With' one hand still clasping his, the other dinging nervously to the ban Uttflr. shn refused to descend. "John," aba whispered. Tin not u child. What la li? What bus hap pened? I most know." For a moment Loder looked nt her 'insartntnltr thnn remrjor tbu pv- prteilon in her oyca, he yields! M - hor flemnnd. ' 'He's dead," ho enlrl. In n low volco. "Chllcota U du." OHAPTER XXXIV. TO folly appreciate a $?rent an nouticemrnt wi must have thin? nt onr disposal. At Mik moment of Loder's disclosure tlnm wns iIpiiumI tn Eve; for fu'nrcely had the words loft hlg Upi heforo the tlioucht Ili:it lninlnatd hlin nssci-tct Its prior cln Lai. UlLod to the IncrcMhitity In hr yea, he drew tier swiftly for ward, nnd half hnpoilfnk'. half sup poriliiff Uer forced her to duaccrj the stairs. Never Jn nfh'r-ll'e ?..riU he otdl! ernte the rcinoiiilirnnce of thut ricsrmtt. Fear, such nn he could never experience In his own con cerns, .possessed him. One desire overrode nil others the desire thut Kves repntntlon, whlrh he himself had so nearly Imperilled, should re main unlniperillcd. In the nhadovr nf thnt urgent duty, the despair of the past hours, the appalling fact so hitely renll7.ed, the future with Its possible trials, hecHine d.-irk to his imiieCliiiitlfUi. tn tils new victory over self, the nuesllon of her pro tection predominated. 'Moving under 1'iis ron)iuNlnn, he enhh'd her hastily and silently down Ihe deserted sinlrs. dnnvlnjr n hrenth of deep relief ns. one after another, the tnndiniis were surr-'S-slvcly p.-is-sed; mid "till nftunted tiy ilic stippregMMl ihmmI nf hnste, he postftl tliruiit'h the dnmvny thnt iljpy hnd -iiterd under such dilTr ont fundi! inns only u few ndniites tn'fure. T Icnvff the ("let Cfoirt, t cnin the Stpmd, to hull a hidated li;insoui wjih the wiirk of a moment. I'-y nn Hid em.tj H Hnt-o of ririumstiincr, I it 1c Unit Itad attt-ndi'd every plies'' f Ids dn;il lift; was tiffin exerted hi hia hcNalf. No mu had tmtlcctl tlii lr e.ury Into I!f1nrd's Inn ; no f!iywiii noivetl to (urioflty hy Ihvir exit. Willi un Invnluniiiry tiirlll of f.'riini; hj jjavt! expreaslon lo his re':ief. liiwrtl va mii'k io ..on.M-i 111. in. o ... ,..,. ..,.,.,,1,,,, hi. eyes -Come!" Idi-said. "Conieiw 6 ; ., n t once I I niuat take yon home." ' ,;",,..,.,,:,. , 1V llr jln!t ,H spoke In a shaken, uneven T.ilcc. " .' "V ' "' . y-.'T i ,..,., ;. ,,, ,i,, ! been closed tonI...l, and my lirsl Itl- ns a cnb drew up. "Yon don't know what the strain has been. Moving ns It in a dream, Eve stepped Into the cab... As yet the terrible denouement to their enter prise bad made no clenr impression upon her mind. For the moment all that she was conscious of, all thut she Instinctively acknowledged, wns the fact that Loder was still beside her. , In quiet obedience she took ber place, drawing aside her ekirts to make room for him ; and In tho snnie subdued mnnncr he stepped Into the vehicle. Then, with the strange sensation of re-llvlng their earlier drive, they were aware of flie tightened rein and of the, horse's llrtt forward movement For several seconds neither spoke. Eve, shutting out all other thoughts, Bnt close to Loder, clinging tena ciously to tho momentary comfort ing sense of protection; Loder, strlv. lug to marshiil Ills ldons, hesitated beCoro the ordeal of speech. At Inst, realizing his responsibility, he turned to her slowly. "Kve." ho said, In a low voice nnd with Bomo hesitation, "I want yon to know that In all this from the moment I saw hlui from the mo ment I understood I have bid you li myMlioui'hts -you aud no ojio else." , She raised her eyes to bis fnce, "Mo you realize?" ho Itexun afresh, "no you know wbnt this tllla thin), I'tenlis':" Still she remained silent ' "It menus Hint after tonight there will bo no such person In London who wns known by Hint nntna will be found In his rooms; his ho-ly will be removed, and nt the postmortem examination It will be slated thut he died of tin overdose of morphia. His chitnvonmn will Identify him as a solltnry mini who lived respectably for years nnd then suddenly went (imv.i,,,' W, reIarka:ile speed-. It will bo quite n common case. Noth ing ot Interest will be found In his rooms; no relation will claim his oody; after the usual time he will he given the usual hnrlul of his class. These ilelnils are horrible; but there lire limes when we must look at the horrible side of life because ilfe Is Incoinplele without II. ' "These tilings I speak of 'are tho tilings Hint will inc'.i Ihe casual eve: but 111 mil sUI'l tl.cy will have , I siiiici IS in o ibc book nnd ibrow i ,. I.... !... .1,11.1,1 1 eon j ,.,,,;,;,.,.. ,, ,,l,lng - of you! Whatever III" ;1linh wiiaiovor tuo illlllciiity. no. .hariii shall cnlnei to' you. Ymi ha(iiiti.v! word (or that ! iil irct. :h wllh yon now , to (IroitYvuoi'.'isqiinreV I'll remain' thdl-e t II ti rens'Mi.i )te eve m-e can ne, kj no ' ,, ,,,,-.!, going al.L.t: ) 'will nvold Kriitite. I will cut politics wbnlever the out; then, at the lli'sl reasoiinbie nnuneiit. I tt:lll do wlinl I woiil.l do now, tonight If It were possible. I'.i go sway, start afresh; do In un-'.tber country what I have .Iciie In this." Tl.ere. was it lung alienee; then. !1" unu"1 ln l,h'1- r,h(; ' nioinont lHfnr !.:..! Ii-f I he iipalhy of left her face. In nnothcr country?" she repented. "In another country?" 'Yea; a fresh career ill n fresh country. SoiuethliiK clean to offer ;.oii. lm nd too old to do what other men have done." He paused, nnd for a nent Kve looked ahead nt the gleiimliig clinlu of lumps: then, 81111 very slowly, ! she brought her glance buck ngaln. "No," she said very slowly. "You are not too old. Hut there are times when agi. and things like ago are not the real consideriillon. It seems to mo that your own inclination, your own Individual sense of right and wrong, has nothing to do with the present moment. The question iS whether yon are Justified In R( Ing away" she paused, her eyes tired steadily upon his "whether you are free In go away, and make a new life whether It Is ever Justi fiable to follow a phantom light when when there's a lanlerti wait ing to be carried." Her breath caught; she drew mvny from him, frightened and elated by her own words. . . Ix.der turned to her slmrply. "Kve!" be exclaimed; Mien his tone changed. "You don't know t whal you're saving," he added, quickly; "you don't understand what you're saying.' Kve leaned forward again. "Yea." she said, slowly, "1 do lllidertlnnd." Her voice was controlled, her man ner convinced. Sl:e waa no longer Hie girl conquered by atrengih greater than her own; she was Hie woman strenuously demanding Iter right to Individual happiness. "I understand It all," she repent ed. "I iiiiilerslutol ew-ry point. It wns not Chance that made you change your Identity, that ninde you care for me, that brought about hit dentil, i don't believe It was t'hahce; I bellele It was sonielhing much higher. You are not meant to no awayl" As I.oder watched lier the remem brance of his 111 st days as Chilcote rose again; tho remembrance of how he had been dimly tilled with the bdieS that below her self-pot-3csi!on lay. s.UMs.'.h a dffth unco'mmon in woman. Jta ha' itadfafty her now, the inttinctlva . belts!, dumea Into conviction. "Kva r , tat , said Involuntarily. ' With a quick gesture ah raited j her head. "No I" h exclaim. : "No; don't say anything! Tea r' uolng to tee things as I lee tbaot"-, I 5-oti mutt do to you have no deice.'! No real man ever cattn way tlje , substnnce for-the shadow I" Htrlt eyes shone tin color, tbe glow, the ', vitality, rushed back'lpto ber facevj j John," the Bid. loftly, "I Kf you and I need you but there) la something with t greater claim a greater need than mine. Don't you know what It Is?", . He said nothing; be made ne ges ture. V '- i i.'-1 I "It Is the pnrty the country. Tan ; 1 may put love aside, but duty Is dlf- ; t ferent. You have pledged youra!: I j Yon are not meant to draw back." j i '.Oder's lips parted. ' V i j "Dontl" she suld airaln. -"Dnn'l i j sny anything!-! know alt that l ! j m your mind. Hut, when we lift ; 1 things right through, It isn't my ! i love or our happiness i that's 3 really In the balance. It Is your ' ft future!" Mer voice thrilled.' "YnH ' ' are going to lie a great man : add . a grout mnn Is the property nf,h) ' j country. He has no rl"' to in-1-.? illvldnal nctlon." ' , ; ' ,-' Again I.oder made an . ,ort it ,.,.1 spenk, but again she checked Itltnl, "Wall!" she exclnlmeil. "rfaltl J You liellrro you hnve acted "mngly, ; nnd you nre desperately afraid of act- ! ; Ini' wrongly agniti. Hut it It really ; liner, mote loyal for us to work will', a long probation In grooves thjt i are already overlllled than to marry 1 qulelly nbrond and fill the' placet Hun have nped of tit? Thnt hs'tha ' pieatlon I wnnt yon to answer. U ', It really truer and nobler? Oh;'-v see the doubt Hint Is In your mine)! You think it finer to go away ! ' make n new life than to live tbe ' '. llfo Hint Is nulling you because onn is Independent mid the other means Hie use of another inan'j . name and, another man's nioriey " . that Is the thought In yiolir mind, itut wbnt Is It that prompts fhat thotishl';" Again her voice caught, but her eyes did not falter. "I wl'.l ' tell you. It Is not. aclf-sacrlfice but pride!" She said the word fear- lessly. i-. ,-Uy- 4 A flush crossed I.oder's face.'-:i"A: ? mnn requires pride," he said ,"''' low volco. ' ' - -I' ' "Yes, nt Hip right time. Hut -la. ' lli!s lhi''rigllt,Ufiio?' 'Is It' fivft-'flght to throw uwny the substance for. tht; ' shadow? Ymi say that 1 don't' MfP derstand don't realize. I '' irtilla more tonight thnt I have 'reiilly.'eil fij ' all my life. I kmw thut rim i ' nn opportunity Hint cun never cdinii ' iignln inn! that It's terribly jioRilh'lij ; to let it slip" . .. I t!i. ;'. . .She .paused. I.oder. hia 'f'anil ' resting on Ihe, closed .door; (if iliie '. cab, sat very-j tlleiit.i lth averted , i yes ami neiiL. inryui. ;- . . - "Only tonight," she' went on, ."yen !. . told mo that everything waa-,erjlg i lo you tn I a lie Ihe easy, pleasant J way. '1'lien It was strong to- tarsi t aside: but now It Is not strong.'' It 1 Is Tar nobler to III! nn empty" hlclte ' Hum tn carve one for yourself. ! lohu " She suddenly leaned' for. ; ward, laying her hands over " bis. I Mr. Fralde told me tonight thar ia I his new ministry mj' my husband j was to ho Under Secretary for ' Tit- j nlgn Affairs!" '. . . s," . The words fell softly. So softly ; tnat to enra less conipreneaqiag : .l.nn I n.lA.1, tltaln ,UnlllMHM Mlalli '' have been lost ss bis rigid attl-' tudn and unresponsive manner ! might have conveyed lack of under' '. slnnillng to any eyes less observant ' thnn Kve's. . '- For a long space there wat n word spoken. At last, with a vary j gentle pressure, her flngert tlgh't-: ened over hit hands. -' ! "John " she began, gently. Bat ; tho word died away. She drew back ; Into ber sent, as the cab stopped be-; fore Clillcnte't house. ' j Simultaneously as they descended ' the hall door was opened tnd a flood of warm light poured out r- j assiirlngly Into the darkness. . , ! "I thought It was your call, sir," , Craphnm explained deferentially It I hey pnssed Into the hall. "tic. ' Kralilo has been waiting tn see yon ' this iinlf-hoiir. I showed him .Int ; Hie study." lie closed the door -softly and retired. Then, In the warm 11 vrlil . amid the, gravely dignified surroundings that had marked his hist emry into title', hazardous second existence. Pee turned In I.oder for the verdict Uxou ' which the future hung. , As she turned, his face was atlli , hidden from her, nnd hia attitude betrayed i.oihing. . . i "John," she said, slowly, "yon know why he Is here. You know that he has come to personally' offer : you this place; .to personally re.' celve your refusal or consent." - i She ceased lo spenk; there wis a ; moment of suspense; then !.qder turned. Ills face wns still pnle am! grave wllh Ihe gravity of a man who has but recently been rhia tn ; death, but beneath the gravity was another look the old expression of strength and self-reliance, temper-: ed, raised, and dignified by a new humility, f . Moving forward, he held out hit'- ' hands. , . , :"; "My consent or refusal," he tll'l, very quietly, "Ilea with niy wUa" TUB END - V- ' ! ' , ' J ' i u- .i r s.s e.iwt .. - v a , - f i ft ,... f -';tjtesy ""'f fs'at'eiitiaatj'ejriest e - - i - - -i : v-. --. i. . .
