University of South Carolina Libraries
V | | T1 k Masqu ^ By KATHERINE AutlTbr of ~T Copyrltfbt. 1904. by There was a strange, distant note In CJhllcote's voice, but the other did not pretend to hear It. lie pressed the ^ hand he wns holding, though the cold B dampness of It repelled him. ^ "Good night," lie sold again. "Good night." rr?t * - - a uwjr siocmi ror a moment awkwardly looking at each other, then Loder quietly disengaged his hand, crossed the room and passed through the door. Chllcote, left standing alone In the middle of the room, listened while the last sound of the other's footsteps was audible on the uncarpeted stairs. Then, "With a furt>gV hurried gesture, he caught up tb "jfreen shnded lamp and passed Into ^Oder's bedroom. CHAPTER VIII. j mO all men come portentous moments, difficult moments, trt- | umphant moments. Loder had lmd his examples of all three, hut no moment In his career ever equaled In strangeness of sensation tliat In which, dressed In another man's clothes, he fltte<l the latchkey for the first time Into the door of the other man's house. The net was quietly done. The key fitted the lock smoothly, and his On- j gers turned It without hesitation, though his heart, usually extremely I steady, beat sharply for a second. The | hall loomed massive and somber, despite the modernity of electric lights. ! It was darkly and expensively decorated In black and brown; a frieze of wrought bronze, representing peacocks with outspread tails, ornamented the walls; the banisters were of heavy ironwork, and the somewhat formidable llreplace was of the same dark metal. Loder looked about him, then advanced, his heart again beating quickly as his hand touched the cold ban- I Ister and he began his ascent of the j stairs. Rut at each step his confl- j donee strengthened, his feet became more firm until, at the bead of the stairs, as If to disprove his usBurance, his pulses played him false once more. this time to a more serious tone. From the farther ond of a well lighted corridor a maid was coming straight In his direction. For one short second all things \ seemed to whiz about him; the certainty of detection overpowered his tnlnd. The Indisputable knowledge that he was John Loder and no other, despite all armor of effrontery and dress, so dominated him that all other considerations shrank before It. It wanted but one word, one simple word of denunciation, and the whole scheme was shattered. In the dismay of the moment he almost wished that the word might be spoken and the suspense ended. But the maid came on In silence, and so Incredible was the silence that Ix>der moved onward too. He came within a yard of her, and still she did not speak. Then, as he passed her, she drew back respectfully against the wall. * The strain, so astonishingly short, had been Immense, but with Its slackening came a strong reaction. The expected humiliation seethed suddenly to a dealnp tn d?ro ?v V ?MVV? M. UUOIil^ <julrkly, he turned and called the woman back. The spot where he had halted was vividly bright, the celling light being JLoder bore his scrutiny xcitlunitflinching. directly above his head, and as she came toward hlui he raised his face de j llberately and waited. She looked at him without surprise w interest. "ies, sir /" an? said. "Is your mistress In?" he asked. He Ik, could think of 110 other question, but It served his purpose as a test of his olee. i 8U11 the woman showed no surprise. "She's not in, sir," she answered. "But she's expected in half an hour." "In half an hour? All right. That's all I wanted." With a movement of decision Loder walked back to the stair tiead, turned to the right and opened -\he door of Chllcote's rooms. st ,' tf E erader CECIL THURSTON. b? Clrci.," Etc. Harper fc? Brother* The door opened on n short, wide passage On ono side stood tho study, on the other the bed, bath and dressing rooms. With a blind sense of knowledge and unfamlllarlty, bred of much description on Chllcote's part, he put his band on the study door and, still exalted by the omen of his first success, turned the handle. Inside the room there was firelight and lamplight and a studious air of peace. The realization of this and a slow Incredulity at Chllcote's voluntary renunclutlon were his first Impressions. Then his attention was needed for more Imminent things. As he enterod the new secretary was returning a volume to Its place on the book shelves. At sight of him he pushed It hastily Into position and turned round. "I was muklug a few notes on the political posltlou of Khorasau." he said, glancing with slight approhenslveness at the other's face. lie was a small, shy man, with few social attainments, but an extraordinary amount of learning?the antithesis of the alert BlessIngton, whom he had replaced. Ixxler bore his scrutiny without flinching. Indeed, It struck him suddenly that there wns a fund of interest, nlmost of excitement. In the en: countering of each new pair of eyes. | At the thought he moved forward to the desk. "Thank you. Greening," he said. "A very useful bit of work." The secretary glanced up, slightly puzzled. Ills endurance had been severely taxed In the fourteen days that he had filled Ills new post. "I'm glad you think so, sir," he said, hesitatingly. "You rather poohpoohed the matter tills mornlnc. If vou romem. I bcr." I Loder wns taking off his coat, but stopped In the operation. "This morning?" he said. "Oh. did 1? Did I?" Then struck by the opportunity the words gave him he turned toward the secretary. "You've got to get used to me, Greening," he said. "You haven't quite grasped nie yet, I can see. I'm a man of moods, you know. Up to the present you've seen my slack side, my Jarred side, but I have quite another when I care to show It. I'm a sort of Jckyll and Ilyde affair." Again he laughed, and Greenlug echoed the sound diffidently. ClillCOtO had evidently ilUcouragod familiarity. Loder eyed him with abrupt understanding. He recognized the loneliness in the anxious, conciliatory manner. "You're tired," he said kindly. "Go to bed. I've got some thinking to do. Good night" He held out his hand. | Greening took it still half distrustful of this fresh side to so complex a man. "Good night sir," he said. 'Tomorrow, If you approve, I shall go on with I my notes. I hope you will have a restful night." Por a second Loder's eyebrows went up, but he recovered himself instantly. "Ah, thanks, Greening," he said. "Thanks. I think your hope will be fulfilled." He watched the little secretary move softly and apologetically to the door, then he walked to the fire and, rest lag his elbows on the mantelpiece, be took his face In bis bauds. For a space he stood absolutely quiet, then bis bands dropped to bis sides, and he turned slowly round. In that short space be had balanced things and found bis bearings. The slight nervousness shown In bis brusque sentences and overconfident manner fadod out, and be faced facts steadily. With the return of bis calmness be took a long survey of the room. His glance brightened appreciatively as it traveled from the walls lined with well bound books to the lamps modulated to the proper light; from the lamps to the desk fitted with every requirement. Nothing was lacking. All he had once possessed, all be bad since dreamed of. was here, but on a greater scale. To enjoy the luxuries of life a man must go long without them. Coder had lived severely?so severely that until three weeks ago be had believed himself exempt from the temptations of humanity. Then the voice of the world had spoken, and within him another voice had answered with a tone so clamorous and Insistent that It bad outcried his surprised and Incredulous | wonder at its existence and Its claims. ! That had been the voice of suppressed | ambition, and now as he stood in the i new atmosphere a newer voice lifted Itself. The Joy of material things rose suddenly, overbalancing the last remnant of the philosophy he had reared. He saw all things in a fresh light? I the soft carpets, the soft lights, the ! numberless pleasant. unnecessary I things that color the passing landscape and oil the wheels of life. This wus power?power made manifest. The I choice bindings of one's books, the quiet harmony of one's surroundings, ! the gratifying deference of one's de' pendents?these were the visible, the ; outward signs, the thing she had forgotten. Crossing the room slowly, he lifted and looked at the different papers on the desk. They had a substantial feel' lng, an Importance, an air of value. ; parieu to express question or surprise, then closed again without comment. More than uuy spoken words the incident showed him the gulf that separated husband and wife. "Well," he said again, "what about ' Fralde?" At his words she sat straighter and looked at him more directly, as if bracing herself to a task. "Mr. Fraide Is?is as interested as 'ever in you," she began. "Or In you?" Loder made the Interruption precisely as he felt Chilcote would have made It. Then instantly he j wished the words V?nck. [to be continued.] Forest irht. "He Is entertained constantly." "I suppose he has a host of friends." "Not that so much, but he's careful to be a friend of hosts."?New York I Times. . ' ' \ 1 They were like the solemn keys to to many vexed problems. Beside the papers were a heap of letters neatly arranged and as yet unopened. He turned thorn over one by one. They were all thick nnd Interesting to look at. He smiled ns he recalled his own scanty mall?envelopes long and bulky or narrow and thin, unwelcome manuscripts or very welcome checks. Having sortod the letters, he hesitated. It was his Ufo task to open them, but he had never In his life opened an envelope addressed to another man. ?. * He stood uncertain, weighing them In his hand. Then all at once a look of attention and surprise crossed his face, and he raised his head. Some one had unmistakably paused outside the door which Greening bad left ajar. There was a moment of apparent doubt, then a stir of skirts, a quick, uncertain knock, and the Intruder entered. For a couple of seconds she stood In the doorway; then as Loder made no effort to speak she moved Into the room. Bhe had apparently but just returned frqin some entertainment, for, though she had drawn off her long glovee, she was still wearing an evening cloak of lace and fur. That she was Cbllcote's wife Loder Instinctively realized the moment she entered the room. But a disconcerting confusion of Ideas was all that followed the knowledge. He stood by the desk, silent nnd awkward, trying to fit' his expectations to his knowle<|jo.N Then, faced by the hopolessuess of the task, he turned abruptly nnd looked it her again. She had taken off her cloak and was standing by the fire. The compulsion of moving through life alone had set Its seal upon her In a certain self pos: nvnsiuii, u certain confidence or pose, yet ber figure as Loder then saw It, backgrounded by the dark books and gowned In pale blue, had a suggestion of youtbfulness that seemed a contradiction. The remembrance of Chllcote'8 epithets "cold" and "unsympathetic" came back to him with something like astonishment lie felt no uncertainty, no dread of discovery and humiliation In her presence as he had felt In the maid's, yet there was something In her face that made him infinitely more uncomfortable, a look he could find no name for, a friendliness that studiously covered another feeling, whether question, distrust or actual dislike he could not say. With a strange sensation of awkwardness he sorted Cliileote's letters, waiting for her to speak. As If divining his thought she turned toward hint. "I'm afraid I rather | Intrude," she said. "If you are busy"? Ills sense of courtesy was touched. ; ! lie had begun life with a high opinion ! of women, and the words shook up an echo of the old seutlment "Don't think that," he said hastily. | "I was only looking through?ray let- I ters. You mustn't rate yourself below letters." He was conscious that his tone was hurried, that his words were a little Insured, but Bv? ma *?ot nmwnr to notice. Unlike Greening, she took the new manner without surprise. She I had known Uhllcote for six years. ; "I dined with the Frnides tonight," she said. "Mr. Fralde sent you a message." Unconsciously Loder smiled. There 1 was humor In the thought of a message to him from the great Fralde. To hide his amusement he wheeled one of ; the big lounge chairs forward. I "Indeed," he said. "Won't you sit down?" They were near together now, and : he saw her face more fully. Again he was taken aback. Chllcote had spoken ! of her as successful and Intelligent, ; but never as beautiful. Yet her beauty was a rare aud uncommon fact. Her hair was black?not a glossy black, but the dusky black that is softer than any I brown?her eyes were large and of a i peculiarly pure blue, and her eyelashes i were black, beautifully curved and of { remarkable thickness. "Won't you sit down?" he said again, cutting short his thoughts with some i confusion. I "Thank you." She gravely accepted the proffered chair. But he saw that j without any ostentation she drew her i skirts aside as she passed him. The ! action displeased liim unaccountably. "Well," he said shortly, "what had Fraide to say?" He walked to the mantelpiece with his customary moveI meut and stood watching her. The instinct toward hiding his face had left him. Her Instant and uninterested ac, ceptance of him almost nettled hint, i His own half contemptuous impressfou ; of Chllcote came to him unpleasantly ! and with It the first desire to assert his I own individuality. Stung by the conI dieting emotions, he felt In Chllcote's pockets for something to smoke. I Eve saw and interpreted the netiou. j "Are these your cigarettes?" She leaned toward a small table and took up a box made of lizard skin. "Thanks." He took the box from her, and as It passed from one to the other he saw her glance at his rings. ! The glance was momentary. Her lips \ This mai out acquaints of SCHNAP] |, qualities thai less expense SCHNAPPS has bee paper so that every < opportunity to get ac facts and know that < to produce the cheerii the famous Piedmont tobaccos, and that SCH ought to chew. Still who accept other an< that do not give the sa: WHAT THE KIDNEYS DO. Their Unceasing Work Keeps Us Stroi and Healthy. All the blood in the body pass through the kidneys once every thn minutes. The kidneys filter the bloo | They work night and day. Win healthy they remove about 500 graii ! of impure matter daily, when unhea.lt! some part of this impure matter icit in the blood. This brings 011 mat diseases am! symptoms,?pains in bac headache, nervousness, hot, dry ski rheumatism, gout, gravel, disorders the eyesight and hearing, dizziness, i regular heart, debility, drowsines dropsy, deposits in the urine, etc. B j if you keep the filters right you w I have no trouble with your kidneys. W. H. T. James, formerly in tl | grocary hiuinese, Chester, s, Cy 'K 1 retired, says: "I used Doan's Kidn Pills for my kidneys and back and w greatly benefited thereby. I had si fered irom backache and weaknc across the loins tor a long time ai had found little if any relief until got a box of Doan's Kidney Pills, have not had backache since I usi ! them, and they have given me a gre l deal more strength. 1 am glad to re ommcnd them." For sale by all dealers. Price cents. Foster-Milburn Co., Buft'ai New York, sole agents for the Unit States. Remember the name,?Doans,?a take no other. SPECIAL NOTICE We have just received anotl er pretty lot of Dress Gooc in the newest weaves. Prio from 25c. to $1.50 per y< Also a pretty line of Heni Serges. Just the thing for pretty Spring suit, worth 20c our price 17c. A BEAUTIFUL ASSORTMENT j of White Goods, Gingham ! Collars, Kid and Wash Belt i We are prepared now to sho l you a Pretty Line of Gooc ! of tArimc Fa enif ai if .-jirfAtv I til pi i\_\_o iu jail uui tuJiun ;ers and will be glad to ha\ you call and examine our lim It is a pleasure to show 01 | goods. Come! ; HUTCHINSON & CAUGHMA 3 Buggies, Surries and Harnes ? vm AT MANUfACTURCR'S PRICl ? (iuinnlttd for 12 mix built for St>le, Qualli fj(aERRp H anil Durabil'ty. Wcca 4ive *ou '25 00 on th purchase of l Huggy. Rui about or Suriey. Ot complete catalog No. 6 is Free for the asking. John Footor Co., 265-271 Decatur St.. Atlanta, (i; 60 YEARS' Trade Marks ^fBuHHv Designs Copyrights Ac. Anyone Bending ft nketch anil description mat quickly uncertain our opinion free whether ui Invention l? probably patentable. Cotunmnlca thineMrlctlycoullileimnl. HANDBOOK on l*ntenti sent free, Oldest aitoncy for securing patents. Patents fatten through Mutin X Co. recelvi Win! notice, without clmrito, In tho Scientific American. A handsomely Illustrated weekly. Largest clr culntion of tiny nclontlUo Journal. Tor" ? i year: four moutlia, $1. Hold by all ttewmlc- .ere MUNN&Co.36,B'<>'d^New Yorf Branch Office. 625 F Bt? Washington, D. C. i bought a supply of ing himself with the d PS Tobacco, which he t gratify his desire to than cheap tobacco. > k n advertised in this Some day the; :hewer has had an Jc/mappAjfhe :quainted with the they've rnilSgd t irugs are not used , ig quality found in g ago n country flue-cured themselves. [NAPPS is what he cCHNAPPS there are chewers SCHNAPPS d cheaper tobaccos cent cuts, and 1 me pleasure. sure you get the r New Goods. ig. We have recieved the| H most up-to-date line of <i. Dry Goods, Dress Goods, [ i^ancy Uoods we w?ve over; ?yi nandled. Z\ New Oxfords, ofj New Collars, ? ! New Belts, iU New Combs. lie >w We are determined to keep the latest in the Ladies' If- line. Don't forget the1 fj beautiful dinner set we i are going to give away. e\ It pays to shop at f MRS. D. N.WILBURN. l?j "The Ladies' Store." CALCIMO made by MURALO CO., N. Y. j_ The Best Cold Water Wall Finj ish on Earth. It makes youri walls new and bright, and will -s not rub off. Sure death to germs d. and insects. In all standard1 |y tints and white. Ask for sample a card. In five pounds packages and its 40 cents. House Paints, *' Stains and Varnishes in convenient packages from h pint up. i We are Practical Painters S, and know the goods we sell. They S. are all right. Wall paper new vv goods and books coming in. Will . have lots to say next week. -*s We are now doing the Picture 1? tt< : . i : - p . i - r i tuning uusmess 01 tms town. \ re Largest Stock, Lowest Prices, and Good Work did the business. ir Window glass, all sizes in stock. Putty free. ? FRED. C. MILLINGS THE PAPER MAN. - MOVING AND RtPAIRING AND S i PACKING UPHOLSTERING : Engraved Cards, Invitations, i ! Announcements, Etc. J We have a beautiful line of samples, representing all the best styles of the engraver's art. If you have your plate, we will have them made! from it or WP ran h ave* ' plates and cards made at a reasonable price for high r, class, artistic work. Call i in, inspect our samples and get our prices before placing your orders for any thing in this line. i DIKE DRUG CO. tobacco withistinctive taste is the cheering chew, and at /It get a taste of the real i/ll realize what enjoyment >ynot getting SCHNAPPS they'll feel like kicking is sold everywhere in 5 0 and 15 cent plugs. Be genuine. V Union & Glenn Springs Railroad Company. Schedule in effect January 13, 1907. Between Union and Buffalo. Morning. No. 1 leaves Union 7:30 a. m., arrive ? ? at Buffalo 7:j: " " ? \u .j iUnion 12:30 p. m., arrlvcs'at Buffalo 12:45 P- niNo. 5 leaves Union 3:45 p. m., arrives at Buffalo 4:00 p. in. No. 2 leaves Buffato at 8:45 a. ra., arrives at Union 9:00 a. m. Evening. No. 4 leaves Buffalo at 1:30 p. arrives at Union 1:45 p. 111. No. 6 leaves Buffalo at 4:45 p. m.. arrives at Union 5:00 p. 111. Between Union and Pride. Morning. No. 34 leaves Union at 9:30; leaves Monarch 9:35; leaves Crawfords 9.40; leaves Gregory's 9:45; leaves Medors 9:55; leaves Neal Shoals 10:05; leaves Red Point 10:15; arrives at Pride 10:25 a. m. 33 leaves Pride 10:55; leaves Red Point 11:05; leaves Neal Shoals 11:15; leaves Medors 11:25; leaves Gregory's 11:30; leaves Crawfords 11:35: leaves Monarch 11:40; arrives at Union 11:5o a. in. 1 Evening. No. 52 leaves Union 5:15; leaves Monarch 5:20; leaves Crawfords 5:25; leaves Gregory's 5:30; leaves Medors 5:40; leaves Neal Shoals 5:50; leaves Red Point 6:00; arrives at Pride 6:10 p. tn. No. 31 leaves Pride 6:40; leaves Red Point 6:50; leaves Neal Shoals 7:00; leaves Medors 7:10; leaves Gtpgory's 7:15: leaves Crawfords 7:20; ' leaves Monarch 7:25; arrives at Union 7:35 p. m. J. R. DICKERT, G. M. M. B. SUMMER, G. P. A. Final Discharge. Notice is hereby given that Mrs. E. F. Bailev. Administratrix with th#? will annexed, of the Estate of J. M. Plaxico, deceased, has applied to W. W. Johnson, Judge of Probate in and for the county of Union, for a final discharge a> such administratrix. It is ordered, that the 25th day of February A. D. 1907. be fixed for hearing of petition, and a final settlement of said estate. W. W. Johnson, Prolate Judge Union County. Published in the Union Times 4-4t. LHiItT SAW HILLS, Engines, Boilers & Supplies Gasoline Engiocs, Wood Saws and Splitters, Cotton and Saw Mill Machinery, Castings and Repairs. Try Lombard Iron Works, Augusta, Ga. SOUTHERN RAILWAY THE SOOTH'S GREATEST SYSTEM. Unexcelled Dining Car Service. Through Pullman Sleeping Cars on all Through Trains?Convenient Schedule on all Local Trains. Winter Tourist Rates are % now in effect to all Florida ^ points. For full information as to rates, routes, etc., consult nearest Southern Railway Ticket Agent or * BROOKS MORGAN, R. W. HUNT, A. G. P. A., D. P. A., Atlanta, Ga. Charleston, S. C. * ,