Los Angeles herald., 1906-12-30

GlOH eyes" said Alethea Carlyon, have
M been opened"
She said il solemnly with air, an
AsskgJ emphasis, decorous and almost piou'
flourish, and her husband regarded her
with puzzled dsmay. He had returned that af
ternoon from the pursuit of big game in the
more inaccessible wilds of Canada. He had ex
pected-not unnaturally--that Alethea would
meet him with some show of pleasure. She had
not troubled to meet him at all. She was out
when he arrived and when he inquired the rea.
son Of her absence he was informed that she was
speaking at meeting of the League Of Freedom
Carlyon had been absent for some months and
had never heard of the League. He supposed it
was something new, and was surprised It was
not like Alethea to be interested in anything but
herself, her husband, her house, her frocbs, and
friends and all the thousand and one amiabe
frivolities which made up her life.
"Didn't know you had anything the matter
with your eyes, darling" he said feensly. Look
bright enough, anyway. say, you haven't said
you are glad to see me yet"
Alethea parried the question. Her eye-was it
the result of the mysterious process of opening?
pierced Carlyon with glacial stare.
''Did you receive my last letter?"
"Boat got upset-expect it's feeding the fish, "
Carlyon explained. Anything particular in itY'
"I told you in that letter that l had Joined
the League of Freedom"
$50 did Smithers Said you were spoutin' at
a meetn'," Carlyon said, beginning to drawl and
clip his "g's' little. 1t was way of his when
annoyed, and Alethea knew it. Her eyes sparkled.
Didn't know you'd taken to the platform trick.
Beastly bad form, amt Itch, what, AllyP
Il wish you wouldn't call me 'Ally,'" Mrs.
carlyon said irritably. "The League of Free
dom, Reginald, is very serious thing"
Carlyon took out his cigarette-case.
Sounds so, I'm sure-deuced serious. Wish
you wouldn't call me Reginald-makes me feel
chilly about the spine. What the dickens is the
League of Freedom when it's at home?"
'The home of the League of Freedom" Mrs
Carlyon retorted 'is in the hearts of those who
have devoted their lives to its sacred cause-those
whose one desire is to free the victims of hide
ous tyranny from the yoke that-which-"
Her eloquence evaporated. Carlyon was select
ing cigarette.
Sounds nice-very," he said. Don't wonder
you've gone on the platform, if that's your ticket.
Most improvin' So the League of Freedom is
Russian Secret Society-eh, what?"
Mrs. Carlyon was so irritated she forgot to be
lyrical.
"You really are too frightfully dense, Reggie
IL nOJnlIg OF Cne KIM. III 8 society formed by
myself and others to bring about the reform of
the divorce laws-to make divorce more easy"
Carlyon's jaw dropped, so did his cigarette case.
For moment he looked almost idiotic
"By jove" he calculated slowly. 1t was the
only remark which seemed appropriate to the
occasion, and he repeated it, more slowly still.
by jove!"
The president of the League of Freedom felt
vaguely pleased. At any rate, she had made a
sensation of some sort. Her announcement had
undoubtedly filled her husband with amaze
ment
eyes, Reginald. There are other tyrants than
the Gar. On every hearth stands one who
has, alas! the power to tyrannize and too, too
often the inclination also. 1t is the mission of
the League of Freedom-I may say without tax
ing too much upon me, it is my misson-to curb
this unhallowed power, to incite its tramped