The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-02-25

tune TOT our appointment with you; but the nags got a bit wild, and we had a trif1ing accident: shied at a turned over the apple-cart.- How do you do, Princess?" She had come forward to the table and seated her. self. and was looking at him, looking
 prehension. ''No one hurt!" he hast ened to add. We picked up the pieces and got back all right; ;but late, of course. We're most awfully sor-
 ry. Let's cut for deal. Yours. Lyd- stone. Usual stakes. suppose ?-- Bring some wine. please" They began to play. Lydstone and Brandon with keen and rigid care
 fnlness; Ronald Desborough in the
 smiling, debonair fashion with which he played all games; the Princess with her usual timidity and barely
 concealed nervousness. The luck was with Desborough and Brandon from the start; Brandon played we'll, and did not let trick slip; Lydstone's narrow face grew darker. his thin lips twitched, he stared at the cen tre of the table, only raising his moody eyes to scowl at his wife, who gradually grew paler and obviously more nervous. Once or twice he re- buked her, in low voice like the snarl of a dog, for some mistake; and on one of the occasions he was do- ing so she had glanced at Ronald
 Desborough with. perhaps, an un- conscious appeal in her blue eyes. He caught the glance. but, of course, ne could say nothing.
 The Lydstones' luck, joined to the Princess's faulty play, continued; and presently. at the end of a rub Der. Desborough said, in casual way:
 Shall we drop it now? You've had shameful luck. Lydstone. and both you and Lady Lydstone must De sick of it. We will give you your re- venge another night: eh. Brandon?" Certainly; by all means" respond ed Brandon promptly. He rubbed his shoulder and smiled ruefully. "I am quite ready to drop it; for, to tell you the truth, I'm feeling a bit
 shaky. Must have come out on my shoulder"
 He had done nothing of the kind. and was not hurt in the least, and he winled almost imperceptibly at Ron- aid: but Lydstone caught the wink. his face flushed darkly, and he glaretl at the two men.
 We will go on playing" he said sulIenly. You were all right min-
 ute ago; it's not usual for the win
 ners to cry off; and it's early yet" 'T'm sure the Princess is tired" said Ronald. rather unwisely. Lydstone turned to him with an ug- ly sheer.
 Permit me to answer for my wife. Desborough,' he said.
 Ronald coloured slightly. "I beg
 your pardon" he said.
 Her small hand slid along the table
 and just touched his arm; he met her
 troubled, anxious eyes, gathered from
 their expression that she wished him
 to continue playing, and, with his cheery "All right!" took up the cards
 again
 Fortune remained faithful to him and Brandon; Lydstone had evident ly lost his head; he played badly, and the unfortunate little woman played even worse. Suddenly. as she made a palpahle mistake and lost trick. Lydstone leant across the table and
 snarled through his clenched teeth, "You fool!'
 She sank back, her hand stretched
 out with a gesture of fear and appeal.
 and the tears rose to her eyes. Ron- nie, his eyes blazing and his hands actually clenched. sprang to his feet and turned to the unmanly coward.
 The Princess, still seated, caught the clenched hand and murmured a terri fled "No. mol" Brandon, an Irishman.
 with all the alertness of his race. stepped swiftly between the two men. The other men and women ceased playing, and stared at the group ;some of them rose hastily and went to- wards it. Coming on the silence, the strained absorption, this sudden
 outburst of passion, absolutely novel l in that room, created kind of fhys- ] terical excitement.
 "Ah, look! The Princess: she is go- ing to faint, poor thing!" exclaimed one of the ladies.
 With an obvious effort, the Prin- cess recovered herself and rose, trem- I bling and shaking.
 "No, mol" she gasped. 'T-I am all right. want to go home. Let 1 us go home at once, Jaspar." She ad- ded to Ronald Desborough. in terri | fled accents, "Don't-don't! We will
 go-we are going-at once!" Brandon drew Ronald aside. Lyd-
 stone rose-he had remained seated 1 clutching his chair and glaring up al
 Ronald's white, stern face and fash
 ing eyes-and, looking round, said with sheer.
 I