The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1915-05-07
CHAPTER VII.
Ranjab the Hindu.

Ranjab the Hindu.
The two old men, long since rele.
gated TO somewhat self-imposed OBJ
H'ion. on certain night discussed, as
usual. the affairs of the household in
TIE privacy OF their room on the third
aoor remote, not, however, without
nrst convincing themselves that the
snadowy Ranjab was nowhere within
range OF their croaking undertones
From the prescribed regions down
stairs came the faint sounds Of piano
and the intermittent chatter of many
voices. Someone was playing La
Paloma."
These new days we're not like the
Old ones. Once they had enjoyed,
even commanded, the full freedom Of
Tie house. 1t had been their privi-
lege, their prerogative, to enter into
every social undertaking that was
planned; in fact, they had come to
regard themselves as hosts, or, at the
very least, guests Of honor on such
occasions. They had joyous way OF
lifting the responsibility OF converse
uon from everyone else; and, be it
said to their credit, there was no sub.
ject on which they couldn't talk with
decision and fiuency, whether they
knew anything about it or not.
And nowadays 1t was different They
we're not permitted to appear when
guests were in the house. The stump.
tuOus dinners-of which they heard
something from the servants-were no
bnger graced by their presence. They
we're amazed and not little irritated
to observe, by listening at the head OF
the stairs, that the unfortunate
guests, whoever they were, always
seemed to be enjoying themselves.
They couldn't, for the life Of them, un-
derstand how such a condition was
POSSIBLE.
Brood had been working rather
steadily at his journal during the past
1.-TWO or three weeks. He had reached
10 point in the history where his own
memory was somewhat vague, and
had been obliged to call upon his old
comrades to supply the facts. For
several nights they had sat with him,
going over the scenes connected with
heir earliest acquaintance - those
Mack days in Calcutta. Lydia had
/ thought over her fathers notes and
lhstain transcripts Of letter. he had
written 70 her mother before theil
marriage. The four OF them were put
4 Ing those notes and narratives into
chronological order. Brood, after
Il Aree months of married life and fri.
4 billy, suddenly had decided to devote
i Himself almost entirely to the compile
\ ion Of the journal.
4 He denied himself the theater, the
i Spers and kindred features Of the
Dasshg show, and as he preferred to
;. Isnteltain rather than to be enter.
thined, seldom found it necessary to
10 into the homes Of other people.
rvonne made no protest. She merely
dressed Frederic into service as an
lsscoYt when she desired to 90 about
Ind thought nothing Of It. Whether
his arrangement pleased James Brood
lime will show. He, too, appeared to
hink nothing Of It.
J The lines had returned to the cor
. hers Of his mouth, however, and the
I'D, hard look to his eyes. And there
we're times when he spoke harshly to
} lis son, times when he purposely
lumbled him in the presence OF Others
Without apparent reason.
On this particular night, Yvonne
lad asked few people in for dinner
they were people whom Brood liked
especially we'll, but who did not appeal
10 her at all. As matter Of fact, they
bored her. She appeared to be happy
. Il pleasing him, however. When she
tpld him that they we're coming. he
f,vored her with dry, rather i'm
PERSONAL smile, and asked, with whim
seal good humor, why she chose tt
mnish herself for the sins Of his
youth. She laid her cheek against his
aud purred! For a moment he helc
his breath. Then the fire in his bloot
laped into fame. He clasped thu
sim. adorable body in his strong arms
: aud crushed her against his breast
she kissed him and he was again thu
fierce. eager, unsated lover. 1t wat
ole Of their wonderful imperishabl'
moments, moments that brought oh
, liyion. Then, as he frequently did o
late he held her of at arms length ant
searched her velvety eyes with a gaz'
that seemed to drag the very secrets
out of her soul. She went DEATH!
white and shivered. He took his hand
from her shoulders and smiled. Sh'
. came back into his arms like a dunn
thing seeking protection, and contin
ued to tremble a. II frightened.
When company was being enter
tanned downstairs Mr.. Dawes and MI
| Riggs, with fidelity to convention
that was almost pitiful, invariabl.
donned their evening clothes. The,
, considered themselves remotely con
neced with the festivities, and, tina
being the case, the least they could d