The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1915-09-03

mace II absolutely II Imperative for her
to act without delay.
4 will go In for . few minsfes."
she said, at the foot Of the steps. Are
you not coming, tool"
He had stopped. mot just now.
Lyddy. l think I'll run up to Toms
fat and smoke a pipe with him.
Thanks, old girl, for the happy day
we've had. You don't mind il leave
you here?"
Her heart gave a great throb OF
relief. 1t vas best to have him out OF
the way for the time being.
"Well-so long" he said, efficiently.
$50 long, Lyddy."
80 long," she repeated, dropping
into his manner Of speech without
thinking. There was a smotherlng
sensation in his breast.
He looked back as he strobe off In
the direction from which they had
come. She was at the top Of the steps,
her fingers on the electric button. He
wondered why her face was SO white.
He had always thought of it as being
full of color, rich, soft and warm.
Inside the door, Lydia experienced
a strange sinking of the heart. is
Mr.. Brood at" she began, ~nervously.
A voice at the top of the stairway In
terrupted the question she was putting
to the footman.
is it you, Lydia? Come up to my
room"
The girl looked up and say Mrs.
Brood leaning over the banister rail.
She was holding her pink dressing
gown closely about her throat, as If
it had been hastily thrown about her
shoulders. One bare arm was visible
completely SO.
II came to see Mr.. Brood. Is he"
He is busy. Come up to my room"
repeated Yvonne, somewhat imperi-
ously.
Az Lydia mounted the stairs she
had a fair glimpse of the others face.
Always pallid-but of a healthy pal
lor-it vas now almost CHASTITY. Per
haps is was the light from the window
that caused it, Lydia was not sure,
but a queer, greenish hue overspread
the lovely, smiling face. The lips We're
red, very red-redder than she had
eve seen them. The girl suddenly re-
called the face she had once seen OF
drug habit.
Mrs. Brood met her at the top Of
the stairs. She was but half-dressed.
Her lovely neck and shoulders were
now almost bare. Her hands we're
extended toward the visitor; the
filmy lace gown hung loose and disre-
garded about her slim figure.
Come in, dear. Shall we have tea ?
l have been SO lonely. One cannot
read the books they print nowadays.
Such stupid things, ai-e?"
She threw an arm about the tall
girl and Lydia was surprised to find
that it was warm and full of a gentle
strength. She felt her flesh Jingle
with the thrill of contact. Yes, it
must have been the light from the
window. for Yvonne's face was now
aglow with the irdescence hat was
so peculiarly her own.
A door closed softly on the floor
above them. Mrs. Brood glanced over
frightened perceptibly about Lydia's
waist.
1T was Ranjab," said the girl, anc
instantly was filled with amazement.
She had not seen the Hindu, had not
eve been thinking of him, and yet
she was impelled by some mysterious
intelligence to give utterance to q
statement in which there was convic-
ton, not conjecture.
Did you see him. asked the other,
looking at her sharply.
No. admitted Lydia, still amazed.
II don't know why | said that"
Mrs. Brood closed her boudoir door
behind them. For an instant she stood
staring at the knob as if expecting to
see it turn
Il know" she said, Il know why
you said it. Because it was Raniab."
She shivered. slightly. Il am afraid
of that man, Lydia. He seems to be
watching me all of the time. Day and
night his yes seem to be upon me-"
why should he be watching ou? ?"
asked Lydia, bluntly.
Yvonne did not notice the question.
Even when | am asleep in my bed.
in the dead hour Of night, he is look
ing at me. / can feel it, though asleep.
Oh, it is not a dream, for my dreams
are of something or someone else
of him. And yet he is there,
looking at me. lit IL uncanny."
AN obsession,' remarked Lydia,
quietly. HE never struck me as es-
pecially omnipresent."
Didn't you feel him a moment
ago." demanded Yvonne, irritably.
The other hesitated, rejecting. Il
suppose it must have been something
like that" They were still facing the
door, standing close together. why
do you feel that he is watching YOU %