The Carlisle independent., 1915-05-06

you are angry, my son. Yes, you are almost as splendid as your father. He, too, has been angry with me. He. too. has made me shudder. But he, too, has forgiven me, as you shall this in- stant. Say it. Freddie. You do for give me? I was mean, nasty. ugly, Yile-oh, everything that's horrid. take 1t all back. Now. be nice to mel"
 She laid her hand on his arm, an appealing little caress that conquered him in flash. He clasped her fingers in his and mumbled incoherently as he leaned forward, drawn resistlessly nearer by a strange magic that was hers
 "You-you are wonderful" he mur- mured. 'I knew that you'd regret what you said You couldn't have meant it."
 She smiled, patted his hand gently, and allowed her swimming eyes to rest on his for an instant to complete the conquest. Then she motioned him away. Brood's voice was heard in the doorway. She had, however, planted an insidious thing in Frederic's mind, and it would grow
 Her husband re-entered the room his arm linked in Lydias Frederic was lighting a cigarette at the table.
 You did not mean all that you said a moment ago, Yyonne," said Brood levelly. Lydia misinterpreted your jest. You meant nothing unkind. am sure" He was looking straight into her rebellious eyes; the last gleam of defiance died out of them as he spoke
 T am sorry, Lydia, darling" she said. and reached out her hand to the girl. who approached reluctantly. un- certainly. T confess that l was jeal- ous. Why shouldn't I be jealous? You are so beautiful, so splendid. She drew the girl down beside her. | Forgive me. dear" And Lydia, whose honest heart had been so full of re- sentiment the moment before, could not withstand the humble appeal in the voice of the penitent She smiled, first at Yvonne then at Brood. and 1 never quite understood the impulse that ordered her to kiss the warm. red lips that so recently had offended.
 James, dear" fell softly, alluringly from Yvonne's now tremulous lips. He sprang to her side. She kissed him passionately Now, we are all ourselves once more," she gasped a moment later, her eyes still fixed in- 1 quiringly on those of the man beside | her. Let us be gay! Let us forget 1 Come, Frederici Sit here at my feet. l Lydia is not going home yet Ranjab, l the cigarettes!
 Frederic, white-faeed and scowling, remained at the window, glaring our into the rain-swept night. A steady 1 sheet of raindrops thrashed against the window panes.
 Hear the windi" cried Yyonne, after single sharp glance at his tall, motionless figure. "One can almost l imagine that ghosts from every grave yard in the world are whistling past our windows. Should we not rejoice? We have them safely locked outside ai-e. There are no ghosts in here to make us shiver-and-shake."
 The sentence that began so glibly trailed off in a slow crescendo, ending abruptly. Ranjab was holding the 1 lighted taper for her cigarette. AS she spoke her eyes were lifted to his dark, saturnine face. She was saying 1 there were no ghosts, when his eyes suddenly fastened on hers. In spite of herself her voice rose in response to the curious dread that chilled her heart as she looked into the shining mirrors above her She shivered as if in the presence of deathi For an in- calculably brief period their gaze re- mained fixed and steady, each reading a mystery. Then the Hindu lowered his heavy lashes and moved away. The little by-scene did not go unno- ticed by the others. although it's mean. 1 ing was lost.
 There's nothing to be afraid of. Yvonne," said Brood, pressing the hand, which trembled in his Your imagination carries you a long way. Are you really afraid of ghosts?"
 She answered in a deep, solemn voice that carried conviction. T be- lieve in ghosts. believe the dead come back to us. not to fit about, as we are told by superstition. but to lodge-actually to dwell-inside these warm, living bodies of ours. They come and go at will. Sometimes we feel that they are there, but-ah, who knows? Their souls may conquer ours and go on inhabiting-"
 'Never!" he exclaimed quickly, but his eyes were full of the wonder that he felt
 "Frederic!" she called imperatively. Come away from that window"
 The young man joined the group. The sullen look in his face had given way to one of acute inquiry. The new note in her voice produced strange effect upon him. It seemed like call for help, a cry out of the darkness
 They were all playing for time. Not one of them but who realized that