The Southern herald., 1915-07-02
CHAPTER VI.-contInued.

at is not unlike all stories Of its
kind, my DEAR" she said with an in
difference that amazed him. "They
are all alike. Why should l ask? No,
LIDO not ask you for your story, James.
Sometime you may tell me, but not to-
day. shouldn't mind hearing 1t II 1t
we're an original tale, but God knows
It isn't. It's as old as the Nile. But
you may tell me more about your son.
Is he like you, or like his mother?"
Brood's lips we're compressed. Il
can't say that he is like either Of us"
he said shortly. She raised her eye
brows slightly.
"Ah," she said. "That makes quite
difference. Perhaps, after all, shall
be interested in the story" Her man
ner was so casual, so serenely matter
offact, that he could hardly restrain
the sharp exclamation Of annoyance
that rose to his lips.
He bit his lip and allowed the frank
insinuation to go unanswered He
Consoled himself with the thought that
she must have spoken In jest, with
out intention. He had the uncomfort-
Dble feeling that she would make light
Of his story, too, when the time came
for revelations. A curious doubt took
root in his mind; would he ever be
able to understand the nature of this
woman whom he loved and who ap.
peared to love him so unreservedly?
As time went on, the doubt became
conviction. She was utterly beyond
comprehension.
The charm and beauty of the new
mistress of James Brood's heart and
home were to become the talk of the
town, Already, In the first month Of
her reign, she had drawn to the old
house the attention not only of the
parasites who feed on novelty, but Of
families that had long since given up
Brood as a representative figure in the
circle into which he had been born.
The restoration was slow at first, as
1t naturally would be. The new Mrs,
Brood came upon the scene as
strange star appears suddenly In the
skies to excite and mystify the unsus-
pecting world. She seemed to have
come from nowhere, and yet like the
new planet, she suddenly filled an ap-
pointed spot In the armament.
It cannot be said that she conquered,
Tor that would be to imply design on
her part. Possibly she considered the
game unworthy of the effort. She re-
garded herself as superior to all these
people, a surviving estimate Of them
selves that most Europeans enjoy;
therefore what was she to gain, saving
. certain amount of amusement, by
contact with her husbands friends?
In truth, Yvonne Brood despised
Americans. She made small pre-
tense Of liking them. The rather close
" knit circle Of Partisan aristocracy
which she affected Is known to toll
crate but not to invite the society Of
even the best Of Americans. She was
no larger than her environment. Her
views upon and her attitude toward
tne Americans were not created by
ner but for her. The fact that James
Brood had reached the inner shrine Of
ffench self-worship no doubt put him
III class apart from all other Ameri-
cans SO far as she was concerned. At
ieast 1t may account for an apparent
inconsistency, in that she married him
without much hesitation.
her warmest friend and admirer-
one might almost say slave-was Fred.
stlc Brood. She had transformed him.
ne was no longer the silent, moody
youth OF other days. but an eager, I'm.
petuous playmate whose principal OBJ
1sct In life was to amuse her. II any.
une mad tried to convince him that he
sver could have regarded Mrs. Des.
slonus dethronement and departure
"ln eQuanimity he would have pro
sested with all the force at his com.
uand. But that would have been a
uiOntn agol He saw Lydia and her
aOtner leave without the slightest
the best.
me Desmonds took small apart
snt Just around the corner from
ysOods home. in a side street, and in
~ same block. AS matter of fact,
s saeir windows looked down into the
Soustyard in the rear of Broods home.
.eusrlc assisted them in putting their
~ home in order. 1t was great fun
lydia and him, this building Of