The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-03-21

door. After a while he abandoned th'
task and followed her rather dazedl,
to the boudoir, promising to listen tt
reason. For an hour she argued ant
pleaded with him, and in the end h'
agreed to give up what she wal
pleased to call his preposterous plan
Now, that being settled" she said
with sigh of relief. let us go anc
talk it all over with Lydia
He started guiltily. "Id-ld rather
not. Yvonne," he said. There's nc
use worrying her with the thing now
As a matter of fact, Id prefer that
she-er-well, somehow | don't like
the idea of explaining matters to her
She was watching him narrowly. 1T
has seemed to me Of late. Frederic,
that you and Lydia are not quite so
what shall say?-so enamored OF
each other. What has happened?" she
inquired so innocently, so naively'
that he looked at her in astonishment.
81 am sure you fairly live at her house.
You are there nearly every day, and
yet-well, | can feel rather than see
the change in both of you. hope"
1--WE been behaving like an Internal
sneak, Yvonne," cried he, conscience
stricken. shes the finest, noblest
girl in all this world, and I've been
treating her shamefully."
Dear me! In what way, may ]
inquirer"
why we used to-oh, but why go
into all that? II would only amuse
you You'd laugh at us for silly fools.
But | cant help saying this much
she doesn't deserve to be treated as
I'm treating her now, Yvonne. It's
hurting her dreadfully and"
She laughed softly I'm afraid you
are seeing too much Of your poor
stepmother," she said.
His eyes narrowed. you've made
me over that's true. You've made all
of us over-the house as well. ] am
not happy unless | am with you. 1t
used to make me happy to be with
Lydia-and we were always together.
But IL don't care now-at least,
am not unhappy when we are apart.
You've done It, Yvonne. You've made
life worth living. You've made me
see everything differently. YOU"
She stood up, facing him. She ap-
peared to be frightened.
Are you trying to tell me that
you are in love with me?' she de.
manded. and there was no longer
mockery, raillery in her voice.
His eyes swept her from head to
foot He was deathly white.
III you were not my fathers wife
would say yes" said he, hoarsely.
She laughed. Il shall pay no at
tention to such nonsense. You are an
honest fool and | don't blame you.
Wiser men than you have fallen in
love with me, so why not you? like
you. Freddy. like you very, very
much. /"
You like me because | am his
SON." he cried hotly.
IL NDu Ntlt uOl DlS oOH
despise you" she said deliberately.
cruelty. He WINGED. There, now;
we've said enough. You must be
sensible. You will discover that am
very, very sensible. 1t is Lydia whom
you love, not l."
Before heaven. Yvonne, do love
her. That's what l cannot understand
about myself" He was pacing the
floor.
But understand" she said, qui.
etly. Now go away, please. And
don't let me hear another word about
leaving your fathers house. You are
not to take that step until command
you to go Do you understand"
He stared at her in utter bewilder-
ment for moment. and slowly nodded
his head, Then he turned toward the
door, shamed and Inundated beyond
AS he went swiftly down the stairs
his father came out upon the landing
above and leaned over the railing to
watch his descent. A moment later
Brood was knocking at Yvonne's door.
He did not wait for an invitation to
enter, but strode into the room with
out ceremony
She was standing at the window
that opened out upon the little stone
and had turned swiftly at
the sound of the rapping. Surprise
gave way to an expression of displeas
ure.
What has Frederic been saying to
you?" demanded her husband curtly.
after he had closed the door
A faint sneer came to her lips.
Nothing, my dear James, that you
would care to know" she said, smol-
dering anger in her eyes.
You mean something that |
shouldn't know" he grated,
Are you forgetting yourself,
James" coldly.
He stared at her incredulously.
Good Lord! Are you trying to tell
me what | shall do or say
She car'e up to him slowly. James.