The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1915-04-29
Mrs. Chichester rose too. IT CAM

MI bicul We ic NeAy SOttS, UuL
"fll see him." interrupted Ethel, al
| most animatedly. Bring Mr.. Brent
here, Jarvis
AS jarvis went in search of Mr..
Brent Mrs. Chichester went up the
great stairs. My head is throbbing.
I'll go to my ROOM"
Don't you worry. MATER consoled
Alaric. Leave everything to me. 1'll
thrash the whole thing out"
As Mrs. Chichester disappeared Alar-
ic turned to his calm sister. who,
strangely enough. was showing some
signs of life and interest
Really going to teach?"
| YES"
fright! I'll find something, too
very likely DOCTOR Well pull through
| somehow"
Ethel made motion toward the door
as though to stop any further CONVEX
sation.
Mr.. Brent's coming" she said, al
most impatientiy.
Alaric started for the window lead
ing into the garden.
Jolly good of you to let him bore
you. l hate the sight of the bcggar
myself. Always looks to me like the
first conspirator at play
The door opened. and Jarvis entered
and ushered in ''Mr. Brent" Alaric
buried into the garden.
\ few words of description of Chris
tian Brent might be Of interest since
he represents type that society al
ways has With it.
They begin by deceiving others; they
end by decciving themselves.
Christian Brent was dark. tense.
eager. scholarly looking man Of twen-
ty-eight years Of age. His career as a
diplomatist was halted at its outset by
an early marriage with the only daugh-
ter of prosperous manufacturer.
Brent was moderately independent in
his own right, but the addition Of his
wife's dowry seemed to destroy all am-
bition. He no longer found interest in
carrying messages to the various lega-
tons or embassies of Europe or in fill
ing routine position as some ones
secretary From being an intensely
eager man Of affairs he drifted into a
social loungcr-the lapdog of the draw
ing room-where the close breath of
some rare perfume meant more than
the clash of interests and the conquest
Of Il woman greater than that of Il ma
ton.
Just at this period Ethel Chichester
was the especial object of his adora-
ton
Her beauty appealed to him.
Her absolute Indifference to him
stung him as lash. 1t seemed to be-
little his powers of attraction. Conse
qnently he redoubled his efforts.
Ethel showed neither like nor dislike
just form of liberation. Brent &C
cepted this, as a dog a crumb, in the
! hope of something more substantial
to follow. He had come that morn
ing with Il fixed resolve. His man
ner was determined His voice wOoe6
, ; as caress. He went tenderly tt
,, Ethel the moment the door closed or
Jarvis
How are your he asked. and there
Z was IL note Of Subdued passion in hi.
tone.
Fair replied Ethel without ever
looking at him
where is your mother| suggesting
that much depended on the answer.
Lying down." answered Ethel truth
fully and without any feeling.
|
in the garden"
''Then we have a moment or two
alone?" Brent put a world of mean
ing into the suggestion.
Every likely said Ethel. picking III
Il score of "Boheme' and looking at !
us If she saw it for the first time, al
the while watching him through he
half closed eyes.
Brent went to her. "Glad to Sc
me?" he asked.
"Why not:'
Il am glad to see you''-he bent owe
her-''more than glad"
"Really?'
He sat beside her "Ethel," he whis
pered intensely, II am at the cross
roads"
"Oh.' commenced Ethel, without an
interest.
ut came last night"
did it,"
This is the end-between Sibyl an
myself"
"Is it?"
"Yes-the end. It's been horrible frol
the first-horrible. There's not wor
Of mine--not an action-she doesn
misunderstood
"How boringw said Ethel blandly.
''She would see harm even in this"
"Why?"
"She'd think was here TOTO E
stopped.
WHAT" innecently inquired Ethel.
"Make love to YOU And he locke
! earnestly into her eyes.
z She met his look quite frankly ar
astonished him with the questio
We'll, aren't you?"
He rose anxiously. Ethel"
u Don't You always?" persisted Ethe
HAS it seemed like that to you?'
Yes she answered candidly; Il
'e insinuation. never straightforwardly.
I. HAS it offended your
!! "Then you admit it?'
N oh he cried passionately, II wi
e. had the right toto Again
20 Wavered
.Yes?" And Ethel looked straight
t. him.
n make love to you Straightforward
b ~" He felt the supreme moment h
almost arrived. Now, he thought.
ut would be rewarded for the long wa