The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1915-05-22

give me! ] was mean, nasty, ugly
vile-oh, everything that's horrid- 1
take it all back. Now. be nice to mel"
She laid her hand on his arm, an
appealing little caress that conquered
him in a fash. He clasped her fingers
in his and mumbIed incoherently as
he leaned forward. drawn resistlessly
nearer by strange magic that was
hers
'You-you are wonderful" he muir
INJURED. 81 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 Lydia's. Frederic
was lighting a cigarette at the table.
"You did not mean all that you said
moment ago, Yvonne," said Brood
levelly. Lydia misinterpreted your
jest. You meant nothing unkind,
am sure" He was looking straight
into her rebellious eyes; the last
| CLEAN of defiance died out Of them
as he spoke.
81 am sorry, Lydia, darling" she
said. and reached out her hand to the
girl. who approached reluctantly, IN
certainly. 81 confess that I was jeal-
Gus. 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
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.
him passionateIy. Now, we are all
ourselves once more" she gasped a
moment later, her eyes still fixed in
| quiringly on those of the man beside
her. Let US be gay! Let US forget!
Come, Frederic! Sit here at my feet.
Lydia is not going home yet Ranjab,
the cigarettes!"
Frederic, white-faced and scowling,
remained at the window, glazing out
| into the rain-swept night. A steady
sheet of raindrops thrashed against
the window panes.
Hear the wind!" cried Yvonne.
after single sharp glance at his tall,
motionless figure. "One can almost
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
ale! There are no ghosts in here
| to make US er-and-shake."
The sentence that began so glibly
traiIed off in a slow crescendo, ending
abruptly. Ranjab was holding the
| lighted taper for her cigarette. AS
she spoke her eyes were lifted to his
dark, saturnine face. She was saying
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 81 death! For an in
calculably brief period their gaze re-
! manned 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 its mean
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 SCI be-
Iieve in ghosts. I 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
"F'rederie!" she called imperatively.
Come away from that window"
The young man Joined the group.
The sulIen look in his face had given
way to one of acute inquiry. The new
note in her voice produced a strange
effect upon him. 1t seemed like a call
for help, a cry out of the darkness.
They were ali playing for time. Not
one of them but who realized that
something sinister was attending their
little conclave, unseen but vital. Each
one knew that united they were safe,
each against the other! Lydia was
afraid because Of Brood's revelations.
Yvonne had sensed peril with the mes
sage delivered by Raniab to Frederic
Frederic had come upstairs prepared
, for rebellion against the caustic re-
marks that weret almost certain to
come from his father. Brood waz
J afraid of-himselfi He was holding
himself in check with the greatest diff
fculty. He knew that the smallest
spark would create the explosion he
: dreaded and yet courted. Restraint
lay heavily yet shiftingly upon all OF
them.