The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1915-05-29

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e Il will go In for a few minutes.
she said. at the foot of the steps. AR
you not coming. too?"
He had stopped. Not lust now
Lyddy. l think I'll run up to Tom
fiat and smoke a pipe with him
Thanks, old girl, for the happy da,
we've had. You don't mind if leav,
!, you here?"
Her heart gave a great throb O.
relief. 1t was best to have him out o.
the way for the time being.
"Well-so long," he said, diffidently
so long, Lyddy"
SO long" she repeated, droppine
into his manner of speech without
thinking. There was a smotherinp
sensation in his breast.
He looked back as he strobe off in
the direction from which they had
come. She was at the top of the stems.
her fingers on the electric button. He
wondered why her face was so white.
He had always thought of it as being
full Of color, rich, soft and warm.
Inside the door, Lydia experienced
strange sinking of the heart. rs
Mr.. Brood at" she began, nervously.
A voice at the top of the stairway in
terrupted the question she was putting
to the footman.
"Is it you, Lydia? Come up to my
room"
The girl looked up and saw Mrs.
Brood leaning over the banister rail.
She was holding her pink dressing
gown closely about her throat. as if
1t had been hastily thrown about her
shoulders. One bare arm was visible
completely so.
Il came to see Mr.. Brood. Is he"
He is busy. Come up to my room"
repeated Yvonne, somewhat imperi
ously.
AS Lydia mounted the stairs she
had a fair glimpse of the others face.
Always pallid-but of a healthy pal
lor-it was now almost CHASTITY. Per-
haps is was the light from the window |
that caused it, Lydia was not sure.
out a queer, greenish hue overspread |
the lovely, smiling face. The lips were
red. very red-redder than she had
ever seen them. The girl suddenly re-
called the face she had once seen of
woman who was addicted to the
drug habit.
Mrs. Brood met her at the top of
The stairs. She was but half-dressed.
Her lovely neck and shoulders were
low almost bare. Her hands were
extended toward the visitor; the
ilmy lace gown hung loose and disre-
'arded about her slim figure.
Come in, dear. Shall we have tea?
nave been so lonely. One cannot
cad the books they print nowadays.
such stupid things, ai-e?"
She threw an arm about the tall I
1rl and Lydia was surprised to find
nat 1t was warm and full of a gentle
trength. She felt her flesh Jingle /;
Nth the thrill of contact. Yes. il .
lust have been the light from the
Tindow, for Yvonne's face was now =.
glow with the iridescence that was ,
peculiarly her own.
door closed softly on the floor
Dove them. Mrs. Brood glanced over
er shoulder and upward. Her arm
ghtened perceptibly about Lydia's q
aist. y
1t was Ranjab," said the girl. and
stantly was filled with amazement.
he mad not seen the Hindu, had not
ZEN been thinking of him. and vet
e was impelled by some mysterious
telligence to give utterance to a
atement in which there was conyic-
IN, not conjecture.
Did you see him." asked the other
oking at her sharply. M
NO." admitted Lydia, still amazed. III
don't know why said that" X
Mrs. Brood closed her boudoir door Y
mind them. For an instant she stood Z
'ring at the knob as if expecting to N
e 1t turn III
i know" she said, 81 know wbv
said 1t. Because it was Raniab" z
e shivered slightly. 81 am afraid z
that man, Lydia He seems to be z
itching me all of the time. Day and g
hit his eyes seem to be upon me /" -
Why should he be watching your" ,
red Lydia. bluntly.
fvonne did not notice the question. .
ven when I am asleep in my bed.
the dead hour Of night, he is look
at me. / can feel it, though asleep.
1t is not a dream, for my dreams
OF something or someone else
'er OF him. And yet he is there
king at me. lit is uncanny."
An obsession," remarked lydia IN
city. He never struck me as es-
tally omnipresent." pre-
Didn't you feel him a moment NC,
= demanded Yvonne. irritably. -.
ne other hesitated, rejecting. T w W..
pose it must have been something o
that" They were still facing the ~ '
r, standing close together. "Wby ~
you feel that he is watching vou9n no.
don't know. l just feel it, that's Wv W..
Day and night. He can read nv
lgnts, Lydia, as he would read a ing
(. lsnt-isn't it disgusting?". Her
N was spiritless, obviously arti. ina
/. hen
shouldn't object to his reading 'or'
thoughts" said Lydia. pre-,
In, out you are Lydia. It's differ.
have thoughts sometimes. NV 'ne
; that would not-but there, Let out
'peak OF more agreeable things 80,