The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1915-09-17

present them to the new Mrs. Brood |
as the best old boys in all the world
and they were both saying, with spas
modiC cackles of pleasure, that she
mustn't believe a word the young
rascal said"
He was struck by the calm, serene
manner in which she accepted these
jocular contributions to the occasion.
Her smile was friendly, her handshake
cordial, and yet there was an unmls-
taxable air of tolerance, as Of one who
Is accustomed to tribute. She merely
smiled and thanked them in simple,
commonplace phrases. Her voice was
low-pitched and marked by huski-
ness that was peculiar in that it was
musical, not throaty. Frederic, on
first seeing her, had leaped to the con-
Clusion that her English would not be
perfect. He was somewhat surprised
to discover that she had but the faint
est trace of an accent He aWoke sud
denly, however, to the realization that
! he had been looking into his new step
mothers eyes for long time and that
she was returning his gaze with some
intensity.
and this?" she said, abruptly break
ing in upon one of Danbury's hasty
"reminiscences, effectually ending it,
this is Frederick"
She came directly toward the young
man, her small, gloved hand extended.
Her eyes were looking into his with
an intentness that disconnected him.
There was no smile on her lips. 1t
was as if she regarded this moment
as a pronounced crisis.
Frederic mumbled something fatu-
Gus about being glad to see her, and
felt his face burn under her steady
gaze. His father came forward,
yes; this is Frederic, my DEAR" he
said, without trace of warmth in his
voice. AS she withdrew her hand
from Frederic's clasp, James Brood
extended his. How are you, Fred
eric?"
quite well, sir"
They shook hands in the most per-
functory manner.
81 need not ask how you are, IA
ther," said the son, after an instant's
hesitation. "You never looked bet
ter, sir"
Thank you. l am well. All, Mrs
Desmond! 1t is good to be home
again with you all. My dear, permit
me to introduce Mrs. John Desmond
You have heard me speak of my old
comrade and"
Il have heard you speak of Mr.. Des
mond thousand times" said his wife
There may have been a shade of EN-
phasis on the prefix, but 1t was sc
slight that no one. remarked 1t save
the widow of John Desmond, who hat
joined the group.
"Will you go to your room at once
Mrs. Brood?" asked Mrs. Desmond
The new mistress of the house had no
offered to shake hands with her, a.
James Brood had done. She hat
moved closer to Frederic and wa
, smiling in a rather shy, pleading way
in direct contrast to her manner Of tn
!. moment before. The smile was TO
q her stepson. She barely glanced
a Mrs Desmond.
q THANK you, no. l see a nice, bi
E fire and-oh, l have been so cold!
Y She shivered very prettily.
}. Comet" cried her husband. "That'
e just the thing" No one spoke as the
s moved toward the library. I'VE mus
try to thaw out" he added dryly, wit
faint smile on his lips.
His wife laid her hand on Frederic
arm. 1T is cold outside, Frederic
she said; very cold. am not accu
g toned to the cold"
If He was prepared to dislike her. H
d was determined that his hand shout
o be against her In the conflict that we
ID bound to come. And now, in a flas
g. strange, new emotion rushed U
D. within him like flood. A quee
g wistful note of sympathy in her voi'
n had done the trick. Something
j. the touch of her fingers on his ar
sr completed the mystery. He was co
scious Of mighty surge of relic
r The horizon cleared for him.
lp 1--WE shall do our best to keep "
r. warmth" he said quite gayly, and WI
n somewhat astonished at himself.
They had preceded the others in
d. the library. James Brood was dives
Of ing himself of his coat in the hall,
re tended by the leech-like old men. MI
r, Desmond stood in the doorway,
le tached figure.
he "You must love me, Frederic. Y
ce must be very, very fond of me, n
ne for your fathers sake but for mir
rs Then we shall be great friends, n
X antagonists"
81 He was helping her with her CO..
Ut 81 confess looked forward to y
te' with a good deal Of animosity,"
said.
ed But l shall not be a stepmothe