The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1915-07-08
CHAPTER vi.--continued.


TT In not unlike all stories Of It's
kind. my dear" she said with an in
difference that amazed him. They
are all alike. Why should l ask? No,
do not ask you for your story, James.
Sometime you may tell me, but not to-
day. shouldn't mind hearing 1t II 1t
wera an original tale. but God knows
u isn't. It's as old as the Nile. But
You may tell me more about your son.
In he like you. or like his motherf"
Brood's lips were compressed. y
can't say that he Is like either Of u.s."
he said shortly. She raised her eye
brows slightly.
"Ah," she said. THAT makes quite
q difference. Perhaps, after all, J shall
be interested In the story" Her
ner was so casual. so serenely matter
uf-fact. that he could hardly restrain
the sharp exclamation OF annoyance
that rose to his lips.
He bit his lip and allowed the frank
tnsinuation to go unanswered. He
consoled himself with the thought that
she must have spoken In jest, with
out intention. He had the uncomfort-
able feeling that she would make light
OF his story too, when the time came
for revelations. A curious doubt tcnk
root In his mind: would he aver he
able to understand the nature OF this
woman whom he loved and who ap-
peared to love him 80 unreservedly?
AZ time went on, the doubt became a
conviction. She was utterly beyond
comprehension.
The charm and beauty OF the new
mistress Of James Brood's heart and
home were to become the talk OF the
town. Already, In the first month of
her reign. she had drawn to the old
house the attention not only OF the
parasites who feed on novelty, but OF
Families that had long since given up
Brood az a representative figure in the
circle into which he had beer born.
the restorati0I was slow at arst as
Il naturally would be. The new Mrs.
Brood came upon the scene as a
strange star appears suddenly in the
skies to excite and mystify the unsus-
pecting world. She seemed to have
come from nowhere, and yet like the
new planet, she suddenly filed an ZAP
pointed spot in the armament.
It cannot be said that she conquered,
Cor that would be to imply design on
her part Possibly she considered the
game unworthy OF the effort. She rex
garded herself as superior to all these
people. q surviving estimate OF them
selves that most Europeans enjoy;
therefore what was she to gain. saving
D certain amount or amusement. by
contact With yer husband'a friends?
In truth. Yycnnc Brood despissd
Americans. She made small pre-
tense Of liking them. The rather close
" knit circle Of Partisan aristocracy
which she affected is known to toll
crate but not TO invite the society Of
even the best OF Americans. She was
NO larger than her environment. Her
piews upon and her attitude toward
HE Americans we're not created by
her hut for her. The fact that James
Brood had reached the inner shrine OF
wrench self worship NO doubt put him
In : class apart from all other Ameri-
csns, 90 Ear ~ she was concerned. At
least lt may account for an apparent
Inconsistency. In that she married him
without mnch hesitation.
I Hor wnrmeot friend and admirer-
- might almost say slave-was Fred.
Brood She had transformed him.
no longer the silent. moody
Z other days. but an eager. I'm.
@o7Ilaymate whose principal OBJ
- pas % amuse her. II any
pao nHd c!< 40 convince him that he
49, 49, noxp regarded Mrs. Des-
rnonos oe1cxonement and departure
With equanimits@hs would have pro-
fested with AL - force a his COM
nand But that uool6 have been n
Month agoi He cav Lat ana her
smother leave without Sh~ smehtest
l0oubt IN biz mind that Il 49, al for
he beGk
Tbs Dssmonds took I small o..rt.
ment Inst around the corner from
Dtoo1is homo. In : side street. and q
Mo Same block. A. ! matter Of fact.
nonetysokd> 1nztke rear a BrOoo;s hume,
Dreteric assisted them II putting thelz
Dow home n order. - wns great IN
- Ly1ka - -. ~ bsilding 9