The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1915-09-03
CHAPTER lv-contInued.

Lydia fiinched, she knew not why.
There was sting to the words, de-
spite the languidness with which they
ware uttered.
Risking more than she suspected,
she said: HE never considers the cost
OF a thing, Mrs. Brood, If its beauty
appeals to him" Mrs. Brood gave
her a quizzical, half-puzzled look.
You have only to look about you for
the proof. This one room represents
q fortune" The last was spoken has
lily.
How old are you, Miss Desmond"
~he question came abruptly.
7 am nineteen"
You were surprised to find me so
sung. Will 1t add to your surprise
Y tell you that am. ten years older
an you?"
| at doesn't seem credible"
, Are you wondering why l tell you
my age?
AeS, balu Ayula, Dluntly.
TN order that you may realize that
am ten years wiser than you, and
mat you may not again make the mis-
take Of Understanding my intelli.
gence."
The color faded from Lydia's face.
She grew cold from head to foot. In
voluntarily she moved back a pace.
The next instant. to her unbounded
surprise, Mrs, Brood's hands were out.
stretched in gesture of appeal, and
a quick, wistful smile took the place
OF the imperious stare.
"Therel am nasty, horrid thing.
Forgive me. Come! Don't be stub
porn. Shake hands with me and say
that you're sorry | said what I did"
y was quaint way of putting II, and
her voice was so genuinely appealing
that Lydia, after a moments hesita-
tion, extended her hands. Mrs. Brood
grasped them in hers and gripped
them tightly. II think l should like to
know that you are my friend, Lydia.
Has 1t occurred to you that | an ut
terly without friends in this great city
Of yours? have my husband, that
IL all"
The girl could no more withstand
tho electric charm Of the woman than
she could have fought OF the sun
shine. She was bewildered. and COM
plately fascinated.
"Its-It's very good of YOU" she
murmured, her own eyes softening as
they looked into the deep, velvety
ones that would not be denied. Even
Is she wondered whether she could
ever really like this magnetic crea-
ture, she felt herself surrendering to
the spell OF her. But perhaps you
win not like me when you know me
better"
Perhaps" said Mrs. Brood, calmly,
almost indifferently. and dismissed the
subject What an amazing rooml
One can almost feel the presence OF
the genii that created II at the wish
Of the man with the enchanted lamp.
A o rule, oriental rooms are abomi-
nahsns. but this-ah, this is not an
oriental room after all. It Ia a part
Of the East itself-of the real East.
! have sat in emperors' houses out
there, my dear and l have slept In
the palaces OF kings. have seen
Just such things as these, and l know
that they could not have been trans.
ported to this room except by magic.
Ny husband Is magician"
these came from the palaces Of
kings. Mrs. Brood" said Lydia enthu-
siastically. "Kings in the days when
kings were real. This rug"
Tknow." interrupted the other. my
husband told me the story. II must
have cost him fortune"
ct was worth fortune, !" said Lydia,
A calculating squirt had come into
MIA Brood's eyes while she was
speaking. To Lydia 1t appeared as II
she we're trying to fix upon the value
Of the wonderful carpet.
- collector has offered him-how
much! A hundred thousand dollars,
10 not that it, An. how rich he must
esl-
The collector you refer to"
Il was referring tto my husband"
pasd Mrs. Brood. unabashed. He IL
very rich, isn't hel"
Lydia managed to conceal her an
noyance. Il think not, as American
fortunes are rated"
1T doesn't matter" said the other.
oarelessly. Il have my own fortune.
And L ~ not my face" she added.
with a quick smile. Now let US look
further. must see all these wonder.
ful things. We viii not be missed.
and Il is still half an hour TIL tea
tine. Ny husband is now telling bis
son all there Is TO be told about me-
Wa and what I am. and how he came
- HArTy ne. Net Taind You, how