The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1915-06-03
CHAPTER XVII.
Foul Weather.

To Broods surprise, she came half
way down the steps again, and, lean
ing over the railing, spoke to him with
voice full of irony.
'Will you be good enough to call of
your spy, james,"
What do you mean?" He had start
ed to put on his light overcoat.
81 think you know" she said, briefly.
do you consider me so mean, so
infamous as" he began hotly.
Nevertheless, l feel happier when
know he is out of the house. Call
off your dog, James,"
He smothered an execration and
then called out harshly to Jones. ASK
Ranjab to attend me here, Jones. He
is to go out with me-" he said to the
butler a moment later. Yvonne was
still leaning over the banister,
scOrnful smile on her lips.
81 shall wait until you are gone.
intend to see Frederic alone" he said,
with marked emphasis on the final
word.
LAS you like" said he, coldly.
She crossed the upper hall and dis
appeared from view down the corridor
leading to her own room. Her lips
were set with decision; a wild, reck-
less light filled her eyes, and the smile
of scorn had given way to one Of ex-
altation. Her breath came fast and
tremulously through quivering nos
trils as she closed her door and hur-
ried across to the little vine-covered
balcony.
The time has come-the time has
come, thank God" she was saying to
herself, over and over again.
She turned her attention to the win
dow across the court and two floors
above her-the heavily curtained win
dow In Brood's retreat" There was
no sign of life there, so she hurried to
the front of the house to wait for the
departure of James Brood and his man.
The two were going down the front
steps. At the bottom Brood spoke to
Ranjab and the latter, as imperturb-
able as rock, bowed low and moved
off in an opposite direction to that
taken by his master. She watched
until both were out of sight. Then she
rapidly mounted the stairs to the top
floor.
Frederic was lying on the couch
near the jade-room door. She was
able to distinguish his long, dark fig
ure after peering intently about the
shadowy interior in what seemed at
first to be a vain search for him. She
shrank back, her eyes fixed in horror
upon the prostrate shadow. Suddenly
he stirred and then half raised himself
on one elbow to stare at the figure
in the doorway.
"1s 1t your" he whispered, hoarsely,
and dropped back with great sigh on
his lips.
Her heart leaped. The blood rushed
back to her face. Quickly closing the
door, she advanced into the room, her
tread as swift and as soft as a cats.
"He has gone out. We are quite
alone" she said, stopping to lean
against the table, suddenly faint with
excitement.
He laughed, a bitter. mirthless,
snarling laugh.
Get up Frederic. Be a man! |
know what has happened. Get up!
l want to talk it over with you. We
must plan. We must decide now-at
once-before he returns" The words
broke from her lips with sharp, stac-
catolike emphasis.
He came to sitting posture slowly.
all the while staring at her with dull
wonder in his heavy eyes.
Pull yourself together" she cried,
hurriedly. I'VE cannot talk here l
am afraid in this room. 1t has ears,
l know. That awful Hindu is always
here, even though he may seem to be
elsewhere. We will go down to my
boudoir."
He slowly shook his head and then
allowed his chin to sink dejectedly into
his hands With his elbows on his
knees he watched her movements in a
state of increasing interest and bewil
derment. She turned abruptly to the
Buddha, whose placid, smirking coun
tenance seemed to be alive to the stu
alton in all of its aspects. Standing
close, her hands behind her back, heI
figure very erect and theatric, she pro
ceeded to address the image in voice
full OF mockery.
"Well, my chatterbox friend, have
pierced his armor, haven't I? He will
creep up here and ask you, his won
derful god, to tell him what to de-
about it, ale? His wits are tangled
He doubts his senses. And when ht
comes to you, my friend, and whinei
his secret doubts into your excellen
and trustworthy ear, do me the kind
ness to keep the secret / shall nov
whisper to you, for | trust you, too
you amiable fraud" Standing on tip
toe, she put her lips to the idols ea
and whispered. Frederic, across th'
room, reused from his lethargy by tn,
strange words and still stranger &C
ton, rose to his feet and took severa
steps toward her. There! Now yoV
know everything. You know NOR
than James Brood knows, for yo1
know what his charming wife is abou
to do next" She drew back AM
regarded the image through hall
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