Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1915-07-16
CHAPTER xvi-ContInued.

II was maQol In vienna, interrupted
Frederick. not without a strange thrill
OF satisfaction in his soul, land before
you were married, I'd say. On the
back Of 1t is written: TO my own
sweetheart-4n Hungarian. Yvonne
says. There! Look at her. She was
like that when you married her. God,
how adorable she must have been. To
my wi sweetheart Ho ho!"
A hoarse cry of rage and pain bust
from Brood's lips. The world went red
before his eyes.
ITO my own sweetheart" he cried
out. He sprang forward and struck
the photograph from Frederic's hand.
Ut fell to the floor at his feet. Before
the young man could recover from his
surprise, Brood's foot vas upon the
pit Of cardboard. Don't raise your
hand to me! Don't you dare to strike
me! Now 1 shall tell you who that
sweetheart was!"
Half an hour later James Brood de-
seconded the stairs alone. He went
straight to the library where he knew
chat he could find Yvonne. Ranjab,
ftanding in the hall, peered into his
white, drawn face as he passed, and
Started forward as II to speak to him.
But Brood did not see him. He did
not lift his gaze from the floor. The
Hindu went swiftly up the stairs. q
daeD dread i'll his soCl.
The shades were down. Brood
stopped inside the door and looked
DULY about the library. He was on
the point of retiring when Yvonne
spoke to him out of the shadowy cor
ner beyond the fireplace.
CLOSE the door," she said huskiiy.
Then she emerged slowly, almost like
d specter, from the dark background
formed by the huge mahogany book
cases that lined the walls. from floor
to ceiling. "You we're a long time
up there" she went on.
why is 1t SO dark In here. Yvonne?"
he asked ~lifelessly.
80 that 1t would not be possible for
me to see the shame in your eyes.
James"
He leaned heavily against the long
table. She came up and stood across
the table from him, and he felt that
her eyes were searching his very soul.
II have hurt him beyond all chance
for recovery" he said hoarsely.
"Oh, you coward" she cried, lean
ing over the table, her eyes blazing.
II can understand 1t in you. You have
no soul of your own. What have you
done to your son, James Brood"
He drew back as If from the impact
of a blow. Coward? II have crushed
his soul, It was done in time, Yvonne
to deprive you Of the glory of doing it.
"Wha did he say to you about me?'
"You have had your fears for moth
ing. He did not put you in jeopardy
he said sc%ornfully.
81 know. He is not a coward" she
said calmly.
"In O heart you are reviling me
You Judge me as one guilty SOU
Judges another. Suppose that l were
10 confess to you that I left him VI
there with all the hope, all the life
blasted out of his eyes-with a wount
In his heart that will never stop bleed
ing-that ! left him because / wal
sorry for what I had done and could
l not stand by and look upon the WRECK
~ had created. Suppose"
81 am still thinking Of you as a COW
ard. What is 1t to me that you arr
eorry now? What have you done t.
that wretched. unhappy boy?"
"He will tell you o o enough. Ther
you will despise me even more than
despise myself. God! He - ht
,ooked at me with his mothers eyeI
when I kept on striking blows at hi
very soul. Her eyes-eyes that wer'
always pleading with mel But, curs'
4hem-always scofing at me! For
moment | faltered. There was a wav'
of love-yes. love, not pity, for him
as | saw him go down before tn
words | hurled at him. 1t was as II
had hurt the only thing In all tn
world that I love. Then it passed. H
was not meant for me to love. He wa
horn for me to despise. He was borl
to torture me as l have tortured him.
"You poor fool!" she cried. her eye
glittering.
sometimes l have doubted my owl
.oooonn he vent on as II he had no