The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1915-10-22

ASAJ' NY ooh' A0oj you oAV
almost as splendid as your father. He,
TOO, has been angry with me. He, too,
mas made me shudder. But he, too,
mas forgiven me, as you shall this in
slant. Say it, Freddie. You do for
give me? l was mean, nasty, ugly,
Vlle-oh, everything that's horrid. |
take 1t all back. Now, be nice to mel"
She laid her hand on his arm an
appealing little caress that conquered
him in flash. He clasped her fingers
IN his and mumbled incoherently as
ne leaned forward, drawn resistlessly
nearer by a strange magic that was
hers.
"You-you are wonderful" he MUIR
INJURED. Il knew that you'd regret
what you said. You couldn't have
meant it."
She smiled, patted his hand gently,
and allowed her swimming eyes to
rest on his for an instant to complete
the conquest. Then she motioned him
away Brood's voice was heard in the
doorway. She had, however, planted
an insidious thing in Frederic's mind,
and it would grow.
Her husband re-entered the room,
his arm linked in Lydias Frederic
was lighting a cigarette at the table.
You did not mean all that you said
a moment ago, Yyonne," said Brood
levelN. Lydia misinterpreted your
jest You meant nothing unkind, I
am sure" He was looking straight
into her rebellious eyes; the last
CLEAN Of defiance died out of them
as he spoke.
Il am sorry, Lydia, darling" she
said, and reached out her hand to the
girl, who approached reluctantly, I'M
certainly. Il confess that l was jeal-
GUS. Why shouldn't | be jealous?
You are so beautiful, so splendid"
She drew the girl down beside her.
Forgive me, dear" And Lydia, whose
honest heart had been so full of re-
sentiment the moment before, could
not withstand the humble appeal in
the voice of the penitent. She smiled,
first at Yvonne then at Brood, and
never quite understood the impulse
that ordered her to kiss the warm, red
lips that so recently had offended.
James, DEAR" fell softly, alluringly
from Yvonne's now tremulous lips.
He sprang to her side. She kissed
him passionately. Nov, we are all
ourselves once MORE" she gasped a
moment later, her eyes still fixed in
quiringly on those of the man beside
her. LET US be gay! Let US forget!
Come, Frederic! Sit here at my feet.
Lydia is not going home yet Ranjab,
the cigarettes!"
Frederic, white-faced and scowling,
remained at the window, glazing out
into the rain,swept night. A steady
sheet of raindrops thrashed against
the window panes.
Hear the wind" cried Yvonne,
after a single sharp glance at his tall,
motionless figure. Zone can almost
imagine that ghosts from every grave
yard in the world are whistling past
our windows. Should we not rejoice?
We have them safely locked outside
ale! There are no ghosts in here
to make US shiver-and-shake."
The sentence that began so glibly
trailed off in slow crescendo, ending
abruptly. Ranjab was holding the
lighted taper for her cigarette. AS
she spoke her eyes we're lifted to his
dark, saturnine face. She was saying
there were no ghosts, when his eyes
suddenly fastened on hers. In spite
of herself her voice rose in response
to the curious dread that chilled her
heart as she looked into the shining
mirrors above her. She shivered as if
in the presence of death! For an in
calculably brief period their gaze re-
NAMED fixed and steady, each reading
mystery. Then the Hindu lowered
his heavy lashes and moved away.
The little by-scene did not go unno-
ticed by the others, although it's mean
ing was lost.
There's nothing to be afraid of,
Yvonne," said Brood, pressing the
hand, which trembled In his. Your
imagination carries you a long way.
Are you really afraid of ghosts?"
She answered in a deep, solemn
voice that carried conviction. II be-
lieve in ghosts. believe the dead
come back to US, not to fit about, as
we are told by superstition, but to
Iodge-actually to dwell-inside these
warm, living bodies of ours. They
come and go at will. Sometimes we
feel that they are there, but-ah, who
knows? Their souls may conquer ours
and go on inhabiting-"
"Neyer!" he exclaimed quickly, but
his eyes were full Of the wonder that
he felt.
Frederick" she called imperatively.
Come away from that window"
The young man joined the group.
The sulIen look in his face had given
way to one of acute inquiry. The new
note in her voice produced a strange