The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1915-05-20


Il will go In for few minutes"
she said. at the foot of the steps. Are
you not coming, toof"
He had stopped. mot Just now.
Lyddy. | think I'll run up to Toms
nat and smoke a pipe with him
Thanks. old girl. for the happy day
we've had. You don't mind II leave
you here2"
Her heart gave great throb OF
relief II was best TO have him out of
the way for the time being.
"Well-so long" he said. difiidentiy.
80 long. Lyddy."
so long" she repeated, dropping
into his manner OF speech without
thinking. There was smothering
sensation In his breast.
He looked back as he strobe of In
the direction from which they had
come She was at the top OF the steps.
her fingers on the electric button. He
wondered why her face was so white.
He mad always thought OF II as being
full OF color rich, soft and warm.
Inside the door. Lydia experienced
a strange sinking OF the heart. rs
rfr. ErocS at" she began, nervously.
A voice at The top OF the stairway In
terrupted the question she was putting
to the footman.
"Is 1t you. Lydia1 Come up to my
rom"
The girl looked up and saw Mrs.
Brood leaning over the banister rail.
She was holding her pink dressing
gown closely about her throat, as II
II had been hastily thrown about her
shoulders. One bare arm was visible
completely SO.
Il came to see Mr.. Brood. Is he"
"He is busy. Come up to my room, u
repeated Yvonps, somewhat imperi.
ously.
AS Lydia mounted the stairs she
had fair glimpse OF the others face.
Always pallid-but OF a healthy pal.
lor.-it was now almost CHASTITY. Per.
haps is was the light from the window
that caused II. Lydia was not sure,
but a queer, greenish hue overspread
the lovely. smiling face. The lips were
red, very red-redder than she had
ever seen them. The girl suddenly re-
called the face she had once seen OF
a woman who wGs addicted to the
drug habit.
Mrs. Brood met her at the top OF
the stairs. She was but halfdressed
Her lovely neck and shoulders were
now almost bare. Her hands we're
extended toward the visitor; the
filmy lace gown hung loose and disre
garded about her slim figure.
Come In, dear. Shall we have tea
have been so lonely. One cannot
read the books they print nowadays
Such stupid things, ai-e?"
She threw an arm about the tall
girl and Lydia was surprised to find
that It was warm and full OF a gentle
strength. She felt her flesh tingls
with the thrill OF contact. Yes. 4
must have been the light from the
window, for Yvchhe's face was nov
aglow with the iridescence that wal
so peculiarly her own.
A door closed softly on the fooi
above them. Mrs. Brood glanced ovei
her shoulder and upward. Her arm
frightened perceptibly about Lydia'i
waist
1T was Ranjab." said the girl. anc
instantly was filed with amazement
She had not seen the Hindu. had moi
even been thinking OF him, and yel
she was lmpelled by some mysterious
intelligence to give utterance to Z
statement In which there was convic
ton. not conjecture.
Did you see him?" asked the other
looking at her sharply.
NO." admitted Lydia, still amazed
IL don't know why said that"
Mrs. Brood closed her boudoir doc
behind them. For an instant she stoo,
staring at the knob as II expecting :,
see II turn
81 know" she said. IL know VIII,
! you said IT, Because 1t was Ranjab
She shivered slightly. 81 am afrai,
of that man. Lydia. He seems to b.
watching me all Of the time. Day. AM
: night his eyes seem to be upon me-
why should he be watching you? ?
asked Lydia. bluntly.
! Yvonne did not notice the question
Even when am asleep In my bed
: in the dead hour Of night. he Is lool
. Ing at me. can feel II, though ASLEEP
! Oh. 1t is not dream. for my dream
are OF something or someone else
never OF him. And yet he is thers
+ looking at me. lit is uncanny."
!. "An obsesslon," remarked Lydii
r quietly. "He never struck me as ei
+ pecially omnipresent"
5 Didn't you feel him a momer
: ago?" demanded Yvonne. irritably.
4 The other hesitated. rejecting.
q suppose II must have been somethin
y like that" They were still facing III
8 door. standing close together. "Wh
do you feel that he is watching you
II don't know. | just feel 1t. that
g all. Day and night. He can read m
o thoughts. Lydia, as he would read