The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-05-07
CHAPTER VI.-Continued.


kind, my DEAR" she said with an In
difference that amazed him. "They
are all alike. Why should ask? No
do not ask you for your story, James
Sometime you may tell me, but not to
day. / shouldn't mind hearing it If Il
were an original tale, but God knows
It isn't It's as old as the Nile. But
you may tell me more about your SON.
Is he like you, or like his mother?
Broods lips were compressed. II
SAINT say that he is like either of US, -
he said shortly. She raised her eye
brows sligatiy.
All" she said THAT makes quite
be interested In the story" Her man
her was so casual, so serenely matter
nf-fact, tha4 he could hardly restrain
the sharp exclamation of annoyance
that rose to his lips.
He bit his lip and allowed the frank
nsinuation to go unanswered He
honsoled himself with the thought that
phe must have spoken in jest, with
put intention. He had the uncomfort-
hble feeling that she would make light
Of his story, too, when the time came
tor revelations. A curious doubt took
root in his mind; would he ever be
lble to understand the nature of this
woman whom he loved and who ap-
beared to lore him 50 unreservedly?
As time went on, the doubt became a
conviction. She was utterly beyond
comprehension.
The charm and beauty of the new
mistress of James Broods heart and
home were to become the talk of the
bown. Already, In the first month of
her reign, she had drawn to the old |
house the attention not only of the |
PARASITES who feed on novelty, but Of |
Families that had long since given up |
Brood as representative figure in the
drcle into which he had been born.
The restoration was slow at first, as
II naturally would bes The new Mrs.
Brood came upon the scene as a
strange star appears suddenly In the
tkies to excite and mystify the unsus-
pecting world She seemed to have
home from nowhere, and yet like the
new planet, she suddenly filled an ap-
pointed spot In the armament.
1t cannot be said that she conquered,
|6r that would be to imply design on
aer part Possibly she considered the
game unworthy of the effort. She re-
.Arded herself as superior to all these
people, surviving estimate of them
IelVes that most Europeans enjoy;
therefore, what was she to gain, saving
certain amount of amusement, by
'untact with her husbands friends?
In truth, Yvonne Brood despised
americans. She made small pre-
ense of liking them. The rather close
= Init circle Of Partisan aristocracy
vhich she affected is known to toll
rate but not to invite the society of
ven the best Of Americans. She was
o larger than her environment. Her
Jews upon and her attitude toward
10 Americans we're not created by
er but for her. The fact that James
rood had reached the inner shrine of
rench self-worDhip no doubt put him
, class apart from all other Ameri-
aI1z, 80 far as she was concerned. At :
asst It may account for an apparent
In that she married him
fthout much hesitation.
Her warmest friend and admirer-
IL might almost say slave-was Fred.
1c Brood She had transformed him.
Q was no longer the silent, moody
nth of other days, but an eager i'm
,tuous playmate whose principal OBJ
ct In lie was TO amuse her. II any h.
le had tried to convince him that be hi
,r cdhld have regarded Mrs. Des- n;
ond's reinforcement and departure W.
th elnanimity he would have pro- ra
Bted Nith all the force at his corn tr
md But that would have been 4 he
onth ago! He saw Lydia and her
other leave without the slightest of
ubt in his mind that 1t was all for an
q best. HI
The Desmonds took q small apart VIZ
snt Just around the corner from MI
ood'g home, in a side street, and Ia FIR
. safae block. AS matter OF fact. tn,
sir windows looked down into the III
srtyArd in the rear Of Brood's home. tn,
aderic assisted them In putting their
= home h dUder. 1t was great fun pu
Lydia aa1 ~ this builAtng e an,