The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1915-05-20

take 1t all back. Now. be nice to mel
She laid her hand on his arm, ar
appealing little caress that conquered
him in flash. He clasped her fingers
in his and mumbled incoherently al
he leaned forward, drawn resistlessly
nearer by a strange magic that was
hers.
"You-you are wonderful" he mur
INJURED. II knew that you'd regrel
what you said. You couldn't have
meant It,"
She smiled. patted his hand gently
and allowed her swimming eyes tt
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 1t would grow.
Her husband re-entered the room
his arm linked in Lydia's. Frederic
was lighting cigarette at the table
you did not mean all that you said
a moment ago. Yvonne," said Brood
leyelly. Lydia nisinterpreted your
Jest. You meant nothing unkind.
am sure" He was looking straight
into her rebellious eyes; the last
CLEAN of defiance died out of them
as he spoke.
81 am sorry, Lydia. darling" she
said, and reached out her hand to the
girl who approached reluctantly, un'
certainly Il confess that 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. Now. 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. glaring 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 a slow crescendo, ending
abruptly. Ranjab was holding the
lighted taper for her cigarette. AS
she spoke her eyes were lifted to his
dark, saturnine face. She was saying
there we're 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 II
in the presence of death! For an in.
calculably brief period their gaze re.
mained fixed and steady, each reading
a mystery. Then the Hindu lowered
his heavy lashes and moved away.
The little by-scene did not go unno-
ticed by the others. although its 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. 81 be.
lieve in ghosts. ! believe the dead
come back to US, not to fit about, as
we are told by superstition, but to
lodge-actually to dwell-inside these
warm, living bodies Of ours. They
come and 60 at will. Sometimes we
feel that they are there, but-ah, who
knows? Their souls may conquer ours
and go on inhabiting-"
"Never!" he exclaimed quickly, but
his eyes were full of the wonder that
he felt.
"Fredericl" she called imperatively.
Come away from that window"
The young man joined the group
The sullen look in his face had given
way to one Of acute Inquiry. The new
note in her voice produced a strange
effect upon him. 1t seemed like call
for help, q cry out of the darkness.
They we're all playing for time. Not
one OF them but who realized that
something sinister was attending their
little conclave, unseen but vital. Each
one knew that united they we're safe
each against the other! Lydia was
afraid because Of Brood's revelations
Yvonne had sensed peril with the mes.
sage delivered by Ranjab to Frederic
Frederic had come upstairs prepared
for rebellion against the caustic re
marks that were almost certain tc
come from his father. Brood was
afraid of-himself! He was holding
himself in check with the greatest diff
fculty. He knew that the smallest
spark would create the explosion he
dreaded and vet courfed Raafraini