The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-05-07
CHAPTER VII.
Ranjab the Hindu,

The two old men, long since relt
gated to a somewhat self-imposed oil
Hvion, on certain night discussed, a
usual, the affairs Of the household Il
the privacy of their room on the thir
floor remote, not, however, withou
first convincing themselves that tn
shadowy Ranjab was nowhere within
range of their croaking undertones
From the prescribed regions down
stairs came the faint sounds of a piano
and the intermittent chatter of many
voices. Someone was playing Ia
Paloma."
These new days were not like the
old ones. Once they had enjoyed
even commanded, the full freedom Of
the house. 1t had been their priv
lege, their prerogative, to enter into
every social undertaking that was
planned; in fact, they had come to
regard themselves as hosts, or, at the
very least, guests of honor on such
occasions. They had joyous way OF
lifting the responsibility of converse.
ton from everyone else; and, be it
said to their credit, there was no SUBJ
ject on which they couldn't talk with
decision and f1uency, whether they
knew anything about it or not.
And nowadays it was different. They
were not permitted to appear when
guests were in the house. The sump-
tuous dinners-of which they heard
something from the servants-were no
longer graced by their presence. They
were amazed and not little irritated
to observe, by listening at the head of
the stairs, that the unfortunate
guests, whoever they were, always
seemed to be enjoying themselves.
They couldn't, for the life Of them, I'M
derstand how such condition was
possible.
Brood had been working rather
steadily at his journal during the past
two OF three weeks. He had reached
a point in the history where his own
memory was somewhat vague, and
had been obliged to call upon his old
comrades to supply the facts. For
several nights they had sat with him,
going over the scenes connected with
their earliest acquaintance - those
brought over her fathers notes and
certain transcripts of letters he had
written to her mother before their
The four of them were put
ing those notes and narratives into
order Brood, after
hree months of married life and fri |
yolity, suddenly had decided to devote |
himself almost entirely to the compile |
ion of the journal.
He denied himself the theater, the
'pera and kindred features of the
,assing show, and as he preferred to
ntertain rather than to be enter
aimed, seldom found it necessary to
% into the homes of other people.
.vonne made no protest. She merely
ressed Frederic into service as an
scort when she desired to go about,
nd thought nothing of it. Whether
MS arrangement pleased James Brood
me will show. He, too, appeared to
mink nothing of it.
The lines had returned to the cor
ers Of his mouth, however, and the
Id, hard look to his eyes. And there
ere times when he spoke harshly to
is son, times when he purposeiy
lmbled him in the presence of others
ithout apparent reason.
On this particular night, Yvonne
i'd asked a few people in for dinner.
hey were people whom Brood liked
specially well, but who did not appeal
her at all. AS matter Of fact, they
,red her. She appeared to be happy
pleasing him, however When she
Id him that they were coming, he }
vored her with dry, rather i'm :
rsonal smile, and asked, with whim- !
,al good humor, why she chose to
Inish herself for the sins of his
nth She laid her cheek against his j
d purred! For a moment he held
, breath. Then the fire in his blood g
,ped into flame. He clasped the
m, adorable body in his strong arms
d crushed her against his breast. "
e kissed him and he was again the W
rec, eager, unsated lover. 1t was a.
3 of their wonderful imperishable II
ments, moments that brought OBJ
ion. Then, as he frequently did of o.
g he held her off at arms length and III
.rched her velvety eyes with gaze Ell
t seemed to drag the very secrets CO
of her soul. She went deathly M
lite and shivered. He took his hands
m her shoulders and smiled. She tlt
ne back into his arms like a dumb tn
NJ seeking protection, and contin- as
to tremble as if frightened. ad
When company was being enter or
led downstairs Mr.. Dawes and Mr.. an
gs, with fidelity to convention
t was almost pitiful, invariably pr
ned their evening clothes. They ha
sidered themselves remotely con- inf
ted with the festivities, and, that TIL
lg the case. the least they could do VT
to dress up" Moreover, they Sh
,sed with great care and delibera-
There was always the chance NO
they might be asked to come ing
n, or, what was even more impor eve
Mrs. Brood might happen to en- Ly,
tier them in the upper hall, and jim
hat event 1t was imperative that on
should be made to reali4e how "