Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1915-06-26
CHAPTER xxIII-continued.

men 1t may not have been love that
he felt for the physical Yvonne, but 1t
wasn't Matilde that he held in his
arms. You can't get around that. nor
can he. Matflde's soul and Yvonne's
body are quite two different"
Cad, you are analyzing things!" he
exclaimed in amazement.
But all this is neither here nor
there" she said, flushing. '"The point
is this: we are going away tomorrow,
for heaven knows how long-you and
i, my mother and your father. We
are going to Vienna and in st. Ste
phen's cathedraHwhere your father
and mother were married with poor
little Therese as one of the Witnesses
in st. Stephens we are to be married.
She will not be there. She is not asked
to come with us. She is barred out.
Isn't it the refinement of-cruelty ?"
Cruelty, Lydia? I'd hardly call 1t
that. It's the order of destiny, or
something of the sort. She gambled
with fate and lost out. She's a good
loser. She hasn't squealed once"
"Squealed? 1 hate that word
81 hate squealer worse" said he.
''But seriously, it knocks me all out
whenever l think of her. I've hest
tated about speaking to father, dear
You see, I'm in rather a delicate posi-
ton. Six weeks ago 1 was madly in
fatuated with Yvonne. l don't deny
it-and he knows all about it, Cad,
I'd give ten years of my life if she
were going along with us tomorrow.
I'd give more than that to see this
whole unhappy business patched up so
that they could start off anew. But
I'm afraid he wouldn't take it well
from me if | asked him to include her
In the-er-party. It's his affair, not
mine, you see. He'd be justified in
considering me selfish in the matter.
1t might seem as though l didn't care
a hang for his personal feelings and"
shes his wife, however" said
Lydia, with a stubborn pursuing of the
lips. She didn't wrong him and, after
all. she's only guilty of-well, she isn't
guilty of anything except being a sis
ter of the girl he wronged."
I'll have a talk with him if you
think BEST" said he. an eager CLEAN in
his eyes.
And 1 with Yvonne." she said
quickly. You see, it's possible she is
the one to be persuaded"
He'll never ask her." said Frederic.
after a long period of reflection.
What is to become of herr" asked
Lydia, rather bleakly.
81 suppose she'll go away. 1t will
be the end"
II don't think 1 could bear II
Freddy" she said. a. trace of tears in
her voice.
He swallowed hard Then he cleared
hriS
observed that they never see one an
other alone. They never meet except
when someone else is about He rather
resents the high-handed way in which
she ordered him to stay away from me
until l was safely out of danger. He
has spoken of it to me, but, for the
life of me l can't tell whether he holds
1t up against her or not. He says she
saved my life. He says she per-
formed miracle. But he has never
uttered word OF thanks or gratitude
or appreciation to her. I'm sure of
that, for she has told me so. And she
Is satisfied to go without his thanks
She rather likes him the better for the
way be treats the situation. There's
no hypocrisy about him. There's no
use shamming. Lyddy."
l i see what you mean" she said.
with a sigh 81 suppose we just can't
understand things"
you've no idea how beautiful you
are today. Lyddy," he said suddenly.
and she looked up into his glowing
eyes with a smile of ineffable happi-
ness. Her hand found his and her
warm, red lips were pressed to its
palm in hot, imprisoned Kiss. It's
great to be alive! Great!"
"Oh. it is. she cried. lit isl"
They might better have said that
1t is great to be young, for that is
what 1t all came to in the analysis
Later on Brood Joined them in the
courtyard. He stood, with his hand
on his sons shoulder, chatting care
lessly about the coming voyage, all
the while smiling upon the radiant
girl to whom he was promising para
disc. She adored the gentle, kindly
CLEAN in these one-time steady, steel
like eyes His voice, too. of late was
pitched in softer key and there was
the ring of happiness in its every
note 1t was as IL he had discovered
something in life that was constantly
surprising and pleasing him. He
seemed always to be venturing into
fresh fields of exploration and finding
there something that was of inesti-
mable value to his new estate. Every
day he was growing richer, happier
and yet poorer when it came to self
appraisement- ALI his life he had