The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-04-30
CHAPTER IV-Continued.

Lydia f1inched, she knew not why
There was sting to the words, de
spite the languidness with which they
were uttered.
Risking more than she suspected
she said: HE never considers the cos
appeals to him" Mrs. Brood gave
her a quizzical, half-puzzled look
you have only to look about you fol
the proof This one room represents
fortune" The last was spoken has
tily.
How old are you, Miss Desmond?'
The & estion came abruptly.
Il ain nineteen"
You were surprised to find me SC
young. viii 1t add to your surprise
II tell you that / am ten years older
than your"
ut doesn't seem credible"
Are you wondering why ! tell you
ny age?"
"Yes," said Lydia, bluntly.
'In order that you may realize that
I am ten years wiser than you, and
that you may not again make the mis-
take Of Understanding my intelli-
gence."
Tho color faded from Lydia's face.
She grew cold from head to foot. In
voluntarily she moved back a pace.
The next instant, to her unbounded
surprise, Mrs. Brood's hands were out
stretched in gesture of appeal, and
a quick, wistful smile took the place
Of the imperious stare.
There! / am a nasty, horrid thing.
Forgive me. Come! Don't be stub
born. Shake hands wits me and say
that you're sorry said what did,"
II was quaint way of putting it, and
her voice was SO genuinely appealing
that Lydia, after a moments hesita-
ttcn. extended her hands. Mrs. Brood
grasped them in hers and gripped
them tightly. Il think 1 should like to
tnow that yea are my friend, Lydia.
Has 1t occurred to you that am ut
erly without friends in this great city
u yours? have my husband, that
b all"
The girl could no more Withstand
kha electric charm of the woman than
aha could have fought off the sun
shine. She was bewildered, and COM
pbetely fascinated.
sIt's-Its very good of you," she
nurmured, her own eyes softening as
they looked into the deep, velvety
ones that would not be denied. Even
~ she wondered whether she could
s@er really like this magnetic crea-
tUre, she felt herself surrendering to
The spell of her But perhaps you
Will not like me when you know me
better"
Perhaps" said Mrs. Brood, calmly,
almost indifferently, and dismissed the
subject. What an amazing room!
One can almost feel the presence OF
the genii that created 1t at the wish
Of the man with the enchanted lamp.
A. rule, oriental rooms are abomi-
nations, but this-ah, this is not an /
oriental room after all. 1t Is part |
" the East ftself-of the real East. |
have sat In emperors' houses out |
there, my dear, and / have slept In |
the palaces Of kings. / have seen
tust such things as these, and l know
that they could not have been trans
ported to this room except by magic
Ny husband is 4 magician"
These came from the palaces Of
kings, Mrs. Brood" said Lydia enthu-
Kings in the days when
kings were real. This rug"
know" interrupted the other. my
husband told me the story. 1t must
have cost him . fortune"
1T was worth fortune" said Lydia.
\ calculating squint had come into
Mrs. Brood's eyes while she was
speaking. To Lydia 1t appeared as If
Ihe we're trying to fix upon the value
n the wonderful carpet.
"A collector has offered him-how
nuch7 A hundred thousand dollars,
, not that itf All, how rich he must
be!"
THE collector you refer to-"
Il was referring to my husband"
aid Mrs. Brood. unabashed. HE IN
very rich, isn't her"
Lydia managed to conceal her an
loyance. II think not. as American
brtunes are rated"
1T doesn't matter" said the other.
Iarelessly. Il have my ywn fortune.
And II is not my face" she added.
Nth quick smile. Now let us look
srtheT. ! must see all these wonder
III things. We will not be missed.
md 1t is still half an hour till tea [
lus. My husband IL now telling his
on all there Il to be told about me /
- and what an, and how he came .
, marry ma kek lind you. how / | ,