The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1915-04-30
CHAPTER lV-continued.

Lydia flinched, she knew not whv
There was sting to the words, de
spite the languidness with which they
were uttered.
Rlsklng more than she suspected
she said: He never considers the cost
or thing, Mrs. Brood, If its beauty
appeals to him" Mrs. Brood gave
her 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 question came abruptly.
Il am nineteen"
you were surprised to find me 80
young. Will 1t add to your surprise
II tell you that am ten years older
than your"
1T doesn't seem credible"
Are you wondering why tell you
my age~
YES" said Lydia, bluntly.
In order that you may realize that
am ten years wiser than you, and
that you may not again make the mis-
take of Understanding my intelli-
gence."
The 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, wtstful smile took the place
OF the imperious stare.
There! l am nasty, horrid thing.
Forgive me. Gomez Don't be stub
born. Shake hands with me and say
that you're sorry said what / did,"
1t was quaint way of putting 1t, and
her voice was SO genuinely appealing
chat Lydia, after a moments hesita-
ton. extended her hands. Mrs. Brood
grasped them in hers and gripped
them tightly. 81 think l should like to
know that you are my friend, Lydia.
Has 1t occurred to you that | am ut
terly without friends in this great city
OF yours? I have my husband, that
Is all"
The girl could no more withstand
the electric charm of the woman than
she could have fought off the sun
shine. She was bewildered, and COM
pletely fascinated
"1ts-It's very good of you," she
murmured, her own eyes softening as
they looked into the deep, velvety
ones that would not be denied Even
as she wondered whether she could
ever 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 GENT that created it at the wish
OF the man with the enchanted lamp.
AS rule, oriental rooms are abomi-
nations, but this-ah, this Is not an
oriental room after all. 1t is a part
Of the East itself-of the real East.
have sat in emperors' houses out
there, my dear, and l have slept in
The palaces Of kings. l have seen
lust such things as these, and l know
hat they could not have been trans.
ported to this room except by magic.
Ny husband is a magician"
These came from the palaces of
kings, Mrs. Brood" said Lydia enthu-
'iastically. Kings in the days when
dngs were real This rug"
II know" interrupted the other. my
husband told me the story. 1t must
lave cost him fortune"
1T was worth fortune" said Lydia.
calculating squint had come into
Ars. Brood's eyes while she was
peasing. To Lydia 1t appeared as II
he were trying to fix upon the value
Il the wonderful carpet.
"a collector has offered him-how
much? A hundred thousand dollars,
) not that It? All, how rich he must
e!"
1.-THE collector you refer to-" !
Il was referring to my husband"
aid Mrs. Brood, unabashed. HE is t
cry rich, isn't he?"
Lydia managed to- conceal her an.
oyance. II think not, as American '
,rtunes are rated"
ut doesn', matter" said the other, r
arelessly. Il have my own fortune. c
nd 1t is not my face" she added,
18th quick smile Now let us look i
lrther. must see all these wonder
II things. We will not be missed, f
nd it is still half an hour till tea t
me. My husband is now telling his Il
IN all there is to be told about me t
no and what / am, and how he came d
J marry me. Not, mind you, how ]