The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-02-28
"I am exploring the house"


Lydia came forward at once. "Oh,
| II is Mrs. Brood. ! beg your pardon.
Shall switch on the lights?"
"You are Lydia?"
"Yes, Mrs. Brood"
81 have been prowling everywhere.
Your good mother deserted me when
my maid arrived with Ranjab short
time ago. Isn't this the dreadful blue
beard room? Shall lose my head if
am discovered by the ogre?'
The girl felt the spell stealing over
her. The low voice of the woman in
the shadow was like a sensuous ca
ress. She experienced a sudden long
ing to be closer to the speaker. to
| listen for the very intake of her
| breath.
you have already been discovered
by the ogre, Mrs. Brood" said Lydia.
gayly, "and your head appears to be
quite safe"
Thank you" rather curtly. as If re-
pelling familiarity. 1t was like dash
of cold water to Lydia's spirits. You
may turn on the lights. | should like
to see you, Miss Desmond
The girl crossed the room, passing
close to the stranger in the house.
| The fragrance of a perfume hitherto
unknown to her separated itself from
the odor of sandalwood that always
filled the room; it was soft, delicate,
refreshing 1t was like a breath OF
cool, sweet air filtering into a close,
stuffy room. One could not help draw
| ing in a long, full breath as If the
lungs demanded its revivifying quail
ties.
A soft, red glow began to fill the
room as Lydia pulled the cord near
the door. AS the light grew brighter
and brighter the eyes of the stranger
swept the room with undisguised won
der in their depths.
How extraordinary" she muir
INJURED, and then turned swiftly toward
the girl. Where does it come from?
| can see no lights. And see! There
are no shadows, not even beneath the
table yonder lit is uncanny-but,
oh, how lovely!"
Lydia was staring at her with wide
open eyes, frankly astonished. The
eager, excited CLEAN vanished from
Mrs. Brood's lovely eyes. They mar
rowed ever so slightly.
"Why do you stare at me?" she de-
manded.
Il expected" began Lydia, and
stopped in pretty confusion.
Il see. You expected a middle-aged
lady, ale? And why, pray, should
James Brood marry a middle-aged
person?"
Il don't know. I'm sorry if l
have offended you"
Mrs. Blood smiled, a gay, pleased
little smile that revealed her small,
even teeth you haven't offended
me, my dear" she said '"You offend
my husband by thinking so i'll Of him,
that's all" She took the girl in from
head to foot with critical eyes. He
said you were very pretty and very
lovable. You are lovely. No one
wants to be pretty. Yes, you are just
what / expected
Lydia was the taller of the two
women; a matter of two inches per-
haps, and yet she had the curious feel
ing that she was looking upward as
she gazed into the others eyes. 1t
was the way Mrs. Brood held herself.
Sending a swift glance around the
room, she went on: my husband de-
lights in having beautiful things about
him. He doesn't like the ugly things
of this world"
Lydia flinched, she knew not why.
There was a sting to the words, de-
spite the languidness with which they
We're uttered.
Risking more than she suspected,
she said: He never considers the cost
of thing, Mrs. Brood, if its beauty
appeals to him." Mrs. Brood gave
her a quizzical, half-puzzled look
you have only to look about you for
the proof This one room represents
fortune" The last was spoken has
tily.
How old are you, Miss Desmond"
The question came abruptly.
II am nineteen"
You were surprised to find me so
young. viii it add to your surprise
if tell you that am ten years older
than you?"
at doesn't seem credible"
"Are you wondering why l 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 pace.
The next instant, to her unbounded
surprise, Mrs. Brood's hands were out
stretched in a gesture of appeal, and
a quick wistful smile took the place
of the imperious stare.
There! / am a nasty, horrid thing.
.l