The Carlisle independent., 1915-04-08
CHAPTER VI.
The Spreadlnu Glow.


 Yvonne Lestrange. in a way, had been born to purple and fine linen. She had never known deprivation of any description. Neither money, position nor love had been denied her during the few years in which her charm and beauty had flashed across the great European capitals, penetrating even to the recesses of royal courts. It Is doubtful if James Brood knew very much concerning her family when he proposed marriage to her, but 1t Is cer- tain that he did not care. He first saw her at the home of British nobleman, but did not meet her. Something in the vivid, brilliant face of the woman made a deep and lasting impression on him. There was an instant when their eyes met through an opening in the throng which separated them. He was not only conscious of the fact that he was staring at her, but that she was looking at him in curiously pene- trating way. There was a mocking smile on her lips at the time. He saw it fade away, even as the crowd came between. He knew that the smile had not been intended for him, but for some of the eager cavaliers who sur rounded her. and yet there was some thing singularly direct in the look she gave him.
 That single glance in the dukes house proved to be fateful one for both. They were married inside of month. The virile, confident American had conquered where countless SUD- pliants of g more or less noble char acter had gone down to defeat.
 He asked but one question of her, she asked none Of him The fact that she was the intimate friend and asso- ciate of the woman in whose home he met her, was sufficient proof of her standing in society. although that would have counted for little so far as Brood was concerned
 She was the daughter of baron; she had spent much of her life in Paris. coming from St. Petersburg when a young girl; and she was an orphan with an independent fortune of 1 her own. Such common details as these came to Brood in the natural way and were not derived from any ef- fort on his part to secure information concerning Mademoiselle Lestrange. Like the burnt child. he asked Ques- ton which harked back to an unfor- gotten pain.
 Have you ever loved a man deeply, devotedly, Yvonne-so deeply that there is pain in the thought of him?"
 She replied without hesitation. There is no such man, James. You may be sure of that"
 T am confident that can hold your love against the future, but no man is vital enough to compete with the past Love doesn't really die, you know. If against all newcomers. he deserves to lose it. It doesn't follow, however. that he can protect himself against the man who appears out of the past and claims his own
 You speak as though the past had played you an evil trick she said.
 He did not mince words. Years ago a man came out of the past and took from me the woman I loved and cherished
 .Your-your wife?" she asked in . voice suddenly lowered.
 Yes" he said quietly.
 She was silent for long time. T wonder at your courage in taking the risk again she said.
 ''I think 1 wonder at it myself" said he. "No I am not afraid" he went on, as if convincing himself that there was no risk. 'I shall make you love me to the end. Yvonne. am not afraid. But why do you not ask us for all the wretched story? To BE coNTINuEnA