The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1915-05-01

though no sound had been uttered.
she heard as plainly as IL he actually
had shouted to her across the inter
vening space.
His father had said, more than
once, that the Hindu and the Egyp-
tian possessed the power to be In two
distinct places at the same time.
James Brood, a sensible man, was
firm believer in magic, and this mucn
Frederic knew of Ranjab-if James
Brood needed him, no matter what the
hour or the conditions. the man ap-
peared before him as IL out OF nowhere
and in response to no audible sum-
mons. He was like the slave OF the
lamp.
Was there, then, between these two
the beautiful Yvonne and the silent
Hindu-a voiceless pact that defied the
will or understanding of either?
He had not failed to note a tend
ency on her part to avoid the Hindu
as much as possible. She even con-
fessed to an uncanny dread of the man,
but could not explain the feeling.
Once she requested her husband to
dismiss the faithful fellow. When he
demanded the reason, however, she
could only reply that she did not like
the man and would feel happier If he
were sent away. Brood refused, and
from that hour her fear of the Hindu
| increased.
Now she was speaking in nervous,
hurried manner to Lydia. her back
toward the window. In the middle
of sentence she abruptly got up from
the chair and moved swiftly to the OPP
pOsite side of the room, where she
sat down again, as far as possible
from the window. Frederic found him
self watching her face with curious
interest All the time she was speak
ing her eyes were fixed on the win
dow. 1t was as if she expected some
thing to appear there. There was no
mistaking the expression. After study
ing her face in silence for a few min
utes Frederic himself experienced an
irresistible impulse to turn toward the
window. He half expected to see the
Hindu's face there, looking in upon
them; a perfectly absurd notion when
he remembered that they were at least
one hundred feet above the ground.
Presently she arose to go. No, she
could not wait for Mrs. Desmond's
return.
1T is charming here, LYDIA" she
said. surveying the little sitting-room
with eyes that sought the window
again and again in furtive darts.
Frederic must bring me here often.
We shall have coy times here. we
three. 1t is so convenient, too, for
you, my dear. You have only to walk
around the corner, and there you are!
at your place of business, as the
men would say"
Lydia was to continue as Brood's
amanuensis. He would not listen to
any other arrangementD
"Oh, do hope you will come, Mrs.
Brood" cried the girl. earnestly. MY
piano will be here tomorrow, and you
shall hear Frederic play. He is really
wonderful"
you play?" asked Mrs. Brood, re-
garding him rather fixedly.
Lydia answered for him. HE disap-
pears for hours at time, and comes
home humming fragments from-oh,
but I am not supposed to tell! For
give me, Frederic. Dear me! What
have l done" She was plainly dis
tressed.
mo harm in telling Yvonne," said
he, but uneasily. you see, it's this
way-father doesn't like the idea of
my going in for music. He is really
very much opposed to it. So I've been
sort of stealing a march on him. Co
ing up to a chum's apartment and
banging away to my hearts content.
It's rather fun, too. doing it on the
sly. OF course, If father heard of it
he'd-hed-well, he'd be nasty about
1t, that's ALL"
He will not let you have a piano
In the house?"
Il should say not!"
She gave them a queer little smile.
I'VE shall see." she said, and that
was all.
What do you play-what do you
like best. Frederick" inquired Yvonne.
"Oh, those wonderful little Hunga-
rian things most Of all, the plaintive
little"
He stopped as she began to hum
lightly the strains of one of Ziehrer's
jaunty waltzes.
by jove, how did you guess? Why,
it's my favorite. l love it, Yvonne."
AS they descended in the elevator,
Frederic, unable to contain himself,
burst out rapturously:
by jove, Yvonne, it will be fun. |
coming over here every day or so for |
a little music, won't it? I can't tell |
you how happy l shall be-"
1T Is time you we're happy" said
she, looking straight ahead, and many
days passed before he had an inkling |
of all that lay behind her remark.
As they entered the house, Jones |
met them In the hall.
mr.. Brood telephoned that he will
be late, madam. He is at the GUS
toms office about the boxes"
There will be five or six in for
tea. Jones. You may serve 1t in Mr.
Brood's study"
A look of surprise fitted across the
buffers imDassive face. eyes mad.