Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1915-05-14

Her Attention.
features. For a moment the girl stared
at the watcher and then advanced to
the door.
"Who Is it," she inquired. peering.
A low, husky voice replied, with .
suggestion of laughter in the tones.
II am exploring the house."
Lydia came forward at once. "Oh.
1t is Mrs. Brood. l beg your pardon.
Shall l switch on the lights?"
"You are Lydia?"
Eyes, Mrs. Brood"
II have been prowling everywhere.
Your good mother deserted me when
my maid arrived with Ranjab a short
time ago. Isn't this the dreadful blue
beard room? Shall l lose my head IL
l 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 CURLY, as if re-
polling familiarity. 1t was like a dash
of cold water to Lydia's spirits. "You
may turn on the lights. l 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 sandalwooc that always
filled the room; it was soft, delicate.
refreshing. It was like a breath Of
cool, sweet air fltering 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 woL
der in their depths. K
How extraordinary" she MUIR
INJURED, and then turned swiftly toward
the girl. Where does 1t come FRONT
! a see no lights. And see! There
are 10 shadows. not even beneath tn
table yonder. lit is uncanny--
oh, how lovely!"
Lydia was staring at her with W
open eyes, frankly astonished. T.
eager, exciteS CLEAN vanished fro.
Mrs. Brood's lovely eyes. They nsIa
rowed ever so slightly.
why do you stare at met" shs "
manded.
II expected" began Lydia..
stopped in pretty confusion. >
Il see. You expected a middle-asee
lady, ale? And why, pray, shou
James Brood marry q mi6dle-ae
person?" A.
Il don't know. I'm sorryf
have offended you" >
Mrs. Blood smiled, a gay, pleased :
little smile that revealed her small.
even teeth. "You haven't dreaded
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 werv very pretty and very
lovable. You are lovely. No
wants to be pretty. Yes, you are lust
what | expected" \
Lydia was the taller Of the twa \
women; a matter of two inches pop.
haps, and yet she had the curious TT. /
ing that she was looking upwa,
she gazed into the others IL
was the way Mrs. Brood hele
Sending a swift glance arodse I
room, she went on: my husband
lights in having beautiful things abos- |
him. He doesn't like the ugly thing /
of this world"
tTO BE CoNTINUEp.)
It's A great old world ana AZ xhaSssa /