Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1915-04-23

his son. Lydia and Mrs. Brood meet II
the tade-room, where Lydia works ~
Drood's secretary.
CHAPTER Iv-contInued.
Lydia finched, she knew not why
There was q sting to the words, de
spite the languidness with which they
were uttered.
Risking more than she suspected
she said: He never considers the cos
Of . thing, Mrs. Brood. II its beauty
appeals to him." Mrs. Brood gave
her q quixzical. 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 r
The question came abruptly.
II am nineteen"
you were surprised to find me &c
young. VIII 1t add to your surprise
II tell you that am ten years Older
than your"
TT doesn't seem credible"
Are you wondering why I tell you
ny ager 2
"Yes," said Lydia. bluntly.
I'm 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.
Sence."
The color faded from Lydia's face.
She grew cold from head to foot. In
voluntarily she moved back q pace.
The next instant, to her unbounded
surprise. Mrs. Brood's hands were out.
stretched In gesture of appeal. and
. quick. wistful smile took the place
Of the imperious stare.
There! am . nasty. horrid thing.
Forgive me. Come! Don't be stub
born. Shake hands with me and say
that you're sorry / said what l did"
1t was . quaint way Of putting It. and
her voice was 30 genuinely appealing
that Lydia. after . moments hesita-
ton, extended her hands. Mrs. Brood
grasped them in hers and gripped
them tightly. II think I should like to
know that you are my friend, Lydia.
Has II occurred to you that l am ut
terry without friends in this great city
Of yours? have my husband, that
10 ALL"
The girl could no more withstand
the electric charm Of the woman than
she could have fought OF the sun
shine. She was bewildered, and COM
pletely fascinated.
ts-It's very good of you" she
murmured, her own eyes softening a.
they looked into the deep. velvety
ones that would not be denied. Even
- she wondered whether she could
ever really like this magnetic crea-
ture. she felt herself surrendering to
the spell Of her. But perhaps you
viii 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 genii that created 1t at the wish
Of the man with the enchanted lamp.
A. . rule. oriental rooms are abomi.
nations, but this-ah. this is not an
oriental room after all. 1t IL a part
Of the East itself-of the real East.
! have sat In emperors' houses out
there. my dear. and have slept in
the palaces Of kings. have seen
just such things a. these. and know
that they could not have been trans.
ported to this room except by magic.
Ny husband IL Q magician"
These came from the palaces Of
kings. Mrs. Brood" said Lydia enthu-
siastically. Kings in the days when
kings were real. This rug"
Il know" interrupted the other. my
husband told me the story. It must
have cost him . fortune"
1T was worth q fortune" said Lydia.
A calculating squint had come into
Mn. Brood's eyes while she was
speaking. To Lydia It appeared - II
she were trying to fx upon the value
Of the wonderful carpet.
"A collector has offered him-how
much! A hundred thousand dollars,
II not that It? All. how rich he must
BEL"
The collector you refer to"
Z was referring to my husband"
said Mrs. Brood. unabashed. He In
very rich. isn't he?"
Lydia managed to conceal her an
noyance. Il think not. as American
fortunes are rated"
1T doesn't matter" said the other.
carelessly. Il have my own fortune.
And 1t 10 not my face" she added,
with . quick smile. Now let us look
further. must see all these wonder.
full things. We will not be missed,
and 1t IL still half an hour till tea.
time. My husband 10 now telling his
son all there is to be told about me
who and what am. and how he came
to marry me. Not. mind you. how I