Western Kansas world., 1915-05-22

squared his shoulders
Il suppose you think am In love
with her." he said defiantly- He waited
a moment for the response that did
not come Brood was regarding him
with eyes from which every spark of
compassion had disappeared We'll.
it may interest you to know that in
tend to marry Lydia this very day
Brood advanced a few steps toward
him. In the subdued light of the room
his features were not clearly dis
tinguishable His face was gray and
shadowy: only the eyes were sharply
defined. They glowed like points OF
light. unfiickering.
Il shall be sorry for Lydia" he said
levelly-
You needn't be-" said Frederic hot
1y. ''She understands everything
Have you told her that you love her
and NO one else?"
Certainly"
Then you have lied to her.
There was silence-tense silence
do you expect me to strike you for
| that?" came at last from Frederic's
! lips. low and menacing-
You have always considered your
self to be my son, haven't you?" pur-
sued Brood deliberately. Can you say
to me that you have behaved of late as
son should-f"
Wait! Well settle that point right
now. 1 did lose my head. Head. say.
: not heart / shan't attempt to explain
| L can't. for that matter. AS for
Yvonne-wen. she's as good gold
| She understands me better than l un-
derstand myself She knows that even
honest men lose their heads some
1 II 70, haf
would sooner have cut my own throat
than to do more than envy you the
possession of one you do not de-
| serve have considered myself
| your son. 1 have no apology to make
| for my-well call it infatuation.
shall only admit that it has existed
and that / have despaired. AS God is
my witness, l have never loved any
one but Lydia / have given her pain,
| and the amazing part of it is that
can't help myself Naturally, you can't
understand what it all means. You are
not a young man any longer. You
cannot understand"
Good Godl" burst from Brood's lips
Then he laughed aloud-grotesquely
-Yvonne is the most wonderful thing
that has ever come into my life.
| adored her the instant / saw her.
have felt sometimes that 1 knew her 6
thousand years ago. l have felt thai
1 loved her a thousand years ago"
calm seriousness now attended his
speech. in direct contrast to the violent
mood that had gone before. Il have
thought of little else but her. 1 con
fess it to you: But through it all there
has never been an instant in which
did not worship Lydia Desmond. L
do not pretend to account for it Il
is beyond me-"
Brood waited patiently to the end
Your mother before you had some
what similar aff1iction," he said, still
in the steady. repressed voice. Per
haps it is a gift-a convenient gift
this ability to worship without effort
Better leave my mother out of it,
said Frederic sarcastically. A look o.
wonder leaped to his eyes That's
the first time ou'veAcondescended te
acknowledge that(,I ever had &
mother"
Brood's smile was deadly. IF yor
have anything more to say to me, yor
would better get it over with. Purge
your soul of all the gall that embitters
it. 1 grant you that privilege. Take
your innings
A spasm of pain crossed Frederic's
face. Yes. 1 am entitled to my in
nings. I'll go back to what said down
stairs. l thought loved and honored
you last night. l would have forgiven
everything if you had granted me 9
friendly-friendly, that's all-just a
friendly word. You denied"
Il suppose you want me to believe
that it was love for me that brought
you sinking to the theater," said the
other ironically.
Il don't expect you to believe any
thing i was lonely. / wanted to be
with you and Yvonne. Can't you un
derstand how lonely I've been all my
life? Can't you understand how hun
cry l am for the affection that every
other boy I've known has had from his
parents? I've never asked you about
my mother. / used to wonder a gooC
deal. Every other boy had a mother
never had one. 1 couldn't understand
| / no longer wonder. / know now thai
she must have hated you with all the
strength of her soul. God, how she
must have hated to feel the touch o
your hands upon her bodyi Somethins
tells me she left you, and if she did,
hope she afterwards found someone
| who-but no, i won't say it, Even nov