The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1915-03-13

or question:. kici folNo ee1N'eN
lower than before.
eI'm sorry spoke as ! did, Mrs
Brood" said the girl. annoyed at her
self.
rs there a reason why he should
dislike his son?9 asked the other. re
garding her fixedly.
"Of course not, cried poor Lydia.
There was moment of silence.
Some day. Lydia. you will tell me
about Mr.. Brood's other wife,"
"She died many years ago." said the
girl. evasively.
Il know" said Mrs. Brood. "Still
should like TO hear more OF the woman
he could not forget In all those years
until he met me-"
She grew. silent and preoccrpied, a
| slight frown marking her forehead as
she resumed her examination OF the
room and its contents.
Great lanterns hung suspended be-
side the shrine. but were now I'M
lighted. On the table at which Brood
professed 10 work stood huge lamp
with a lacelike screen Of gold. When
lighted soft, mellow glow oozed
through the shade to create a circle Of
golden brilliance over a radius that
extended but little beyond the edge
of the table. yet reached to the benign
countenance of Buddha close by.
Over all this fairylike splendor
reigned the serene, melting influence
of the god 10 whom James Brood was
wont to confess himselfl The spell
of the golden image dominated every
thing.
In the midst of the magnihcence
moved the two women, one absurdly
out of touch with her surroundings,
yet thing Of beauty; the other blend
ing intimately with the warm tones
that enveloped her. She was 1.-the,
sinuous with the grace of the most Sc
ductiva OF dancers. Her dark eyes re-
fected the mysteries OF the Orient;
her pale, smooth skin shone with the
clearness OF alabaster; the crimson
In her lips was like the fresh stain
Of blood the very fragrance of her
person seemed to steal out of the un-
known. She was part of the mar
velous setting, a gem among gems.
She had attired herself in q dull In.
dian red afternoon gown OF chiffon. |
The very fabric seemed to cling to her |
supple body with the sensuous Joy OF |
contact. Even Lydia, who watched her |
with appraising eyes. experienced a
swift unaccountable desire to hold this
creature close to her own
body.
There were two windows in the
room, broad openings that ran from
near the floor almost to the edge OF
the canopy. They we're so heavily cur
tanned that the light OF day failed to
penetrate to the interior of the apart.
ment Mrs. Brood approached one OF
these windows. Drawing the curtain
apart. she let In an ugly gray light,
from the outside world.
She looked down into sort OF court
yard and garden that might have been
from distant Araby. Ut
tsrlng an exclamation of wonder. she
turned to Lydia.
rs this New York or am be-
Mr. Brood transformed the old car
riage yard into al think Mr.. Dawes
calls II a Persian garden. IL is rather
bleak in winterume, Mrs. Brood, but
In the summer 1t is really enchanting.
See, across the court on the second
floor where the windows are lighted,
those are your rooms. IL is an enor-
nous house, you'll find. Do you see
he little balcony outside your win
dows. and the vines creeping up TO it7
You can't imagine how sweet II Is OF
4 summer night with the moon and
stars"
But how desolate II looks today,
with the dead vines and the colorless
stones! Ughi"
She dropped the curtains The soft
warm glow of the room came back and
he sighed with relief Il hate things
hat are dead" she said.
AT the sound OF soft tread and the
gentle rustic OF draperies, they turned.
aaniab, the Hindu. was crossing the
'oom toward the small door which
rave entrance to HIS closet. He paused
or an instant before the image OF ]
3uddha, but did not drop TO his knees {
Is all devout Buddhists do. Mrs. 4
3rood's hand fell lightly upon Lydia's !
'rm. The man turned toward them q a
econd or two later His dark, hand !
Iome face was hard set and emotion.
ess as he bowed low to the new mis-.
ress Of the house. The fingers closed
lightly on Lydia's arm. Then he !
miled upon the girl. glad smile Of !
Ievotion. His swarthy face was trans
igured. A moment later he unlocked \
lis door and passed into the other
Dom. The key turned In the lock :
With a slight rasp.
Il do not like that man." said Mrs. !
'rood. Her voice was low and her
yes were fixed steadilv On the ctooad >