The Madison journal., 1915-05-22

almost as splendid as your fatner ne
too. has been angry with me He. too .
has made me shudder. But ne, TO-
has forgiven me, as you shall this IN
slant. Say it, Freddie. You do Tor
give me? | was mean, nasty. ugly,
vile-oh. everything that's horrid
take 1t all back. Now. be nice 10 me!
She laid her hand on his arm' an
appealing little caress that conquereo
him in flash. He clasped her nnseis
in his and mumbled incoherentiy as
he leaned forward. drawn reslstiessiy
nearer by a strange magic that was
hers.
"You-you are wonderful" he mur-
INJURED. 81 knew that you'd regre'
what you said. You couldn't nave
meant it,"
She smiled, patted his hand gently
and allowed her swimming eyes 10
rest on his for an instant to comple'e
the conquest Then she motioned MN
away. Brood's voice was heard I'D 'he
doorway. She had, however, planted
an insidious thing in Frederics mlnu'
and it would grow.
Her husband re-entered the room
his arm linked in Lydia's. Frederic
was lighting a cigarette at the table.
"You did not mean all that you SAID
a moment ago. Yvonne." said Brood
levelly. Lydia misinterpreted your
Jest. You meant nothing unkind, l
am sure" He was looking straight
into her rebelious eyes; the last
CLEAN of defiance died out OF them
as he spoke.
81 am sorry, Lydia, darling" she
said, and reached out her hand to the
girl. who approached reluctantly, un'
certainly. Il confess that | was Jeal-
Gus. Why shouldn't | be jealous?
You are so beautiful, so splendid.
She drew the girl down beside her.
Forgive me, dear" And Lydia, whose
honest heart had been so full OF re-
sentiment the moment before, could
not withstand the humble appeal in
the voice of the penitent. She smiled,
first at Yvonne then at Brood. and
never quite understood the impulse
that ordered her to kiss the warm. red
lips that so recently had offended.
James, DEAR" fell softly. alluringly
from Yvonne's now tremulous lips.
He sprang to her side. She kissed
him passionately. Now, we are all
ourselves once more" she gasped a
moment later, her eyes still fixed in
uuiringly on those of the man beside
her. Let us be gay! Let us forget!
Come, Frederic! Sit here at my feet.
Lydia is not going home yet. Ranjab
the cigarettes!"
Frederic, white-faced and scowling
remained at the window. glaring out
, into the rain-swept night. A steady
sheet of raindrops thrashed against
the window panes.
Hear the wind!" cried Yvonne
after single sharp glance at his tall
motionless figure "One can almost
imagine that ghosts from every grave
yard in the world are whistling past
our windows. Should we not rejoice
We have them safely locked outside
ale! There are no ghosts in here
to make us sshiver-and-shake.
The sentence that began so glibly
trailed off in slow crescendo. ending
abruptly. Ranjab was holding the
lighted taper for her cigarette. A:
she spoke her eyes were lifted to hi:
dark, saturnine face. She was sayint
| oh u-h
suddenly fastened on hers. In spite
of herself her voice rose in response
to the curious dread that chilled he
heart as she looked into the shining
mirrors above her. She shivered as i
in the presence of death! For an in
calculably brief period their gaze re
mained fixed and steady. each readin'
; mystery. Then the Hindu loweret
his heavy lashes and moved away
The little by-scene did not go unno
ticed by the others. although its mean
ing was lost.
There's nothing to be afraid oi
Yvonne," said Brood, pressing tn
e hand, which trembled in his. you
Imagination carries you a long way
Are you really afraid of ghosts?"
I She answered in a deep. solemn
voice that carried conviction. Il be
+ lieve in ghosts. / believe the dea
J. come back to US. not to fit about, a
we are told by superstition. but t
lodge-actually to dwell-inside thes
e warm. living bodies of ours. The
Z come and go at will Sometimes W
feel that they are there, but-ah, VIII
e knows? Their souls may conquer our
n and 60 on inhabiting-"
"Never!" he exclaimed quickly, bu
his eyes were full of the wonder tha
he felt
e "Frederic!" she called imperativel,
Come away from that window"
'g The young man joined the groul
% The sullen look in his face had give
:! way to one of acute inquiry. The ne
! note in her voice produced a strang
10 effect upon him. 1t seemed like a ca
lie for help. cry out of the darkness.
ss They were all playing for time. N,
one of them but who realized tn,
q. something sinister was attending the
g. little conclave, unseen but vital. Fac
IL one knew that united they were saf
each against the other! Lydia W.
afraid because Of Brood's revelation
st Yvonne had sensed peril with the me
1e sage delivered by Ranjab to Frederi
Frederic had come upstairs prepar,
ze for rebellion against the caustic 7