The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1915-05-08

a soft light about her. so radiant was
the sheen of the satin skin.
She moved closer to him. and with
deft fingers applied her tiny lace
handkerchief to his flushed cheek and
eyes, laughing audibly as she did SO;
a low gurgle of infinite sweetness and
concern.
He stood like a statue, scarcely
breathing, the veins in his throat
throbbing violently.
"There!" she said, and deliberately
touched the mouchoir to her own smii-
ing lips, before replacing it in her
bodice, next to the warm, soft skin. 1
have been thinking, Frederic" she
said, suddenly serious. Perhaps It
would be better If we were not alone
when the others came up. Go at once
and fetch the two old men. Tell them
| expect them here to witness the
magic. 1t appears to be family
party, so why exclude them? be
quick!"
He dashed off to obey her command.
She lighted a cigarette at the table,
her unsmiling eyes fixed on the door
of the Hindus closet. Then. with
little sigh, she sank down on the
broad couch and stretched her supple
body in the ecstasy of complete relax
alton.
The scene at the dinner table had
been most distressing. Up to the in
slant of the outburst her husband had
been in singularly gay spirits, cir
cumstance so unusual that the whole
party wondered not a little. II the
others were vaguely puzzled by his
high humor. not so Yvonne. She I'M
derstood him better than anyone else
in the world; she read his mind as she
would have read an open book. There
was riot, not joy, in the heart of the
brilliant talker at the head OF the
table. He was talking against the saw
agery that strained so hard at its
leashes.
At her right sat Frederic, at her
left the renowned Doctor Holder,
whose feats at the operating table
were vastly more successful than his
efforts at the dinner table. He was
a very wonderful surgeon, but equally
famous as a bore of the first rank.
Yvonne could not endure him.
Mrs. Desmond and Lydia were there.
This was an excellent opportunity
to entertain them on an occasion Of
more or less magnitude.
Frederic, deceived by his fathers
sprightly mood, entered rather reck-
lessly into the lively discussion. He
seldom took his eyes from the face
Of his beautiful stepmother. and many
of his remarks were uttered soto
voce for her ear alone. Suddenly
James Brood called out his name in
sharp, commanding tone. Frederic.
at the moment. engaged in a low ex-
change of words with Yvonne, did not
hear him. Brood spoke again, loudly.
harshly. There was dead silence at
the table.
I'VE will excuse you, Frederic" said
he, deadly calm in his voice. The
puzzled expression in the young mans
face slowly gave way to steady glare
Of fury. He could not trust himself
to speak. Il regret exceedingly that
you cannot take wine in moderation.
A breath of fresh air will be of benefit
to you. You may join us upstairs later
on"
Il haven't drunk a full glass of
champagne" begun the young man in
amazed protest.
Brood smiled indulgently, but there
was a sinister CLEAN in his gray eyes.
Il think you would better take my
advice" he said, levelly.
Frederic went deathly pale. VERY
well, sir" he said in low, suppressed
voice. Without another word he got
up from the table and Walked out
of the room.
He spoke the truth later on when
he told Yvonne he could not under
stand. But she understood. She
knew that James Brood had endured
the situation as long as 1t was in his
power to endure, and she knew that 1t
was her fault entirely that poor Fred
eric had been exposed to this crown
ing bit Of humiliation.
AS she sat in the dim study await
ing her stepson's temperance with
the two old men, her active, far-seeing
mind was striving to estimate the cost
of that tragic clash. Not the cost to
herself or to Frederic. but to James
Brood!
The Messrs. Dawes and Riggs, inor-
dinately pleased over their rehabilita-
ton, we're barely through delivering
themselves of their protestations of
undying fealty, when the sound of
voices came up from the lower hall.
Frederic started to leave the room,
not caring to face those who had wit.
messed his unmerited degradation.
Yvonne hurried to his side.
where are you going?" she cried.
sharply.
He stared at her in wonder. you
cannot expect me to stay here"
But certainly" she exclaimed
Listen! | will tell you what to do"
Her voice sank to an imperative whis-
per He listened in sheer amazement
his face growing dark with rebellion
as she proceeded to unfold her plan