The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1915-06-11
CHAPTER TX.
The Sorceress.


The next day, after a sleepless night,
Frederic announced to his stepmother
that he could no longer remain under
his fathers roof He would find some
thing to do in order to support him
self. 1t was impossible to go on pre-
tending that he loved or respected his
father, and the sooner the farce was
ended the better it would be for both
Of them.
She, too, had passed a restless night,
a night filed with waking dreams as
we'll as those which came in sleep.
There was always an ugly, wriggly
kris in those dreams of hers, and a
brown hand that was forever fascinat-
ing her with its uncanny deftness.
Twice in the night she had clutched
her husbands shoulder in the terror
of a dream, and he had soothed her
with the comfort of his strong arms.
She was like a little child "afraid of
the dark"
Her influence alone prevented the
young man from carrying out his
threat. At first he was as firm as a
rock in his determination. He was
getting his few possessions together
in his room when she tapped on his
door. After while he abandoned the
task and followed her rather dazedly
to the boudoir, promising to listen to
reason. For an hour she argued and
pleaded with him, and in the end he
agreed to give up what she was
pleased to call his preposterous plan.
Now, that being settled" she said,
with a sigh of relief, "let us go and
talk 1t all over with Lydia"
He started guiltily. "Pd-Td rather
not, Yvonne," he said. There's no
use worrying her with the thing now.
As matter of fact, I'd prefer that
she-er-well, somehow don't like
the idea of explaining matters to her"
She was watching him narrowly. at
has seemed to me Of late, Frederic,
that you and Lydia are not quite So
what shall | say?-so enamored Of
each other. What has happened?" she
inquired so innocently, so naively,
that he looked at her in establishment.
81 am sure you fairly live at her house.
You are there nearly every day, and
yet-well, l can feel rather than see
the change in both Of you. l hope"
1--WE been behaving like an Internal
sneak, Yvonne," cried he, conscience
stricken. shes the finest, noblest
girl in all this world, and I've been
treating her shamefully."
Dear me! In what way, may
inquirer"
"Why we used to-oh. but why go
into all that? 1t would only 'amuse
you. You'd laugh at us for silly fools
But l can't help saying this much
she doesn't deserve to be treated as
I'm treating her now, Yvonne. It's
hurting her dreadfully and"
She laughed softly. I'm afraid you
are seeing too much of your poor
stepmother," she said.
His eyes narrowed. you've made
me over, that's true. You've made all
of us over-the house as WE'LL l am
not happy unless l am with you. II
used to make me happy to be with
Lydia-and we we're always together
But IL don't care now-at least,
am not unhappy when we are apart
You've done it, Yvonne. You've made
life worth living. You've made me
see everything differently. YOU"
She stood up, facing him. She ap
peared to be frightened.
"Are you trying to tell me that
you are in love with me?" she de
manded, and there was no Longer
mockery, raillery in her voice.
His eyes swept her from head t
foot. He was deathly white.
'If you were not my fathers wife
I would say yes" said he. hoarsely.