The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1915-04-24

MTS. 0IoOu met Ao1 ~ INC IVY u
the stairs. She was but half-dressed.
Her lovely neck and shoulders were
now almost bare. Her hands were
extended toward the visitor; the
fllmy lace gown hung loose and disre-
garded about her slim figure.
Come In. dear. Shall we have teal
have been so lonely. One cannot
read the books they print nowadays.
Such stupid things. ai-e?"
She threw an arm about the tall
girl and Lydia was surprised to find
! that Il was warm and full Of q gentle
strength. She felt her flesh Jingle
with the thrill OF contact. Yes. Il
must have been the light from the
window. for Yvonne's face was now
aglow with the iridescence that was
80 peculiarly her own.
A door closed softly on the floor
above them. Mrs. Brood glanced over
her shoulder and upward. Her arm
frightened perceptibly about Lydia's
waist.
1T was Ranjab." said the girl. and
instantly was filled with amazement.
She had not seen the Hindu. had not
even been thinking OF him. and yet
she was impelled by some mysterious
intelligence to give utterance to
statement in which there was convic-
ton, not conjecture.
nc did you see him?s asked the other,
looking at her sharply.
! B NO." admitted Lydia, still amazed.
! Il don't know why said that"
Ia Mrs. Brood closed her boudoir door
behind them. For an instant she stood
staring at the knob as IL expecting to
see 1t turn
II know" she said, II know why
you said 1t. Because 1t was Ranjab."
She shivered slightly. Il am afraid
or that man. Lydia He seems to be
watching me all OF the time. Day and
night his eyes seem to be upon me-"
why should he be watching your"
asked Lydia. bluntly.
Yvonne did not notice the question.
Even when / am asleep in my bed,
in the dead hour OF night, he is look
Ing at me. I can feel it, though asleep.
oh. II is not dream. for my dreams
are OF something or someone else
never OF him. And yet he is there,
looking at me. lit is uncanny."
An obsession,' remarked Lydia,
quietly. "He never struck me as es-
pecially omnipresent."
Didn't you feel him a moment
ago?' demanded Yvonne. irritably.
The other hesitated. rejecting. II
suppose II must have been something
like that" They were still facing the
door, standing close together. why
do you feel that he is watching your,
II don't know. / just feel Il, that's y
all. Day and night He can read my
thoughts. Lydia. as he would read a
book. Isn't--isn't II disgusting?" Her
laugh was spiritless. obviously arti-
fetal.
Il shouldn't object to his reading
my thoughts" said Lydia.
All. but you are Lydia. It's differ
emit. have thoughts sometimes. my
dear. that would not--but therel Let
as speak of more agreeable things.
Sit down here beside me. No tea?
A cigarette, then. No? Do you for
give me for what said to you last
night2' she asked, sitting down beside
The girl on the chaise Tongue.
"It was so absurd. Mrs. Brood. that
have scarcely given 1t moments
thought. OF course / was hurt at the
lime. 1t was SO unjust to Mr. Brood.
II was"
1T is like you to say that" cried
Yvonne. You are splendid. Lydia.
VIII you believe me when | tell you
that love you? That love you very
dearly, very tenderly2"
Lydia looked at her In some doubt
and not without misgivlngs. Il should
ike to believe IT," she said. noncom-
"Ah, but you doubt II. see. Well,
do not blame you. have given you
much pain, much distress. When /
am far away you will be. glad--you
will be happy. Is not that so7"
But you are coming back" said
Lydia, with frank smile, not meant
TO be unfriendly.
Yvonne's face clouded. "oh. yes.
shall come back. Why not7 Is this
not my homer"
You may call II your home. Mrs.
Brood" said Lydia, but are you quite
sure your thoughts always abide here?
mean In the United States, OF
Yvonne had looked up at her quick.
". "Oh, see. No, shall never be
an American" Then she abruptly