The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-05-14

q 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
fbreathing, the veins In his throat
throbbing violently.
"There." she said, and deliberately
touched the mouchoir to her own smil-
ing lips, before replacing it In her
bodice, next to the warm, soft skin. Il
have been thinking, Frederic" she
said. suddenly serious. Perhaps It
| would be better if we we're 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 eff to obey her command.
She lighted a cigarette at the table,
her unsmilng eyes fixed on the door
| of the Hjldu's closet. Then, with
little sign, she sank down on the
broad couch and stretched Der supple
| body in abe ecstasy of complete relax
alton.
The scene at til. dinner table had
been most distressing. Up to the in
stand of tbs outburst her husband had
| been in slngularly gay spirits, cir
1umstance SO unusual that the whole
| party wondered not a little. If 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 taIker 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
we're vastly nore successful than his
efforts at the dinner table. He was
very wonderful surgeon, but equally
famous as bore of tho 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 OF 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
a sharp, commanding tone. Frederic, |
at the moment, engaged in low ex-
change of words with Yvonne, did not I
hear him. Brood spoke again, loudly, |
There was dead silence at |
the table. e-v---7-
1--WE will excuse you, Frederic" said I
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. II 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
1n."
Il haven't drunk full glass of
begun the young man in
protest.
Brood smiled indulgently, but there
vas a sinister CLEAN in his gray eyes.
I think you would better take my
ldvice,' he said, levelly.
Frederic went deathly pale. Very
vell SIR" he said in low, suppressed
'oice Without another word he got
lp from the table and walked out
# the room.
He spoke the truth later on when ,
tand. But she understood She !
new that James Brood had endured :
he situation as long as it was in his .
over to endure, and she knew that it !,
yas her fault entirely that poor Fred +
rio had been exposed to this crown i
lg bit of humiliation. $
AS she sat in the dim study await a
lg her stepson's temperance with L
lie two old men, her active, far-seeing f
lind was striving to estimate the cost
that tragic clash. Not the cost to d
erself or to Frederic, but to James Fl
rood. Ii
The Messrs. Dawes and Riggs, inor- 3
nately pleased over their rehabilita-
on, were barely through delivering :"
emselves of their protestations of al
ldying fealty, when the sound of
,ices came up from the lower hail. h
rederic started to leave the room, fe
1t caring to face those who had wit
sssed his unmerited degradation. b,
hurried to his side. B
Where are you going?" she cried, n,
arply. p;
He stared at her in wonder. you OF
mot expect me to stay here" til
But certainly" she exclaimed. oil
listen! l will tell you what to do"
ar voice sank to an imperative whis- ed
r. He listened in shear arpazpmput mr.