The Carlisle independent., 1915-04-22

 | the sheen of the satin skin
 She moved closer to him, and with delft fingers applied her tiny lace | handkerchief to his flushed cheek and eyes, laughing audibly as she did so; 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 smil- ing lips, before replacing it in her bodice, next to the warm, soft skin. T 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 party, so why exclude them? Be quick"
 He dashed off to obey her command. i She lighted cigarette at the table, 1 her unsmiling eyes fixed on the door of the Hindu's closet. Then, with a little sigh. she sank down on the broad couch and stretched her supple l body in the ecstasy of complete relax ation.
 The scene at the dinner table had been most distressing. Up to the in stant of the outburst her husband had l hnnn in ciY I'll i,i+ oir- constance so unusual that the whole party wondered not a little If the others were vaguely puzzled by his l high humor, not so Yvonne. She un- 1 derstood him better than anyone else in the world she read his mind as she was riot, not joy, in the heart of the brilliant talker at the head of the i table. He was talking against the saw agery that strained so hard at it's | 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 1 efforts at the dinner table He was a very wonderful surgeon, but equally famous as bore of the first rank. Yvonne could not endure him.
 Mrs. Desmond and Lydia were there l This was an excellent opportunity 1 to entertain them on an occasion of more or less magnitude. | Frederic, deceived by his fathers 1 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 sotto 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. l harshly. There was dead silence at the table
 We will excuse you, Frederic" said he, deadly calm in his voice. The puzzled expression in the young mans face slowly gave way to a steady glare of fury. He could not trust himself to speak. "I 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.''
 "I haven't drunk full glass of champagne" begun the young man in amazed protest
 Brood smiled indulgently, but there was sinister gleam in his gray eyes. q 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 it was in his power to endure, and she knew that it 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 reappearance 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, were 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! l will tell you what to do." Her voice sank to an imperative whis- per. He listened in sheer amazement.