The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1915-04-23

features. For moment the girl stared
at the watcher and then advanced ID
the door.
who is it," she inquired, peerlng'
A low, husky voice replied, Win
suggestion of laughter IN the tones
81 am exploring the house.
lydia came forward at once. 'on'
it Is Mrs. Brood beg your paroon'
Shall l switch on the llghts!
"You are Lydia?'
Eyes, Mrs Brood"
81 have been prowling everywhere
your good mother deserted me When
nv maid arrived with Ranjab shor'
time ago. Isn't this the dreadful olue-
heard room? Shall lose my heao IL
am discovered by the ogre?"
The girl felt the spell steallns over
her. The low voice OF the woman III
! tho shadow was like sensuous ca
| ress She experienced sudden long
r inc 70 he closer to the speaker 10
: listen for the very intake VI n''
r breath ,o,o,
y "you have already been dlscoVeleu
"a by the ogre, Mrs. Brood" SAID Lyala
lie gayly, and your head appears to- DC
u quite SAFE
8. Thank YOU" rather CURLY, as if re-
% polling familiarity. 1t was like dash
l. of cold water to Lydias spirits. you
J. may turn on the lights. | should like
I to see you, Miss Desmond"
The girl crossed the room, passing
e close to the stranger in the house.
o The fragrance of a perfume hitherto
d unknown to her separated itself from
s the odor of sandalwood that always
o filled the room; it was soft. delicate,
refreshing. 1t was like breath OF
e cool, sweet air hltering into a close.
d stuffy room. One could not help draw
r. ing in a long, full breath, as if the
d lungs demanded its reviyifying quail.
8 ties.
A soft, red glow began to fill the
I room as Lydia pulled the cord near
r, the door. AS the light grew brighter
and brighter the eyes of the stranger
d swept the room with undisgulsed won
Y. der in their depths.
T" How extraordinary" she muir.
INJURED, and then turned swiftly toward
the girl Where does 1t come from
q l can see no lights. And see! There
are no shadows, not even beneath the
, table yonder lit is uncanny-but,
- OH how lovely!"
4 Lydia was staring at her with wide
~ open eyes, frankly astonished. The
:, eager, excited CLEAN vanished from
- Mrs. Brood's lovely eyes. They mar
- rowed ever so slightly.
%" "Why do you stare at me?" she de.
70 manded.
~ Il expected" began Lydia, and
stopped in pretty confusion.
81 see. You expected middleaged
~ lady, ale? And why, pray, should
. James Brood marry middle-aged
- person."
- Il don't know. I'm sorry If
- have offended YOU"
~ Mrs. Blood smiled, gay, pleased
~ little smile that revealed her small,
~ even teeth. you haven't offended
u me. my DEAR" she said. You offend
- my husband by thinking so i'll of him.
10 that's ALL" She took the girl in from
~ head to foot with critical eyes. He
i, said you were very pretty and very
III lovable. You are lovely. No one
wants to be pretty. Yes, you are just
~ what | expected"
W lydia was the taller of the two
[y women: a matter of two inches per
G. haps, and yet she had the curious feel
ie ing that she was looking upward as
or she gazed into the others eyes. II
es was the way Mrs. Brood held herself
be Sending a swift glance around the
room, she went on: my husband de
IN lights in having beautiful things about
ne him, He doesn't like the ugly thing:
n OF this world"
ne tTo BE coNTINUEDo
w.. a ~root old world. and II there