The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1915-07-01
CHAPTER Iv--contlnued.


Lydia finched, she knew not why.
There was a sting to the words, de-
spite the languidness with which they
were uttered.
Risking more than she suspected,
she said "He never considers the cost
of a thing. Mrs, Brood, II its beauty
appeals to him." Mrs. Brood gave
her a quizzical, half-puzzled look.
You have only to look about you for
the proof. This one room represents
a fortune" The last was spoken has
lilly.
How old are you. Miss Desmond?"
The question came abruptly.
II am nineteen"
you were surprised TO find me SO
young. Will IL add to your surprise
II | tell you hat | am ten years older
Khan your"
1T doesn't seem credible
Are you wondering why ! tell you
my age?"
Yes" said Lydia, biuntiy.
'ln order that you may realize that
! am ten years wiser han you, and
that you may not again make the mis-.
take of Understanding my intesli.
gence."
The color faded from Lydia's face.
She grew cold from head to foot. In
voluntarily she moved back a pace.
The next instant, to her unbounded
surprise, Mrs. Brood's hands were out
stretched in a gesture OF appeal, and
a quick, wistful smile took the place
OF the imperious stare.
There! am a nasty, horrid thing.
Forgive me. Come! Don't be stub
born. Shake hands with me and say
that you're sorry | said what | did"
IL was a quefnt way of putting Ii, and
her voice was SO genuinely appealing
that Lydia, after a moments hesita
tion, extended her hands. Mrs. Brood
grasped them In hers and gripped
them tightly. II think l should like to
know that you are my friend. Lydia.
Has 1t occurred to you that | am ut
terly without friends in this great city
of yonrsa ] have my husband, that
Is ALL"
The girl could no more withstand
the electric charm OF the woman than
she could have fought off the sun
shine. She was bewildered. and COM
pletely fascinated.
y 'It's-It's very good of you," she
nsurmured, her own eyes softerng as
they looked into the deep. velyety
ones that would not be denied. Even
as she wondered whether she could
ever really like tins magnetic crea-
ture. she felt herself ~surrendering to
the spell OF her. But perhaps you
will not like me when you know me
better"
Perhaps said Mrs. Brood, calmly,
almost indifferentiy, and dismissed the
subject, what an amazing room!
One can almost feel the pr sence OF
the genii that created 1t Mt thu wish
OF the nan with the enchanted lamp.
As a rule. oriental rooms are aboici-
nations. but this-ah. this is not an
oriental room after all. 1t Is a part
Of the East itself-of the real East.
have sat in emperors' houses out
there. my dear, and | have slept In
The palaces OF kings. / have seen
Just such things as these, and know
that they could not have been trans
ported to this room except by magic.
Ny husband is q magician"
These came from the palaces OF
kings, Mrs. Brood" said Lydia enthu-
siastically. Kings In the days when
kings were real. This rug
.Iknow, /" interrupted the other. my
husband told me the story. 1t must
have cost him a fortune"
1T was worth a fortune" said Lydia.
"A calculating squint had come into
AIRS. Brood's eyes while she was
speaking. To Lydia it appeared as II
she we're trying to fix upon the value
of tle wonderful carpet.
"A collector has offered him--how
much? A hundred thousand dollars.
mot that 1t? All. how rich he must
~
fAe collector you refer to-
wea referring to my husband"
said Mfs. Brood. unabashed. He il
very rich Nd her"
Lyd men1 nd % conceal her an
noy~nce' Il Ink not. as American
fortunes are rato6 y
IN doesn't m&tk..r ..,a AZ oth.r
careiessiy. 4 have own fortune.
Ard Y Is not my fxSs ahA added
with a quick smile. ~No~ !. ,ror
further. r must see All the2 s.ss-
xul things. We Will not y S.-sss
and II iT still half an hour MT