Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1915-05-21

mas Hlaue me Snu0Qer. But ne, t0>
has forgiven me. as you shall this In
slant. Say it, Freddie You do for
give me? ! was mean, nasty, ugly
vile-oh. everything that's horrid.
take IL all back. Now. be nice to me-!
She laid her hand on his arm, al
appealing little caress that conquered
him in flash. He clasped her finger,
in his and mumbled incoherently al
he leaned forward. drawn resistlessly
nearer by a strange magic that wa:
hers.
| "fou-you are wonderful" he muir
INJURED. Il knew that you'd regret
what you said. You couldn't have
meant it."
She smiled, patted his hand gently
and allowed her swimming eyes to
rest on his for an instant to complete
the conquest. Then she motioned him
away. Brood's voice was heard in the
doorway. She had. however, planted
an insidious thing in Frederic's mind
and it would grow.
Her husband re-entered the room.
his arm linked in Lydia's. Frederic
was lighting a cigarette at the table.
You did not mean al that you said
moment ago. Yvonne," said Brood
levelly. Lydia misinterpreted your
Jest. You meant nothing unkind.
am sure" He was looking straight
into her rebellious eyes; the last
CLEAN of defiance died out of them
as he spoke
y am sorry. Lydia. darling" she
said. and reached out her hand to the
girl. who approached reluctantly, I'M
certainly. Il confess that | was jeal-
Gus. Why shouldn't be jealous?
You are so beautiful, so splendid"
She drew the girl down beside her.
Forgive me. dear" And Lydia, whose
honest heart had been so full of re-
sentiment the moment before, could
not Withstand the humble appeal in
the voice of the penitent. She smiled.
hrst at Yvonne then at Brood, and
never quite understood the impulse
that ordered her to kiss the warm, red
lips that so recently had offended.
James, DEAF" fell softly. alluringly
from Yvonne's now tremulous lips.
He sprang to her side. She kissed
him passionately. Now. we are all
ourselves once more" she gasped a
moment later, her eyes still fixed in
quiringly on those of the man beside
her. Let US be gay! Let US forget!
Come, Frederic! Sit here at my feet.
Lydia is not going home yet. Ranjab,
the cigarettes!"
Frederic. white-faced and scowling,
remained at the window, glaring our
into the rain-swept night. A steady |
sheet of raindrops thrashed against |
The window panes.
Hear the wind!" cried Yyonne.
after a single sharp glance at his tall.
notionless figure "One can almost
imagine that ghosts from every grave
7ard in the world are whistling past
'ur windows. Should we not rejoice?
We have them safely locked outside
lie! There are no ghosts in here
o make us shiver-and-shake."
The sentence that began SO glibly
rallied off in a slow crescendo. ending
Ibruptly. Ranjab was holding the
lighted taper for her cigarette. As
he spoke her eyes were lifted to his
ark. saturnine face. She was saying
mere were no ghosts, when his eyes
uddenly fastened on hers. In spite
+ herself her voice rose in response
the curious dread that chilled her
cart as she looked into the shining
mirrors above her. She shivered as IL
the presence of death! For an in.
alculably brief period their gaze re-
lained fixed and steady, each reading
mystery. Then the Hindu lowered
is heavy lashes and moved away. /,
he little by-scene did not go unno-
ced by the others, although it's mean. 8
lg was lost.
There's nothing to be afraid of.
vonne," said Brood. pressing the !
and. which trembled in his. your :
Imagination carries you a long way. T
re you really afraid of ghosts?"
She answered in a deep, solemn i
'ice that carried conviction. 81 be- f
eve in ghosts. | believe the dead a
'me back to us. not to fit about, as q
e are told by superstition, but to =
dge-actually to dwell-inside these
arm. living bodies of ours. They =
me and go at will. Sometimes we 7
ell that they are there, but-ah, who n
lows? Their souls may conquer ours
ID go on inhabiting-"
"Never!" he exclaimed quickly. hut .,
8 eyes were full of the wonder that N
felt.
Frederic!" she called imperatively. "
'ome away from that window" 8,
The young man joined the group. =.
lie sullen look in his face had given a,
~ to one of acute inquiry. The new a,
tie In her voice produced a strange
ect upon him. 1t seemed like a call N
help. cry out of the darkness. h,
They were all playing for time. Not =,
e Of them but who realized that
netting sinister was attending their F
lie conclave. unseen but vital. Each ~
e knew that united they were safe.
en- against the other! Lydia was
aid because Of Brood's revelations.
onne had sensed peril with the mes NJ
ye delivered by Ranjab to Frederic
ederic had come upstairs prepared h,
rebellion against the caustic re- w
rks that were almost certain TO DE-
ne from his father Brood was ri
aid of-himself! He was holding
nself in check with the greatest diff. IN
lily. He knew that the smallos.