The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1915-05-14
a soft light about her, so radiant was
the sheen of the satin skin.

one moved closer 10 MIN, anu VIVA
deft fingers applied her tiny lace
handkerchief to his flushed cheek ana
eyes, laughing audibly as she did SO,
a low gurgIe of infinite sweetness ana
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 smli-
ing lips, before replacing it in her
bodice, next to the warm, soft skin /
have been thinking, Frederic she
said, suddenly serious. Perhaps II
would be better if we were not alone
when the others came up, Go at once
and fetch the two old men. Tell them
l expect them here to witness the
magic. 1t appears to be a FANNY
party, so why exclude them? be
quick!"
He dashed off to obey her command
She lighted a cigarette at the table
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
body in the ecstasy of complete relax
alton.
The scene. at the dinner table had
been most distressing. Up to the IN
slant Of the outburst her husband mac
been in singularly gay spirits, a CIR
cumstance so unusual that the whole
party wondered not a little. If the
others were vaguely puzzled by his
high humor, not so Yvonne. She un'
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 talker at the head OF the
table. He vas talking against the say
agery that strained so hard at its
leashes.
~ lItl ilShI Sdl flCuSllS, az LIZA
left the renowned Doctor Holder,
whose feats at the operating table
were vastly more successful than his
efforts at the dinner table. He was
a very wonderful surgeon, but equally
famous as a bore of the 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 Or less magnitude.
Frederic, deceived by his fathers
sprightly mood, entered rather reck.
Iessly 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 a low ex.
change of words with Yvonne, did not
hear him. Brood spoke again, loudly,
harshly. There was dead silence at
the table.
1--WE will excuse you, Frederic" said
he, a 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. 81 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"
81 haven't drunk a full glass Of
champagne" begun the young man in
amazed protest.
Brood smiled i%ndulgently, but there
was a sinister CLEAN in his gray eyes.
81 think you would better take my
advice" he said, levelly.
Frederic went deathly pale. every
we'll, sir" he said in a 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 temperance 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