The circle banner., 1917-11-23

Uenudnued-
utterly impossible !"
"And to joint?

demanded.
utterly impossibleI"
| "And to J9hn7"
Il am speaking for myself and not
for my brother" Stephen replied. Men
like him, who are assailed by a certain
madness, are best left alone with it.
That is why came to you to bargain,
if I could. Is there anything that you
lack-anything which your own sue
cess and your lover, or lovers, have
failed to provide for your"
1t was useless to try to rise; she
was powerless in all her limbs. Side
by side with the anger and horror that
his words aroused was sense of some
thing almost grotesque, something
which seemed to force an unnatural
laugh from her lips.
$50 you want to buy me offY'
81 should be glad to believe that 1T
was within my power to do so. / have
not Johns great fortune, but I have
money, the accumulated savings of
lifetime, for which 1 have no better
purpose. There is one more thing, too,
to be said"
"Another charge"
"Not that" he told her; "only it is
better for you to understand that if
you turn me from your house this
morning, I shall still feel the necessity
Of saving my brother from you."
Saving him from me?" she ex-
claimed rising suddenly and throwing
out her arms. "Do you know what
you are talking about? Do you know
that if l consented to think of your
brother as my husband, there is not
man in London who would not envy
him? Look at mel / am beautiful, am
not? I am a great artist. / am Lou
famous by my own work and my own
genius. What has your brother done
in life to render him worthy of the
sacrifice / should make if / chose to
give him my hand? You had better
go back to Cumberland, Mr.. Strange
wey. You do not see life as we see it
up hefer'
"And what about John" he asked,
without moving. "You tempted him
away. Was it from wantonness, or do
you love hiE1?"
'Love him?' she laughed. 81 hate
you bothl You are boors-you are
ignorant people. I hate the moment I
ever saw either of you. Take John back
with you. Take him out of my life,
There is no place there for himI'
Stephen picked up his hat from the
sofa where it lay. Louise remained
perfectly still, her breath coming quick
Iy, her eyes lit with passion.
Madam he said, 81 am. sorry to
have distressed you, but the truth
sometimes hurts the most callous Of
is. You have heard the truth from
ne. / will take John back to Cumber-
and with me, if he will come. If he
will not"
sTake him with you'll" she broke in
iercely. "He will do as bid him-do
you hear? If 1 lift my little finger, he
will stay. 1t will be I who decide,
-"
"But you will not lift your little fin
yer," he interrupted grimly.
''Why shouldn't I, just to punish
rouT she demanded. "There are
cores of men who fancy themselves in
owe with me. If choose, can keep
hem all their lives hanging to the
lem of my skirt, praying for word, a
ouch. / can make them furious one
lay and penitent the next-wretched
llways, perhaps, but I can keep them
here. Why should I not treat your
rother in the same way?"
He seemed suddenly to dilate. She
vas overcome with a sense of some lat
MT power in the man, some command.
1g influence.
Because" he declared, 81 am the
uardian of my brothers happiness.
Whoever trifles with it shall in the fu-
ure reckon with met"
His eyes were fixed upon her soft,
vhite throat. His long, lean fingers
eemed suddenly to be drawing near
} her. She watched him, fascinated.
he was trying to scream. Even after