The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1919-07-18
"rhsr seems impossible to your she

demanded.
utterly impossible"
"And to John?"
II am speaking for myself and net
for my brother" Stephen replied. Men
like him, who are assailed by certain
madness, are best left alone with ii.
That is why 1 came to you to bargain,
if / 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 OFF,"
81 should be glad to believe that 1T
was within my power to do so. / have
not Johns great fortune, but 1 have
money, the accumulated savings of
lifetime, for which / have no better
purpose. There is one more thing, too,
to be said"
another charger
"Not that" he told her; "only it Is
better for you to understand that If
| you turn me from your house this
morning, / 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 / consented to think of your
brother as my husband, there is not a
man in London who would not envy
him? Look at mel 1 am beautiful, am
/ not? am a great artist. l am Lou
Use Maurel, and 1 have made myself
famous by my own work and my own
genius. What has your brother done
in life to render him worthy of the
sacrifice l should make if l chose to
give him my hand? You had better
go back to Cumberland. Mr.. Strange
wey. You do not see life as we see 1t
up here"
"And what about John?" he asked,
without moving. "You tempted him
away. Was it from wantonness, or do
you love him?"
Love him?" she laughed. 81 hate
you bothl You are boors-you are
ignorant people. / hate the moment
ever saw either of you. Take John back
with you. Take him out of my life,
There is no place there for himr'
Stephen picked up his hat from the
sofa where it lay. Louise remained
perfectly still, her breath coming quick
| l.,
, Madam" he said, 81 am sorry to
: have distressed you, but the truth
sometimes hurts the most callous of
us. You have heard the truth from
) me. will take John back to Cumber-
; land with me, if he will come. If he
will not"
: ''Take him with your" she broke in
? f1ercely. HE will do as bid him-do
you hear? If lift my little finger, he
will stay. 1t will be who decide.
l l."
But you will not lift your little fin
ger" he interrupted grimly.
"Why shouldn't l, just to punish
5 your" she demanded. "There are
scores of men who fancy themselves In
e love with me. If / choose, can keep
' them all their lives hanging to the
t hem of my skirt, praying for word, a
t touch. / can make them furious one
: day and penitent the next-wretched
l always, perhaps, but can keep them
there. Why should I not treat your
brother in the same way?"
d He seemed suddenly to dilate. She
:. was overcome with a sense of some lat
: ent power in the man, some command
/ ing influence.
Because" he declared, 81 am the
guardian of my brothers happiness
Whoever trif1es with it shall in the fu
ture reckon with mel"
;, His eyes were fixed upon her soft
white throat. His long, lean finger
e seemed suddenly to be drawing nea
to her. She watched him, fascinated
She was trying to scream. Even afte