Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1925-06-25
CHAPTER X-Continued

3
"Oh, / know" Sydenham replied
with his superior manner. II didn't
mean that; I'd thought it better to
call the picture Brena."
"Brena !" roared Parmalee.
"Yes."
Il won't have it
why nOtT his wife asked, rising
from the divan and coming out Of the
studio shadows. why not, Compton,"
Because the name is a peculiar
NAME" said her husband in ridicu-
lous petty rage. ut is yours and I
don't want 1t spread all over every
picture gallery. It's bad enough"
Wait Sydenham interrupted. "You
nave no cause to be disturbed. 1
shall call the picture The Riddle It
VIII be offered to you at the end Of
my exhibitions under that title"
1t never was offered to Parmalee.
as matter of fact, and those who re-
member it only identify 1t by the title
Sydenham gave it, but Brena tried In
vain whenever she thought of this in
cident during that period to escape the
conclusion that Compton feared that
somewhere someone would recognize
her likeness, especially If her own
name had been attached to 1t, and
then through the artist trace back
until she were found.
Not six months later the suggestion
that Parmalee feared some Individual
or group # individuals who would de-
liver to him a dreadful vengeance,
came sharply to her attention, leaping
up, like a horrid shape out of the
quiet path of life, to stare into her
face
She had been motoring out from
New York with Paul, the taciturn
chauffeur, who always appeared to
4ler to be man with the odors of the
penitentiary cllnging to his bristled,
badly shaped head, but who had been
retained by Parmalee, through many
a raise in salary and many an exhi-
billion of insOlence.
I'm glad that you are well again."
Brena said to him as they were wind
dng up the vinelike road that ap-
preached the glowering old house.
I'm not well, madame" Paul said.
But the -Marks-the man
Mr.. Parmalee engaged to cover my
illness, ma'amAhe left"
Il didn't know" she said. ''Mr. Par
malice engages all the employees. Paul
even the maids. He wishes to do so.
SO l didn't know"
There's much that one doesn't
know, ma'am, isn't there?" he said In
an oily voice behind which was a
enarl.
What do you meanY'
For instance, the reason Marks
left"
"What reason?"
well, ma'am, Mr.. Parmalee is sus-
picious of servants. You probably
don't know he requires a birth certifi-
cate and all of that. Getting lob
here is just like getting a passport,
ma'am. And Marks he had one
forged - he did - not meaning any
harm. But Mr.. Parmalee found 1t out.
He wrote himself to the city clerk of
the place. And when he knew, there
was no tanning him, ma'am. He was
like a rat in a corner, If 1 may say
so-frothing like a mad dog"
If Paul had not occupied position
from which no insolence of his own ever
had dislodged him, Brena would have
dismissed him then and there She
knew, however, that her husband
would reinstate him.
paul is handy man-with his
fists and perhaps with other weap-
ons," Parmalee had said. 'I feel that
he would be useful in an emergency"
Brena concluded that not only was
Compton living in terror himself. but
that now and then he yielded to the
temptation to communicate this terror
to her just as che who suffers from
disease might have degenerate de-
sire to sESead its contaglon. she re-
siste2 This by pretending not TO rac-
Ognize the existence of any abnormal
aty in their lives.
The third winter of their marriage
her husband began a practice of find
ing relief from that terror which had
crept in upon him at first but now had
begun to drive his nerves into a gallop.
He who had conserved so carefully his
precious health, now undertook a new
burden.
Brena came down one morning when
the rain Of a wild March day was
beating on the windows The wind,
tearing up the leaves Of the autumn
that had lain all winter beneath the
snow and ice Of the mournful, drip
ping garden, but was now released by
thaw, was shaping wet refuse