THE FULTON COUNTY NEWS, McCONNELLSBURO, PA.
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7
Tn tha New York home of Juine Prood,
ln suii, Krodertu, receive a wlreluas
fri Urn. Frederic tells Lydia -aiood.
Ms Aftnrett, that tlifl muMaaije an
Jtouocui hl father's niurrlaKn, and order
Mm. Deamund, tlia houwkt-fper and
Lydla'a mother, to prepare Hie house fur
an tiiuuouiuttj home-cntnliiK. Hrooi nnd
In brill arriv. Hlie wlna Frederic's llk
Inc at Unit meeting, llruod show dlnllke
ml vetUd hostility to 111 son. Lydla and
Mix. Un4 inut In the Juile-room, where
Lydia works an brood's secretury. Mrs.
tliuod la startled by thn appeurunca of
Kanjah, brood's Hindu x-rvant. She
nikkis tutnirrs In thn household und guliui
hrr liaataaml's consent to nd Mrs. Iea
iou4 bskI Lydia away, She fiuulnales
'iedcia. film bt'Klna to fear Ilanjuu In
u- liramnny appearances and diauptieiir
maftts. aod Frederic, remembering his
UttmCa KiMt Indian stories and firm be
kef ta aaairlu. fears unknown evil. Run
es' S"4bruis feats of maKio for Dawes
ud Himn. Frederic's father, jealous, un
justly uaaars his son from the dinner table
as urea. Krood tella the story of Hun.
Jail's Hi so bit irtieals. "He killed a wom
an" M was unfaithful to him. Yvonne
alsra with Frederic's Infatuation for her.
Her aaaamd warns her thut the thins;
h au( go on. She tella him that he
Mill krm bis dead wife, whom he drove
froia ha borne, through her. Yvonne,
Yroaa play with Brood, Frederic and
lydla aa with flxurea on a chesa board.
Brood, sadly Jealous, tells Lydla that
Fruduna la not his son.
CHAPTER X Continued.
And now, Mr. Brood, may I ask why
you bare always Intended to telt me
tiila dreadful thing?" she demanded,
her eyes gleaming with a fierce, accus
ing light.
He stared. "Doesn't doesn't It put
a different light on your estimate of
im?( Doesn't It convince you that be
is not worthy of"
"No! A thousand times no!" she
ried. "1 love him. If he were to ask
ne to be his wife tonight I would re
joice oh, I would rejoice 1 Someone
1s coming. Let me say this to you, Mr.
Brood: Tou have brought Frederic
p as a butcher fattens the calves and
swine be prepares for slaughter. You
ire waiting for the hour to come
when you can kill his very soul with
the weapon you have held over him
for so long, waiting, waiting, waiting!
la Cod's name, what has he done that
you should want to strike him down
after all these years? It Is In my heart
to curse you, but somehow I feel that
you are a curse to yourself. I will not
say that I cannot understand bow you
feel about everything. You have suf
fered. I know you have, and I I am
sorry for you. And knowing how bit
ter Ufa has been for you, I Implore you
to be merciful to him who Is Inno
cent" The man listened without the slight
est change of expression. The lines
teemed deeper about his eyes, that
was alL Cut the eyes were bright
and as bard as the steel they resera
led. "You would marry him?"
-Yes. yes!"
"Knowing that he Is a scoundrel?"
"How dare you say that, Mr.
Brood?"
"Because," said he levelly, "he
thinks he Is my son." Voices were
keard on the stairs, Frederic's and
Yvonne's. "He is coming now, my
tear," be went on and then, after a
pause fraught with significance, "and
y wife Is with him."
Lydla closed her eyes as If In dire
pain. A dry sob was In her throat.
A strange thing happened to Brood,
the man of iron. Tears suddenly
rushed to bis eyes.
CHAPTER XI.
A Tempest Rages.
Yvonne stopped in the doorway.
Ranjab was holding the curtains aside
for her to enter. The tall figure of
Frederic loomed up behind her, bis
ark face glowing In the warm light
that came from the room. She had
changed her dress for an exquisite
rchld colored tea-gown of chiffon un
der the rarest and most delicate of
lace. For an instant her gaze rested
oa Lydla and then went questlonlngly
to Brood's face. The girl's confusion
sad not escaped her notice. Her hus
band's manner was but little less con
victing. Her eyes narrowed.
"Ranjab said you were expecting
as," she said slowly. She came for
ward haltingly, as If In doubt as to
or welcome. "Are we Interrupting?"
"Of course not," said Brood, a flush
of annoyance on bis cheek. "Lydla it
tired. I sent Ranjab down to ask
rrederlc to"
Frederic interrupted, a trifle too
eagerly. "I'll walk around with you,
Lydla. It's raining, however. Shall I
get the car out, father?"
"No, not" cried Lydla, painfully con
scious of the rather awkward situa
tion. "And please don't bother, Freddy.
1 can go home alone. It's only a step."
She moved toward the door, eager to
ke away.
"I'll go with you," said Frederlo de
cisively. He stood between her and
the door, an embarrassed smile on his
lips. "I've got something to say to you,
Lydla," be wnt on, lowering bis
voice.
"James, dear," said Mrs. Brood,
shaking ber finger at her husband and
with an exasperating smile on her
Hps, "you are working the poor girl
too hard. See how late it is! And
sow nervous she Is. Why, you are
trembling, Lydla! For shame, James."
RECALLED OFFICER TO DUTY
Sight of Shoulder Strap Brought to
Soldier a Realization of His
Responsibilities.
Then Is a story that Lieut, Cuy
Preston of the United States army
aved his men at the fight at Wound
ed Knee by remembering the senti
ment of the old French proverb:
"Nobility necessitates noble conduct"
He was holding bis men in line before
the ' Indians fired. Everyone was
RAY "WALTERS
"I am a little tired," stammered
Lydla. "We are working so hard, you
know, In order to finish the "
Brood interrupted, bis tone sharp
and incisive. "The end Is in sight.
We're a bit feverish over It, I sup
pose. You see, my dear, we bave Just
escaped captivity In Lhasa. It was a
bit thrilling, I fancy. But we've
stopped for the night."
"So I perceive," said Yvonne, a
touch of insolence In her voice. "You
stopped, I dare say, when you heard
the vulgar world approaching the In
ner temple. That is what you broke
into and desecrated, wasn't It?"
"The inner temple at Lhasa," be
said, coldly.
"Certainly. The place you were
escaping from when we came In."
It was clear to all of them that
Yvonne was piqued, even angry. She
deliberately crossed the room and
threw herself upon the couch, an act
so childish, so disdainful that for a
full minute no one spoke, but stared
at her, each with a different emotion.
Lydia's eyes were flashing. Her lips
parted, but she withheld the angry
words that rose to them. Brood's ex
pression changed slowly from dull
anger to one of Incredulity, which
swiftly gave way to positive joy. His
wife was jealous!
Frederic v. as biting his Hps nerv
ously. He allowed Lydla to pass him
on her way out, scarcely noticing ber
so intently was his gaze fixed upon
Yvonne, When Brood followed Lydla
into the hall to remonstrate, the young
man sprang eagerly to bis stepmoth
er's side.
"Good Lord, Yvonne," he whispered,
"that was a nasty thing to say. What
will Lydla think?' By gad, is It pos
sible that you are jealous? Of Lydia?"
"Jealous?" cried she, struggling with
her fury, "Jealous of that girl! Poof!
Why should I be Jealous of ber? She
hasn't the blood of a potato."
"I can't understand you," he said In
great perplexity. "You you told me
Listened Without the Slightest Change
of Expression,
tonight that you are, not sure that
you really love him. You "
She stopped him with a quick ges
ture. Her eyes were smoldering.
"Where Is he? Gone away with her?
Go and look, do."
"They're in the hall. I shall take
her home, never fear. I fancy he's try
ing to explain your Insinuating "
She turned. on him furiously. "Are
you lecturing me? What a tempest in
a teapot."
"Lydia's as good as gold. She "
"Then take her home at once,"
sneered Yvonne. "This Is no place
for her."
Frederic paled. "You're not trying
to say that my father would Good
Lord, Yvonne, you must be crazy!
Why, that is Impossible! If if I'
thought" He clinched his fists and
glared over his shoulder, missing the
queer little smile that flitted across
ber face.
"You do love her, then," she said,
her voice suddenly soft and caressing.
He stared at her In complete bewil
derment "I I Lord, you gave me a shock!"
He passed his band across his moist
forehead. "It can't be so. Why, the
very thought of it"
"I suppose I shall have to apologize
to Lydla," said she, calmly. "Your fath
tber will exact it of me, and I shall
obey. Well, I am sorry. How does
It sound, coming from me? 'I am
sorry, Lyula.' Do I say it prettily?"
"I don't "understand you at all,
Yvonne. I adore you, and yet, by
heaven, I I actually believe I bated
you just now. Listen to me: I've been
treating Lydla vilely for a long, long
time, but she's the finest, best, dear
est girl In the world. You even you,
Yvonne shall not utter a word
against "
"Al e! What heroics!" she cried
ironically. "You are splendid when
looking for trouble of some kind, but
it was the unexpected thing that hap
pened. The Indians were hovering about
with their blankets round them when
the signal was given by one of them,
and In an Instant every buck threw
away his blanket and stood revea' 1
with a gun In bis hand. The red
skins fired. They bad every advan
tage of the soldiers, for they outnum
bered them and had taken them whol
ly by surprise. The soldiers ran
They did not mean to run far, but
mm
115
you are angry, my son. Yes, you are
almost as splendid as your father. He,
too, has been angry with me. He, too,
has made me shudder. But be, too,
has forgiven me, as you shall this in
stant Say It, Freddie. You do for
give me? I was mean, nasty, ugly,
vile oh, everything that's horrid. I
take It all back. Now, be nice to me!"
She laid her hand on his arm, an
appealing little caress that conquered
him In a flash. He clasped her fingers
In his and mumbled Incoherently as
he leaned forward, drawn reslstlessly
nearer by a strange magic that was
hers.
"You you are wonderful," he mur
mured. "I knew that you'd regret
what you said. You couldn't bave
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 beard in the
doorway. She bad, however, planted
an insidious thing in Frederic's mind,
and It would grow.
Her husband re-entered the room,
bis arm linked in Lydia's. Frederic
was lighting a cigarette at the table.
"You did not mean all tbat you said
a moment ago, Yvonne," said Brood
levelly. "Lydla misinterpreted your
Jest You meant nothing unkind, 1
am sure." He was looking straight
Into ber rebellious eyes; the last
gleam of defiance died out of them
as be spoke.
."I am sorry, Lydla, darling," she
said, and reached out ber band to the
girl, who approached reluctantly, un
certainly. "I confess that I was Jeal
ous. Why shouldn't I 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
sentment the moment beforo, could
not withstand the humble appeal In
the voice of the penitent She smiled,
first at Yvonne then at Brood, and
never quite understood the impulse
that ordered her to kiss the warm, red
Hps that so recently had offended.
"James, dear," fell softly, alluringly
from Yvonne's now tremulous Hps.
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 goiug home yet Ranjab,
the cigarettes!"
Frederic, white-faced and scowling,
remained at the window, glaring out
Into the rain-swept night. A steady
sheet of raindrops thraslied against
the window panes.
"Hear the wind!" cr-led Yvonne,
after a single sharp glance at his tall,
motionless figure. "One can almost
imagine that ghosts from every grave
yard in the world are whistling past
our windows. Should we not rejoice?
We have them safely locked outside
al e! There are no ghosts In here
to make us shiver and shake."
The sentence that began so glibly
trailed off in a slow crescendo, ending
abruptly. Ranjab was holding the
lighted taper for her cigarette. As
she spoke her eyes were lifted to his
dark, saturnine face. She was saying
there were no ghosts, when his eyes
suddenly fastened on hers. In spite
of herself her voice rose in response
to the curious dread that chilled her
heart as she looked into the shining
mirrors above ber. She shivered as If
in the presence of death! For an in
calculably brief period their gaze re
mained fixed and steady, each reading
a mystery. Then the Hindu lowered
his heavy lashes and moved away.
The little by-scene did not go unno
ticed by the others, although its mean
ing was lost.
"There's nothing to be afraid of,
Yvonne," said Brood, pressing the
hand, which trembled In his. "Your
imagination carries you a long way.
Are you really afraid of ghosts?"
She answered in a deep, solemn
voice that carried conviction. "I be
lieve in ghosts. I believe the dead
come back to us, not to flit about, as
we are told by superstition, but to
lodge actually to dwell Inside these
warm, living bodies of ours. They
come and go at will. Sometimes we
feel that they are there, but ah, who
knows? Their souls may conquer ours
and go on inhabiting"
"Never!" he exclaimed quickly, but
his eyes were full of the wonder that
he felt.
"Frederic!" she called imperatively.
"Come away from that window."
The young man joined the group.
The sullen look in his face bad given
way to one of acute Itqulry. The new
note in her voice produced a strange
effect upon him. It seemed like a call
for help, a cry out of the darkness.
They were all playing for time. Not
one of them but who realized tbat
something sinister was attending their
little conclave, unseen but vital. Each
one knew that united they were safe,
each against the other! Lydla was
afraid because of Brood's revelations.
Yvonne had sensed peril with the mes
sage delivered by Ranjab to Frederlo.
Frederic had come upstairs prepared
for rebellion against the caustlo re
marks tbat were almost certain to
come from his father. Brood was
afraid of himself! He was holding
himself in check with the greatest dif
ficulty. He knew that the smallest
spark would create the explosion he
dreaded and yet courted. Restraint
lay heavily yet shlftlngly upon all of
them.
A long, reverberating roll of thun
der ending in an ear-splitting crash
that seemed no farther away than the
window casement: behind tbem
brought sharp exclamations of terror
from tbe Hps of the two women. The
men, appalled, started to their feet
trtey needed some sort of cover.
But Preston, looking back over his
shoulder to see If the Indians were
following, or for whatever purpose a
man looks back at a dangerous foe,
saw the strap on his shoulder and ex
perienced a shock.
:t occurred to him at tbe Instant
that be was running away with the In
signia of rank that bis government
had conferred upon him; that he was,
in a way, the representative of a great
nation, and that he ought not to run.
He stopped. Of course there was no
"Qooa Lord, that was close," cried
Frederic. "There was no sign of a
storm when we came In Just a steady,
gentle spring rain."
"I am frightened," shuddered
Yvonne, wide-eyed with fear. "Do you
think"
There came another deafening crash.
The glare filled the room with a bril
liant, greenish hue. Ranjab was
standing at the window, holding the
curtains apart while he peered upward
across the space that separated them
from tbe apartment building beyond
the court '
"Take me home, Frederic!" cried
Lydla, frantically. She run toward
the door.
"I will come," he exclaimed, as they
raced down the stairs. "Don't be
III
MI
Frederic, White Faced and Scowling,
Remained at the Window.
frightened, darling.' It's all right
Listen to me! Mrs. Desmond is as
safe as"
"Oh, Freddy, Freddy," she walled,
breaking under a strain that he was
not by way of comprehending. "Oh,
Freddy, dear!" Her nerves gave way.
She was sobbing convulsively when
they came to the lower hall.
In great distress, he clasped her In
his arms, mumbling Incoherent words
of love, encouragement even ridicule
for tbe fear she betrayed. Far from
his mind was tbe real cause of her un
happy plight
He held ber close to bis breast and
there she sobbed and trembled as
with a mighty, racking chill. Her fin
gers clutched his arm with the grip
of one who clings to tbe edge of a
precipice with death below. Her face
was burled against bis shoulder.
"You will come with me, Freddy?"
Bhe was whispering, clinging to him
as one In panic.
"Yes, yes. Don't be frightened, Lyd
dy. I I know everything Is all right
now. I'm sure of It"
"Oh, I'm sure too, dear. I have al
ways been sure." she cried, and he
understood, as she had understood.
Despite the protests of Jones, they
dashed out Into the blighting thun
derstorm. The rain beat down in tor
rents, the din was Infernal. As the
door closed behind them Lydia, in the
ecstasy of freedom from restraint bit
terly imposed, gave vent to a shrill
cry of relief. Words, the meaning of
which he could not grasp, babbled
from ber Hps as they descended the
steps. One sentence fell vaguely clear
from the others, and It puzzled blm.
He was sure that she said: "Oh, I am
so glad, so happy we are out of that
house you and I together."
Close together, holding tightly to
each other, they breasted the whirling
sheets of rata. The big umbrella was
of little protection to them, although
held manfully to break the force of
the cold flood of waters. Tbey bent
their strong young bodies against the
wind, and a sort of wild, Impish hilar
ity took possession of them. It was
freedom, after all. They were fighting
a force In nature that they, understood
and the sharp, staccato cries that
came from their Hps were born of an
exultant glee which neither of them
could have suppressed nor controlled.
Their hearts were as wild as the tem
pest about them.
Mrs. Desmond threw open the door
as their wet, soggy feet came slosh
ing down the hall. Frederic's arm
was about Lydla as they approached,
and both of their drenched faces were
wreathed in smiles gay, exalted
smiles. The mother, white-faced and
fearful, stared for a second at the
amazing pair, and then held out ber
arms to them.
She was drenched In their embrace.
No one thought of the havoc that was
being created in that swift, Impulsive
contact . . .
"I must run back home," exclaimed
Frederic Lydla placed herself be
tween htm and tbe door.
"No! I want you to stay," she cried.
He stared. "What a funny idea!"
"Walt until tbe rain is over," added
Mrs. Desmond. '
"No, no," cried Lydla. "I mean for
him to stay here the rest of the night
We can put you up, Freddy. I I
don't want you to go back there un
til until tomorrow."
A glad light broke In his face. "By
Jove, I do you know, I'd like to stay.
I I really would, Mrs. Desmond. Can
you find a place for me?" His voice
was eager, bis eyes sparkling.
"Yes," said the mother, quietly, al
most serenely, "You shall have
Lydia's bed, Frederic. She can come
In with me. Yes, you must stay. Are
you not our Frederic?"
"Thank you," be Btammered, and his
eyes fell.
"I will telephone to Jones when the
storm abates," salt Mrs. Desmond.
well-defined object in his stopping,
but when the rest of the men saw
blm standing there, without cover,
and returning the fire of the Indians,
they turned back, and In five minutes
It was all over, and (he Indians were
beaten.
It would have been nothing short of
a slaughter had Preston gone with the
rest, for there vas no cover until tbe
top of the hill Vas reached, and that
was so distant that the Indians would
bave had an easy time picking off the
men as they ran. Preston's Idea of
"Now get out of those coats, and oh,
dear, how wet you are! A hot drink
for both of you."
"Would you mind asking Jones to
send over something for me to wear
In the morning?" said Frederic, grin
nlng as he stood forth In his evening
clothes.
Ten minutes later, as he' sat with
them before an open fire and sipped
tbe toddy Mrs. Desmond bad brewed,
be cried: "I say, this Is great!"
Lydla wag suddenly shy and embar
rassed. "Good night," she whispered. Her
fingers brushed bis cheek lightly. He
drew her down to him and kissed ber
passionately.
"Good night, my Lyddy!" he said,
softly, bis cheek flushing.
Sho went quickly from the room.
e
Later he stood in her sweet, dainty
little bedroom and looked about him
with a feeling of mingled awe and
wonder. All of her Intimate, exquisite
belongings, the sanctified treasures of
her most secret domain were about
him. He wandered. He fingered the
articles on her dressing table; smellud
of the perfume bottles and smiled as
be recognized the swoet odors as be
ing a part of ber, and not a thing unto
themselves; grinned delightedly at his
own photograph in its silver frame
that stood where she could see it the
last thing at night and tbe first thing
In tbe morning; caressed ay, caressed
the little hand mirror that had re
flected her gay or troubled face so
many times since the dear Christmas
day when be had given It to her with
his love. He stood beside her bed
where she had stood, and the soft rug
seemed to respond to the delightful
tingling that ran through his bare
feet Her room! Her bed! Her do
main! Suddenly he dropped to bis knees
and burled bis hot face In the cool,
white sheets, and kissed them over and
over again. Here was sanctuary! His
eyes were wet with tears when he
arose to his feet and his arms went
out to the closed door.
"My Lyddy!" be whispered chok
ingly. Back there in the rose-hued light of
James Brood's study, Yvonne cringed
and shook In the strong arms of her
husband all through that savage
storm. She was no longer the defi
ant, self-possessed creature he bad
come to know so well, but a shrinking,
trembling child, stripped of all ber
bravado, all ber arrogance, all bor
seeming guile. A pathetic whimper
crooned from her lips In response to
bis gentle words of reassurance. She
was afraid desperately afraid and
she crept close to him In ber fear.
And he? He was looking backward
to another who had nestled close to
him and whimpered as she was doing
now another who bad lived In terror
when It stormed.
CHAPTER XII.
The Day Between,
Frederic opened his eyes at the
sound of a gentle, persistent tapping
on the bedroom door. Resting on bis
elbow, he looked blankly, wonderlngly
about the room and remembered. It
was broad daylight The knocking
continued. He dreamed on, his blink
ing eyes still seeking out the dainty,
Lydiallke treasures In the enchanted
room.
"Frederic! Get up! It's , nine
o'clock. Or will you have your break
fast In bed, sir?" It was Lydia who
spoke, assuming a fine Irish brogue In
Imitation of their little maid of all
work.
"I'll have to, unless my clothes have
come over?"
"They are here. Now, do hurry."
He sprang out of bed and bounded
across the room. She passed the gar
ments through tbe partly opened
door.
He was artistic, temperamental.
Such as he bave not the capacity for
haste when there Is the slightest op
portunity to dream and dawdle. He
was a full quarter of an hour taking
his tub and another was consumed In
getting into his clothes. He sallied
forth In great haste at nlne-thlrty-five
and was extremely proud of himself,
although unshaved.
His first act, after warmly greeting
Mrs. Desmond, was to sit down at the
piano. Hurriedly he played a few
jerky, broken snatches of the haunt
ing air he bad heard the night before.
"I've been wondering If I could re
member It," he apologized as he fol
lowed them into the dining-room.
"What's the matter, Lydla? Didn't
you sleep well? Poor old girl, I was a
beast to deprive you of your bed "
"I bave a mean headache, that's
all," said the girl, quickly. He noticed
the dark circles under her eyes, and
the queer expression, as of trouble, in
their depths. "It will go as soon as
I've bad my coffee."
Night with its wonderful sensations
was behind them. Day revealed the
shadow that had fallen. Tbey uncon
sciously Bhrank from' it and drew back
Into tbe shelter of their own mlsglv
Ivings. The Joyous abandon of the
night before was dead. Over Its grave
stood the specter of unrest, leering.
When be took ber In bis arms later
on, and kissed ber, there was not the
shadow of a doubt In the mind of
either that the restraining Influence
of a condition over which tbey had no
control was there to mock their en
deavor to be natural. Tbey kissed as
through a veil. They were awake once
more, and they were wary, uncon
vinced. Tbe answer to their questions
came in tbe kiss Itself, and constraint
fell upon them.
Drawn by an impulse that hnd been
struggling within htm for some time,
Frederic found himself standing at
duty was wbat saved the day.
Youth's Companion.
. Benevolence.
My Ideal of human Intercourse
would be a state of things In which no
man will ever stand in need of any
other man's help, but will derive all
his satisfaction from the great social
tides which own no Individual names.
No roan can play tbe deity to bis fel
low man wltb Impunity I mean spirit
ual Impunity, of course. For see: If
I am at all satisfied with that rela-
tbe dining-room window. It was a wly,
covert though Intensely eager look
that be directed at another window far
below. If he hoped for some sign of
life in his father's study be was to be
disappointed. The curtains hung
straight and motionless. He would
bave denied tbe charge that he longed
to see Yvonne sitting In the casement,
waiting to waft a Blgn of greeting up
to him, and yet be was conscious of
a feeling of disappointment, even an
noyance. With considerable adroitness Lydla
engaged his attention at tbe piano.
Keyed up as she was, Jils every emo
tion was plain to ber perceptions. She
bad anticipated tbe motive that led
him to the window. She knew that
It would assert itself in spite of all
that he could do to prevent. She wait
ed humbly for the tlng to happen,
pain In her heart, and when ber read
ing proved true, she was prepared to
combat Its effect Music was her only
aliy.
"How does It go, Freddy the thing
you were playing before breakfast?"
Sho was trying to pick up the elusive
air. "It is such a fascinating, ador
able thing. Is this right?"
He came over and stood beside her.
His long, slim fingers Joined hers on
the keyboard, and tbe sensuous strains
of the waits responded to his touch.
He smiled patiently as she struggled
to repeat wbat be bad played. The
fever of tbe thing took hold of him at
last, as she had known it would.
Leaning over her shoulder, his cheek
quite close to hers, he played. Her
hands dropped into ber lap. Finally
she moved over on the bench and be
sat down beside her. He was absorbed
In the undertaking. His brow cleared
His smile was a bappy, eager one.
"It's a tricky thing, Lyddy," be said,
enthusiastically, "but you'll get It
Now, listen."
For an hour they sat there, master
and pupil, sweetheart and lover, and
the fear was less In the heart of one
when, tiring at last the other con
tentedly abandoned tbe role of task
master and threw himself upon the
couch, remarking as he stretched him
self In luxurious ease:
"I like this, Lyddy. I wish you
didn't have to go over there and dig
away at that confounded journal. I
like this bo well that, 'pon my soul,
I'd enjoy loafing here with you the
whole day long.'i
Her heart leaped. "You shall have
your wish, Freddy," she said, barely
able to conceal tbe note of eagerness
Played a Few Jerky, Broken Snitches
of the Haunting Air.
In her voice. "I am not going to work
today. I my head, you know. Mother
telephoned to Mr. Brood this morning
before you were up. Stay here wltb
me. Don't go home, Freddy. I "
"Oh, I've got to have it out with
father sometime," be said, bitterly.
"It may as well be now as later on.
We've got to come to an understand
ing." Her heart was cold. She w ts afraid
of what would come out of that "un
derstanding." All night long she had
lain with wide-staring eyes, thinking
of the horrid thing James Brood had
said to her. Far In the ..night she
aroused ber mother from a sound
sleep to put tbe question that had
been torturing ber for hours. Mrs.
Desmond confessed tbat her husband
had told her that Brood had never con
sidered Frederic to be his son, and
then the two lay side by side for the
remainder of the night without utter
ing a word and yet keenly awake.
They were thinking of the hour when
Brood would serve notice on the in
truder! ' Lydla now realized that the hour
was near. "Have It out, with father,"
he had said in bis Ignorance. He was
preparing to rush headlong to bis
doom. To prevent that catastrophe
was the single, all-absorbing thought
In Lydia's mind. Her only hope lay In
keeping the men apart until she could
extract from Brood a promise to be
merciful, and this she Intended to
accomplish it she bad to go down on
her knees and grovel before the -man.
"Oh, Freddy," she cried, earnestly,
"why take the chance of making a bad
matter worse?" Even as she uttered
the words she realized bow stupid,
how Ineffectual they were.
"It can't be much worse," he said,
gloomily. "I am inclined to think he'd
relish a straight-out, fair and square
talk, anyhow. Moreover, 1 mean to
take Yvonne to task for the thing she
said or implied last night About
you, I mean. She
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
tion, it It contents me to be In a posi
tion of generosity towards others, 1
must be remarkably Indifferent at bot
tom to tbe gross social Inequality
which permits' that position, and In
stead of resenting the enforced humili
ation of my fellow man to myself. In
the Interests of humanity, I acquiesce
In It for the sake of the profit It yields
to my own self-complacency. I do
hope the reign of benevolence Is over;
until tbat event occurs I am suro tbe
reign of God will be Impossible.
Henry James, 8r. .
STATE
LAWMAKERS
Retirement Bill Passes.
Ilarrlsburg. The Senate bill
establish a State employes retires!,
ystem was passed finally in the HoJ
and goes to the Governor. The
will affect seventeen men la 6V
service. It provides that employe, j
twenty years' service may be retw
on half pay excepting those whom J
tlrement has been otherwise trrtJ
by law. The vote was 111 to J5.
Tho House dropped the Senate t
giving banks a Hen on deposits of s
depositor who may become laaaUe
Tbe Walton third class city h J
amend the commission govonsse.
Act of 1913 was passed finals h 1
House and sent to ihe Senate, l
bill was drafted by a conrafcteti
solicitors of third class cities a
makes numerous changes, aish-ait
was slated that H does not after I
nonpartisan feature. Tbe Seat)
few days ago defeated the Sennts k
changing the third clans eUf low,
The House passed the Seaate h
providing for witness fees k eoatJ
before registration commWtnssanrel
first and second class cities, act J
committed to the Elections Cararuhv
the bill prohibiting nomaaoaiaaa J
papers after the primary. 1
The etamp tax bill, one of 1st m
nue raisers, waa postponed, m4
Ramsey bill for boiler inspection
third class cities defeated. Al Sei
appropriation bills were passe1
first reading. Tbe Senate bill text,
lng widths of sidewalks along tit;
highways was passed.
SENATE BILLS PASSED.
Giving park commissioners In fi
class cities right to acquire il
needed for park extension.
Validating annexations to boroud
Providing that boroughs shall m
damages for laying out or widen.
streets and the county not be hi
liable.
Creating a system of municipal rl
erence information In, the leglslati
reference bureau.
The House amended and passed a
bill to permit County Commission
to make Memorial Day appropriatloJ
to Spanish war veterans, which W
been recalled from the Governor.
The Sproul Senate bill carrjlJ
funds for roads was reported to J
nouhe, carrylug $9,500,01)0, an incra
of $1,000,000 as compared with tl
way It passed the Senate.
House bill increasing the salaries i
County Commissioners in count,
having a population up to 150,000.
House bill repealing about 300 obs
lete, expired and superceded law).
Requiring the free education In u
public schools of children who are J
mates of orphan asylums.
Limiting the time within which
begin actions in trespass tor mallcld
prosecution and false Imprisonment
one year, and conspiracy in ihi
years after the injury complained A
House bill prohibiting the buntl
for wild birds and wild game by t!
naturalized foreign - born resident
and further prohibiting them fro:
owning dogs.
Regulating tbe assessment of daH
ages for the appointment of prim
property for public park or parkwd
purposes and to exempt property if
appointed from taxation in oertala c
cumstances.
House bill designating the Stats 14
surance Commissioner as the perw
Upon whonr service of all legal P'
cesses shall be made in the case of t
surance companies organized outsit
of Pennsylvania,
House bill reorganizing the U
ployes of the State Treasury and ij
creasing salaries in certain cases.
Creating a commission to eonnli
and revise the building and loan H
soclatlon laws.
Prohibiting the gift or sale of riM
of any kind to minors under elgliteH
years of age.
Appropriating $4,000 to St. Vlncw:
Orphan, Asylum, Tacony, Phlladi
pbla. ,
House bill Increasing the salaries
county auditors.
House bill providing that the open!
tion of clay quarries containing bit'
mlnous coal shall come under q
jurisdiction of the eDpartment 4
Mines.
Two Berks county bills relating
the Incarceration of persons convl
of penitentiary offenses.
Providing for the employment '
convicts in tbe penitentiaries, Hr
tngdon Reformatory and other corm
tlonal Institutions at the work of f
Jm.I .,nll.. 4 I. .. 11 .1 ln natftHU
for tbe institutions of which thai K
Inmates.
BILLS SIGNED BY GOVERNOR-
F!vlnr salaries of court criers. Ij
terpreters and tlpstayes In county
containing between 250,000 and jw
000 population.
Revising Act of May 22, 1878,
latlng to banking companies so
they may bring suit for recovery A
property. J
Amending Act of May 14, 18T4, K
extending jurisdiction to persona W
lng an undivided Interest in land
coal or timber thereon and gifK
right to compel partition.
Enforce Law Against Flsherm"-
Harrisbure. Orders bave
Issued to all wardens of the State
partment of Fisheries to enforcs
newly-approved State law promt"0"
unnaturalized foreign-born resl"''
from fishing. A similar taw prer
them from hunting. The new fl '
provides for a fine of twenty doll
for each violation or a day in prl
for each dollar of fine, and anf
naturalized forelgn-bdrn person
remain in the State ten days is ,
deemed a resident under tbe