Newspapers / Polk County News and … / May 21, 1915, edition 1 / Page 6
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THE POLK COUITTY NEWS, TEYON, IT. G. 1 1 r t if t if l 7 III ISTRAII0N5 & Aff0 COWPAtY SYNOPSIS. .' 7"' Tn tho nw York home of James? Brood, his son Frederic. - receives a wireless from him. Frederic tells Lydia Des mond, his fiancee, that the message an nounces his father's marriage, and orders Mrs. Desmond, the housekeeper and Lydia's mother, to prepare the house for an immediate home-coming. Brood and his bride arrive. She wins Frederic's lik ing at first meeting. Brood shows dislike and veiled hostility to his son. Lydia and Mrs. Brood met in the jade-room, where i Lydia works as Brood's secretary. Mrs. Brood is startled by the appearance or I Ranjab, Brood's Hindu servant. She i makes changes in the household and gains her husband's consent to send Mrs. Des mond and Lydia away. She fascinates Frederic. She begins to fear Ranjab in his uncanny appearances and disappear ances, and Frederic, remembering his father's East Indian stories and firm be lief In magic, fears unknown evil. Ran jab performs feats of magic for Dawes and Riggs. Frederic's father, jealous, un justly orders his son from the dinner table as drunk. Brood tells the story of Ran jab's life to his guests. "He killed a wom an" who was unfaithful to him. Yvonne plays' with Frederic's infatuation for her. Her husband warns her that the thing must not go on. She tells him that he still loves his dead wife, whom he drove from his home, through her. Yvonne. Yvonne plays with Brood. Frederic and Lydia as with figures, on a chess board. Brood, madly jealous, tells Lydia that Frederic is not his son. : CHAPTER X Continued. "And now, Mr. Brood, may I. ask why rou have always intended to tell me this 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 him? Doesn't it conyince-you .that he Is not worthy of " "No! A thousand times no!" she cried. "I love him. If he were to' ask me to be his wife tonfght I would re joice oh, I would rejoice! Someone is coming. Let me say this to you, Mr. Brood: You have brought Frederic up as a butcher fattens the calves and swine he prepares Tor slaughter. You are 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! In God'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 how you feel about everything. You have suf fered. I know you have, and I I am sorry for you. And knowing how bit ter life has been for you, I implore you to be merciful to him who is inno cent." The man listened without the slight est charfge of expression. The lines seemed deeper about his eyes, that was all. But the eyes were bright and as hard as the steel they resem bled. "You would marry him?" I "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 heard on the stairs, Frederic's and Yvonne's. "He is coming now, my dear," he went on and' then, after a pause fraught with significance, "and my wife is with him." f Lydia closed her eyes as ifj in dire pain. A dry sob was in her throat. A strange thing happened to Brood, the man of iron. Tears suddenly rushed to his eyes. CHAPTER XI. i A Tempes.t 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; his dark face glowing in the warm light that came from the room. She had changed her dress for an exquisite orchid colored tea-gown cf chiffon un der the rarest and -most delicate of lace. For an instant her gaze rested on Lydia and then went questloningly to Brood's face. The girl's confusion had not escaped her notice. .Her hus band's manner was but little less con victing. Her eyes narrowed. "Ranjab said you were expecting us," she said slowly. She came for ward haltingly, as if in doubt as to her welcome. "Are we interrupting?" "Of course not," said Brood, a flush' of annoyance on his cheek. "Lydia is tired. I sent Ranjab down to ask Frederic to" Frederic interrupted, a trifle too eagerly. "I'll walk around with you, Lydia. It's raining, however. Shall I get the car out, father?" . "No, no!" cried Lydia, painfully con scious of the rather awkward situa tion. "And please don't bother, Freddy. I can go home alone." It's only a step." She moved toward the door, eager to be away. v ' "111 go with you," said Frederic de cisively. He stood between her and the door, an embarrassed smile on his lips. . "I've got something to say to you, Lydia," he went on, lowering his voice. :; "James, jdear " said Mrs Rrrind V shaking her finger at her husband anil with an exasperating smile ; on her ps, "you are workine the " noor - Hi-i too hard. See how latnVft . f a a how nervous she is. Why; you are trembling, Lydia! For shame, James." 1 iwin DARR MeCUTCHCON KM Wm tiO "I am a little tired," stammered Lydia. "We are working so hard, you know, in order to finish the-r" , , f y Brood interrupted, his tone sharp and incisive. "The end . is in sight; We're a bit feverish over it, I sup pose. You see, my dear, we have just escaped captivity in Lhasa. It was a bit thrilling, I fancy. But we've stopped for Jhe night," "So 1 perceive," laid Yvonne, a touch of insolence in her vroice. "You stopped, I dare say, when you heard the vulgar world approaching the in ner temple. That is what you broke into anddesecrated, wasn't It?" "The inner temple ; at Lhasa," he said, coldly. "Certainly. The place you were escaping from when we came in." It was clear to all of them that Yvonne1 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 orie of Incredulity, which swiftly gave way to positive joy. His wife was jealous! Frederic as biting, his Hps nerv ously. He allowed Lydia to pass him on her way out, scarcely noticing her so intently was his gaze fixed upon Yvonne. When Brood followed Lydia into the hall to remonstrate, the young man sprang eagerly to his stepmoth er's side. "Good Lord, Yvonne," he whispered, "that was a nasty thing to say. What will Lydia 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 her?. 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,1 sneered Yvonne. "This . is no place for her." 1 , 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 her 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 hand across his moist forehead. "It can't be so Why, the very thought of it " "I suppose I shall have to apologize to Lydia," said she, calmly. 'Tour fath ther will exact it of me, and I shall obey. Well, I am sorry. How does it sound, coming from me? 'I : am sorry. Lydia.' 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 hated you just now. Listen to me: I've been treating Lydia vilely for a long, long time, but she's the finest, best, dear est girl In the world. You even you x yonne snau noi uuer a word against-r-" ;. "Ai e! What heroics!" - she cried ironically. "You are splendid when 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 he, too, has forgiven me, as you shall this in stant." Say It, Freddiel 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 haVd on his arm, an appealing little caress that conquered him, in a flash. He clasped her fingers in his and mumblea lnconerenuy he' leaned forward, drawn resistlessly 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 have 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 heard in the doorway. She had, however, planted an insidious thing in Frederic's mind, and it would grow. Her husband re-entered the room, his arm' linked in Lydia's," Frederic was lighting a cigarette at the table. "You did not mean all that you said a . moment ago, Yvonne," said Brood levelly. "Lydia misinterpreted your jest. You meant nothing unkind, I am sure."! He was looking straight nto her rebellious eyes; the last gleam of defiance died out of them as he spoke. "I am sorry, Lydia, darling," she said, and reached out her hand to the girl, who approached reluctantly, un certainly. "I confess that I was jeal ous. Why shouldn't I be "jealous? You are so t beautiful, so splendid." She drew the glrr down beside her. "Forgive me, dear." And Lydia, whose' honest heart had been so full of re sentment the moment before, could not withstand the humble appeals in the voice of the penitent She smiled, first at Yvonne then at Brood,1 and never quite understood the impulse hat ordered her to kiss the warm', red ips that so recently had offended. "James, dear," fell softly, alluringly from Yvonne's now tremulous lips. 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 going home yet. Ranjab, he cigarettes!" j Frederic, white-faced and scowling. remained at the window, glaring out nto the rain-swept night. A steady sheet of raindrops thrashed against the window panes. "Hear the wind!" cried Yvonne, after a single sharp glance at his tall, motionless figure. "One can almost magine that ghosts from every grave yard in the world are whistling past our windows. Should we not rejoice? We have them safely locked outside ai e! There are no ghosts in here to make us shiver and shake." The sentence that began so glibty trailed off in a slow crescendo, ending abruptly. Ranjab was holding the ighted 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 5 the shining mirrors above her. 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. v "Frederic!" she called imperatively. "Come away from that window." The young man joined the group. The sullen look in his face had given way to one of acute inquiry. 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 that something sinister was attending their little conclave, unseen but vital. Each one knew that united they were safe, each against,' the other! Lydia was afraid because of Brood's revelations Yvonne had sensed peril with the mes sage delivered by Ranjab' to Frederic. Frederic had come upstairs prepared for rebellion against the caustic re marks that were - almost certain to come from his father. Brood was afraid of himself ! He was holding nimseir m check with the greatest dif ficulty. He knew that the smallest spark would create the explosion he dreaded and yet. courted. : Restraint lay i heavily yet shif tingly upon all of them. ' v ' . ,. ; - A long, reverberating roll of thun der ending In an - ear-splitting crash that seemed no farther away than the window f casement behind them brought sharp exclamations of terror. from the lips of the two women. The meo, appalled, started to their feet "Good Lord, that: was close, cried Frederic. .'There was no sign of a storm when we came in just a sieauy, gentle spring rain." "I am frightened," snuaaerea Yvonne, wide-eyed with fear " "Do you think " ; ' . "V NT- There came another deafening crash. The glare filled the room ;wlth 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 the apartment building , beyond the 'court 4 ! i; "Take me . home, Frederic!" cried Lydia, frantically. She "ran toward the door "I will come," he exclaimed, as they raced down ..the stairs. "Don't be 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 wailed. breaking under a strain that he was not by way of comprehetading. "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 the fear she betrayed. Far from his mind was the real cause of her un happy plight i He held her close to his 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 the edge of a precipice wfth death below. Her face was buried against his shoulder. "You will come with me, Freddy?" she 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" v 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 ytrat Into the blightirig thun derstorm. The rain beat down in tor rents, the din was infernal. As the door closed behind them Lydia, in the ecstasy of freedotri from restraint bit terly Imposed!, gave vent to a shrill cry of relief. Words, .the meaning of which he could not grasp, babbled from her lips as they descended the steps. One sentence fell vaguely clear from the others, and it puzzled him. 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 rain. The big umbrella was of little protection to them, although held manfully to break the force of the cold flood of waters. They 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 lips 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. Lydia as they approached, and both of their drenched faces were wreathed in smiles gay, jexalted smiles. The mother, white-faced and fearful, stared - for a second at the amazing pair, and then held out her arms to them. She was drenched in their embrace. No one thought of Ae havoc that was being created in that swift; impulsive contact ... . "I must run back home," exclaimed Frederic. Lydia placed herself be tween him vand the door. "No! I want you to stay," she cried. He stared. "What a funny idea!" ; "Wait until the rain is over," added Mrs. Desmond." "No, no," cried Lydia. "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, his 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," he stammered, and his eyes fell.' "I will telephone to Jones 'when the storm abates,'! said Mrs. Desmond. iiiiiii IB "Now get out of tLose coats, and Jli, dear, how wet you are ! A hot drink for both of you." j ' ; : "Would youniind asking Jones to send over something for me to wear In the morning?" said Frederic; grin ning as he stood; forth in his livening clothes. '5 , is Cf 5 -t? ' Ten , minutes later, .as he sat: with them before an open jfire and sipped the toddy Mrs' Desmond had brewed, he cried: "I say, this is great!" ' Lydia was suddenly shy and; embar rassed. - " " "Good night,' she whispered; Her fingers brushed his cheek lightly. He drew her down to him and kissed her passionately. 3 - "Good-night my Lyddy!" he said, softly, his cheek flushing. She., went quickly "from the room. . . ' . . 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 hei: dressing table; smelled of the perfume bottles and smiled as he recognized; the sweet odors as be ing a part of. her, 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 the first thing in the morning; caressed ay, caressed the little hand mirror that had re flected her gay or troubled face so many times since the dear Christmas (Say when he had given it to her with his love. Hestood 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 his knees and buried his 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!" he, 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 , had come to know so well, but a shrinking, trembling child, stripped of alj her bravado, all her arrogance, all hnr seeming guile. A pathetic whimper crooned from her lips in response to his gentle words of reassurance. ; She was afraid desperately afraid and she crept close to 'him In her fear. And he?: He was looking backward to another who had jnestled close to him and "whimpered as she was doing now another who had lived in terror when it stormed. CHAPTER XH. y The Day Between. Frederic opened his eyes at the sound of a gentle, persistent tapping on the bedroom door. Resting on his elbow, he looked blankly, wonderingly about the room and remembered. It was broad daylight The knocking continued. He dreamed on, hs blink ing eyes still seeking out the dainty, Lydialike treasures tn 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 tittle maid of all work. - . .. "I'll have to, unless my clothes have come over?" . .7- .'. r "They are here. Now, do hurry'. j He sprang ( out of bed and bounded, across the room. She passed the gar ments through the; ; partly opened door. :'y ' 'r'y7--y::''. 4 He was artistic, temperamental. Such as he have 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 nlhe-thirty-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 v played a few jerky, broken snatches of the haunt ing air he had heard the night before. "I've been wondering if I could re member it," he apologized as he fol lowed them into the I dining-room. "What's the matter, Lydia? Didn't you sleep well? Poor old girl, I was 3, beast to deprive you of; your bed" "I have 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 had my coffee." ! V Night with its wonderful sensations was behind them. Day revealed the shadow that had fallen. They uncon sciously shrank from it and drew, back Into the , shelter of their own mlsgiv ivings. The joyous abandon of the night before was dead. Over its grave stood the specter of unrest, leering: When he took her in his arms later on, arid kissed her. there was not the shadow of a doubt in the mind of either that the restraining ; influence xf a condition over which they had no control was, there to mock their en deavor to be natural. They kissed as through a veil. They were awake once more, and they were wary, uncon vinced. ? The answer to their questions came in the kiss itself, and constraint fell" upon them. - Drawn by an impulse that had been struggling within him for some time Frederic found himself standing at tho dimngooia . covert though int. below. 'If he h0perCela4 life in his father's Jl J disappointed. The Wa straight and motionlet3 to see Yvonne sitting in Zl waning to watt a ie Pa-.. 10 -mm. ana yet he Wae a feeling of disapnoin noyance. . 1 u Vftt With considerable adroit,!:. engaged nis attention at T Keyed up as she was hi e M tion was plain to her xcr7 had anticipated th ' ptlPn him to the window. ViJltbat3 it would assert itself in W that he could do to prevent Z f i ed humbly for the thing 'tT J 1 1 1 , o 10 hat!. I yam 111 uer ueart, and when h K ing:proved true, she Vn, err combat its effect. ally. as her "How does it sh VtCa,u. .. uu thPH.il you were playing bpfnr .M She was trying to pick.up thP 7 a lascmatine J able thing. Is this right?" , He came over and stood beside Hislong, slim fingers joined hi me uuai u, ana tne sensuous fo ot ' the waltz responded to his t He smiled patiently as she strn? to repeat what he had played. fever of the thing took hold of hiB last, as she had known it v Leaning over her shoulder, his quite close to hers, he played s hands dropped into her lap. j;, she moved over on the bench anjy sat down beside her. He was absoJ in the undertaking. His brow cW His smile was, a happy, eager one. ""It's a tricky thing, Lyddy," he J enthusiastically, "but yoYll get t Now, listen." 1 For an hour they sat there, ana pupil, sweetneart and lover, t the fear was less in the 1 heart nu when, tiring at last, 'the other -! tentedly abandoned the role of taa' master and threw himself uDonf couch, remarking as he stretched fe. self in luxurious ease: "I like this, Lyddy. 1 wish 'J didn't have to go over there and a away at' that confounded journal iiKe tms so wen tnat, pon my sd I'd enjoy loafing here with you 4 whole day long." Her heart leaped. "You shall to your wish, Freddy," she said, bars able to conceal the note of eagerag Played a Few Jerky, Broken Snatc of the Haunting Air. todav I-mv hiad. vou know. Mow telephoned to Mr. Brood this mornlj! before you were up. Stay here' Freddy. I- "Oh, I!ve got to have it out J father sometime," he said, bitterj "It may as well be now as later We've got to come to an understai ing." nnirt She wis of what would come out of that Hatot.iinD Aii nirht long she l4v -VPS. thinW of the horrid thing James Brood said to her. Far in - the nigun aroused her mother from a sleep to put the question thai been torturing her or - uesmona conieascu u"" had told her that Brooa nau sidered Frederic to be W & men me iwo iay biuc Uj remainder of the night without ; ing a word and yet keenly They were thinking of the hour Brood would serve nonets 1 Lydia now realized that . f!tber' was near "Have it out with 1 he had. said in his ignorance. preparing to rush neadJoD!!lStroi!i doom. To prevent that caw was the single. all-absorbiM In Lydia's mind Her only hoi keeping the n.n apart until s tf extract from Efood a P9 i merciful, and this she ue . accomplish if she had to 8ftfl her knees and grovel before 1 ( "Oh, Freddy," she cried, e j "why take the chance of ma matter worse?" Even as an the words she realized &o : how-Ineffectual they were. A "It can't be much worse, v K1 gloomily. "I am inclined to relish a straight-out, fatf talk, i anyhow. Moreover. , 1 take "Yvonne to task for the said or Implied last you. I mean. She" (TO BE CONTINUE ;
Polk County News and The Tryon Bee (Tryon, N.C.)
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May 21, 1915, edition 1
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