The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-05-10
By Katharine
Hopkins Chapman
WHOSE MISTAKE?.


important business, leaves tomorrow to
be absent several months. He will be
accompanied by Mrs. Russell and Miss
Elizabeth Russell"
Left thus without clue, DR.. Cameron
snatehed at the slight hope of news Of
Tered by the Montgomery papers and few
women of fashion ever poured over the
society columns as eagerly as did this
country doctor. He settled into such a
state of morbid gloom that even his best
friends were afraid to inquire the cause
+ OF offer sympathy. The conjectures and
comments in the village were varied, but
klndly; except Mrs. Carter, mother of the
/ three Misses Carter. whose manner plain
~ said the ever odious-"I told you So"
1t occasioned no surprise, therefore,
/ when several months later, DR.. Cameron
decided to try his fortune in one of the
boom towns springing up by magic in
the northern part of the state.
The Montgomery paper found its way to
his new address and even among the
rushing scenes In which the rising young
/ physician soon took leading part the
society column was not neglected. Oc-
casionally his patience would be reward
| ed by scrap Of news, tantalizing In its
brevity:
Col R. NJ Russell and family had
returned from their western trip"
Miss Russell was entertaining a gay
house party"
Miss Russell led the Easter german
with Mr.. Knight"
Mrs. Russell and her charming daughter,
MISS Elizabeth left yesterday for Tate
springs and other summer resorts"
In fact 1t would have seemed that
Elizabeth was entirely given over to
trivolity had not the paper also stated
/ from time to time:
Miss Russell sang at the concert given
3, last night for the United charities"
Miss Russell read an excellent paper at
the chauauqua meeting"
| During Mrs. Harris absence Miss Rus
sell VIII have charge of her Sunday school
class"
| All showing that Elizabeth was lead
ing well-rounded life. In the meantime
! Dr. Cameron had risen to the head of his
| procession in Brantley, one of the few
| boom towns that became a permanent
success. He was much sought socially,
and after the first bitterness at Elizabeth
wore Off his attentions to the various
Brantley bellies We're uniform and gem
eral.
TOO general to mean anything" COM
planned Mrs. Houston, who boarded at the
| same hotel and sat at the same table with
Dr. Cameron Being childless the old lady
took a material interest in young people
and the young physician was a special
1aVorite of hers. He took her various
hints that professional men ough to marry
early, etc, In a non-committal manner
that worried her greatly.
One night, however, she took fresh hope.
AS they were sitting on the porch a fire
broke out in the next block Instantly
the usual mob gathered and as DIR. Cam
eron intended to do active work. he ask
ed Mrs. Houston to keep his watch and
purse until he returned. Soon someone
asked how long it took the fire depart
ment to respond and Mrs. Houston OPEN
ed DR.. Cameron's watch to see But she
saw more, for In the back was the pic
ture of a girl with a sweet strong face.
Mrs. Houston observed her protege with
renewed interest after that but her
anxious eye failed to discover anything
beyond the fact that he needed a rest
from his growing practice.
1t was with heavy heart the old lady
departed for her summer outing. Her
natural love for the young people soon
made her favorite with the gay set at
the springs, and she was particularly at
tracted to a girl whose face seemed
strangely familiar though they had not
met. On being introduced to party as
Mrs. Houston of Brantley," one of the
girls cried out: "Oh, Mrs. Houston, I ex-
pect you can give us some news of DR.
Elizabeth dropped him." Mrs Houston
/ instantly understood why Elizabeths face
had seemed familiar and had also noticed
her faint flush as she skillfully parted
this unexpected thrust. Mrs Houston
quietly studied Elizabeth several days,
meanwhile telling incidents that showed
DIR. Cameron In his best light: then she
wrote her husband that ''she would ex-
pect him without fail next Saturday and
he must bring DIR. Cameron who needed
rest-in fact she had special reasons"
Which was all mystery to Mr. Houston,
but having been "particeps criminis" to
several of his wife's matrimonial schemes
he carried out her orders. Accordingly,
Saturday afternoon Mrs Houston receiv-
ed two tired travellers. She had wisely
decided to let matters shape themselves
and gave DR.. Cameron no hint of Eliza
beth's presence. so when he came down
after removing the dust of travel, he
could see nothing of the Houstons. The
inquisitve stare that greets every one
at watering place, especially an un-
claimed eligible, grated on DIR. Camerons
quiet mood, so he turned into a deserted
by-path that led through a beautiful
lawn of naples Here all seemed in har-
mony with the peaceful twilight. Soon he
came upon a rustic bench where a wom-
sat idly twinlng clover chains for a
little girl who heaped her lap full of
delicate blossoms One quick glance, and
then he cried" Elizabeth
"Dr. Cameron
She sprang up instantly the clover fall
ing in a fragant shower to her feet
He paused, unable to utter common
places, and restrained from the loving,
eager entreaties that rose to his lips by
the presence of the child. Then all in one
glorious moment he knew his patience
was to be rewarded for after a moments
hesitation and with an adorable blush,
Elizabeth turned in her own graceful way
and said:
GLADYS run see if-oh, run awayt'