Los Angeles herald., 1906-11-04

ana as TO this horrible fete-all the world and
his wife will be there-I wish were thousand
miles from it. ! shall feien headache and go
to bed. It's the only place of escape from Aunt
Anabel"
And yet, do you know there are lots Of people
who'd give their eyes to be going to the fete
Nothing like it has ever been seen before, and
think of all the attractions II ! hadn't ticket
| already, I'd ask for yours, as You really won
go. Some Of the tickets could have been sold
yesterday for ten gilneas EACH
/ well, I'll give mine away cheerfully,' said
the girl lightly, II think we ought to be moving
on It's nearly five, and / promised to meet
Aunt Anabel at the gates at FIVE. Let's stroll
on"
They got up and moved away with soft rus
tie OF silk lined frocks, and Camilla watched
them, first absently-then curiously, with the
thought that Fate gave the wheel Of fortune some
queer twists, for only short time ago, she, Ca
milla Dering might have had season in town
or anything else in the world she might have
faneied. Now here she was-she started lit
tie, her eyes suddenly fastened on some white OBJ
ject lying nearly at her feet.
She stopped and picked it up. 1t was a smooth
white ticket and on the other side, as she
turned it over, she read the printed announce
ment that this ticket admitted the bearer to any
part of the grounds at Arundel House-by kind
permission of their Graces the Duke and Duchess
of Bedminster, on the occasion of the fete to
be held Wednesday, the 24th in aid of the
London Hospital
Wednesday, the twenty-fourth! And today
was Monday, the twenty-second
Camilla turned the ticket over in her hand.
The girl who had evidently dropped it was long
ago out of sight
She did not know who she was where she
lived; she had heard her say that she did not
want to go to the fete, and-she caught her
breath with odd sort of laugh-why should
she not go.
Why should she not go and have one final
peep at the pleasant, happy world she seemed to
have left, before the workhouse was her only
shelter? 1t was wild, headstrong thought; but
something made it strangely alluring.
After a moment9ry consideration she put the
precious ticket AWAY in her purse and slowly
took her way back to the rooms she would have
to vacate on Wednesday-the very day Of the
fete-when her week was up for she would not
be able to pay another weeks rent
And, as she went, she instinetvely thought of
her sadly depleted wardrobe. 1t would be i'm |
possible for her to go to the delightful fete in
an obviously old and shabby garment. Noun
less she was at least well-dressed she had bet |
ter stay away, and once started on her career
of audacity, Camilla conceived a plan the des
perate boldness of which staggered her for
moment
The next, she reflected that it was case of,
in for penny in for pound, and if she found
herself landed during the next few days in Queer
street. it was as we'll to be hanged for sheep
as for lamb! After ALL it was no crime she
was contemplating; women of fashion and stand
ing did worse with impunity; no one thought
anything of their extravagance-th dishonesty.
All, that word stung! But Camilla only smiled
bitterly to herself, as she passed swiftly down
Bond street, and stood for moment before the
windows of a famous costumer, where there were |
displayed for the benefit of admiring feminine
eyes, delicious confeetions in silks and chiffons
such as Camilla Dering had revelled in without |
qualm not so very long ago.
gown Of delicate hyacinth mauve, incrusted
with marvellous silver embroideries ON the flmi- |
est chiffon, caught her eye, and for long time
she stood and looked at it.
Beside it were delicately founced pettieoat |
mass of mauve pleatings and fine lace,
faint mauve parasol with crystal handle, and a
hat wreathed with wisteria-all perfect accompa- |
niments to perfect froek.
With a sudden determination Camilla turned
and went into the shop.
Kynaston, bored and blase, paused for a mo-
ment as his companion greeted passing ac-
quaintanee. He wondered dozen times during
the next five minutes what on earth had induced
him to come to this show at all.
Lefty had made such point of it, and he
fond of his pretty cousin, and came more to
please her than anything else But the crowd of
wealth and beauty and fashion sickened him.
He hated society and its ways He would rath-
er have been logging trout stream in the wilds
of Dartmoor, or sailing along the coast in his
little yacht, or in fact, doing anything but this
society tresdmill. His face expressed the most
absolute misery when at last Lady Farngton
turned to him and plucked him by the arm
Now we can go on she said. THAT woman
would talk till she dropped. Terrible personl My
dear Jim, are you in pain"