Los Angeles herald., 1906-11-04

Infinitely worse" he agreed, then sat up and
looked at her.
81 wonder" he said you never married. in the
old days"
There was no impertinence in the question, yet
she WINGED
There was no one I cared about" she said
suenly. II suppose | was fool, Had | been
wise in my generation I'D have taken the best
match as | would now!"
"Would youY
She nodded, then laughed but there was not
much mirth in the sound
II am so likely to have the chance" she said
mockingly. "And now j ought to 60 / have
no right to be here; but you will understand" :"
'Nes, | can understand. | may call on you?"
"No, ] see no visitors. I shall have no place
to welcome them to in day or two"
UNLESS you find another home-a permanent
one"
and where is that paradise to be found? If
could only get something to dol"
II can give you that"
She stared at him. There was strange quail
ity in his voice and manner.
you? You know, perhaps, of a situation9
But have no reference"
II don't want any. ! prefer to trust my own
Judgment. It's not often at fault. Bear with
me, Miss Dering, for minute. People say I'm
queer sort of chap, but look here. You said
Just now you'd take the best match that was
onered you. on SAID IL IN jest, MAKE IL earn
est. Marry me- I'm worth something from
financial point of view-somethiug like thirty
thousand year. You'd have everything you
want, including as many frocks as the cupboards
at Strangeland Lacy will hold. I'm not offering
you any sort of sentimental thing you under
stand ] was burnt once, and burnt child
breads the fire. She would have married me for
my money, and pretended-Heaven, what act
resses some women arctic love me beyond all
the world, as i, poor dupe, cared for her till
she killed the love in me-kiled it effectuaIy
that / suppose it will never come to life agaiT
for any other woman. I'm frank with you, you
good enough to be so with me. Here's the
bargain offer you I'll be a good faithful hus-
band and friend to YOU more of the latter than
the former, perhaps. You shall have free hand
to do what you please, 60 where you like, if
youth try the experiment. / grant you it's
risk. You shall never regret it if | can help it.
What do you say?'
Camilla said nothing. She felt as if the ground
had been cut away from under her feet. Was
the man mad? He did not look so, nor was such
his reputation. She, with the rest of the world
had heard of Kynaston and his brilliant record
as an explorer and traveller. Yet his proposal
was so amazing, so bizarre, that words to answer
him failed her
You'll at least think it over?p he said sud
denly, she did not speak.
"It--it's such mad project" she ventured
of me, and"
II know enough | remember your people |
know who you are and all about you I've talked
to you now for more than an hour as I've talked
to no woman for nearly ten years. Pm ready
to take whatever risk there may be il you are
You will think it over?"
Camilla drew a long breath. The band played
delicious waltz which sounded faint from a
distant corner. The air was warm and sweet
and she thought with sick loathing of her bare
room her slender store of shillings and pence
OF the future, dark with shadows and forebod-
ings Then she glanced downwards at the mauve
frock. Perhaps it was that which made her sud-
denly find her voice and make up her mind.
-"I-I am ready to be your WIFE" she said;
eff" Is 'i-''s>,
He put out his hand with smile.
''Don't let us have any ifs for the present"
he said. "Shake hands on the bargain, Camilla
You see I know your name already. That's one
good thing Will you dine with me tonight?
Well go to some quiet place, and in a few days
when / can settle up my affairs and FORTH
we'll be married. / wonder would you mind
run to Norway? ! want to fish"
''I should like it," said Camilla and wondered
whether she would presently wake out of this
amazing dream. She pinched her soft round
arm once to assure herself that this was reality
and no dream.
my kind friends have been bothering me to
marry for years." he told her in his pleasant
conversational fashion as they crossed the velvet
lawn side by side, the mauve frock coming in for
many a glance of admiration and envy on the
way "I always said I'd wait till | could find
an honest and truthful woman. I think I've
found her now-have /, Camila?"
"I'll be honest and truthful to you,' she said ;
and there odd quver in her voice.
$50 lost ticket in the Park and a fraud con-