The Washington herald., 1907-12-29
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

|
which revolved about him to-day. He
true, in many ways, but he was never un-
couth. and though there was at times a
, North Country burr in his voice. he
spoke with refinement In physique he
was refined too, and no one could find
fault with the closhes he wore.
Mrs. Brenton had not gushed over him,
but she had always liked him. Neverthe-
less, there had been moments when he
had chilled her; moments in which the
| possibility of mingling Camilla Lancing's
/ future with his Ga scheme which she cher
ished warmly had seemed almost pre-
posterOus; when he had made her both
impatient ard angry. and she had almost
/ lOnged TO shake him out OF his grave,
stolid ways and practical outlook.
| Tonight all this was changed; he was
a new man 10 her tonight; she felt drawn
to him very closely. She tried 20 say
something in answer 20 his last speech,
but even as the words trembled on her
| lips Haverford spoke on in his usual quiet
way.
when do start on my travels think
shall bequeath the care Of my motors
TO you, Mrs. Brenton. Though you hate
them, know you are too tender hearted
TO ill-treat them"
She laughed falling in with his change
OF mood.
al will take care Of them If you will
promise 10 come back. You must come
back" she said. "and marry. and go into
Parliament, and generally settle down"
Yes, suppose l shall marry some day"
HaverfOrd answered He had passed
away entirely from that touch Of emo
ton: indeed, his eyes twinkled. Mar
riage is about the one occupation which
my change of fortune has suggested 10
me from the very commencement But I
am not in hurry" he added. DO you
know why ! Ike you. Mrs. Brenton?" he
said all at once.
She shook her head.
Il am only too glad 10 know that YOU
do like me. without wondering why you
do
Well you appeal TO me for many rea-
sons, said Rupert Haverford but par
! ticularly because you are about the only
woman I know who has not insisted on
finding me a wife. II is such an absurd
I idea If one stops 10 think about IT," he
said. lightly; 'One chooses ones own
servants. one does not go running about
to ones friends 10 ask them II par
ticular man is likely 70 be a good coach
man or butler or gardener; but in the
matter of a wife everybody seems 10 con-
slider that she or he has right to choose
for another person.
! Mrs. Brenton smiled, but only family.
Il believe 1 am every bit as bad az
matchmaking as most people. You must
not enGow me with unmerlted qualities
They drifted into silence after this
1t was pleasant 10 Rupert Haverford to
sit and watch Mrs. BrentOns comely
hands busying themselves with the knit
ting.
She wore a few good rings. but for the
rest, her gown was old-fashioned, not 20
say shabby. and she had 10 other jewelry
except an insignificant brooch or two.
He was quite in earnest when he said
that she was the one person out OF all
his new acquaintance whom he liked the
best.
There was something so thorough about
her He could quite believe the stories
OF her prOwess as a sportswoman and a
hard rider 10 hounds; and yet she was
! very wOmanly. In pain or in trouble. one
would turn &c her instinctively.
II gave him an extraordinary sense of
pleasure tonight 20 realize that Mrs
BrentOn was Camilla Lansings friend.
and that she had Il tender and even an
anxious interest in the woman about
whom he was struggling with himself;
the woman who at once tempted and re-
PEELED him.
He smoked his cigar through. and then,
after a little desultory conversation, he
rose and said Good night"
Pray tell Mrs. Lancing that my mo-
tor is at her disposal If she cares TO use
it tomorrow" he said Il don't think
she need fear another breakdown"
You won't use it yourself?' Mrs. Bren-
ton asked.
NO; it viii take me too long 10 get to
] I
ing into the city. ] shall not say, Good
bye" Rupert added. as he held her hand
in his. for you are coming up 10 town
almost directly are you not? And you
have promised 10 dine with me, you
know"
L am longing to see your house." Ag-
nes Brenton said. I hear II is fun OF
beautiful things. Camilla has raved to me
about it."
1t is beautiful" he agreed. an! then
he just smiled; you see. I can say that.
because have had very little 10 do with
putting It together. i inherited nearly
all my treasures
He was gone before Mrs. Lancing. in
a pause Of the game, realized that he
was nowhere near. She got up from the
card table suddenly; there was a patch
/ Of hot color on her cheeks.
Il am simply dying for a cigarette.
Agnes. and now that Mr.. Bogie has gone
1 can smoke in peace"
Mr.. 'Bogie. as you call him." Mrs
Brenton said evenly. is leaving US very
early tomorrow morning. But he wants
you to use his motor if you care about
doing So"
Thanks, no" said Mrs. Lancing: II
think have had about enough OF a mo-
tor car for day or two. What have you
been talking about, you two?" she asked
suddenly. after a little pause. She had
lit the cigarette, but was merely playing
| with it; smoking with her was only a
pretense-
Il don't know" said Agnes Brenton.
nothing in particular. He is the sort Of
man one need never try TO make CONVEX
sation with. 1 mean to see as much Of
him ss l possibly can; I like him very.
very much"
Camilla made moue at her.
You are well matched-just two dear,
stOdgy, preachy people together. He
ought to have been a schoolmaster. 1
know L shock him awfully. don't I?'
My dear child" said Mrs. Brenton,
Mr.. Haverford has not confided in me,
but II 1 must speak the truth. don't
think he troubles himself about you much
one way or the other"
Camilla Lancing was amazed. and
| sharply hurt.
"Oh! don't you?" she said "Oh; that
is quite a new idea! AS a matter of fact. I
had a sort of notion he was thinking
about me a great deal"
You are vain little person. Mrs.
Brenton observed. in the same even way;
'but there, trot along; they are calling
for YOU Sammy has finished dealing"