The Washington herald., 1907-12-31
CHAPTER III-Continued.

that may seem good 70 you, Nrs. Lam
cling I gather that your friend needs
immediate help; pray do not let her be
troubled an hour longer than is possible"
He signed a blank check, and slipped il
into an envelope
AS he turned and held this out to her,
Camilla Lancing gave little shiver. She
looked at him without taking the en-
velope.
"Oh," she murmured, 'I-what can 1
say? How good-how good. 1 came-on-
on the impulse Of the moment, not be-
cause you nave so IAuch-but because
felt-I feel you are so glad toto help
any one. but"
''Why should there be any but" he
asked. not very steadily; by this time
hope you know that / hold it one Of my
greatest pleasures, as 1t is certainly an
honor. TO serve you whenever you viii
permit me to do so. VIII you remember
this always
Camilla bit her lip again, and then put
out her hand.
Haverford bent over it, held 1t mo-
ment in a firm grip. Then, as though
yielding TO some overwhelming tempta-
ton. stopped and kissed II. Her hand
was kissed at least once or twice day
on the average, but Rupert Haverford
had never beforeGpermitted himself this
old-fashioned and gracious sign OF hom-
age. 1t was with him an expression OF
something far. far deeper than mere
courtesy to a very delightful and very
pretty woman. She OWNED this instantly,
clxr
AS he released her hand she pulled her
sables about her and prepared to so. She
was eager now to be away from him.
The expression of his face troubled her.
She had chafed almost angrily at his
silence. his self-repression. yet now that
she knew he would speak, sne dreaded TO
hear his words.
thousand jarring feelings thrilled her.
Though there had been many moments
recently when he had appealed to her
physically. when, indeed, she had frankly
admired him, in this moment she felt al
most as though she hated him.
1t was a sensation which she could not
define, which she would have found prac-
tically impossible 10 explain TO another
person, but it was very real. very op-
pressive.
She crushed the envelope he had given
muff; then she began speaking gayIy.
What are you doing tonight" she
asked You are engaged? Oh. am SO
sorry. 1 thought that perhaps you would
have taken Agnes and me TO dinner
somewhere. We have no engagement,
but never mind, We can do that another
night"
''Will you dine with me Tomorrow
he asked. He, too, was nervous. He had
q not her gift of slipping into a seeming
Indifference. Her easy, everyday manner
separated them once again, brought back
with rush the old uncertainty, the old
unrest
She laughed
"Ohl delightful. And let US dine here,
do, please I simply adore this house
and I want Agnes to see IT, You know.
you have always happened 10 be away
when she has been up in town How
enchanting everything is, No matter
where one looks. one sees something that
IS perfect of its kind and that is
not what one can say of every magnifi-
cent house, you know" said Camilla She
had moved TO the door. anu he opened It,
They passed out into the wide corridor
The fact is, a mans taste is always so
much better than a wOmars," she chat
tered on restlessy; ''it is really a most
absurd idea TO suppose that a house
must have a woman In it, For
the best of us will persist In filing our
rooms with rubbish. Do you know. to
this day have the greatest difficulty in
denying myself the joys Of Japanese fans
on the walls. and art muslin draperies
and curtains? Oh.'' she said suddenly,
Il quite forgot to ask you: how is your
mother? ! hope she is better"
Il hope she is said Rupert, but
have not seen her. She has gone to
Paris. My half-brother is ILL.,"
He went with her TO the entrance door
and himself put her into the cab that was
waiting
She stretched out her hand just before
starting
Il must try and say thank you." she
said nervously. but it is not easy TO say
I shall send-thls-on to my
friend at~once. You will have the con-
sciousness of knowing you have made
one person very happy tonight, Mr..
Haverford A demain, May we dine
late-I have such a full day Tomorrow.
Goodnight"
He held her hand very, very closely,
and let it go reluctantly.
The light Of the cab lamp was shining
on him fully. He looked very handsome
as he stood there against the dark, foggy
background, man TO make gladness 10
the eyes and heart of any woman But
as she rolled away swiftly Camilla Ian
cling leaned back and flung up her veil,
signing rapidly and inpatiently
After all, he does mean to speak
and soon,' she said to herself
'and when he does must agree; 1 must
say Yes! How can I possibly refuse?
1t would be madness. He would do
everything so we'll 1 need never again
be anxious about the children, and I
should have everything / want. no more
horrible bills no more difficulties, and an
end 10 the hideOus dependence on Ned's
father" She pulled aside the sable
almost roughly from about her throat
Tn night was bitterly cold, but she felt
as II she were sitting
But what a life. don't be-
lieve 1 should be able to stand II for
even a month. 1 should feel like
Gagged animal My very thoughts would
not be my own. I wanted him TO
love me. but not like this He loves
me toe much. He will exact too much.
l shall have TO give up everything like
No more bridge, no more freedom, no
more fun. Oh. my God.' said Camilla
with fierceness, though she was crying,
II know I shall never be able to do
IL. l don't want that sort of man." she
said. Il don't want to stagnate and
grow old, and good. I want to
live-to live! And I did live before Ned
left me. How can I marry a man like
this after / have been Ned's wife? Oh.
Ned, Ned. IL only you had not died II
only / could feel you were somewhere in
the world. even though there were twenty
women between us-it-it would be all so
different.