The Washington herald., 1907-12-27
CHAPTER I.


AS the large motor swung along with
the easy velocity and assurance of some
enormous bird. Camilla Lancing nestled
more cozily into the warmth Of her fur
wraps.
Rupert Haverford was driving, and he
looked back every now and then to see
if his guest was comfortable.
rs this too quick for you?" he asked
once; and Mrs. Lancing only shook her
head with a smile.
You can never go too quickly for me. -
she answered.
The little town where they had been
lunching lay far. far away in the dis
lance now, its ugliness softened by the
mingling Of sun and haze. and the coun-
try through which they were passing
was very open; in a degree bleak. On
one hand marshland. and rough common
ground. and on the other the beach in
land, then stretches Of wet sand. and
then the restless. murmuring sea. bear
ing on its shimmering surface the cold
embrace Of the setting November sun.
Mrs Lancing sighed Involuntary as
she looked dreamily away to where the
sky and sea seemed TO meet, but her
sigh was an unconscious tribute TO the
graciousness OF the circumstances in
which she found herself
The smooth swinging movement of the
car fascinated her. AS she now and
then closed her eyes, she felt as if she
were being carried away from all that
constituted life TO her at other times
from excitement and pleasure and anx-
iety. from sordid and obtrusive care:
even from the fever of hope and the IL
lusive charm OF chance. It was delight
full sensation.
Sometimes as the road curved the car
seemed almost to approach the water,
and the white-crested waves broke within
a few yards of it with a boom; the rush
ing OF the incoming and receding water
making a musical accompaniment to the
humming sound of the motor. Then they
passed from the coastline. and the road
began to wind upward. The sea was shut
from view by a wall Of chalky hlllocks
covered with stubbly grass, and only the
country outlook remained
Just before, for brief while. the world
had worn a soft. an almost rosy tint;
but as the sun vanished this warmth
went also, and now the landscape stretch
ed into the distance gray, unsympathetlc.
and monotonous.
The speed Of the car lessened as the
ascent grew sleeper; a thin mist began
to gather ahead Of them. To Mrs. Ian
form Of a flock of fieecy white birds just
lowering before winging flight.
Haverford pulled up here and, relin-
gushing his place TO the chauffeur,
climbed into the body Of the car
Are you very cold?" he asked anxious
"; 40 you know, I am very much
afraid. Mrs Lansing, that this road win
put us back an hour or so. 1t was fool
ish of me TO come this way, for the
country is new to me, and the road is
certainly about the worst we have struck
lately"
He occupied himself in tucking the big
fur rug more securely about his guest.
despite her protestations that she was
quite warm enough and quite comfortable.
The road was certainly very bad, and
though the car disposed Of the rough
ground with an air of superb indiffer-
ence, a certain amount of jolting was
inevitable.
Camilla Lancing only laughed. however,
as she was tossed up and down OCCASION
ally by the elastic movement of the
springs.
TT is matter Of perfect indifference
TO me what time we arrive home" she
said THAT is the effect motoring has