The Washington herald., 1907-12-27
BY
MARIA
ALBANE 81
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

hand. and then left it lying for an In
slant on the outside of the rug. 1t was
very close to him; but Rupert Haverford
did not touch the hand. neither did he
enfold it as he might so easily have done
protectingly in his large, brown. strong
one.
Mrs. Laneing bit her lip.
There is no mistake, we are in for
fog" she said jerkily and she slipped
her hand as she spoke back into the
warmth of her big sable mun. 1t was
not the first time that this man had IN
consciously repulsed her; there were
times indeed, when, in her irritation, she
called him a prig. But she misjudged
him; Rupert Haverford was not a prig,
he was only very straightforward.
practical, in a sense, simple minded man.
who, like an explorer. was advancing
step by step into an unknown world,
meeting and mingling every day with
elements which were not only new to
him. but which belonged to a range of
things about which he had never had
occasion TO think hithertc. Camilla her
self was prominent among these new
sensations; she was at once a bewilder-
ment and a fascination. There had been
no woman OF this class In his life I'd 10
a couple OF years before; indeed, women
Of any kind had played but nominal
part in the busy, uneventful. and GER
tainly unpicturesque existence which had
been his lot since early boyhood
Mrs. Lancing, Of course knew briefly
the outlines of the story OF this working
man and his sudden and unexpected ac-
cessiOn 10 wealth, and recognized clearly
enough that Haverford was as far re-
moved in thought and social education
from the various men who futtered IN
and out OF her life as the sun Is from the
earth; but she had little discrimination.
With her it was never a question of
character or quality; fundamentally she
decreed ali men were alike. strong in
prejudice, weak in temptation. selfish.
and even tyrannical. vain and senti-
mental uncomfortably moral at times,
but amazingly loyal. and, as a rule, SEN
sitively moved by the potent charm OF a
woman OF her temperament and attrac-
tons.
She liked men very much. she had
many men friends, and few women
friends, although the spontaneous, effer-
vescing sympathy, which was perhaps
her most marked characteristic. made
her very attractive 10 women. and ac-
counted for her wide popularity; there
was something so disarmlng. so delight
ful about Camilla Lancing. Beauty alone
would never have given her a quarter the
power she possessed; il was her ready
interest absolutely genuine for the mo-
ment, her quickness in assOciating her
self with those things which were para
mount with the persons who approached
her, that made her irresistible to all sorts
and kinds Of people.
She had the tact Of a delicately fash
durance.
But she was neither reasonable nor pa
tient, and the more she saw Of Rupert
Haverford. the more necessary he be
came TO her, the less patience she had
with him.
He puzzled her; he piqued her; he an
noyed her; he made her nervous.
What were his feelings toward herself?
He is 50 horriUiy slow, she unused
now fretfully. he ponders every word
he says. I suppose ne is terribly afraid
Of making a mistake. 7 am sure his
money Expresses him. He must have
been ever so much nicer when he was
working as a foreman. or drayman. OF
whatever he was before all this money
came to him."
She kept her eyes turned resolutely
away from Haverford. Fer perversely
enough, though he was so slow. so silent.
so dull, he was exceedingly good TO look
at. Old-fashioned, or rather out Of the
fashion, he might be. but his manners