The Washington herald., 1907-12-30

are enchanted with your Iockets and In
tend wearing them always, but, please.
you must give them a picture of your
self to put inside: that is what they say"
There was a little pause
Camilla let her sables slip from her
shoulders on to her arms. She had come
there with a distinct purpose, a purpose
which was bound about with the iron Of
most pressing fear and necessity.
True 10 her nature. however, she was
not going to speak frankly
II can't" she said to herself; Il abso-
lutely can'ti"
Haverford was standing by the fire.
The scent of her violets. the bewilder-
ing enhancement OF her presence, made
him dreamy.
How changed the room wasl
The house was full Of treasures-pic-
lures. tapestries. bronzes. inanimate
everything was as nothing compared with
this living. hreathing. beautiful woman.
How far more beautiful than all the
rest she was,
Il shall De photographed on purpose" :"
he reused himself TO say: and then pulled
himself together with great effort You
want me?'' he queried. Il am only too
delighted to do any little thing for you,
Mrs. LancinG. Pray let me know what
can dop'
Camilla got up and moved about little
aimlessly. She gave sign.
"Ohi Well, l had better warn you-its
rather a big favor, really quite an enor-
nous one" she said And now that
am here. IL feel nervous, horribly ner-
vOust' Indeed her voice broke little
L. II
She caught her breath. and steadied
her nerves. There was such kindness in
his voice, it gave her encouragement.
well. I have come TO you because a
dear friend of mine is in great trouble.
Mr.. Haverford." she said when 1 got
home this afternoon ] found a letter
waiting for me- You would not know II
l were TO tell you her name. She lives
in the country and Oh, she has had such
q hard life. Well-we are old, old
friends, and 1 suppose that is why she
has turned 20 me now, and asked me 60
help her. 1 only wish I could" she
broke off with a sharp sigh; Ii is so
hateful 10 feel one cannot DO things OF
this sort for people who really need
help" she ssid. half impatiently. half
weariIy.
He stood quietly by the fireplace look
ing AT her; he was barely conscious of
what she was saying. The fragrance that
floated about her-her clear voice with
its pretty enunciation-the realization
that she was so close had a curious
effect upon him; he felt stupid. dazed.
burningly hot one instant. strangely cold
the next.
Camilla hurried on nervously.
When / read that letter Mr. Haver-
Nd I f.fr
know I lave 10 earthly right TO bother
you with things that belong TO a stranger
-indeed'-she laughed faintly-"I am
quite prepared 10 hear you say that
you are surprised; that you did not think
that I should do anything OF this sort
II nave come even expecting you 20 re-
fuse"
He left the fireplace and went nearer
10 her
The dream dropped away from him
Some friend Of yours is in trouble?"
he asked. He smiled at her You were
quite right 10 come 70 me. / am only
too glad to do anything for any one in
trouble, but more especially l am glad
TO do anything for any one who Is dear
to YOU"
Camilla bit her lip, and moved little
away from him. approaching the fire In
her turn.
How good you are" she said. The
words were wrung from her involuntar-
ily, and there were tears IN her eyes and
tears in her voice Indeed. ne moved her
sharply at this moment.
There vas such an element Of simplic-
ity about him. and yet no weakness. He
accepted her story without question. The
fimsy fabrication she had Just given him
was merely the truth 20 him, essentially
so because IL was she who spoke No
other man she knew would have been de-
ceived by this story Of a friend In the
country, but Rupert was not like all these
other men. He was very far removed
from being fool, but he was a long.
lohg way from grasping the meaning OF
life as It was lived by most Of the men
and women who circled about him now
Why, he was IN many things a child
compared TO herself
Haverford had set down to his writing
table.
TO BE CONTINUED TOMORROW.