The Washington herald., 1907-12-27

were HfeprodcndDle, ana MS speech cul-
tured, and he dressed very we'll
It came 10 Camilla as an inspiration.
as the car moved on cautiously through
the cold white fog. that he was only shy
and perhaps stupid.
Rupert Harverford had certainly a good
amount of diffidence in his disposition.
but at the present moment il was the
most exquisite. and the most real sense Of
hospitality which tinged even his pro-
tective courtesy with restrainr.
When their hostess had deserted the
motor after luncheon, and had insisted in
making her way homeward In a hired
carriage. Haverford had been delighted
because Mrs. Lanclng had elected to re-
turn with him. But this very fact-the
fact that this woman, who had been
charming herself into his inmost
thoughts of late. was alone with him,
charged him with a sense Of response
bility, and he steeled himself carefully
against even suggestion OF the delicious
intimacy with which the situation could
so easily have been fraught-
THE fog Is lifting. he said, after a
little while; IF We can only get of this
road and turn inland, we shall drive out
of it altogether"
Mrs. Laneing had her nun in front of
her face; the fog made everything damp;
her vel was clinging to her face I'M
comfortably.
I'VE are going down hill now" she said.
indistinctly.
Haverford was really a little anxious:
they were certainly on a downward grade.
and the progress was not pleasant: the
road appeared 20 be rougher than It hid
been.
He sat forward, trying 10 scan what lay
around and ahead. but the white gloom
baffied him.
And then all at once the machine grated
sharply; they shook in their seats. and
Mrs. Lancing gave a little exclamation Of
alarm; then the car stood still. and the
chauffeur got out hastily.
We're done for now. sir" he said: and
Rupert Haverford swallowed a word or
two.
II IL had not been for Mrs. Lancing he
would not have cared two pins. Time
was OF no importance 70 him. and q
breakdown rather interested him, as he
had commenced to make a study OF the
mechanism Of his various cars. and knew
pretty well how to put them right when
things went wrong. but this accident was
most inopportune and annoying under the
circumstances.
Fortunately the cold. thick mist seemed
to part little at this moment. With a
reassuring word 10 his guest. Haverford
got out and joined the chauffeur in his
Investigations.
1t was very. very cold sitting In that
raw. damp atmosphere, and Mrs. Lane
ing began TO wish heartily enough that
she had done her duty and gone back
TO Yelverton in the carriage with Mrs.
Brenton.
She felt tired now, and even a little
cross. All the pleasure vanished: that
spell OF delicious forgetfulness was swept
away. and the morrow, with its wearying
demands, confronted her like a phan-
tom.
After a sharp conference with the
chauffeur Haverford approached his
guest
He spoke as cheerlly as he could.
Something has gone wrong with the
works, he said. we can't see what Il
is exactly in this gloom wonder IL you
would mind sitting here a little while !
go and md out where We are? There
may be somebody on hand who can help
us to get along a biz"
Mrs Lancing shook aside the rug
do let me come with your she
pleaded. Really 1 would much rather
go. a walk viii warm me Up. and I shall
feel so lonely without you. believe 1
am frightened. May l Gomez"
Her pretty helplessness touched him. OF
course. And as he helped her to aIight.
Rupert Haverford felt his heart stir a
little So he supposed other men felt
when they ministered 10 a wife or some
one who had a tender claim on them.
They set of at a brisk pace down the
hill.
Decidedly the fog was less thick, the
bewildering effect on the eyes was pass
ing, but it was still sufficiently cold and
raw 10 make them SILVER. though they
were so warmly clad Indeed, Mrs. Ian
cling was rather overweighted with her