The Washington herald., 1907-12-28
CHAPTER Continued.

had TO be met that sent a SILVER Of dread
through her now as she recalled them.
She opened her eyes after time. and sat
watching Haverford's tan. long-coated
figure pass the window Of the waiting
room every now and then.
And with scratch of a pen," she
said 10 herself, YEARLY, ''he could put all
my difficulties straight. Why does ne not
speak? Sometimes feel he cares for
me more than have ever been cared for
before, then the next moment he chills
me; he almost frigAtens me. he is so re-
served, so deliberate. I believe he must
DC hard. OF course'-her lip curled-''he
is cautious, and mean; people who are
rolling in money never can AFFORD 10 be
generous"
She repressed her tears with difficulty
She was so traly sorry for herself. Other
women $50 she ponderedl had such ease
in their lives; she knew of no other
woman who was 80 lonely as herself, so
burdened, so troubled.
After while she got up impatiently,
and, pulling a chair forward, sat down
and stared into the fire with wet eye
lashes. He face hardened little as her
mind drifted away from fretful general
tiles TO the practical outlook, TO the i'm
mutable fact that two and two made
four for most people. but in her case
required six 10 be satisfactorily disposed
Of And then gradually, almost imper-
cepubly, little by little, she began. as
was her custom, TO make a possible path
way for herself out Of the tangle of vexa-
tious care which awaited her.
She was amazingly skillful in this sort
Of thing; no matter how hopelessly in
volved the future might seem, she usually
found some loophole Of escape, some tiny
thread which. with the ingenious inge-
nuity Of a child. would be woven, before
she had done with it. into something sub
stantial, on which she could just stand
comfortably for a little time.
Rupert Haverford paused by the win
dow about this time He watched her a
while as she sat thinking so intently.
then flung away his cigar and opened the
door
The train is just due" he said. land
the sea fog IS creeping its way here. I
shall be very glad 70 get you home Mrs.
Lancing; 1 am sure you must be thor
oughly tired out If might prescribe for
you" he added, as they passed out on
to the platform. Il should suggest din
ner in your room tonight and early
bed"
Camilla answered with quick impa-
tienee:
"O.! 1 couldn't do that: never go to
bed early; and. besides. we are going to
play bridge tonight. BY the way. you
never play" she said. the next moment.
Why. 1 wonder? Don't you care about
the gamer"
I don't care about cards at ALL" he
answered; "a question OF habit, 1 sup
pose. There was no time for games of
any sort in my old life"
But there is nothing to prevent you
enjoying heaps of things now" Mrs.
Lancing said, restlessly, almost Grossly.
Then her tone changed. Look here. do
let me teach you bridge. it would be such
fun! And I don't play half badly for
woman. You shall have your first les
son tomorrow" she decided, quite gayly.
Haverford only shook his head
I cannot let you waste your time.
shall never play cards"
Camilla felt the warmth and sparkle
fade out of her thoughts again.
oh" she said, of course l remember
now! Somebody was telling me only the
other day how good you were, that you
would never speculate. or bet. or gamble
in any shape or form. Lucky man, to be
able to take so firm a standr'
He looked at her quickly; her sheer
was unmistakable; he felt uncomfortable
and panied, and he suddenly remembered
how, as he had set apart and watched
her as she had been playing cards the
night before. the expression of her deli
cately pretty face had given him a sense
Of trouble. even Of uneasiness. Now her
words, or rather the toned IL which they
were said, angered hin a little.
They drifted into a silence till the train
came, and spoke very little during the
journey to the junction, where they were
to alight and pick up the London train.
Mrs Lancing bought book and some
papers at the boekstall. There were anv
amount of papers at Yelverton. but she
never could deny herself the joy OF spend
ing.
II believe I downright hate him." she
said to herself. fretfully; "he is a real
bourgeois Why does such a man come
among US if he does not like our ways?
Ny God. if only had a quarter Of what
he has. how different life would be-"
When the London train steamed in
there was only one frst-class compart-
ment and, as Haverford opened the door
for Mrs Lancing 20 enter, the only &C.
cupant a young man, glanced up cas-
ually.
AS she caught sight Of him Camilla
Lancing drew back impereeptibly for an
instant. but II she had intended to re-
treat. this intention was frustrated. for
the young man flung aside his newspaper,
and started 20 his feet. as he recognized
her.
Halo, there he exclaimed. Halo!
Halo! Halo! Here's luck! Who'd have
thought. Of meeting you. Mrs Lancing?
I'm just home from Yankee land, and am
toddling down to Yelverton for the night. |
Any chance Of your being there?"
Mrs. Lancing explained the situation. |
and introduced the two men. with a gal
liant attempt to seem unconcerned. an at
tempt which was not quite successful |
however.
Sir Samuel Broxbourne looked keenly
at Haverford.
$50 that's the factory Johnny who
came into million or so the other day, |
is it? Stuck up sort of chap. Might be
a parson, or an actor"
Rupert Haverford subsidized into cor