The Washington herald., 1908-01-02

like him sometimes, but then again
dislike him much more often. You see.
he bores me, and life is much-much too
short to be bored -
Mrs. Brenton sat silent a moment;
then she said:
Camilla. l want to-"
mo" said Camilla, "donti ! know
so exactly what you want TO Say /
know it all by heart. He cares for me;
he is such good man; it viii be such
splendid thing for me, Don't you sup
pose I can hear everybody saying this?
Well, of course, it would be a splendid
thing. / am not denying that; but oh!
Agnes, he depresses me so horribly.
When he talks TO me I feel as though
We're being prepared for confirmation,
and he has a way of sitting and looking
at me that is positively unbearable. II
he only had a spice OF the devil in
him
Like Sammy, I suppose" said Agnes
Brenton dryly
"-impatiently-"lik Sammy. or
any other man who lives. and moves,
and is not always up In the clouds con-
templatng the road 10 heaven. My dear
Agnes, there is no getting away from
the fact that Rupert Haverford is a
bore, a distinct and definite bore!'
well. my dear child if that is your
opinion Of the man. l should not bother
about him so much"
Now you are cross with me-" said
Camilla dear sweet old thing Don't
you know I always speak out my
thoughts with you? Oh. here We are at
your lodgings already! Look here,
Agnes, you must let me help you with
rFrf cha aaI u
miserable, I expect. Why not bring her
in 10 luncheon tomorrow?
Mrs Brenton kissed the speaker.
why viii you always try and make
me believe you are what you are not?'
she asked. half-lightly half-sadly.
SILLY Agnes" Camilla answered laugh
ngly lit is all your own fault; you are
so anxious TO make me a saint, and all
the time / am very much the other thing.
Goodnight darling"
Mrs Lancing's maid was waiting for
her mistress. and there were some letters
and a note from Sir Samuel BrOxbourne.
Camilla opened the note first, frowning
nervOusly as she did so.
1t was merely a reminder that she had
promised TO ride with him the following
morning If the weather was good
Sir Samuel was, of course, lending Mrs.
Lancing a horse.
Il am deadly tired. but I don't believe
] shall sleep a wink, Dennis. You had
better give me some bromide Camilla
said, as she was made ready for bed
III / could only be sure. she said TO
herself when the maid was gone ''he
seems all right. and surely if-if he
knew anything he would not be the same
as he was she sighed quickly. And
yet now and then he looks at me in
rather a queer sort OF way. If only ]
could find out in some way, but I'm
afraid to lead up TO the time before he
went abroad: IL might make him sus-
picious, and Sammy can be such a brute,
All the world knows that"
She sat croucked up, looking into the
fire for a long time then she shrugged
her shoulders.
We'll, If ever the worst We're to hap
pen. and he should turn nasty, I have the
money now She got up, and stood
looking into the FIRE once again. only
IT, she said. slowly. "he will not be
satisfied with money, II he"
She shivered, not once. but several
times, and hurTiedly taking up the sleep
ing draught her mad had prepared, she
swallowed it, and then got into bed
where she lay staring at the shadows
on the walls and ceiling made by the
dancing flames Of the fire. till her eyes
closed at last unc0nsCiOusly in the sleep
she had commanded.