The Washington herald., 1908-01-13
CHAPTER x.

On the following day the children and
their goveFness went down 70 YelVertOn-
There was so much excitement and bus
tie in getting away that Miss Granger
had little time TO realize that she was
tired. She saw nothing Of Mrs. Lancing.
who was in her room.
The children We're told to keep very
quiet, because mother had a headache
1t was Dennis who had communicated
the news to Katherine that she was 10
take Betty and Baby down to Mrs. Bren-
toms delightful country house by an
early afternoon train.
1t seemed TO the girl that Dennis vas
in a great state Of excitement about
something. Also il was evident that the
gloom which had appeared 10 settle SO
definitely on the little house the day be-
fore had been lifted.
When they were ready to go. the chill
Gren crept into their mothers room TO
say good-by." but Katherine remained
outside
Betty brought out message.
Mother says we are to be as good as
we know how, and 20 do everything we
are telled."
It was very delightful 70 be welcomed
by Mrs. Brenton so cordially,
Betty had diated with enthusiasm on
the joys which awaited them at Hel-
VertOn. and Katherine quickly realized
that the child had exaggerated nothing.
The little people were installed in
wing Of the house where there were any
number of empty rooms and long pas
10 ne "a ia nd a
echo with happy voices-a veritable play
ground; and Agnes Brenton, who had
studied the art Of making people COM
Portable all her life, took the children's
goveTness into her first consideration.
There were no guests when they ar
rived, though plenty were expected for
Christmas.
There mere thought of having her house
full, and Of arranging all sorts of treats
for the children, made Mrs. Brenton
quite happy.
II am going to keep you tremendously
busy" she said 10 Katherine: we must
furbish up this old house. This Is the
first year that Camilla has let me have
the children with me for Christmas But
/ intend 20 make a bargain with her now
/ shall insist that she send them here as
much as possible / know Rupert Haver-
ford viii join forces with me in this.
suppose they will be married very soon"
Miss Granger looked so surprised that
Mrs Brenton laughed
DO you mean TO tell me you have not
heard the great news? It is known now
10 everybody, she said, therefore l am
not betraying condolences. am so de
lighted about H. for I confess / have been
hoping for this for d long time past
KOr
and i like him immensely. Don't you?"
Then Mrs. Brenton laughed. "Oh, l for
got, you don't knew him. II IS funny
that you never came across him when
You were with his mother"
He used TO go very seldom TO see Mrs
Baynhurst' Katherine answered. She
spoke slowly, as if her thoughts were
occupied
The engagement between Mrs. Lancing
and Rupert Haverford was of course
largely discussed at Yelverton, and was
the favorite item OF gossip elsewhere
for the moment As Camilla had prophe-
sled, the world gave nearly all its con
sratulations 10 Haverfords betrothed
Mrs. Lancing was very delightful. very
pTetty-in every way most charming /
woman, but there are any amount OF
charming and delightful and pretty wom-
en- in the world, and rich men Crish. at
least, in the great way that Haverford
Wasl ara so scarce.
Katherine was sharply startled when
she heard that Mrs. Lancing was pledg-
ed TO marry Rupert Haverford.
There was suggestion of anxiety in /
the way her thoughts worked about the /
other woman.
Camilla had ceased utterly to be /
stranger 10 her. II there had been moth /
ing else 10 bind them together. that /
scene in the silence of the night would |
have put them into very close touch
with one another. Moreover. IL was nat /
ural that the girl should sit and weave |
stories to herself out Of the material that 1
lay TO her hands.
There was everything about Camilla /
Lancing 20 excite the imagination. to 4
stimulate the appetite for romance.
Agnes Brenton rej0iced frankly over
the enormous material satisfaction this
engagement signifed, and Katherine /
joined with her in this; but she was un- /
ike Mrs. BrentOn in one respect. for /
whereas the older woman saw nothing /
but certainty Of happiness in this mar
Rage. the goVeTneSs. young. unWOrldly
as she was, felt from the very first that |
there was in this prospective union a /
doubtful element, that difficulties would
most certainly present themselves-great !
dlfliculties, every whit as black and as /
heart-shadOWing as any that had be-
l0nged 70 Camilla In the past.
Sne needed very little now 10 convince 1
herself that HaverfOrd would meet those
dlincuiues I'm firm, straightforward
way. But what about the woman?
Although she had only seen him twice
Katherine had been instantly impressed
with the restraint even the coldness. of
HaverfOrd manner
To her he seemed to be the very last
man IN the world who would be abIa IN
assimilate himself with Camilla Lane
ing etfervescent nature Surely her
iahciIul inconsequence, her pretty con-
ceits, her irresponsible ways. would never
Wed with his seriousness. and restraint
ms peculiar gravity.
ihat spell Of definite heart anguish.
" Wltnessed and shared by herself. CHARGED
~H memory now Of the chiidren's mother
win pathos. She could not help associ-
ltIns IL with what had occurred.
knowing nothing definitely. Katherine
vi anger yet Knew enough to assure her
s7lI tAat the engagement had been forced
INTO existence by that very mental roas1-
- d" iC" Houis Defofe. And |
already she felt she understood Camilla |
well enough to be sure that this sct
born Of eXpediency. the outcome of in.
tense excitement would have its after
nath of Judgment, of regret perhaps
ayen Of condemnation.
But for this sense Of Clinging ANXIETY,
lb0ut the woman she had learned n
owe SO dearly the girl would have been
20 happy
want YOU to run wild" Mrs Bren-
ON said 10 her. ''You can always leave
he children with me when you want 10
'e alone; they don't bother ME in the
e1st"
So on every possible occasion Miss
iruniger was out of the house, either