Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-01-25

AL Druggists; Soc. and $1.co. IA
tangle of vexatious cares which
awaited her.
She was amazingly skillful in this
sort of thing; no matter how hope
lessly involved the future might seem,
she usually found some loophole of
escape, some tiny thread which, with
the ingenious ingenuity of child,
would be weaved, before she had done
with it, into something substantial. on
ably for little time.
Rupert Haverford paused by the
window about this time. He watched
her for a while as she sat thinking
so intently, then flung away his cigar
and opened the door
1.-THE train is just DUE he said,
"and the sea fog is creeping its way
here. shall be very glad to get you
home, Mrs. Lancing; l am sure you
must be thoroughly tired out. If |
might prescribe for you'' he added as
they passed out on to the platform,
81 should suggest dinner in you room
tonight and early bed"
Camilla answered with quick impa-
thence:
ooh! l couldn't do that, never go
to bed early; and, besides, we are 60
ing to play bridge tonight. BY the
way, you never play" she said the
next moment. "Why, l wonder? Don't
you care about the game?"
81 don't care about cards at all, =
he answered; "a question of habit,
suppose. 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 The nher tone changed.
LOOK here. do let me teach you to
play bridge, it would be such fun!
And | don't play half badly for a
woman You shall have your first
lesson tomorrow" she decided, quite
gaily.
Haverford only shook his head.
81 cannot let you waste your time,
/ shall never play cards.
Camilla felt the warmth and spar.
kle fade out of her thoughts again.
"Oh," she said "of course, l remem
Der 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
Lucy man, to be able to take so firm
stand."
He looked at her quickly; her sheer
was unmistakable; he felt uncomfort
able and panied, and he suddenly re.
membered how. as he had sat apart
and watched her as she had been
playing cards the night before. the ex
preston of her delicately pretty face
had given him a sense of trouble
even of uneasiness. Now her words or
rather the tone in which they were
said, angered him little.
They drifted into a silence until
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 a book and
some papers at the bookstall. There
were any amount of papers at Vel
verton, but she never could deny her
self the Joy of spending.
81 believe l downright hate him,
she said to herself, fretfully; she is q
real bourgeois Why does such a
man come amongst us If he does not
like our ways? My God! if 1 only had
quarter of what he has how differ
ent life would bel"
When the London train steamed In
there was only one first-class com
partment, and, as Haverford opened
the door for Mrs Lancing to enter
the only occupant, a young man
glanced UP casually.
AS she caught sight of him Camilla
Lancing drew back imperceptibly
for an instant, but if she had intended
to retreat, this intention was frus
trated. for the young man flung aside
his newspaper and started to his feet
as he recognized her
"Hallo, 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 situa
ton and introduced the two men
with a gallant attempt to seem un
concerned. an attempt which was no
quite successful, however.
Sir Samuel BroXbourne looked
keen1y at Haverford.
80 that's the factory Johnny tina
came into million or two the othel
day. is it? Stuck up sort of chap
Might be parson or an actor"
Rupert Haverford subsidized into {
corner and let the other two talk. HI
was seeing Camilla now in another
phase. and one that was not altogeth
er charmine to him.
| Instead of resenting Broxbourne':
rough, slangy jargon, she seemed tx
enjoy it. Here eyes grew brighter
and the color stole back into hel
cheeks.
They had much to talk about. The,
appeared to have so many mutua
friends She even used some SLAMS
herself, though it sounded almos
pretty coming from her lips.
Having disposed of that first mo
ment of awkwardness, even of alarm
| which the uneXpected meeting WITH