Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1908-02-18
regard for her, and there she had
played cards with her usual disastrous

| ieSdiu floT ueI, anu tHSio SIG h'bu
played cards with her usual disastrous
luck.
She had driven home alone, tired,
depressed, and yet at the same time
conscious of an enormous relief.
For Broxbourne had spoken that
night of going out of town immediate
ly. This he had said when they had
been alone, and the conversation had
so tended that had he been prepared
to bring forward the subject she so
dreaded to hear, it would have been
the easiest thing in the world for him
to have done so.
Indeed, Camilla, had held her
breath for a moment, preparing her.
self to meet the black moment which
had haunted her in anticipation ever
since she had met him so unexpected
ly that evening in the railway car
riage
But Sir Samuel had said nothing.
Evidently he was still unaware that
he had it in his power to make her
suffer.
and if he does co. Camilla said
to herself YEARLY. as she alighted at
her own door and passed into the sill
ent house, that means that l can
breathe again. Oh I wish he would
go! l am not afraid of him as | was
in the old days, but / loathe him just
as much. He is more hateful than
ever. He was always coarse and
hateful, but now he is worse. Moth
ing can be beautiful in life when sucn
a man is close to one" She smiled
family. 'If Agnes Brenton could
hear me-" she said to herself, 81 sup
pose she would think that I was just
a little madden than usual, since
fought her the other day when she
was trying to say this very same
thing about Sammy. But, then
should be sorry to be obliged to let
Agnes understand why l seem to en-
courage this man, or why I do lots of
things l have to do. How Ned hated
Sammy! Tonight when we were at
supper all that Ned used to say about
him came back to me with rush.
$50 And to think that l have made
it possible for such brute to have
the whip hand over me! Oh, some
times think it is a good thing to die
even as Ned died! There can at least
be no chance of being miserable
fool when one is in ones little
grave"
Some letters were lying for her on
the table She gathered them togeth-
er without looking at them, turned
out the light, and mounted the stairs
quietly.
It seemed an incongruous thing for
this woman so exquisitely dressed, SO
dainty in every respect, to be doing
little menial duties But Camilla was
very thoughtful in lots of ways She
never permitted any one of the maids
to sit up for her.
Late as it was somebody had been
looking after her comfort A bright
fire was still burning in the CRATE, and
her room was warm and cosy.
She sat down in the big easy chair
in front of the fire.
Her thoughts still lowered about
BroXbourne. When she was tired
and there was no excitement, she was
ripe for remorse, for the most acute
self-recrimination. And now it seem
: ed to her overstrained nerves that she
was tainted herself with the very
coarseness, the vulgarity of the mar
she hated so much.
"If he will only go away she sale
feverishly, 81 shall feel free to breathe
again, at least for little while; free
of one horrible burden at all events
and he spoke very definitely of going
tonight
Now am sure" she sal,
the next moment, 'he can know
nothing. If he had, he must have le
me realise this in some way or other
: We have been so much together
have wanted to be with him as musl
as l could, just on purpose to watcl
him, to test him. | am convinced h
knows nothing. Sammy is not subtle
He has way of calling a spade
spade, and he would not spare me
He owes me too many grudges. l an
sure l am right" she mused on, 81
all happened when he went off in
rush the !. the thing was misse
in some way. And if he does not knoy
now, why should he ever know? OF
if l should only set the matter righ
r unknown to him. She gave a lon
sigh, and shut her eyes for a moment
What lot of things there are to sc
right! What a fearful lot" .
She sat with her eyes closed for
little while, and then she reused hel
self and began to draw off her lon
gloves slowly. AS she did so littl
scrap Of paper fell from the palm Q
! one. She picked it up. 1t had scrit
bled on it the amount she had los
. that night at bridge.
This swept her thoughts sharply il
: to the old, the wellworn channel.
'Forty-seven pounds!" she said t
!. herself "Oh, God, what fool am
Why can't | play like other peopl
= do? | shall have to settle this tomol
row. Ena will be round here with tn
: milk to ge her money. How l hat
? losing to women"
She got up with a jerk, and her le
I ters were scattered on the ground. A
she stopped and picked them up sh
l glanced at the writing on each.
One was from Agnes Brenton, tn
: others looked like bills, with the e,
: ception of one that was addressed i
a handwriting she knew and feare
, only too well.
$ It was a letter from Colonel Lancins
her husbands father.
Camilla bit her lip sharply an
2 trembled. She flung off her beautif,
theatre WraD and StnOd daljheratin