The Washington herald., 1908-01-19
CHAPTER XII-Continued.


This bondage was splendid enough-she
was surrounded with every possible thing
she wanted or fancied; the magnifceuce
Of Hayerfords settlement and gifts to her
was still the theme for comment and
amazement-but, splendid as it all was,
Il signifed an intolerable bondage TO
Camilla And the man himself had no
idea Of this.
1t gave him such wonderful happiness
20 share his wealth with this woman.
IN the days following Immediately on
their betrothal lie had seemed to walk
on air. It was absolutely the first time
that the fact OF his enormous wealth had
given him Il sense OF enjoyment or salts
faction.
lie yearned over Camilla just as If she
had been child. lie diverted his inter-
est. the purpose Of his life, from ali for
mer channels; hencef0rWaTd il should be
planned TO run as she would have il run.
lie had no longer doubt as 10 her judg-
ment, he imagined that he was beginning
TO understand her now.
Just because she had shown r desire to
be al Yelyarton, and TO turn away from
al the people whom he had regarded as
being so injurious TO her he told himself
that az those little things about which
he had troubled so sharply had merely
been the outcome of circumstances, and
that she was now drifting into her proper,
her natural. mental condition. 1t some
times angeTed Camilla that he should
suppose she was so malleable. but for the
most part she regarded his satisfaction as
being satisfactory for herself also
AS long as ne is pleased, what does
anything else natter she said now and
then 10 herself. lie has paid a long
price for me. So it would be rank hard
luck if he felt he had made a bad bar
gain"
She stood now little while at the win
dow Of the sitting-rOOm. and then reused
herself
~ walk will do ne good" she said; II
will go and meet them" She put on her
fuTs. and went slowly downstairs to the
large, coy hail, stopping on her way out
10 chat a few minutes with Alr. BrentOn
a tal thin, careworn-iOoking man. who
lived for the most part in the clouds. and
was never SO happy as when he and his
wife were at YeIverton alone.
He Was well known all over the COun-
IL
and also as an enthusiastic rather than q
judicious purchaser. There were tons
OF useless volumes numbering the upper
stories Of the house. and still they con-
tinued 10 come. But dreamer and book
worm as he was, Dick Brent0n had a
place in his heart for all those who were
dear % his wife, and he was very fond
Of Camilla Lancing. He always said her
beauty was so helpful, SO Illuminating;
and he adored her children
As she passed into the damp and rather
dismal grounds. Camilla's thoughts turned
as usual 10 the coming future. The near
er the time approached the more she
longed 20 postpone the marriage
Surely l ought to be able 20 invent
something to give me d little more time,
she said 70 herself; and just for an in
staLt il crossed her mind how helpful it
would be if The children could have some
slight ailment: but she Immediately took
herself to task for this.
God forgive me-" she said. And she
shivered at the bare thought of what an
illness to either OF these loved little crea-
lures would mean to her. Still. she craved
10 keep her freedom. At the same time.
she realized that an indefinite engagement
was out of the question. The mans very
goodness and generosity forced upon her
a duty TO him.
The worst is" she said to herself.
restlessly now, he has no idea Of the
truth or course. he knows I don't love
him IN the way he cares for me. but I am
sure he thinks ] do care for him / Sun-
pose l could never let anybody under
stand. even myself. how I feel about
him, how strangely / am drawn 10 him at
one moment, and how / almost hate him
the next"
The butler had told her that he thought
she would find the children on the road
70 the village.
And she moved in that direction Her
fretting, troubled mood broke and van
ished as Betty's 1.-the small figure came
running round . corner of the road, and
q cry Of real joy hailed her.
II was the height Of bliss 10 Betty and
Baby 10 have their mother with them
FOR a walk.
kathie's coming. I ruined on be
cause I wanted to hide. and oh. such
fun, mummy ne saw the hounds and
g lot of the field running and jumping
In the distance They looked so ''cited
Camilla slipped her arm through Kath-
crimes as the girl and Baby joined her
Il missed YOU she said. I didn't
know you were out" Then a little alb
Tuptly she added. 7 thinl, / shall have
you back TO town with me when T go
this week. ! have had the nurseries
done up, and the children have been
here so long, really I feel ashamed of
trespassing too much on Agnes hospi-
tality."
Betty clapped her hands. She wanted
20 see the big. new house ti.at was going
TO be her future home.
Z
choose her own furniture, and her own
little bed, and that her room should be
done up entirely as she liked. But she
had 70 talk about this I'm mysterious whis-
pers. so that Baby should not hear.
You see. I shall have TO begin TO get
my clothes" Camilla said; Il don't want
any really. but I must spend money; it Is 4
expected Of me Oh. I wish I were you,
katherine, II 1 had a hundred and fifty
year Of my own I'd be the happiest
creature in the world"
Katherine Granger looked az her visit
fully
q wish I could give you all have,
abe said.
Rupert declares" said Camilla. in her
Irrelevant way, that 1 must make some
arrangements to relieve you. What do
you say to having French maid for the
49, , @<oeeh '1b't 10 bSbiEt 40 6bCdh
French now. She picked up the language
very quickly when I had HOrtense TO
maid me. but she was picking up other
things too; that was why I sent Hortense
packing
There's a man coming" announced /
Betty; he's been tumbling in the mud, /
and his horse is ali lame Oh, do look. /
mummy"
They paused and looked backward. The
picture Betty had described was very ac-
Curate
Evidently the man, who was advancing /
rather slowly, limping a little as he I
moved had come a CrOpper. He was /
spIarbod with mud fro,,, i,s -.