Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-01-28

| my mOtner is not well, ne explained.
obi" said Camilla; she was at
once treasured. 81 am so sorry I
hope you are not very anxious: But
you must tell me about it little
later" And gathering her clnging
black drapperies in her hand, she
smiled up at MIN, and then fluitered
through the doorway and vanished.
Whilst the other women vera talk.
ing together, Mrs. Brenton found her
self alone with Camilla.
II want to say something to YOU"
she said. in low voice
us 1t anything nicer asked Camil.
la, with faint smile.
Mrs. Brenton touched the black
chiffon that bordered Camilla's beauti-
full shoulders with caressing hand.
Il don't want you to play for such
heavy points tonight, darling" she
said; 1t Is all very we'll If the money
comes back to you, but I am afraid
you have been losing ratner heavily
since you came down here haven't
you? Sometimes fell tempted" Mrs.
Brenton went on, ito impose maxi.
mum sum for points here, but sup.
pose l should get myself well hated if
! did! People say it is a free coun-
try, and they ought to do what they
like with their own"
"That Is why you are scolding me"
! said Camilla, with ner pretty smile.
Mrs. Benton shook her head.
you. are not other people to me,
and do hate to see you risking too
much, Camilla"
Camilla turned and Just lightly kiss.
ed Mrs. Benton's hand.
"Oh, we must risk something some
times" she said, impatiently; then
she added, Don't worry about me,
dear old thing, really haven't lost
very much, and dare say I shall get
it all back tonight. feel in luck.
Look''-she held out her wrist-"isn' t
this sweet thing? Sammy has just
given it to me to wear as charm.
He brought 1t from some weird place
in America, and declares 1t is magic
! stone, and that shall have every
thing want now that I wear It. I
must go and show it to Ena Bayliss,"
Camilla said, with a wicked smile
"She will be SO jealous! She rather
affects Sammy, you know ;"
| When the men came there was no
opportunity for little chat between
Mrs. Lancing and Haverford, for the
card-players seated themselves i'm
mediately at the tables.
Mrs. Brenton, who was not bridge
fanatic, beckoned to Rupert Haverford
to come and sit with ner in her pet
corner.
she teased him heartily for a little
while about his breakdown that after.
noon
"You will never get me in that
magnificent car Of yours again." she
said. why don't you have horses
You look just the sort of man who
would have good animals and know
how to treat them we'll"
Il have few horses Haverford
answered; "you must come and see
them one day, If you will, Mrs. Bren-
ton. don't quite know why took to
motoring, except that have leaning
towards engineering, and the mechan-
ism Of the cars interests me, and then
like rushing about. have not yet
got used to my idle life," he said, a
little restlessly. cold habits are very
strong with me; l wake every morn
ing of my life at five O'clock, Mrs.
Brenton, and I can't lie in bed a
| moment afterwards. You see, for
nearly seventeen years I was accus.
toned to be out and at work by six
O'Clock every day"
Mrs. Brenton had taken up some
knitting. and her fingers were NOV.
Ing briskly, though her eyes were fix.
ed on her companion.
Il should so like to know all about
those days." she said; dare say
lots of people would not believe you
II you were to say it. Mr.. Haverford.' y
she added, half lightly "but l came to
conclusion about you a long time
ago, and that conclusion is, that you
are the sort of man who is only happy
when he Is working serious
ly, l mean. from morning to night.
But you are not always idle now, are
your"
Haverford laughed.
II do not think l do an hours work
in week." he said. Very often the
old call is so strong that l turn my
back on all my greatness, and steal
away to the north, to the dirty, smoky,
dull old town where | lived SO long.
But'--he laughed again. this time
half sadly-'there is nothing for me
| " ~ dllOtHel uldu HIS my Ola DOSL,
and fills it well. However, l am plan
ming different future; have GER
tain pet schemes of my own which |
have not yet put into working order.
When | have started them they will
help at least to pass some of my time
more profitably than I pass it now"
What sort Of schemes?" asked
Mrs. Brenton. He did not answer at
once; he was looking at the card
players, at Camilla's dainty figure.
The lines of her throat and shoulders
were exquisite in the black of her
gown. She was laughing; ne loved
to hear her laugh, it was such young
laughter
OH" he said, rousing himself,
they are just some fancies that have
come to me; | will tell you about
them, Mrs. Brenton. when have
them, Mrs. Brenton, when | have them
more planned out am going to
travel he added, a little abruptly.
Ever since l was boy | have longe1
to see the other side Of the world.
| don't quite know why | have not
gone long ago" He was smoking, at