The Washington herald., 1908-01-06

ton, coming in rather softly, found her
! like this.
Mrs. Brenton paused moment before
advancing. and then she went forward
and put > her hand gently on Camilla's
shoulder
What is it. dear? Did she scratch
| you very badly?"
Camilla turned and laughed family.
"She always manages to upset me, and
as she came on purpose to be disagree
able, her visit has been most successful -
Mrs. BrentOn pulled forward a chair
and sat down. She had left her knitting
on one of the small tables the day be
/ fore, and she took it up now mechan-
/ ically and began TO move the needles TO
and fro.
/ Camilla watched her ia a dreamy sort
of way. Vaguely she wondered TO her
! self how many hundred pairs of socks
/ Agnes had made in her ire.
II must be a horribly wicked woman, -
/ she said suddenly, otherwise l could not
possibly have been given such a scourge
| as being compelled TO take bread from
| these people"
! I thought a long time ago" said Mrs.
/ Brent0n, in her calm quiet way, you
/ had realized what 90 expect from Violet
]
| sible that she should be sympathetic to
you"
oh. I don't really care two figs about
| Violet. As a matter of fact. l am rather
sorry for her Did you see the cut of
| her skirt? And tea at the stores is the
/ only gayety she ever has, poor soul. II
| she would only give me half chance. "
/ Camilla added, II should be awfully
/ kind to her.
After a moments pause, Camilla said;
| It's the old man whom / really hate.
/ Ned always said his father was an old
| devil. and so he is II appears he is eX-
/ ira furious with me because / never
/ take the children to see him. How
| can i? II he forgets all the horrible
! things he did and said to me. I have un-
/ fortunately a much better memory
Agnes Brenton took this matter up
/ quickly.
| You have never understood Col Lane
/ ing" she said, lust as he could never
/ be expected TO understand YOU. That he
/ is a hard man / know we'll; but / am
convinced he is not so hard as you inn
] agine. He set his face against your mar
riage with Ned, not because he objected
to you personally; that would have been
ridiculous" inteTpolated Mrs. Rrenton
with a smile: but because he knew it
was going to be miserable business for
you" Agnes Brenton paused half mo
ment and then said in a low voice, And
the result justified that belief pretty
surely
| Camilla spread out her two small hands
/ to shield her face from the fire.
! Don't deceive yourself. Agnes; there is
/ nothing good about him. he is hard. he
/ is cruel he is horrid" She moved rest
/ Iessly Il wish / could cut them an out
I of my life especially the old man. What
difference 10 my daddy, Oh Agnes
/ If 7 only had daddy with me now, Dear,
good, loving heart, why did you diez''
She bent forward suddenly and rams
the bell.
7 must have the room arranged
again" Her pretty voice sounded a
! little husky. 1T looks too hideOus for
words and then. dearest, you shall have
/ something to e1t. On second thought,
am not sorry that Violet had bad
lunch 1 hate every one who belongs 10
1 that old wolf on, Agnes, let us talk
about that girl Katherine-what's her
name?'
! Mrs Brenton turned the heei Of the
sock and her needles clicked musically
! for a few moments. Then she said:
well ] don't think YOU ought to dc
anything without consulting Mr.. Haver-
ford"
| Good heavens why not?" exclaimed
Camilla. Bring back the flowers" she
ordered to the maid, who appeared at tht
gan to arrange the room in a restles: