Evening star., 1911-08-27

Cornelius Bent's part in it was so at vari-
ance with his character as she had known 1t.
There had never been time for love or for
play. When he had given up his profession
of engineering and plunged into business
down town, his youth was ended. She re-
called that this must have been about the
time he returned from the Western trip. the
year before he was married. The making of
money had been the only thing in life her
brother had ever cared about. He had loved
his wife in his peculiar way until she died,
and he had been grateful for his children.
His membership in the army regiment years
ago had been a business move, and the
service, though distinguished, had made him
many valuable connections: but all of Cor
nelius Bent S family knew that his heart and
his soul were down town, day and night,
night and day.
And yet there seemed no chance that Ca
mia could be mistaken. The marks of
handling, the stains of time, perhaps of tears,
the pinhole at the top, these were the only
differences between the photograph In her
album at home and the one she now held in
her fingers.
Camilla waited for her to speak again
Her own heart was too full of Jeff and of
what this discovery might mean to him to
be willing to trust herself to further speech
until she was sure that her visitor understood
a sudden appreciation of the delicacy of her
own position and of the danger to which her
friendship with Mrs. Rumsen was being
subjected; and highly as she had priced it,
Camilla knew that if her visitor could not
take her own point of view with regard to
Jeffs father and with regard to Jeff himself
She herself must bring that friendship to an
end In some anxiety she waited and
watched Mrs. Rumsen while she read. The
proud head was bent, the brows and chin
had set in austere lines and Camilla, not
knowing what to expect, sat silently and
waited.
TT is true, of course" said her visitor SOFTLY
"There can't be the slightest doubt of it
now. There are some illusions here that
identify these letters completely. | don't
know just what to say to you, Child. From
the first time | saw your husband he at
tracted my curiosity, reflected a memory
you remember my speaking OF 1t! 1t all
seems so clear to me now that the wonder is
didn't think of it myself. The resemblance
between the two men is striking even now
"Yes-y -yes-I hadn't thought of that.
There was another silence, during which
Mrs. Rumsen seemed to realize what was
passing in Camillas mind, her sudden reti-
cence and the meaning of it; for she straight
ened in her chair and extended both hands
warmly.
at is all true. But my brothers faults
shall make no difference in my feeling for
his children. If anything, l should and will
love them the more. Come and kiss me,
Camilla DEAR she said with gentle SIM
plicity.
And Camilla, her heart full of her kind
ness fell on her knees at Mrs. Rumsen' S feet.
@You are so good-so kind!' she sobbed hap
PLY.
aNot at ALL said Mrs. Rumsen with re-
turn of her old Grenadier manner, at the
same time touching her handkerchief to her
eyes, "To whom should | not be good un-
less to my own? If my brother disowns your
husband, there's room enough in my own
empty heart for you BOTH
Camilla started back frightened, her eyes
shining through her tears. "You must not
speak of this to him-to General Bent-not
yet! | must think what it is best for us to
do
"No Dear, III not speak of it. Ill never
speak of it unless you allow me to. 1t is
your husbands affair. He shall do what he
thinks best As for Cornelius is mat
ter for my brother and his God"
"He has forgotten. Perhaps it would be
better if he never knew
Something tells me that he will learn the
truth. 1t was written years ago. 1t will not
come through me- because it is not nv Sc