Evening star., 1911-08-27

But you know there are no porcelain tubs
"Oh, know. I've camped in the West,
Dear, good many years ago, before you
were born. | wonder how | should like it
now?"
SHE paused, her wandering gaze resting
~ on the desk, which Camilla had left in
disorder, the letters scattered, the photo
graphs at which she had been looking
propped upright against the tin document
box. 1t was on the photographs that Mrs.
Rumsens gaze had stopped Slowly she
rose from her chair with an air of arrested
attention, adjusted her lorgnon, and ex-
amined them at close range.
Il thought might have been mistaken at
first" she said quickly. Il see I'm not.
Camilla DEAR where on earth did you get
that photograph of the General?'
Camilla had arisen. "The General" she
faltered. al don't understand
"Of my brother, Cornelius Bent-that is
his photograph. | have one like it in the
family album at home.
"That can't be-
a was looking over them only the other
day-why do you look SO strangely?"
"Are YOU sure? You cant be sure!'
al am | remember the queer cravat and
the pose of the hands on the chair. | remem-
Der him too, perfectly. Do you think |
wouldn't know my own brother!'
ooh, there must be some mistake! It's
dreadful! | can't"
@What is dreadful, Child? What do you
mean?" She laid hand on Camilla S arm,
and Camilla caught it, her nerves quivering.
"The photograph is
"Where did you get it? 1t isn't mine, is
it, or Cortland's?'
"No, no. 1t has been in that tin box for
a IL. t. II
Ieff's-ny husband 's-do YOU understand?
it's his-oh, | can't tell you! It's too hor-
rible! can't believe it myself! don't want
to believe it,
She sank into the chair at the desk, trem-
bling violently Mrs Rumsen, somewhat
surprised and aware of the immnence of a
revelation, the nature of which she could not
even family surmiSe, bent over Camilla
kindly and touched her gently on the shoul-
der.
Compose yourself, Camilla, and if you
think ought to know, tell me. What had
my brother to do with you or yours? How
did this picture come here!"
Camilla replied with difficulty. "That
picture has been in jeff possession since he
was a baby 1t was the only heritage his
mother left him, the photograph and these
letters. | have just been reading them.
They were written to her. He had deserted
heretofore Jeff was born"
Mrs Rumsens hand had dropped from
Camilla shoulder, and she turned quickly
away, with sharp catch in her breath.
When she spoke, her voice, like Camilla's S,
was suppressed and controlled with diff
Guilty.
"Then my brother was y-your hus-
bands
"Oh, l don't know" Camilla broke in
quickly at is all so dreadful! There may
be some mistake. Jeff will never speak of it.
He has tried all these years to forget. don't
know why | took these letters out to read.
Perhaps it would be better if you hadn't
known
aNo, no! think ought to know. Per
haps in justice to my brother
"There can be no justice for Jeff's father,
Mrs Rumsen. have read his letters to her
to Teffs mother. Before you came in
was trying to think of a punishment horrible
enough for the kind of men who deceive
women as he did, and then leave them to face
the world alone.
"But perhaps there was something you
don't know" she groped vainly.
every question you would ask, every
excuse that he could offer, is answered in
these letters. Now that you know Jeff's
story perhaps you had better read them
WITH trembling hands she gathered the
W letters and gave them to her visitor,