Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-17
I 2

at his watch.
"The telegraph office is closed
well, it will have to be opened. This is a matter
that can't wait until morning. The operator must be
found!'
1--WE might get message through. he looked at the
bill she had put in his hand; "yes. m can.
"And YOU might send up tea and toast"
She shut the door, to her trunk, took out her
writing pad put it on the table turned up the wick OF
the lamp, and began writing. She finished letter and
sealed it carefully. When the telegraph blanks came
she wrote two rather lengthy messages. One OF the
National Bank of Denver; the other telegram and the
letter addressed to Lawrence Berey at the Brown
Palace Hotel in the same city.
When she had given the messenger his instructions
she sank in her chair again with SIGH and with tea
cup in hand and piece of buttered toast in the
other, sat facing the door into Paor B. Her face
a curious expression, partly mschevous partly solemn:
but there at times momentary trace OF trouble in
it too, and when the teacup set aside she stretched
her arms YEARLY and then brought them down, lacng
her fingers behind her neck, putting her head back,
and closing her eyes though in utter, soul rackng
WEAKNESS. Suddenly she rose, passed the back OF
wrist abruptly across her brows, and prepared to
go to bed.
CAMILLA awoke late and ordered breakfast in her
- 1t was not bodily fatigue She felt now:
that seemed to have passed. 1t was mental inertia,
which, like muscular stiffness, follows the carrying OF
heavy burden Part of her burden She still carried
and even the brightness of the Colorado sun that
dapped the tinsel wallpaper beside her failed to
kndle the embers of old delights. From one OF her
windows she could the fine sweep of the Saguache
as
northern end of the valley where it Joined the main
ridge of the Continental Divide from the other window
the roofs of the town below her, Aulrennans, the
schoolhouse and Ieff's watch Us Grow" sign,
dwarfed by the brick office building that had risen
behind it.
1t seemed hundred years since she had lived in
Mesa City, and to her eyes, accustomed to elegant
distances, the seemed to have grown suddenly
smaller ugly garish, and squald. And yet it
was here that she had lived for five years.ve long
years of youth and hope and boundless ambition! In
those days the place had oppressed her with its emptl
ness and she had suffered for lack of opportunity
live her life accordance with the dreams OF her school
DAYS. but today when she seemed to have neither hope
nor further ambition she knew that the early days
days of real happiness What did it matter if it had
been the bliss of ignorance since she of
the folly of wisdom? She could never be happy any
where now here! She lay back her pillows
and closed her eyes but then the vision OF Rita
Cheyne intruded, vision OF Jeff and Rita Cheyne
riding together the mountain trails.
CHE was indeed unpleasanty surprised when few
~ moments later there a knock the door at the
foot of her bed and when she had put a dressing
gown the door opened suddenly and there stood Rita
Cheyne herself, smiling confidently and asking ad
mittance.
Camilla was perturbed; much So in fact that
words occurred to her. The door had opened outward
toward Rita Cheyne, who held its knob 1t there
fore obviously impossible for Camilla close it without
Mrs Cheynes assistance This it seemed the visitor
had intention OF giving for she came forward on the
doorsill and held out her hand
"Mrs. Wray,7 she said gently Il want to come in
and talk to YOU May II
"Ths is-rather surprising Camilla began.
Eyes" she admitted, at is. Perhaps I'm little
prised too. II wanted to talk to you. There
some things important things
By this time Camilla had managed to collect her
scattered resources I'm not sure, she said cooly,
-hat friendship has been intimate enough to
warrant
Rita put one hand up before her. "Don't, Mrs. Wray
1t hasn't But you'll understand in a moment, if you'll
let me come in and talk to YOU
Camilla drew her laces round her throat, and with a
shrug stood aside Il hope you'll be brief she said
cOldy. will YOU sit down.
But Mrs. Cheyne had already sat in chair, with her
back of the windows, where her face partly
r1. ,ofL ,..~ 1aJL