The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1912-12-26

ward event, and l felt sure that my
friend was gradually coming around
to my way Of thinking. Neither Of
US mentioned the subject, but it must
have required to him, at intervals, as
it did to me. And as the hours went
by without a sign, the conviction
grew that Murphy, with hands tied,
was fretting owe the coup he was de-
TERED from comprising.
Mrs. Lancaster, whom I have men
toned merely as Cameron's house
keeper, but who was, In addition, a
distant kinswoman and acted as a
sort of duenna to Evelyn, dined with
US that evening, and u little partie
carree seemed to me more than us.
ually merry, owing doubtless to the
relaxation Of the strain which both
Cameron and l had been under for
the past week.
1t gratified me to see my host so
unfeignedly cheerful. 1 remember
how he laughed over Mrs. Lancaster's
recital Of an incident Of the morning.
Aou III AOOd, III 6d1O, SAAS &AA
drew" referring to the kennel master.
was married. He astonished me
when he told me he had a wife and
three children. And when l told him
he did not look like a married man
he seemed rather pleased than other.
wise."
ut is odd," Cameron returned. but
it seems always to flatter a husband
to tell him he doesn't look it." And
then he laughed as though he had no
care on earth.
After dinner we had the usual
music, and Evelyn sang again that
lyric of Baudelaire's, this time in the
original French. But the melody
brought back to me in vivid vision
our chance meeting in the woods and
all it's train Of circumstances.
When l had finished applauding,
| Cameron turned to me.
do you like Baudelaire?"
II like his art" I answered. land
his frank artifciality."
He appeals to me-" Cameron con
fessed, "decadent though he u.s.. l
have read everything he ever wrote, I
think, prose and verse. Did you ever
see my copy Of his 'F1eurs du NAL?
The casket is worthy Of its contents.
1t is the most exquisitely bound little
volume l ever saw. Come. I'll show
1t to you"
I excused myself to Mrs. Lancaster,
and with pretended formality bent
over Evelyn's hand. brushing it with
my lips.
Wont you be backp she whis.
pered.
II hope so," was my answer. But
l can't promise"
ooh, what a trial it il to have a
selfish uncle!" she murmured as
went.
Cameron led me through the IL
brary, across the hall. and thence in
to his study. where he dove into a
miniature book rack reserved for his
favorites. After a moment Of fruitless
search he said:
1T isn't here. How stupid! I took
it upstairs a week ago. l remember.
| IL ID III LILY VI OooAA8 TWILL OO yOu
mind coming up?"
Did l mind coming up? How glad
I was to see him interested! He was
more like the old Cameron than he
had been at any time in the past sev-
en- days. My golf prescription had
proved even more %eflcacious than l
had dared hope.
At the risk Of being tedious l
must describe Cameron's dressing
room. It was not large-probably 20
feet square-with three doors: one on
each of the three sides. That which
admitted from the passageway faced
that which opened into the bath room.
with Cameron's bedchamber. On the
right were two windows, giving upon
an outside balcony. Between them
was a fireplace.
To the left Of the bath room door
was the entrance to a huge closet,
guarded by a heavy curtain Of old
o 8 velvet. To the right, was q sta
tionary. wash-stand. and above 1t a
rectangular mirror, probably ten inch.
es wide and a foot long, and very
c~uriously framed. Across from this,
against the wall which divided the
room from the passage, a an enor.
nous chinonier. OF chest of drawers.
In the rooms center was a round
table, on which rested a reading
lamp. Between the table and the
fireplace was a reclining chair. 9th
er chairs, three o. four. were various
ly placed.
I have given these facts because
they are necessary to an intelligent
understanding Of what I am about to
relate. That in furnishing and adorn-
ment the room was plainly utilitari.
an is not SO material. But there is
one exception to this general declara-
ton which demands to be specified.
The mirror above the wash-stand pos
sessed a distinction quite aside from
its practical utility. This was by no
means the first time l had seen 1t.
Cameron had showed 1t to me. with a
degree Of pride, early in our &C
quaintance. explaining that 1t was at
once q relic and an heirloom. Orig
inally the property Of Nell Gwynne,
it had descended to him through
three or four generations Of maternal