The pioneer express., 1912-11-22
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words.
"But you!" queried: for her car
was headed in the opposite direction.
Il am going alone to Norton. have
hamper in the tonneau for that poor
O'Malley family. I shall be back in
time. We dine at half-past seven. you
know. You'll Gomez" IS.
"Of course I'll come," answered
her. I think she must have heard
more in my voice than the simple
words. for her lids dropped, for just
breath, and the color famed sudden
below her lowered lashes.
But, after all, saw very little of
her that evening. It is true that she
sat on my right at table, piquantly,,
youthfully beautiful in the softly tint
ed light which filtered through the
pink and silver filigree candle-shades,
but the atmosphere of the dinner was
tinged by a vague, unreasoning con-
straint as from some ominously brood
ing yet undef1nable influence which
!, overhung the three Of us. And when
the coffee and liqueurs were served,
employing some slender pretext for
her going, she bade us goodnight, and
left us, not to return.
In justice to Cameron, l must add
that he appeared least affected by
and certainly in no wise responsible
for-the pervading infestivity. He had
been. indeed, rather less demure than
was often his wont. chatting with al
most gayety concerning Evelyn's new
role of Lady Bountiful and Of her
Norton beneficiaries. AS for the sub
1ect upon which he desired to consult
me. 1t had not been SO much as men,
toned; so in looking back. it seems
impossible that matters of which
neither Evelyn nor was at the time
informed could have exerted an effect.
save through Cameron's undetected.
subconscious inducement..
Even after his niece had with
drawn, Cameron continued for a time
to discuss with me topics Of general
and public, rather than personal, i'm
port. He spoke, I remember, Of a
series Of articles on "The Commercial
Resources of the United States," the
publication of which had just begun
in The Week, of which l am. owner
and editor; and though I fancied at
first that it might be in this connec-
tion he wished to consult me, very
soon discerned that he was merely
using d statement contained therein
as text for certain views Of his own
on the conservation and development
of the country's timber supply.
Meanwhile my curiosity grew keen
er. 1t was natural, l suppose, that !
should fancy Evelyn involved in some
way. In fact then attributed the de-
preston during dinner to her knowl.
edge of what her uncle and guardian
purposed to say to me. Likewise l
found in this conception the reason
for her sudden and unusual desertion.
Hitherto when had dined here Eve.
lyn had remained with US while we
smoked our cigarettes. leading us at
length to the music room, where for
a glad half-hour the rich melody of
her youthful sweet contralto voice
mingled in pleasing harmony with her
own piano accompaniment.
And while vainly made effort to
imagine wherein might have laid my
self open to the disapproval of this
most punctilious of guardians--for /
expected nothing less than studious.
ly polite reference to some shortcom-
ing Of which had been unwittingly
guilty. momentarily lost track of
my. hosts discourse. Emerging from
my abstraction It was with measure
Of relief that heard him saying:
II think you told me once, Clyde.
that you rather prided yourself on
your ability to get line on ones
character from his handwriting.
That's why telephoned for you this
afternoon. have received an anony.
NOUS letter."
He was leaning forward. a little
constrainedly, his left hand gripping
the arm Of his chair, the fingers of his
right hand toying with the stem of
his gold-rimmed Bohemian liqueur
glass.
"An anonymous letter!" repeated.
with a deprecatory smile. Anonymous
letters should be burned and forgot.
i ten. Surely you're not bothering about
i the writer?"
l wish could put before you an ex-
act reproduction Of Cameron's face 40
/ / then saw It; those rugged outlines.
the heritage Of Scottish ancestry. soft
ened and refined by brilliant intel
lectuality: the sturdy chin and square
I iaw -fi,a heavy unfarlfn meeting fhe,