The pioneer express., 1912-12-13
I4CElCF1A
coeHeyc>yZ l92. HHczAec s. ca.

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 recurred to him, at intervals. as
1t did to me. And as the hours went
oy without sign, the conviction
grew that Murphy, with hands tied,
was fretting over the coup he was de-
TERED from comprising.
Mrs. Lancaster, whom 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 our little partie
carree seemed to me more than u.s.
ually merry, owing doubtless to the
relaxation Of the strain which both
Cameron and l had been under for
the past week.
1t gratif1ed me to see my host so
unfeignedly cheerful. remember
how ne laughed over Mrs. Lancaster's
recital Of an incident of the morning.
Il had no idea." she said, that An.
drew" referring to the kennel master.
was married. He astonished me
when he told me he had wife and
three children. And when told him
he did not look like married man
he seemed rather pleased than other
wise."
1T is odd," Cameron returned. "but
it o1VTyo IN h,,chond
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 its train Of circumstances.
When had finished applauding,
Cameron turned to me.
do you like Baudelaire?"
II like his art" I answered, "and
his frank artificiality."
HE appeals to me-" Cameron con-
fessed, "decadent though he is.
have read everything he ever wrote,
think, prose and verse. Did you ever
see my copy of his 'Fleurs du NAL?
The casket is worthy Of its contents.
1t is the most exquisitely bound little
volume I ever saw. Come. I'll show
it to you"
I excused myself to Mrs. Lancaster
and with pretended formality bent
over Evelyn's hand. brushing it with
my lips.
won't you be back?" she whis-
pered.
II hope so," was my answer. But
l can't promise"
"Oh, what a trial 1t is to have a
selfish uncle!" she murmured as
went.
Cameron led me through the H.
brary, across the hall, and thence in
to his study, where he dove into a
miniature book rack reserved for his
favorites. After moment Of fruitless
search he said:
"It isn't here. How stupid! l took
it upstairs a week ago, remember.
1t is in my dressing room. Do you
mind coming up?"
Did mind coming up? How glad
l was to see him interested! He was
more like the old Cameron than he
had been at any time in the past sew.
en- days. My golf prescription had
proved even more efficacious than /
had dared hope.
At the risk Of being tedious
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.
On the left, the third door connected
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 huge closet.
guarded by heavy curtain of old
rose velvet. To the right, was sta
tionary wash-stand. and above 1t
rectangular mirror, probably ten inch.
es wide and foot long, and very
curiously framed. Across from this,
against the wall which divided the
room from the passage, was an enor.
nous chiffonier. or chest of drawers.
IN the rooms center was q round
table. on which rested reading
amp. Between the table and the
fireplace was reclining chair. 9th.
sr chairs, three or four. were various
> placed.
i have given these facts because
hey are necessary, to an intelligent
understanding Of what am about to
elate. That in furnishing and adorn-
nent the room was plainly utilitari-
ID is not so material. But there is
me exception to this general declara-
ion which demandsa to be specified.
rhe mirror above the wash.stand pos
Iessed distinction quite aside from
. practical utility. This was by no
means the iirst time L had seen 1t.
cameron had showed It to me, with .
legree OF pride. early in our ac-
explaining that It was, at
nee . relic and an heirloom. Orig
nally the property of Nell Gwynne.
/ had descended h to him through
hree or four generations Of maternal