The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1912-08-30
The Sable Lorcha

ford Harbor and the blue waters OF
the Sound, to where on clear days the
pencilled outline Of Eaton's Neck
shows purple in the distance. There
are no towering, outrageous trees to
interrupt the outlook; only low, care
fully-trimmed shrubs, adorning q
series Of marble sculpturedotted ter
races; we'll below the line of vision.
But the Cameron place, rejecting the
Townsbury penchant for arboriculture,
is quite the reverse. The prospect
from the windows and verandahs OF
the fine old mansion is all green vistas
and leafy perspectives, with only a
CLINT of sun-sparkled waves, chance
caught between gray boles or when
the wind spreads momentary open
ing in the foliage.
My way to Cameron's led through a
veritable forest Of such luxuriant leaf.
age that the path more than half the
time was in twilight, while to right
and left the shadows deepened into
dark in the cloistral recesses Of the
woodland heart. The silence was pro-
found. No voice of bird nor scurrying
foot Of squirrel invaded the morning
hush of those Famous depths. My own
footsteps on the soft turf returned no
sound.
A half-mile or more had walked in
this mute greenwood peace, when
sharp and clear there echoed through
the verdurous aisles the crack OF a
rife, and came to sudden, inVolun'
tary halt.
Then 1t occurred to me that 1t was the
third day of the open season for rail
birds, and that 1t was the report Of
shotgun l had heard, fired by some
sportsman, off on the shore, there, to
my right. And so resumed my tramp,
with ears keen for a repetition. Al
most Immediately was rewarded, and
then l knew that it was no rail bird
gunner, for the shotwas Enthusiastically
a rife shot, and it was fired in the
depth of the wood, to the left Of me.
Three times more heard it, in fair
ly- rapid succession, and sounding al
ways from about the same direction.
cannot say that it gave me any I'M
easiness, but it perplexed me in a mild
way, arousing a passing curiosity as
to its object And then, l came out
upon the wellkept, gravelled drive
which circles the close-cropped, vel
vety Cameron lawn, and catching
sight of Cameron himself, in riding
breaches and puttees, romping with
one of his picturesquely graceful Rus
sian wolf-hounds, promptly forgot all
about it.
He came across the sward to meet
me, the great, gaunt white hound
pressing close to his side, and /
thought l saw that he, too, had ex-
perienced the inspiriting influence of
the morning.
81 have found an answer" l cried,
while he was still fifty yards away,
possibly the answer"
He raised his brows in question, and
the hound, with open jaws, fondled his
wrist.
81 had a horseback ride before
breakfast" he told me, as he shook
my hand. "Then l spent an hour at
the kennels, We've fine new brood
of collie puppies. You must see them"
81 want to-" l returned.
what do you say to tennis?" he
suggested, irrelevantly. "Just a set.
It's a fine morning for tennis"
''If you can lend me pair Of Shoes"
l consented, glazing down at my boots.
"A dozen pairs" he smiled. Come
up to my dressing room. Louis will fit
you out"
1 was scarcely prepared for this
change in my friends mood, and far
from happy over it. He was evidently
determined to ignore the subject that
had so engrossed us the night before,
hoping to find surcease Of harassing
thought in restless round of activi-
ties. The condition was a morbid one
which l believed should be discour-
aged; the more so as l possessed what
fancied was a perfectly practical So
luton of that which hitherto had
seemed to US an inexplicable phe-
nomenon. And was a little annoyed,
too, that my good tidings should be
thus disregarded.
When, therefore, we had entered
the hall and Cameron was leading to.
wards the broad, ascending staircase,
paused.
do you mind giving me just
minute?"
He stopped, turned, and stood in
questioning silence.
"A minute in your study" l added,
In explanation.
Reluctantly, 1t seemed to me, he
crossed to the study door, and throw
ing it open, stood aside that I might
precede him.
The room appeared far less grim
and gloomy than when had last en-.
tered it.. Its windows faced the
south; and between the olive-green
tapestry curtains the sun poured in
food, lighting up the far corners, CLINT
ing on the gilt ornaments of the writ
ing table, and bathing in dazzling
splendor the FURNISHED bronzes on the
crowded top Of the book-shelves.
Il see you are not disposed to re-
sumo our discussion of last night"
hogan when Cameron having clneod