Evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1907-1913, 1912-09-02

ford Harbor and the blue waters of
1.-THE Sound, to where en- clear days the
lpencilled outline of Eaton's Neck
ishows 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 sculpture dotted ter
races, well below the line of vision.
But the Cameron place, rejecting the
bloomsbury penchant for arboriculture,
Us quite the reverse. The prospect
from the windows and verandahs Of
THE fine old mansion is all green vistas
land leafy perspectives, with only q
CLINT OF sun-sparkled waves. chance
caught between gray boles or when
1.-THE wind spreads a momentary open.
ling In the foliage.
My way to Cameron's led through q
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 scurryina
foot Of squirrel invaded the morning
hush Of those Famous depths. My own
footsteps on the soft turf returned no
sound.
half-mIle or more | had walked In
this mute greenwood peace. when
lsharp and clear there echoed through
the verdurous aisles the crack Of b
Irine, and | came to a 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 | 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, ano
then / knew that 1t was no rail bird
gunner, for the shot was Enthusiastically
a rife shot, and 1t was fired in the
depth of the wood, to the left Of me.
Three times more l heard 1t, in fair
lily rapid succession. and sounding al,
ways from ABOUT the same direction. |
cannot say that 1t gave me any un-
easiness, but 1t perplexed me In a mild
way, arousing passing curiosity as
to its object. And then. l came out
upon the well-kept. gravelled drive
vety Cameron lawn, and catching
sight Of Cameron himself. in riding
breeches 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
ipressing close to his side, and l
Thought l saw that he, too, had ex-
perienced the insplriting influence of
the morning.
81 have found an answer" I 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.
Il had a horseback ride before
breakfast" he told me, as he shook
my hand. Then l spent an hour at
1.-THE kennels. We've a fine new brood
of collie puppies. You must see them."
81 want to-" l returned.
"What do you say to tennis?" he
suggested. irrelevnntly. Just set.
It's fine morning for tennis"
"If you can lend me pair of Shoes
I consented, glazing down at my boots.
"a dozen pairs" he smiled. Come
up to my dressing room. Louis will fit
you OUT
l was scarcely prepared for this
change in my friends mood, and far,
from happy over 1t. He was evidently
determined to ignore the subject that
had so engrossed us the night before,
HOPING to find surcease of harassing
thought In a restless round of actiyi-
ties. The condition was a morbid one
which | believed should be discour
aged; the more so as l possessed what
II fancied was perfectly practical sor
Tuition of that which hitherto had
seemed to us an inexplicable phe-
nomenon. And | was a little annoyed,
too, that my good tidngs should be
thus disregarded.
When, therefore, We had entered
the hall and Cameron was leading to-
wards the broad, ascending staircase,
l paused
do you mind giving me just
minute?"
He stopped. turned. and stood H.
questioning silence.
"A minute in your study" l added,
In explanation.
Reluctantly, it seemed TO me. he
crossed to the study door, and throw
ing 1t open. stood aside that NIGH
tprecede him.
The room appeared far less grim
and gloomy than when l had last en-.
tered 1t. It's windows faced the
south; and between the olive-green
tapestry curtains the sun poured in a
flood, lighting up the far corners, CLINT
ling 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-
nn. our discussion Of last night" l
when Cameron. having closed
r behind him, halted just IN