The Springfield herald., 1913-03-07
Yes, sir. thank you. sir" /,

He left word at the ONCE that in
case any one called he was to be In
formed that Mr.. Van Camp would re-
turn to the club for the night; then.
In his silk hat and generally shining
togs. he set forth to make a call. He
was no stranger to New York. and
usually he took his cities as they
came, with matter-of-fact noncha-
lance. He would be as much at home
on his second day In London as he
had ever been In Lynn; or he would
go from a friends weekend house
party, where the habits of Sybarite
were forced on him. to camp In the
woods and pilot-bread fare, with an
equal smoothness Of temper and enjoy
ment. Since luxury made no impress
sion on him. and hardship never
blunted his own ideals Of politeness
or pleasure, no one ever knew which
life he preferred.
Choosing to walk fifteen or twenty
squares to the Archangel apartment
house, his destination, Van Camp
looked about him. on this night of his
arrival. with slightly quickened per-
ceptions. He cast q mildly apprecia-
tive eye toward the picture disclosed
here and there by the glancing lights,
the chiaroscuro of the intersecting
streets, the constantly changing Wis
tas. For an unimpressionable man. he
was, rather wrought upon. Neverthe-
less, he entered the charming apart
ment whittier he was bound with the
detached and composed manner which
society regards as becoming. A maid
with a foreign accent greeted him
Yes. Mademoiselle Reynier was at
home: Mr.. Van Camp would find her
in the drawing-room.
The stin and unrelaxed manner with
which Mr.. Van Camp bowed to Miss
Reynier q moment later was not at
all indicative of the fairly respectable
fever within his Scotch breast. Miss
Reynier herself was pretty enough to
cause quickened pulses. She was of
noble height, evidently a woman Of
the world. She gave Mr.. Van Camp
her hand in greeting mingled Of
European daintiness and American
frankness. Her vitality and abound
ing interest in life were manifest.
"Ah, but you are very late. This is
how you become smart all at once In
your New York atmosphere! But pray
be seated; and here are cigarettes. II
you will No? Very well; but tell
me; has that amorphous gillslit-or,
no, the branchial lamella-has 1t be-
haved itself and proved to be the ave-
nue. which shall lead you to fame?"
Mr.. Van Camp stood silent through
this fiippant badinage. and calmly
waited until Miss Reynier had settled
herself Then he thoughtfully turned
the chair offered him SO as to COM
mand slightly better view Of the
corner where she sat. leaning against
the old-rose cushions. Finally. taking
his own time, he touched off her
greeting with his precise drawl.
I'm not smart, as you call 1t, even
in New York. though try to be-" His
eyes twinkled and his teeth cleaned
in his wide smile. "If were smart,
I'd pass by your error in scientific
nomenclature. but really ought not
to do it. II one can not be exact"
That's just what 1 say. II one can
not be exact, why talk at all?" Miss
Reynier caught 1t up with high glee.
She had a foreign accent. and an oc-
casional twist of words which proved
her to be neither American nor Eng
lishwoman. That's my principle"
she insisted Leave other people in
undisturbed possession of their hob
bies. especially in conversation. and
don't say anything If you can't say
what you mean. But then. you won't
talk about your hobby; and il I have
no one to inform me. how can l be
exact? But I'm the meekest person
alive: I'm SO ready to learn"
Mr.. Van Camp surveyed first the
bantering, alluring eyes, then turned
his gaze upon the sofa luxuries about
them.
Are you ready to turn this bijou
dream into a laboratory smelling Of
alcohol and fish? Are you willing to
spend hours wading in mudbanks after
specimens, or scratching In the sand
under the broiling sun? Science does
not consult comfort"
Miss Reyniers expression Of quizzi-
cal teasing changed to one Of rather
thoughtful inquiry, as If she were es-
timating the man behind the scientist.
Van Camp was one of the lean. angu-
lar type, like Jim Hambleton. He was
also every manly and wholesome, but
even in his conventional evening
clothes there was something about
him that was unconventional-a pro-
testing, untamed element Of charac-
ter that resisted all rules except those
prescribed by itself. He puzzled her
now, as he had often puzzled her be-
fore; but II she made fun of his hob
bies, she had no mind to make fun of
the man himself. A cheerful. intelli-
gent smile finally ended her contem-
plating moment.
"oh, no: no digging in the sand
for me. I'll take what science get
in another way-put up in predigested
packages or bottied-any way but the
fishy way. But please don't give me
up. You shed good deal of light
on my mental darkness last winter in
Egypt. and maybe can improve still
more" She suddenly turned with
friendly. confidential manner toward
Aleck. not waiting for replies to her
remarks. Its good to see you again!
chorus from the speakers platform"