The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1913-01-18

10 my way of thinking Neither oil
us mentioned the subject. but it must
nave required to him. at intervals. as
IT did TO me. And as the hours went
by without a sign, the conviction
grew that Murphy, with hands tied
was fretttng over the coup he was de
TERED from compassing
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 us
ually merry. owing doubtless TO the
relaxation of the strain which both
Cameron and | had been under fol
the past week
II gratified me to see my host sc
unfeignedly cheerful l 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 anc
three children. And when l told him
he did not look like n married mar
he seemed rather pleased than other
wise"
'lt is odd" Cameron returned. but
1t seems always to fiatter HUSBAND
to tell him he doesn't look it Ant
then he laughed as though he had ne
care on earth.
After dinner we had the usua
music. and Evelyn sang again thai
lyric OF Baudelaire's, this time in the
original French. But the melody
brought back to me in vivid visior
our chance meeting in the woods an6
all its train Of circumstances.
When | had finished applauding
Cameron turned to me.
DO you like Baudelaire?"
Il like his art" l answered. "ane
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 eve
see my copy of his 'Fleurs du NAL
| The casket Is worthy OF Its contents
| 1t is the most exquisitely bound littl
volume | ever saw. Come. III shov
it to you
| excused myself to Mrs. Lancaster
and with pretended formality ben
over Evelyn's hand. brushing 1t will
my lips.
Wont you be back" she whis
pered.
Il hope So" was my answer. "Bu
can't promise"
"Oh, what a trial 1t is to have 1
selfish uncle" she murmured as
went
Cameron led me through the II
brary, across the hall, and thence In
to his study, where he dove into {
miniature book rack reserved for hi!
favorites. After a moment OF fruitles!
search he said:
1T isn't here. How stupid! l tool
it upstairs a week ago, / remember
1t is In my dressing room. Do yot
mind coming up?'
Did / mind coming up? How glat
/ was to see him interested! He wa!
more like the old Cameron than h
had been at any time in the past sew
en- days. My golf prescription hat
proved even more efficacious than
had dared hope.
At the risk OF being tedious
must describe Cameron's dressing
room. 1t was not large-probably q
feet souare-with three doors; one OF
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 upor
an outside balcony. Between then
was fireplace.
To the left Of the bath room dool
was the entrance to huge closet
guarded by a heavy curtain OF ole
rose velvet. To the right. was sta
tionary wash-stand, and above 1t {
rectangular mirror. probably ten inch
es wide and foot long. and YER.
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 a. rounc
table. on which rested reading
lamp. Between the table and the
fireplace was reclining chair. 9th
er chairs, three or four. were various
ly placed.
have given these facts because
they are necessary to an intelligen
understanding Of what I am about tt
relate. That in furnishing and adorn
ment the room was plainly utilitari
an is not SO material. But there is
one exception to this general declara
ton which demands to be specified
The mirror above the wash-stand pos
sessed a distinction quite aside from
its practical utility. This was by nc
means the first time l had seen 1t
Cameron had showed it to me, with
degree Of pride, early in our &C
ouaintance, explaining that 1t was a
once a relic and an heirloom. Orig