The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1913-07-31
The
Paisley Shawl
Story of Return to Right
full Owner
Nv cLARISsA MACKlE

{+++*++*+++++
It smelled Of camphor and Alta OF
roses when Camilla Atwood lifted 1t
| from the chest where 1t had lain for
many years. The Paisley shawl had a
little history of its own. and Camilla,
sitting in the sunny western window
| of her sky room, spread 1t In her lap
and tried to recall what her mother
mad said about 1t.
| Years before. when Camilla was
quite little girl. the Atwoods had
been driving along country road
when they discovered the beautiful
shawl lying in the dust, where 1t had
no doubt fallen from some passing car
rlage.
When Camilla was twenty-five her
father failed In business and lived but
short time, aud as her mother had
died some years before Camilla was
left alone to make her own way In the
world. That was why she was occu-
plying this sunny top floor room In n
city boarding house. She taught
French and music in private school,
and the slender salary she received
was sometimes eked out by engage
ments to play at musicales at the
homes of her pupils.
She expected to play tonight ut the
Channngs'. and she had spent all her
spare time since O'Clock in Turkish
ing up her one evening gown. cleaning
her white gloves and carefully darning
a small tear in her small black slipper.
Camilla had sadly lacked cloak to
wear on these occasions. and she was
ashamed to appear again in her faded
raincoat. That was why she was sit
ting on the floor before the old cam
phor wood chest looking speculatively
at the Paisley shawl.
Suddenly she sprang to her feet and
shook out the folds Of the shawl. 1t
billowed away in lustrous tints of red
and brown and gold and green. Ca
milla caught it up. dropped one fringed
corner over her black mist Of hair and
gathered the rest of 1t over her arms
and about her slender figure AS she
surveyed herself In the mirror a swift
blush of pleasure at her own lowell
ness heightened her beauty. Her dark
eyes shone like stars. and a charming
smile played about her tender lips.
She was going over her evenings
repertoire when the whistling tube
warned her that Mrs. Channing's car
rage was at the door. With q last
glance at the reflection of her tall.
graceful form clothed In fllmy black.
with string of tiny pearls at her
throat. Camilla draped the Paisley
shawl about her shoulders and went
downstairs.
The evening was much like other Diu-
steal evenings. and when 1t was over
Camilla declined to partake of refresh
ment and was glad to re-enter the car
rage which waited to take her home.
Just as the carriage was turning into
the uptown cross street where Camilla
lived there was the sound Of an auto
mobile horn, hoarse shouting and then
a sickening crash as the horses swerv-
ed aside and swung the vehicle against
a lamppost
Camilla was flung from side to side
of the softly padded carriage, but SUI
fered no injury beyond severe shak-
ing up and violent fright At last
the babel Of confusion outside ceased,
while some one forced open the door.
A mans hatless head and a pair Of
broad shoulders were thrust within.
81 hope you are not hurt?' he queried
anxiously.
"No, not in the least. What has hap
pened?' asked Camilla in her turn.
"A motcrcar frightened your horses,
and they SHE'D and threw the carriage
against post. May | assist you to
alight and call another carriage for
your"
Camilla placed her hand in his and
descended to the pavement, where a
crowd had gathered. The motorcar
was putting impatiently on the other
side Of the street. and the coachman
was striving to quiet the FESTIVE
horses. At little distance an am
bulance was backed up to the curb,
and a couple of white clad hospital
doctors were bent above form on the
pavement.
Some one has been injured" cried
Camilla as she moved toward the am.
bulance. The tall man with the broad
shoulders kept beside her as II to pro-
tect her from the inquisitve crowd.
"Yes. An elderly woman was cross
Ing the street at the time. and. while 1t
is not believed that that carriage struck
her, we think she has been so thorough
ly frightened that 1t has resulted in a
shock of some sort"
"Oh, are they going to take her to a
hospitals? asked Camilla as they drew
near.
They were. but as my office Is
close by have persuaded them to
turn the case over to me. am ply
stefan, you know. and the woman beg.
ged so hard not to be taken to pub
lie institution that could not resist her
appeal"
Camilla turned and. looking up at
him, found his glance resting on her
with nnmistaknble admiration. He
hastily turned his eyes away and bent
over the woman on the pavement.
II think | can carry her in now" he
suggested. and as one OF the attend.
ants started to throw sheet around
the shrinking old form he add'd. TN
send into the house for a rug"
"Oh. take this" said Camilla. and In
an instant she had tossed Off the Pals
ley shawl and was wrapping II about
the injured woman.