Mexico Missouri message., 1913-01-09
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us mentioned the subject, but 1t must
have required to him, at intervals. as
1t did to me. And as the hours went
by without a sign. the conviction
grew that Murphy, with hands tied.
was fretting over the coup he was de-
TERED from comprising.
Mrs. Lancaster. whom l have men
toned merely as Cameron's house
keeper but who was, in addition, a
distant kinswoman and acted as
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 for
the past week.
1t gratified me to see my host so
unfelgnedly cheerful remember
how ne laughed over Mrs. Lancaster's
recital of an incident of the morning.
81 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 and
three childrel. And when | told him
he did not look like a married man
he seemed rather pleased than other
wise"
1T is odd" Cameron returned, but
1t seems always to fatter a husband
to tell him he doesn't look It," And
then he laughed as though he had no
care on earth.
After dinner we had the usual
music, and Evelyn sang again that
lyric OF Baudelaire's, this time in the
original French. But the melody
brought back TO me in vivid vision
our chance meeting in the woods and
all its train of circumstances.
When | had finished applauding,
Cameron turned to me.
do you like Baudelaire?"
Il like his art" | answered.. and
| his frank artificlality"
"He appeals to me-" Cameron con-
| fessed. "decadent though he is. |
have read everything he ever wrote, |
think. prose and verse Did you ever
see my copy of his 'Fleurs du Nal?
The casket is worthy of its contents:
1t is the most exquisitely bound little
volume | ever saw. Come, I'll show
1t to you"
/ excused myself TO Mrs. Lancaster,
and with pretended formality bent
over Evelyn's hand. brushing 1t with
my lips.
Wont you be back?" she whis-
pered.
81 hope So" was my answer. But
| can't promise"
"Oh, what a trial 1t is to have a
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 a
miniature book rack reserved for his
favorites. After a moment of fruitless
search he said:
1T isn't here. How stupid! took
it upstairs a week ago, | remember.
It is in my dressing room. Do you
mind coming up?"
Did / mind coming up? How glad
| was 10 see him interested! He was
more like the old Cameron than he
had been at any time in the past sew
en- days. My golf prescription had
proved even more efficacious than l
had dared hope.
At the risk of being tedious !
must describe Cameron's dressing
room. 1t was not large-probably 90
feet square-with three doors; one on
| 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 upon
an outside balcony, Between them
was a fireplace.
To the left of the bath room door
was the entrance to a huge closet.
guarded by a heavy curtain of old
rose velvet. To the right. was a sta
| tionary wash-stand, and above 1t a
rectangular mirror, probably ten inch
| es wide and a foot long, and very
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 round
table, on which rested reading
lamp. Between the table and the
fireplace was a reclining chair. 9th.
er chairs. three or four. were various
~ placed.
have given these facts because
they are necessary to an intelligent
understanding Of what | am about 10
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
sesged a distinction quite aside from
it's practical utility. This was by no
means the first time | had seen IT.
Cameron had showed II to me. with
degree OF pride. early in our ac-
auaintance, explaining that It was at
once a relic and an heirloom. Orig
inally the property OF Nell Gwynne.
4. -. aogas,,dad IN him through