The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1913-01-10

1 "oiol SsVut, icit sure ludt ny
'riend was gradually coming around
10 my way OF thinking. Neither OF
us mentioned the subject. but II must
have required to, him. at intervals. as
IL did to me. And as the hours went
by without sign, the conviction
grew that Murphy. with hands tied.
was fretting over the coup he was de-
TERED from comprising.
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 sduenna to Evelyn. dined with
us that evening. and our little partie
carree seemed to me more than US
ually merry. owing doubtless TO the
| Cameron and | had been under for
the past week cs a s
II gratified me to see my host so
unfeignedly cheerful. 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'
|
when he told me he had a wife and
| three children And when 1 told him
he did not look like a married man
he seemed rather pleased than other
wise" "a 80 r-3 t1IH
1T Is odd" Cameron returned, but
II seems always TO fatter a. husband
tell him he doesn't look it, And
then ne 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, land
his frank artifciality."
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 Mai?
The casket is worthy OF its contents
u is the most exquisitely bound little
volume ever saw. Come, I'll show
it to you"
excused myself 10 Mrs. Lancaster.
and with pretended formality bent
over Evelyn's hand, brushing 1t with
| my lips.
Won't you be back" she whis-
pered.
II hope So" was my answer. But
| can't promise"
"Oh, what a trial 1t Is to have a
selfish uncle!" she murmured as I
went.
Cameron led me through the H.
brary, across the hall. and thence in
| to his study, where he dove into
miniature book rack reserved for his
favorites. After a moment OF frultless
search he said
| 1T isn't here. How stupid! took
1t upstairs a week ago, | remember
| II 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 ]
had dared hope.
AT the risk OF being tedious
must describe Cameron's dressing
room. 1t was not large-probably 20
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 fireplace.
To the left OF the bath Room door
was the entrance to huge closet.
guarded by heavy curtain OF old
rose velvet To the right. was q sta
tionary wash-stand. and above II a
rectangular mirror. probably ten inch.
es vide and fooVlong. and very
curiously framed. Across from this.
against the wall which divided the
room from the passage. was an enor-
movs chiffonier. or chest OF drawers.
, In the rooms center was round
table. on which rested reading
lamp. Between The table and the
replace was a reclining chair. 9th
or chairs, three or four. were various
ly placed.
have given these facts because
they are necessary 10 an intelligent
understanding OF what | am about to
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 no
means the first time had seen IL.
Cameron had showed Il to me. with a
degree of pride. early in our ac-
ouaintance. explaining that II was at
once relic and an heirloom. Orig.
.,,,, tha nronartv Of Nell GWynne.