The Palatka news and advertiser., 1916-11-24

explained to Jere. T
"Pll tend to dat, ma'am, when l
wuks 'em," he said. :,
With such revolutionary plans III
her mind Camilla found it touching 10
say farewell at the depot. she de-
sired to keep the servants, but they
would object to a change of home.
Weeks later, as her cousins gueSC,
she was shown the plans for ne"
house. u.:.
why, Sophy!" she exclaimed, 1T IS
almost exactly like mine"
81 hope so; or George Washingtons S,
or some other one of the kind. Gus
told the architect to give us the pur,-
est colonial type he could furnish. A
cramped city life teaches one to en-
Joy the luxury Of space. And, Camll-
la" continued Sophy.
Eyes, dear" Camilla did not eVlnce
the pleasing interest in her plans
Sophy had expected.
II want you to buy for me some
old Southern furniture. A canopled'
tester bed, for instance, like Auntle S,
and a mahogany hautboy."
During a brief pause Sophy pom
dered over a possible collection OF
ANTIQUES, and Camilla concerning her
present one.
Camilla" cried sophy, expectant-
". both hands clasped about her
knees, 81 want you to give me one bit
of furniture from the old home. Re
member, |, too, am Holman.
"What is it?"
"a little work table | have heard
Mother speak of. Because OF the bot
tom drawer being drum-shaped, 1t
was known as The World"
81 will consider it," Camilla was
queerly unsympathetic Choosing a
book from the library table and plead
mig a headache, she retired to her
room upstairs. When she returned
she was radiant over the story she
had been reading. :,
"How is it, Sophy," she inquired,
"you have never told me of this book !
The preface states the author is ma
tive of this city,"
81 can tell you more than that. He
once lived in Oaktown. Do you re-
member Egbert Huntingdon, the editor
of Creation? He has retired for in
dividual work and critics declare 1t
fine. He is a friend Of our family
and, thinking you would be congenial,
| have mailed him an invitation to call
while you are here"
Egbert Huntingdon did not respond
at once, nor later, and when Camilla
heard her lover was out of town, her
conclusions were not pleasant ones.
'He no longer desires to know me
since he has become one of society $
pets she thought. 81 shall return
home at once and relieve him of fur
ther embarrassment. Perhaps Judge
Eland was right"
Camilla's past life suddenly assum-
ed a new sense of values. The great
house with the furniture, which So
ply coveted, even the oldy Old World,
all seemed dearer. She recalled the
words, "Houses can be bought, but
homes, such as this, seldom" E" Her
lover seemed lost, and she now re-
solved to return, blushingly admitting
that a wealthy and comely women
never lacked admlfefS.
No homing pigeon ever sped more
surely on its return passage than Ca
milla, when retracing her way south
ward. She wired Judge Bland to
have Jere meet her at the station.
How glad she was to see him. She
could not picture her faithful trio out
of their present surroundings. Think
of Missouri with her down-at-the-hee
grace in city fiat. Her impatient
heart outsped the horses footsteps.
Drive faster, Jere," she urged, as
they were nearing the Old Fort.
"Yessum," responded Jere, 'it looks
lax | caynt git ahead o dis here ker-
ridge befo' me. See, dey's eben turn
in in de Ole Fote road
Camilla thrust her head forward
and lifted her veil to peer in aston
ishment at a vehicle as it preceded her
into her own home. A gentleman
alighted and awaited her arrival.
Drawing her heavy veil closely about
her face, she asked "Do you wish to
see me? am Miss Holman"
! The stranger uttered but one word
it was Camilla"
ooh, Egbert" She extended her
hand in welcome relief, momemntarily
forgetting their estrangement. Il
am so glad it is you. | feared it was
some odious stranger who wished to
purchase the place"
you do not know them"
"What?" She removed her hat and
dropped it upon the stone steps.
"That | have bought it? Have
made full payment to Judge Bland?
He promised to give me the opportuni-
ty should it ever be for sale"
He awaited her answer, but Camil-
la was speechless. She looked about
in stupefaction. She saw a bed of
late asters in perfect bloom; the lawn
like velvet, and the Old Fort spread
like great strong arms locked with
iron fingers to hold her in its keeping.
She breathed nothing of this, but
withdrawing her gloves, said Qquietly.
"Mr. Huntingdon, you will please give
me little time in which to make my
departure"
Camilla" he spoke as a penitent,
don't dear; that cannot be-"
Tears came unbidden to her eyes.
She pressed her white fingers upon
her closed lids for a time. During
that interval Egbert Huntingdon
| CtnOna1 p1OCa to how md ,,,,+ H., r,,,,,