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Playthings
of
Destiny
By
LULIETTE BRYANT
The motner ran forwara, screaming out frantically lor help. The response was immediate. From a garage a chauHeur ran; from the house a butler strode hastily if importantly; from somewhere in the grounds a gardener appeared; and from the low wing that housed the master's offices a man ran with quick, nervous steps and frowning brow — the master himself.
It was the master who reached~rire spot first, who knelt, stretched out a strong arm and brought the child out with a yank that was almost sa\ age.
"You should be punished!" he said, severely. "Stop crying! See how \ou ha\-e frightened your mother. Go along with James."
All this time the woman had been holding herself hack by
a strong etTort of will, longing to take the frightened, sobbing child in her arms for comfort. Now, as the butler led him awa\', her eyes were dark with pain and with something that was strangely like fear
"Why does Hubert dislike Dickey?" she asked herself, and was startled to find she had spoken the words half aloud in her earnestness. Her husband turned toward her inquiringly.
"I was only thinking that you are alwa>s ver\ stern with Dick," she said, trying to smile.
"A boy must have discipline if he is to become a man," he answered curtly. "We Englishmen do not coddle our sons!"
As if by magic the fear-look left the brown eyes and she walked beside the man toward the piazza opening off the library he had just left.
"Will you come in, please," he said, with the rather formal courtesy that characterized his exery act with her. "I ha\"e rather an important matter to speak to you about."
The room with its wide, shaded spaces and shuttered windows was cool and inviting after the heat of the gardens. He drew out a wicker chair for her and set an electric fan whirring before he began to speak. Again, there was the half-apprehensive look in her eyes.
"I ha\e just been \isited by a committee of representati\es of the conser\atives. They came to inquire on what terms I would renounce my aspirations to the go\ernor-generalship."
The apprehension had vanished. There was onl) interest in her voice as she answered: "And you told them?"
"That I would not for a moment consider such a course. Their coming is the best proof that my assaults on their l)osition have been effecti^■e. I belie\e the goal of my ambition is very near."
"I am \ery glad for you," she said t|uietly.
"Her attorney said that Geoffrey had done these things before ; that women were a habit with him."