Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1873-05-27

equipage, handsome, fascinating
companion. Where could the harm
be He was her friend, his wife
was her dear friend. That wife had
insisted upon her riding TO school
with him the morning she happen
ed in, and she had sent Ralph for
her the evening of the party.
Would she not think it strange,
and almost prudish, if she should
refuse his kind invitation nowl She
thought so, and accepted it.
The following day proved to be
warm and sunny. Mr.. Hinman
drove around for her after dinner.
"Dora is too busy to go along
with u.s." he said as he assisted her
into the carriage, "but she sent you
her love, and hopes you will enjoy
the afternoon"
And Helen certainly did enjoy
the afternoon. The day was per-
feet, the roads smooth, the scenery
beautiful, and Ralph Hinman q
most agreeable companion. Helen
thought she had never been in the
society of so pleasant q man in her
life before. They rode all the af-
ternoon, and reached Mr.. Humans,
just at twilight. Dora saw them
coming, and ran out to the gate.
at is just tea-time," she said, "and
Helen must come in and take sup
per with US before she goes home.
/ want to hear all about your ride.
I am so glad you went. You need
more exercise in the open air than
you get, and / hope you and Ralph
viii improve as many of these gold
en- days as possible"
And they did. Mrs. Humans
words removed the last shadow of
doubt regarding the propriety of
the thing, from Helen's mind, and
she felt free to accept ell invitations
from Mr.. Hinman. She forgot or
ignored the fact that other people
had eyes and tongues, besides Dora
Hinman, and had less faith in Ralph,
and were more uncharitable. eff
Dora was willing and approved,
whose business was it 2" sho said.
She had been with him half q
dozen times, perhaps, before word
was said. Then her cousin, lady
many years her senior, with whom
she boarded, gently demonstrated.
"Helen, are you not imprudent
to go out so much with q married
man r.
Helen flushed and looked indig-
nant. II am sure | don't see how
I am imprudent. hope you don't
think l am in danger of falling in
love with Mr.. Hinman."
"No, I don't say that. But peo-
pie will talk, i ain afraid. 1t is a
habit people have, and it is unpleas-
ant to be gossiped about" the friend
answered.
"Well, / don't see what they can
have to say, so long as Mrs. Hin
man approves of the state of af-
fairs. If we rode or walked to-
gether without her knowledge, Oh
against her wishes, it would he diff
ferent. But she approves, and fire.
quently goes with US, so where is
the harm %
"There is no harm, so long as she
goes with you. But when mar
ried man and a young lady ride OF
walk together repeatedly, merely
for the pleasure Of recreation, the
gossips have an opportunity to talk
| and usually make use of it,"
: "Well, let them talk then. | an
doing nothing wrong, and ] dom
care if they do. But | have nj
fears that anything will be said.'
When a young lady arrives a
the conclusion that she dosn't care
what people say, she has taken q
long step in the wrong direction
Even If she is assured she is doing
no wrong, she had better take pains
to avoid gossip. "Stoop not down
to fasten thy shoe in a melon-patch,
and lift not thy hand to adjust thy
hat in O fruit orchard" is a very
wise proverb.
That very evening Helen went
riding with Ralph Hinman. 1t was
a glorious moonlight night, and as
she took her seat at his side, and
saw his dark eyes smiling down up
on her, she thrilled from head to
foot with sensation which she
could not describe or understand.
1t was her own heart warning her
of danger; whispering to her that
besides the gossips' tongues, she
herself was not safe in this daily
intercourse with Ralph Hinman.
No matter how strong in principal
and virtue o girl may be, no mat
ter how high her standard of truth
and purity, if she receives the
marked attentions of handsome,
fascinating married man, allows
him to compliment her, and ride
with her, and play the agreeable
generally, she is treading on dam
gerous ground, and is not safe.
But she would not heed her
hearts warning, and even when she
found herself watching for him,
and longing for the hour to come
when she could see him, she told
herself and her cousin that hor feel
ing for Ralph Hinman was only
friendship. al certainly do like
him." she said, "and he likes me.
There can be such a thing as pure,