Whig and tribune. [volume] (Jackson, Tenn.) 1870-1877, 1874-07-25
PRETTY MRS. IIELOT.
px NRStE II. seNvS.

Dear me!-was there ever anything
so proyoking?"
And the nut-brown head; glossy as
a chestnut, was bent low over the film
of lace caught on one of the orna-
mental brass knobs of the dressing
bureau, and the mirror reflected back
a perfectly well-defined frown be-
tween those velvety brown eyes, to
which enough sOnnets had been writ
ten to turn the wits in the glossy head.
Mrs. Helot was beauty. She had
been belle always, and was withal a
charming woman despite the ugly in
nuendoes and whispered sneers Of an
enviOus few who had accused Agnes
Lockridge of all sorts of folly long
ago, to which she had added the enOr-
nifty Of marrying the wealthiest man
in the community, simply for the sake
of an elegant house and a season ev-
cry year in Europe; for of course, she
had not fallen madly in love with Rob
ert Helot-a man old enough for her
father, with a pair of very serious
gray eyes and quantity of irOn-gray
hair; nothing striking i'll his appear
ance, or ..tlike foreigner" as some
people would say.
1t was PLAN enough to be seen how
it was that the beautiful, wayward
Miss Lockridge had thrown over so
many fellows who were devoted to
her for this grave elderly person, who
held her shawls at routes and ran for
icesllike trained spaniel.
Robert Helot could give his wife q
fine position in that society to which
she had,been born, If not reared, as eve
rybody knew how very poor were Miss
LOckridge's prospects when she met
her future husband. 1t could not be
denied that Mrs. Helot had been very
happy in her elegant home the two
years of her married life, but there
was every reason why she should have
been so, since she had never known
wish ungratified-or at least she had
desired nothing which money could
purchase. 1t was the wonder of few
that, being always a little perverse,
she did not make herself absolutely
wretched over her prosperity. Rob
ert HelOt was passionately fond of his
gay and beautiful wife, and allowed
her unrestrained liberty, which was,
perhaps, a Just requital to her for the
sacrifice she had made, so it seemed
inevitable that the match should be
looked at from this standpoint.
Next to rare jewels, Mrs. Helot was
childishly fond of antique laces.
Hers was not a demonstrative na-
ture, but she had thrown her arms
around her husband neck in an costa
cy of delight over a few yards of old
Flemish lace, which he designed as a
/ birthday present for her.
4 knew you would be pleased,
! dear, and you are; are not you?"
80, should think so, indeed, you
kind soul; I do so love laces." And
with an indescribable grace, all her
own, Mrs. Helot made cloud of the
| lace, and, half hidden in its meshes,
made eyes at the kind SOUL" who
smiled a little in spite of the habItual
gravity which lent austerity to the
serious gray eyes and rather wan face.
DO not they become me Robert;
1 do not mean me especially, but are
not laces 4 help to any one? You
know what they say of fine birds"
The velvet eyes were very seduc-
tive here and the pretty mouth ire
sistible, and yet the smile quite died
from the wan face, which the mirror
opposite seemed TO render more plain
anu grave llldl Nao q lIlC udl uEdl TO II.
YES, fine feathers make fine birds,
but think it is an art with YOU, dear,
to become everything that you have
about you. l think, rather, that you
are a help to the lace, which to my
eyes seems a mere mesh Of fax when
you are not considered.
''NOw how very absHrd of YOU,
Robert, to make me so cOurtly
speech Just that you fancied 1 looked
for one. When 1 pave the way for
compliments, dear, you should say
something savage, and that would rid
me of habit despise in women"
Mrs. HelOt was free to submit her
faults, but always blushed when at con-
fession, and she turned her head little
to avoid the odious glass, so tale-teIl-
ing. 1t was then that the mesh of
fax fell in danger of 4 serious dam
age from the brass claw on the bu-
reau. How quickly that frown came
on the smooth white brow.
Permit me, j" and two large, strong