Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-08-06
NO. 1876.
GALS aud Skftthes.
From the Providence Journal.
SNOW.STAYED.
CONTINUED FROM YESTERDAY |

Helen then went to her room to prepare
for dinner, Mrs. Hlton's maid having in.
terrupted their chat to show her the wav.
Having completed her toilet, she came
down stairs with no slight amount of trep-
idation, hoping, yet fearing to find the
much dreaded fossil in the drawing-room.
Robert Hilton had entered the drawing
room shortly after Miss Cameron had quit
ted it, having actually dressed for dinner;
proceeding quite dsregarded by him ON
ordinary occasions, tor the very good reas-
on that he always dined alone, as his mother
was an invalid and could not bear him
company.
Mrs. Hilton looked pleased to see her
son so wonderfully frightened up by the
little attention to his appearance. at the
trouble and waste of time of which he had
been inwardly fuming.
"Helen has arrived she said, as he
stood chafng his hands, and trying to
warm them by the fire.
so | heard" he answered shortly, look
ing anything but delighted How long
is she to stay9 This sort of thing is so
terribly out OF my line;'' and he glanced
at his evening dress as he spoke.
"She leaves on Friday; the girls at the
Mount Farm won't spare her any longer
She is very dear girl, Robert; think
you will like her." she ventnred timidly.
The remark was entirely lost on him, as
he never entertained the idea of liking any
woman, unless it might happen to be the
remains of one which had been deposited
in some spot by the avalanche of ages,
awaiting his discovery. Such woman he
would love tenderly.
Trembling outside the drawing-ro room
door stood Helen, unable to turn the ham
die and enter, so afraid was she of encoun-
terng him but growing desperate at last.
she made plunge, and went in with that
awkward air which takes hold of one at
difficult moments of intense seli-conscious-
ness.
Still STOPPING over the fire, he did not
notice her until she reached the sofa where
his mother sat, who had encouraged her
timid entrance with a smile, and said
"Robert, my dear this is Helen-Helen,
my son. Robert
This introduction being effected, Helen
took seat, while Mr.. Hilton remained
standing, in no way bashful. but SO very
preocupied with dead subjects as to leave
the living to take care of themselves.
As soon as she dared, Helen raised her
eyes and glanced at him. '.Unmistakably
tall, lean and grizzled," she thought; "but
not quite so bad as expected. Good eyes,
if they could be brought to look about him
instead of into remoteness. Good features,
but tumbled hair, all falling about anyhow,
as if no one ever smoothed it. What a
pity he shuts himself up" ssss
Dinner was announced, and Mrs. Hilton
said: "Will you let Robert take you in to
dinner, my dear? You must excuse me
joining you, but | am obliged to live by
rule. Now, Robert, take care of her"
Thus saying, she strove to draw them to-
gether, most thankless task, for Helen
hung on to the reluctant arm by the tips
of her fingers with an amount of nervous.
ness which made the well nigh chronic
blush on her face turn deep crimson.
They sat down to the table in solemn ST.
lence. Mr.. Hilton from the force Of habit,
turned to find his place in the imaginary
volume at his side. and then remembered
he had human book sitting near it might
be worth his while persuing. He glanced
up, searched for words. and came to
dead pause: for what on earth was there
to talk aboutP Young women were gen.
ius he had never studied since university
days they were Il study he had shelved
with dress clothes, AS being terribly out
of his line" thinking at the time Of the
truth Of st. Chrysostom's definition of wo-
men, who pronounces them one and all to
be "a necessary evil. a natural temptation,
a desirable calamity he paused.
for he decl ned thinking the present zeal
amity" sitting near at all desirable !"
quite the reverse-"a domestic peril,
deadly fascination and painted ill.," All.
va (Nhrysnsfnnn a of and
evidently.
Poor Helen was equally miserable; sip
ped her soup, to prolong the necessity for
keeping her head lowered,
''One of us. must begin" ishe thought
"this silence is overpowering
AT last-''l think you know my friends,
the NarcotS ?"
"Shghtly." he replied, putting his ell
ther fed He was of that rare order of
men who eat, asking no questions. any
thing put before them. Just the sert of
man women with view to comfortable
hereafter in house keeping ought to culti-
vate above all others.
They are very nice girls" she re.
marked.
POSSIBLY know nothing about girls"
L GU uOIl l Nlslt 4 tuiuh sbN
again ventured.
mo am thankful | find something
better to do:" and he pushed the unkept
hair from his forehead, and closed his eyes,
as if to clear his brain of the disturbing
possibility ofsuch a fate, of which the pres.
ent was II taste not at all to his liking.
The servant placed dish before him,
which excused them for again lapsing in-
to happy silence. Thus the dinner passed
off, save for Il few spasmodic attempts at
like the previous. And at
the finish, never We're two people so glad
to get rid Of each other as Helen and her
companion.
Mr.. Hilton did not appear again that
night. although he usually kept his mother
company for a portion of every evening.
after silent fashion.
Helen gave him up as hopeless. She
had failed to win the least courtesy from
him; and there are few things woman
resents like tactic avowal that she is
powerless 10 attract. The two weary days
each worse than the other for dreariness,
came to an end at last. With light heart
!. l. .. had on Thnrsdav piUhf