The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1881-05-13

plain Helen MS nothing had ever
hurt her. Aud. proud little woman,
as she was, she had to rush to the
pantry for more sugar-to hide the |
tears she felt coming TO her eyes.
MIR. Hartley was safe at her
house. Yes, she was too old, too
plain, too decidedly an old maid to
be dangerous TO any mans peace !
of mind. 1t was true, and she had
known il all her lite, but somehow
it occurred to her as never before.
Little, and plain aud old, but
with woman's heart beating warm
and strengthful in her bosom; and,
somehow, Laura Hesketh's rare
beauty seemed the most desirable
possession in all the world, because
with il such love and devotion and
admiration could be won. She
thrust the foolish thought away
from her, aud came back, her sugar
crock in her hand.
ado yon batheevery day, LauraT
she said-tliey had known each
other from childhood, aud IN spite
of social inequality, were on IA
miliar terms. 81 heard the chill
dren say the water was delightfully."-
warm today
We 90 down every day-why
don't you 60, Helenf Can't you
20 with us ut four o'clock to-day ]
MIR. Hartley's going, and mamma
and Archie"
al rather think not,' she said.
81 want to make pastry for tea
the children are SO iond OF it.n
4 "But the children can be disap-
poiutcd tor once. You must go,
Miss Cartwright and George
Hartley stepped Into the big, shady
: kitchen.
Laura gave him a raPturous
, glance of welcome, aud Helen
laughed little copf,tsedly!
~ hope that | am not intruding,
or that this delicious old-fasllioncd
room is not forbidden ground
Helen pointed to chair.
"Sit down, Mr.. Hartley she
said, and then went on with the
! pastry, while he aud Laura chatted
: and laughed, and ended by taking
: Helen's consent to go bathing.
+, She never knew quite how it al
e happened--noneo OF them knew-bu'
little Ethel managed to separate
l herself tr0m the others, and th'
n first thing anyone knew was tina
I the child was screaming, and being
g borne out by the breakers, and tina
!, Helen had plunged in after her, en-
0 tirrly oblivious of the fact that sh'
Z was not much more able to figh
/. the heavy seas than the child.
There was q little CONSERVATION
!. shriek or 80 from Laura, AZ ex
II clamation of something perfect,
.. iutelligible from Mr.. Hartley,
n prompt command to Laura's bi
le brother, Archie, and then, sliortl
after, little Ethel and Helen wer
il carried out UNCONSCIOUS andth
n next thing Helen knew she was o
L. her own sofa in her little sittin
1t room, with the sound Of Laura
D. and her mothers voices In the mex
room, aud Mr.. Hartley's handsome
at anxious eyes looking down int
Id her face as he sat beside her.
y nelen,r he said, in a low
lg breathless sort of way, as she lool
&C ed wonderlngly at him, "Helel
)n my brave little darling-tliank Go
in | saved you Tor myself, didn't | y
a She suddenly began TO cry--wh'
en- did I've meant Was it dream.
a tantalizing dreaini
= Helen,n the low, passiona
lst voice went on, iii sou had died
'ut think | should have died, too.
in meant to have told your this We
ta- day how | had learned to 10
you-that want you to be n
ith blessed little wife, If you can ca
id, enough for me to come TO II
she Can you, Heleni Do yon, dear
ra- And even Laura Hesketh cor
wn not bcgrulge happy Helen !
ely great bappiness when she saw VII
Ing perfect bliss had come to the
.tao,.,,, fran, her aufuiuer lod O