Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-08-31
CHATTER Y.


Plain. unassusing. modest Helen
Lakcman. to whom duty to hcr crippled
brother was more than all thing, else.
strovc to crush ont the imawe Of War
rem Stuart from her heart, aud also 10
blot out the memory OF that moonlight
walk to church. We all know how
har,l il is to forget that which is pleas
ant 10 remember. In trying /" reason
with herself that she should forget
Warren, she was constantly bringing
his image before her mind. The pleas.
urc Of remembering that pleasure was
always attended with pain. But Helen
had an all-powerful panacca to mental
troubles in ambitious work. There
was enough to keep her mind and
hands busy. Then all her hours Of re-
creation were spent with her afflicted
brother. If she found herself dreaming
ambitious dreams in which Warren Stu
art was her hero, she Immediately ban
ished them from her mind. and applied
herself industriously to her household
duties. Warren frequently of an even
ing came to the rear porch. with book
or paper, for he said it was the coolest
place, being on the east side Of the l.,
which formed the kitchen but some
how Warren never read his book or
paper, Sut sPeht his t.Tne I'm tsiking
with Helen or amusing Amos. The
little cripple grew quite fond Of him.
and used to call him frequently against
the protests of his sister. who blushed
profusely in spite Of herself when War
rem came.
The afternoons were usually en-
ployed by Helen in sewing for Mrs.
Stuart, for she was "handy with the
needle" Nearly every afternoon found
Warren there also, unless his father
and mother devised some plan to keep
him away.
Poor Helen-she was blamed; al
though she did nothing to encourage
the young physician.
Mr.. Stuart said he thought when he
sent Warren to college it would make
him know more than ordinary mortals,
but where pretty face was concerned
he was about as big fool - any other
boy.
Deluded man. did he suppose love
could be educated out of the human
heart. and did he suppose he could add
one atom Of wisdom to . love-sick
youth?
Warren's parents did not forbid his
frequent attentions to Helen in direct
words; they were too wise for that; but
they did every thing they could to dis
courage them, and tried to find some
thing for him to do to keep him away
from the kitchen. Mr.. Stuart grew
sullen. and even cross. to the little Grip
pied boy whom he had fondled and
petted before. Mrs. Stuart, good wom-
m, was kind to both Helen and her
little brother She knew it was not the
poor girls fault.
Helen was quick to perceive that
Warren's manner toward her was caus-
ing his parents uneasiness, and appre-
ciated the fact that hired girl for a
daughter-in-lsw fell far below the ambi-
ton of the Stuarts. She kept away
from church for two Sabbaths, and
when she went on che third. Warren,
who had set parental vigilance at def
ance, overlook her and accompanied
her to church against her protest. On
the way home she sought to avoid con-
versation with him, but as they paused
at the rear gate he caught her hand and
said:
Helen. I love you, l can't help it
don't care II the whole world knows
it. Do you love me in return ?"
She cast . frightened. appealing
glance in his face. full of mild entreaty
and said "Oh do not talk 80, 1t is
it is wicked" and bursting into tear'
broke away from him and ran to tn
kitchen.