The Colfax chronicle., 1891-12-05


prise of all, except her friends, she was
still unmarried. She often said that
she was ipcapahle of loving; she could
not even imagine herself in love with
any man she had ever seen. Being OF
such a seIf-reliant and self-centered
disposition this was very natural Be-
sides she had a wonderful talent for
painting, and to that delightful occup
ton she devoted her whole time, and, as
Is always the case, it requited her devo.
ton with never-failing success. All
she did was good. but her forte was
originality and feeling. 1t was won
der that she could represent SO well
what she knew 30 little about. She
still liked the society of young men.
but only for the momentary pleasure;
beyond that she never gave them
thought
One day when she was with party
of girl friends-perhaps had Better
call them acquaintances, as she was
not particularly social; she had no in
innate friends and her best friends
were married women-they began to
discuss the new doctor One said he
was SO handsome, another SO dignified,
a third praised his voice, while fourth
thought his conversational powers
something remarkable. He was new
arrival, and had evidently made q
great impression.
Helen at first paid no attention to the
iusect-buzzing, Lut it continued SO long
she was at last compelled to listen, and
finally exclaimed: What a paragon he
must be to have made SO profound an
impression. declare, girls, you have
aroused my curiosity. l should like to
| see this wonderful young man."
Then come to Mrs. Graham's recep-
tion tomorrow evening"" said one OF
the girls; s'he will be there"
''Oh, you know never go to such
things; they are such dreadful bores
and l don't guess he is worth the
trouble after all"
Explain it as You may, Helen that
evening was a guest of Mrs. Graham's.
1t was not long before she stood face
to face with the new doctor and heard,
"Dr. Haughton, Miss Rutledge.'
For once in her life Miss Rutledge
was embarrassed, but DIR. Haughton
was quite self-possessed and said SIM
ply that he did not think they required
an introduction. at least II Miss Rut
ledge had taken the trouble to remcm
Der him. She replied quickly that she
had not found that very hard work
Then followed q short and unimportant
conversation and DIR. Kaughton started
on his rounds among the other ladies
by whom he was most graciously re
ceived. It is nice to be courted and
complimentcd, even when we do mo-
think much of those who crafty us.
| Helen found her eyes often following
him as he moved among the crowd. HI
was the same and yet not the same
His figure was still slight, but the boy
ishness was replaced by that-what i
the French word ''sang froid, tina
comes from experience rather thar
age.
During the weeks that followed thes'
two were frequently thrown togethe
and once or twice he called on her. HI
was rather friendly, but his who'll
manner said plainly: ~ worried yo1
once with my foolishness, but ! hav
kept my promise and now regard yo
only as FRIEND" 1t sometimes mad
! | her feel little jealous of fate when h
showed such indifference to her. Thu
he became a rarity and as q rarity wa
attractive. She began to think of hin
: during the day, and wonder how mucl
she would see Of him during the even
ing. He seemed to grow handsome
every day; and the more she knew
his character the better and nobler sh
: thought him.
Once she started out on the alway
tiresome duty of paying calls-it wa
particularly irksome TO her an
: thing she avoided whenever possible
. This time, however, was made foreve
memorable.
Oue of her ''acquaintances" began t
! dilate on DIR. Hanghton and the after
D ton he had paid to a beautiful and &C
complished young lady where he ha
studied medicine. by one of the cur
I Gus yet natural actions of the MIND
|, just this little thing first caused her t
realize that she loved Philip Haughtor
Like most coquettes she never knee
! that she had heart-till she fOun
that she did not have one. How sh
! got through with that visit and safe j
< her own room she never knew.
may be noted, however, for our specis
enlightenment, that her friend sa
nothing unusual in her demeanor.
Now comes the most difficult part {
my story, to picture woman {
Helen's character IN love.
She was not listless or moping, nj
= did she cover her canvas with sketcht
= Of the loved one as most women woul
have done. None of her family su
: pected her complaint, only her mothe
detected certain strained tension
her manner and was puzzled. She d.
voted herself more than ever to HI
e art, but she found in it none of thu
y divine consolation which she had bee
accustomed to obtain in lesser trouble
She could settle at nothing and HI