The Forrest City times., 1891-05-22

:a ;ss7;1;' s:: ;::: ';; $,.:' :';';:' s::;s ;::' it was so utterly unlike her to commit such folly, and as she saw her rehec- tion in the tall mirror, enveloped from head to foot in the folds of light blue domino, the face concealed by a velvet mask, @ camelia in the hand, her impulse was to flee then and there. Unfortunately, however, she was not alone, but accompanied by her dressmaker-who acted as sort of chaperone-and gay, light-hearted Wally. How fervently the child had begged for this pleasure. She hadnow long lost sight of her young charge, and the modiste, too, had suddenly been charmed from her side, and dis appeared in thegay throng.
 At this moment she fully realized the enormity of her 36 years-her withered complexion.
 Poor little Wally was totally inno- cent of any part in this little comedy, for had not ''Auntie" as she termed Miss Helmine, aroused the child's keen longing to bepresent by depicting in the most glowing colors the pleas ures of an event?
 At the last moment, indeed, Miss Helmine had tried to "back out" in- sisting she was too i'll, but their phy- sician, young man by no means fire proof to the charms of Miss Wally, was instantly summoned by that young lady, and nothing short of a favorable verdict could possibly be expected.
 After spreading out their ball finery before the young doctor, Wally cried, dramatically: 'Is Auntie so i'll that all this is doomed to the attic?"
 Dr. Lenhard regarded more closely, for he was very nearsighted, the dain- | ty pages costume, and his imagina- tion instantly coniured up the picture of his eharmer thus clad In his em- barrassment he grasped Wally's pulse instead of that of her aunt, murmur- ing confusedly: "'I'he pulse is triie excited An, pardon me. That is-- all wanted to say Is, Miss Helmine, that you run no risk in taking Mss
 Wally to-"
 l Miss Helmine was greatly amused, l d K ! next visit would be to the costumer was we'll founded. This, however, gave them the advantage of an escort, which made her feel somewhat easier on that score. Other scruples were i speedily overcome, and Wally, now fairly wild with delight, waltzed the | invalid about the room.
 An, to be young once more!
 F Now, as she felt herself so complete ly deserted, she deeply repented hav- ing come With painful anxiety she avoided all seeking some retired spot, l Fortunately she was familiar with the l rooms and sought out a prettily deco | rated ante room, which afforded the desired seclusion, She seated herself in low arm chair, and listening to the strains of an intoxicating waltz, l awaited his coming.
 The white camelia was to reveal his identity yet she felt that instinct would guide her to him without any outward sign. His picture, young, handsome, and grave, was fixed in her mind. Un- doubtedly he would be tall and slender the attitude of the head bespoke as much. An, his photograph was the painful termination of this little TO- nance.
 Before seeing the picture she might still dream of a possibility, but now she realized the stern fact that he must be at least ten years her junior, that those lips were still imbued with the fire of youth-uhat hope was dead
 The beginning had been so charm ing. All the sweet joys of this, her last love affair, passed before her mind as she sat there in all her loneliness,
 Sitting one day in the reading-room of fashionable womans club an ar ticle attracted her attention, headed: Has Woman's Beauty Substantial Value?" Readers were asked to con- tribute opinions on the subject, and on the spur of the moment Helmine wrote a short but pithy article extoling spiritual beauty which withers but too soon when unaccompanied by the former. Perhaps these had not al ways been her sentiments, but her mirror told her that external beauty alone could no longer win her a lover. Shortly after the publication of this | article, letter was transmitted her through the editor of the paper, as her contribution had been anony- nous. The writer spoke of his sympa- thy with the views conveyed by the article, and expressed belief that he | was addressing beauty of the spirit ual kind He signed himself Tristan, ;" remarking he had not the courage to reveal himself openly as his heart dic- tated.
 A correspondence ensued which proved both spirited and entertaining, neither disclosing their true names. In this way ideas could be exchanged with more freedom. Although person. alitles had been avoided, yet each knew the other had not met with that love which alone can give eternal joy. Both had dispositions somew h at tinged. with melancholy. and this ap- preaching meeting made them feel as though standing on the brink of a preclpice. 1t seemed strange that Hel- mine should be an old maid. She cer- tainly had been very pretty, and al- though without fortune, was the pos- sessor of a fine education, occupying the position of teacher in one of our lrsx All 1