Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1892-01-19

"a young friend, bat
several ~ them
thought they were-which amounted TO
the same thing for the time being. This
i. net Ia D. wondered at. either. Helen
Knowlton was n woman ~ remarkable
attractions Aside from her gifts A. q
singer land shc was now ai the zenith 81
her Iowcrsl. she was a clever woman. n
student ~ hooks AMI II men. and with
,sniimcni enough to enable her Ia inter-
prct J.oetic cllaactsr. most successfully.
While not. perhaps, what would he
called q l.au,y. she was s,rikingly hand.
some
According 60 classic ideas. her features
Gcrc no, rrfccti yet one seldom sces
finer eyes or n straighicr no~c, 90 hand
,omcr mouth than hers when she was
talking OF laughing. some Tcople
thought her mouth too large. lot Rush
never liked a small mouth In man az
woman; q large mouth With glis'ening
teeth always attracted him. Her eyes
were brown. with jt black iashe- and
bruws. the former - thick and long that
when he looked into her eyes be thought
20 fire burning IT. way through shrub
t-ry. Her hair was brown. AMI grew In
waving line. around her brow. and the
line that marked its growth ai the hack
~ her neck was as clearly defined s
though u had lcen drawn With a pcncil
Thi. may seem small matter a. speak
of. bui u i q great tsau,y In n woman.
Her figure was exceedingly well propor'
toned. and ,hc dressed with the most
exquisite taste. With all tbc.c physical
attractions. sbe hal an unusually bright
mind She Was constantly adding 10 her
store ~ knowlcdgc. AMI what sbc knew
she knew thoroughly. n she had not
hsn prima donna. she would have dis
,ing,lishe,l herself In some other walk In
lfe
A. to her character u vas peculiar.
When Rush came to know her intimate
ly be told her she was the mos, singular
combination ~ baby AMI woman be had
ever met. ami ~ shc was She lived In
tho world. bu, she was no, woman q
the world. She could ms, say one thing
and mean another. AMI l'cr friends u-cd
to tell her that was an accomplishment a
prima donna. of all persons, should po~-
sesA She was crSlulOus, y,, suspicious.
she was practical 90 a fault. yet scuti.
mental: Abe seemed cold In her nature.
ye, shc unconscioisly hungcrcd for
love. She made friend. easily AMI took
no rain. % keep them. yet somehow az
other they stuck by her. She was at this
time just a little sToilol AMI with rcason.
Tho town was at her fcct There wasn't
a man. woman OF child who would not
have l-rcn proud tn do her a favor.
Iadio. We'd with ono another In enter
tanning her at their houses, young men
fought for AN introduction and old men
ioasiei her at their clubs ibclieyet that
N sho had chosen "a have Union club
men pull her carriage instead of hor-es
they would have humor~l her whim.
Everything new that came cut IN the
way ~ bric-a.brac. jewelry OF books was
sent io her on the instant by aomc known
10 unknown admirrr Artists painted
her In their pictures and poets landed
her In their lyrics. She hal had - much
of this adoraiion that she took u almost
as thing of coursc; yet she was pleased
by every new attention. and never tired
even of the flowers that were showcrcd
uI.on her. Guarded like n hot hou-o
plant herself. the brrath % scandal had
never blown toward. her. Sou could
no, look at her AMI believe that she was
o,hcrwi-s than pure. and the ,cricst old
roue would have found himself awed by
her Innocence Vet she was no pr,ide.
She was fond ~ the soriety - mcn and
enjoyed n good time a. much a. any one.
bat she was possessed by a very strong
idea of what a woman should AMI should
not do Her position made u necessary
Tor her 10 L. particularly careful. and.
although she was 81 year old. she had
never cntsrtainoda man alone In a room
In her life. Foreigners, with their ideas
% women on the stage, could not under.
stand her. but none the les they joined
with her countrymen In burning incense
90 her
Helen Knowlton's parents had died
when she was n baby. leaving her In
charge 81 an aunt. Miss Reb.cca Sand.
ford, her mothers sister. who was known
10 half ~ iielen's friends and the whole
musical profession as "Aunt Reb~cca-~
This good lady was dragon of virtue.
She looked upon her niece as a child and
treated her as such; and. as u was kind
Iy treatment. IL had the effect 10 keeping
her Young. 10 that at e5 she was as fresh
and youthful In her ideas as most girls
~ ~ Aunt Relrcca never let that
child" know any Of the business details
of her profession. The good lady stood
between her niecc and the managers.
She read the contracts: Helen signed
them. II was a shrcwd manager who
could get the better of her In bargain,
and the managers knew u and respected
her cleyerness
There were. naturally. u great many
visitors to the little Gothic cottage In
wes, Twentieth stret. where the prima
donna made her home; but they all had
to pass the eye OF Aunt Rebccca before
they could ssc her niece. and even then
the natron seated herself In the room.
let tie visitor be nan. woman or child,
AMI never left till lc ar she had gone
She did not always take Iart In the con-
versation. hut would often busy herself
with French novel ,tunt Rebecca was
very partial to Georges Sandl and let the
young people talk ~ their own affairs
Il must be confessed that she rather
overdid the guardianship at times; but 10
any very intimate friend suggested this
che would sayi II don't want 10 give
wagsing tongues a chance. II any COS
siping creature says such and such .
thing occurred nj such time can re-
ply, Ny friend. you lie. for ! was
there Aunt Rebccca used sharp Ian.
guagc at times: hut. as sl,e said. "What
Is the use Of beating around tho bushi
You might n well cat the devil n drink
his broth"
Never having known anything difier'
ent. Helen was well satbiied with her
aunt's guardianship. and never ques-
toned t. Sometimes she would say 20
her young friends. as they started out
for o walk In fifth avenue. IL envy you
your freedom 10 como and 20 - you
please, but I suppose while ! am pub
lie singer I must accept the situation
and give up the usual smusements of
young woman % my ag&" 30 che
VOID % baek 70 ~ room end npsrtn-