Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1892-03-15
CHAPTER XI.


~ irresistible cray,
ing for more. 10 had felt her eyes upo1
his. tho touch Of her hand had fallen
upon his arm. Ho could no moro rc.isl
going % 80 her again than he could
have resisted her frs, invitation 10 call
at her houss. The pride that bad been
stung 10 the quick was bottled up" ~
he expressed Il. and ho confessed to him
elf tha, he might as well surrender hri
as last.
Unjust rot expect her TO care for ns
yet n would 10 very strange II shs did.
vnat am ! "a her'-oniy Que OF huf.
drcds. and she may b. engaged To thss
West Hastings now, for alb know. Peo-
pie say ~. and people always know more
about your friends than YOU do yourself.
Such thoughts NJ these few through
the young mans brain As he bent over
his desk at night and piled tho Pen. OF,
blue pencil In hand. boiled columns
Of ,Opy down 20 half OF quarter columns
Again be argued with himself. II owe
her an apology for hooring that rascal IN
her presence II vas very III bred II ms
and must AK her pardon"
10 on his next "night OF" ho put on
his dress suit and walked up TO Twcnti'
eth street Tho very though, that he
was going 10 80 Helen excited him -
tha, he coald scarcely DO justice 10 the
capital Italian dinner sct before him nj
his Old restaurant lie hal dressed him
self with the utmost care. II never
want 10 appear In her presence except
A. well dressed man" be said 10 him
elf. and this not because ho was q
dandy. but because he had heard hcr
say that she liked men to dress well and
give their personal appearance a suih'
cisnt amount of thought
II cannO, bear a dowdy man." said
Helen ono day In Rushs hearing. speak
Ing ~ clever fellow u their acquaint
ancs who va, very untidy In his appear
ance. II prefer q man 10 care les foi
Greek and moro Tor ,gp and water.
shudder whenever ho s.IIkes hands with
me. Such nails, there IL no excuse foi
H. There is nothing ! like more than q
well kept hand. and nothing ! dislike
moro than one that Il LEI 10 run Wild"
Rush looked stealthily at his strong
shap,ly hands. and wondered what head
they came under. On his way homs
that night he stopped at drug store and
bought box containing all tho para
phernalia % tho toilette des OngleS
From that time forth ho took caro- of hi'
hands. and he had hi, reward: for on'
day, la shaking hands with him, Heller
said. What nico hands you have, Mr
Ilurlstonel they are ~ well kept lik'
20 .ee IT," She didn't know that IL wa
her own doing. Ilclen's friends used q
say among themsel,c, that shs was To-
particular and spoke her mind too freely
on these subjects; bat the effect on heI
admirers was instantaneous Tho mo
mcnt man came o. know her. be began
taking caro- of his hands and looking
after himself generally. Uncle Light
foot Myers used 10 say that the colt
who trolted around Helen Knowltou
were the best grcomei youngsters In the
city, and - they were.
When Rush inquired az her door u
Mis- Knowlton was In. he was In such a
state 81 nervous excitement that his voic.
sounded unnatural o. him. She was In,
AMI ho was usherci into tho drawing
room. where she at with Aunt Rsbocca
and Uncle Lghifoot Myers. They al
seemed pleased TO sea him. and for whils
he felt suprcmely happy. Uncle Light
foot and Aunt Rsbccca fell 90 chatting
about a proposed trip 10 Europe, whils
Helen devoted herself o. Rush. lie made
his apologies Tor the episode of the mask
ei hall. and she readily forgave him
Then she asked him why ho had not bccn
To scc her. and she was evidently 20 un
e lscious of having given him cause foI
oIense that be bcgan b. think that per-
haI- be had lcen unreasonable. A. they
talked about one thing and another. Rush
said. "Dy the way. this Is an aniyer
sary.-
"Of whaty' inquired Helen.
"Strange that you should not guess,
answered Rush. "Twenty-onc yearagc
tonight was born" And ho drew him
self up 20 the full dignity of his years.
"whaty said Helen. laughing; 'ar,
you only PIP Why. you are mer'
boyr And she seemed ~ much amused
that Rush felt rather annoyed. lie wa
a boy as bcarls 20. but he was mucl
older than hi. years. and yet again hs
was very boyish. II am every BIT a
old as she is. In my feelings" said Rush
20 himself; but. then. Helen was yery
young for her years.
"Your aunt and Mr.. Myers seem 90 b
discussing a very woighty subject" said
Rush. anxious TO change the converse
ton.
"Yes. they are" Helen replied' "they
are talking over my London engage
ment."
"Are you going 10 LondonF asked
Rush. with undisguised surprise.
"Yes. IL Il all settled except a few pre-
liminaries. lam 90 sing at Drury lan'
the coming season. AMI Uncle Lghtfcot,
Who gives US - much good advice In
business matters. Is arranging the detail
with Aunt Rebcca. don't want tC
have anything 10 do with the business
II have any of that on my mind ! cam
sing. and I dislike 1t anyway. foru
nately Aunt Rebecca likes H."
This gave Rush time to recover. for h'
hal been quito stunned by the blow
London seemed 10 him 20 he at the end
of the world. How hc wished that h'
was Monte Cristo, that he might say
"what do you expect 10 make by you
trip and u che should reply,"A hundrcC
thousand dollars be would say. "Sta,
ai home, and here Is two hundred thou
sand but. alas! two hundred dollar
would be almost moro than he coul,
command. Oh. why was she 20 Kin,
and why did she look 30 beautiful on tn
night when she announced her depart
ure!
lie was afraid he would betray himself
but be must Lnow before she put tho se:
between them whether she was engages
TO West Hastings. II she was, he woult
retire from the field and wait. Ill
woaldnt give up even then. IL she wa
not, ne would stay In the field and bid
his time. Should he ask heri No; tha
would be too bold q step. and u nigh