Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1899-09-30

SHE TOOK FROM A VASE A CLUSTER
OF MERINET ROSES.
reached Helen's ears, and the poor
girl was thrown into state OF mind
that could be endured no longer.
OH she sighed, as IL protesting
to herself. ''Dick-and that Mrs. Rob.
iLson-oh,--it cannot be true! And
yet | have felt that he was changing
toward me- He has not been here fol
three days. Oh, what shall ! dor
will not believe it, / Will not! l Will
90 and call on Mrs. Robinson this very
day. so that-.that people won't think
l am Jealous. Dick, how could your
Bitter tears filled her eyes, but she
wiped them away determinedly. Slow.
ly she rose and went TO her room, and
there dressed herself with care, as wo
men always dress for the benefit oil
their rivals. She was tall and stately
with n cloud of ruddy hair and bril-.
liant gray eyes, softened by long dark
lashes. When she gazed at herself In
the mirror she was well satisfied that
her severe tailor gown showed hei
beauty TO good advantage.
In ten minutes she sat In Mrs. Robin
sons little French drawing-room, ano
in few minutes the owner of IL was
welcoming her vivaciously.
Mrs. Robinson was small, dark and
very chic. Helen's heart sank as she
looked al her rival. The little widow
taking no notice, apparently, of heI
visitors rather stiff manner, was chat
ting away, making commonplace re
marks requiring no answers.
Il am going to tell you what love
ly gown you have on" she said. "DC
you know, when l was girl at school
we had lady principal, tall, stately
creature, who had evidently had little
social advantages. One day, as she
was giving group OF us some points
on etiquette as she called them, she
said that there were three DIS never
mentioned in polite society We all
waited, really expecting her. l think
to begin with the devil: but no, dis
ease, dress and domestics constituted
her list. You know how schoolgirls
give nicknames; we chrlstened heI
Polite Society then and there. The
memory Of that absurd little incident
clings to me yet, and whenever l am
tempted to comment on some lovely
gown / always feel sense of guilt
She laughed and went on: You ART
so tall Miss Easton. YOU put me at q
great disadvantage, and | really think
that's the most cruel thing one woman
can do to another.
Helen Easton leaned forward.
mo, Mrs. Robinson" she said. heI
voice vibrating with emotion and hei
hands gripping the arms of her chair
"rhat is not the most cruel thing one
woman can do TO another. When q
woman, BEAUTIFUL and young, knows
that another woman loves man, and
that he Is pledged to her, and she still
tries to lead this man away from the
one who loves him--truly, that Is the
most cruel thing" Her voice broke
but she went on "And-and-thai
poor creature who sees her lover taken
from her-can you imagine her misery
her powerless misery? That broken
heart will lie at the door of the-the
other woman"
Her words were mere whisper, and
her gray eyes were trimming with
tears. She rose unsteadily. The little
widows eyes were misty, too, and hei
tone was also low.
"But. remember. Miss Easton, In
fatuation is not love-"
For n moment they stood In silence
Then Helen said:
II must 90.
wait a moment" said Mrs. Robin
son. She went over to the piano and
took from vase n great cluster OF
Merinet roses. saying with emotion
"'rhese should be yours. Let me give
them to YOU"
They fell into each others tender EN-
brace. and then parted each too much
overcome to trust herself to speak.
lsssN ~. n Al A..
dow and watched Helen go down the
street.
Il told the TRUTH she said TO her
self. 1T is only infatuation-witf
him. But with me-Alas, l am ex
perienced and know what love is.
am happy only in the thought that
do not believe that he loves me-
Sophia Gates Kerr. in Times-Hcrald.