Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1902-07-29

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/ ~ fine country place, heaps of ready
n.oney-and perfect liberty. Helen. is
| there anything left to wish for?" Hill
dfeth asked, laying down the lawyers
letter. Helen shrugged the least bit as
she answered: why, yes. If only one
could have been born a widow
Il am ready to immediate myself
Widows are easier made than born
Hildreth said. catching her hand
'Only make me your lord, Helen of
Troy. and | will promise to do the dis
appearing act whenever you are
ready"
You don't understand. or course /
should hate being made widow
Made widows have to wear caps, and
land people say such horrid, horrid
things of them if they venture to be-
oh, the least bit human-I mean not
funereal. But if only one could be
born to that estate. with all the grief
over or softened to a becoming pensive
memory, why, II would be heavenly
the best lives of all. Helen said. puck
| ering her forehead the best she could.
Scowling was an unknown art to her.
She had laughed persistently in the
face Of hard fortune Now that the
| tide had turned her gay courage began
to ebb.
IF only had anybody all my own. l
c1,r Ind 81,
there Is not a soul Maybe | ought to
be selfshly glad. If there was q soul
nearer than ninth cousin. this wonder
full fairy fortune would be cut In two.
/ cannot feel that ! in the least de-
serve it. But only think! | can have
what frocks please and silver money
for my poor people instead of pennies"
'.Will it spoil you, | wondery Hill
dreth said medtatively. You know
we've always said money was the real
tombstone. Any poor body can be de-
cent; there is so little temptation to be
anything else"
II wish I knew" Helen said. 81
think souls are like flowers, making
the earth they grow in too rich-ruins
If it does not kill them outright"
"You are not extensively rich. All
told, this great-uncles legacy foots up
quarter of million. Spending that
will never bother person OF your luxu-
rious capacities" Hildrcth said consol-
ingly.
Helen laughed. "And | have existed
on less than six hundred Il year." she
said. Promise me, Vance, you viii
never change-the beastly money shall
make no difference with rs.
"Its bound to make n difference
Think Of daring to ask you now to dine
with me at L'Ally'sw IIildreth laugh
ed back: Nothing Will go with you but
Merry's or the Swelldorf. And J can
not eat your dinners there since | have
not the coin to return them in kind.
you are lorribler' Helen said
promptly. .By way of punishment, !
invite myself TO dine with you tonight.
Not at L'AIly's either-weH go to that
forty cent place where the coffee Is so
sinful that it always suggests an ap-
peal to the police. Maybe some or the
Others will be there"
"All of them. It's near the middle of
The week. Pay day Is two days ahead
| for most of the gang" IIildrcth an
swered, with Il flickering, smile. Lord,
| shall like to see them when they
know! You are going to tell them, Of
course, Helen:'
.You may tell them. I shall not say
word" Helen said. setting her finger
| tips together I'm beginning to be
| cowardly," she went ON. Suppose it
should turn out that my money costs
me my friends and my illusonsw
II hardly understand" Hiidrcth be-
gan.
She raised her hand. This Is my
! fear" she saidl "All these five years |
have been out In the scurry of things.
have Rugged the belief that my that
people liked me for what ! was, not for
| what might one day become. Latter
ly, since GuInpscy's has asked for and
| exploited my stories, there has been SC
perceptible warming up in some quar-
tiers ii has iiatlc me a bit cynical. Now
| am saying 10 myself Suppose the
money draws The syfophants to you,
and the fcyr OF seeming syeophantie
| drives away the real oucsT That would
be terrible | hope oh. how hope
that those . care most for viii under
stand. however my way Of life changes
] myself shall be just the same.
II shall believe it, IIildreth said
| lifting her hand 10 bis lips .'In proof
you must dine with me this night year
aud at the forty cent plaee-if 1t sur
wives so long.
| "If 1t does not. you shall dine will
me- Helen said gratefully, land no
at the Swclldorf either. 1t shall b
deep in the country, under my own I'll
tree and vine.s
NO: the forty cent place did not di
in answer to my prayers" Hildret
said upon the anniversary Of Helen
inheriting. lie sat opposite her. with
broad damask snowficId between. al
the breadth of it cleaning with silve
and crystal. Roses lay loosely over
heavy headed dollhouse roses grow
upon the place. Helen. vision l
misty white. with pearls at her throa
and richer roses at her breast, was q
unlike the girl OF last year. She ha
been trinity tailor made, yet very. yer
. thrcadbarc then. Somehow HiIdret
found it hard to give her place to til
fluffy. fluttery creature who now al
swered her name.
He had been absurdly fond OF II