Waterbury Democrat., 1902-07-30
THE advent of Helen Barr as si

HtHE advent of Helen Barr as steno og-
 rapher created a genuine sensa- sion in Hotel Pacldnghom. The staid manager, broad of paunch and bald of head, began to dictate his own let bers, instead of leaving them to his assistant. The chief clerk surpassed even his own high standard of sartor- ial splendor and curled the ends of his mustache so high that the points served him as ga sight" for the aim ing of many glances of admiration. The captain of the bellboys began to throw out his chest and take on the airs of a grown man, the clarion tones of front" became music to the ears sof the "buttons,'' for it required g. ' sudden appearance within range of Miss Barr's incomparable eyes. Even the house detective, the stewart and the door men lighted up, and as for the male guests, they suddenly de- ive1oped into continuous and most vol luminous letter writers.
 Miss Barr was beauty, as anyone could see. Her hair was auburn and her eyes dark blue. The clerk insist . ed that they were royal purple" and
 
 ing man that she would say so herself if asked. He lost the wager, however, for, when the saucy question was put to her, she 'blushed beautifully, and said: "I never noticed, sir" But, as the inquisitor attempted to push his investigation, the girl turned back to her typewriter and murmured: sAny- way, there's no green in them." This innocent retort had the effect of a rebuff, and Miss Barr's popularity "went off point with the clerk. But she could be very gracious without stepping across the limitations of per- feet decorum, and her calm suitability of disposition and habitual cheerful ness of expression intrenched her pop ularity without permitting familiar ity.
 Capt. Hugh Baldwin, U. s. A., came to the Rockingham to ''recuperate" after period of detached service in South America. He was tall, sun burned, blond, good to look at and distinguished, with all the frank gem ltility of Soldier and an officer. Of all her customers Miss Barr had found Capt. Baldwin the most interesting. He was friendly without being obtru- sive, gay without being silly and re- spectful without being distant. The alert beauty had found out great many things about him in the course of week. for he wrote to Mrs. Bald win every day. He had assured her that 'she didn't know how soon he'd be home" because he was still ''far from we'll" etc. These seemingly un- warranted explanations gave Miss Barr the idea that the handsome cap tain was something of rogue, for she had never seen a finer example of TO- bust manhood.
 The number of gay young men who called on him seemed to indicate that he might be what she vaguely sus- pected as 'tone of the boys" Some times he wrote letters to other women than Mrs. Baldwin, and, although these were usually noncommittal and of the jolly sort that might well pass between a jolly bachelor and his so- ciety acquaintances, yet Miss Barr fancied that they were not the kind of letters she would like her husband to be writing if she were married. Then, thought the girl, ''he has chil- Idren. Let's see. He mentioned Amy, Tom, Catherine and Baby Hugh. Umph! I think he is pretty gay for man of family.'' It was not till he be- gan the practice of leaving flowers and bonbons on her desk that Helen awak- ened to a realization of Capt. Bald wins possible vilIainy. Without re- fecting that his character, good or bad, should in no way interfere with her peace of mind, she began to worry, grieve and get pale. She knew that his wife was urging him to come home, and she was sure that his trumped-up excuses were either frivolous or ut- terly untrue. Finally she asked him to please stop giving her presents" but try as she might she couldn't find an excuse for mentioning his wife and his duty toward his family. 'I'm not supposed to know anything about that" she thopoht. and vet she pug