The Press., 1905-06-07
66e SAVING
 REVELATION By Virginia Leila Wentz
ooprtOnt, 1906. by VtrOtnto Lstua Wsnts

| was now urlVlnS d ulzzy ueEO VI SAOW- | flakes before 1t.
 Women sitting In their sleighs, un-
 der the full stare of the setting sun,
 did not feel their rugs and furs one
 whit too heavy. Down in the city's
 narrow streets and wind swept tene- ments the poor drew their shawls and coat collars higher round gray, pInched faces.
 Helena Chrlsty had to hold her toque on with both hands. Her cheeks and lips were as red as June roses. Some chiffon ribbons blew out from under her furs and Tapped across her com panion's face. They had the faint scent of some flower or other. Whatever 1t was, it was the scent he loved best In the world.
 But If either the woman or the per fume awakened any sentiment in him the expression of the Hon. Kelsie Sid dons did not show 1t. His handsome, manly face wore the aspect of stern restraint habitual to him.
 AS he leaned against the sleigh cush- Ions and beheld the diminishing per spective of electric light pricking itself out down the snowy drive, caught sight of the blue mounted police on their mettlesome steeds and recognized fa- miliar faces in the long procession 0f sleighs and carriages rolling northward, he was conscious of only one thing-he had set out on this drive with the fixed purpose of asking the woman beside him to become his wife. And her home lay just at the lower end of the park.
 He was a man who never went back on his fixed purposes.
 AS they were turning out of the park on Fffty-ninth street Helena was say ing:
 "The woman who Is worth while nev- CT underwriters the offer of marriage from any man. Be he much or little, 1t Is the greatest compliment he can pay her. Coming from you, my friend, such compliment is the more to be valued. But cannot marry you"
 The man did not answer at once. Neither did the expression of his face seem to change. He tucked the lap robe around her little more securely.
 Do you know" he remarked when he had finished with the fur robe, "Pd like to trespass a little further some time and ask permission to discuss the matter with you" They were pulling up in front of the big white stone apart ment house where she lived.
 "As I said" came back Helena's voice lightly as she undid his work of oI~ &a you you paid me a great compliment In exchange, dare say, owe you per mission to indulge your hobby for ar gument and discussion. Come in now, won't you, and have some tea with mel warn you no amount of argument can profit either of us; but still, come"
 Within, behind heavily curtained win dows, in sharp contrast to the biting cold without, were sweet warmth, soft rugs, draped screens, shaded lamps, all the dainty plenishings of modern bou- doir. In the fast growing dusk the fire light flashed on the little silver kettle beginning to steam at the spout; on the Dresden and old Worcester ware on the ebony tea table; on the woman who had drawn a low cushioned chair close beside It.
 "The situation Is like this," the man was saying in rather much the same tone of voice he would have used in ar guing an important case before the su- preme court: "You are thirty-or Is 1t thirty-one? You have a reputation as a brilliant, beautiful woman and all that. You can, I am aware, marry any one of three or four men who can offer quite as much as I, but modesty was never a characteristic of mine. And can give you almost anything you wish that costs money. I stand we'll in my profession-close to the top of 1t, in fact. am not yet forty. On the whole, a marriage between us might be what Is termed a very suitable match"
 The woman smiled openly. Docs the prosecution here close It's defenser Her father also had been a judge. Sugar and cream? Yes? We'll, herer' She deftly poured out the fragrant drink.
 AS the man reached for his cup he looked at her trifie perplexed.
 Are you offendedT he asked. "I've made an offer of marriage in a perfect ly businesslike way, having heard you often declare that marriage contratt Is like any other contract and should b. entered into only when both parties ar, aware of what they are doing and are rid of glamour"
 His companion paid him the tribute of lingering glance in which a ques- ton mark was barely perceptible. But In the shadows he could no longer see her face-only the white parting of her burnished hair where the firelight shone. In second she was slipping her tea nonchalantly enough and had re- covered her vein of light raillery.
 Offended? Oh, certainly not But the defense will submit an argument. The match would be, as you say, a suitable one-what do our French cous- ins call it?-mariage de convenance AS for the three or four men to whom you refer, I cannot answer. I've mo- dced, however, that the number of nay proposals is falling of lately. I attrib- ute the fact to advancing age. You were not wrong when you said was thlrty-one. The defense will close the argument by saying that she has de- termined to become an old maidP'
 The Hon. Kelsie Siddons was leaning forward, his strong, muscular hands clasped loosely before him, whimsical smile on his lips.
 "Oh, you will never die an old maidI will answer for thatp' The smile vanished. He resumed his stolid man. ner. "But your refusal of me is final, I take itY' -..
 ''Do seem to be meltingT Helena | Inquired, with a touch of defiance | which comported Ill with the tumultu- ous beating of her heart and a most an- moving feeling of tremulousness about | her lips.
 The man rose and went to the win | dow. Far off. across the park, arose