Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1905-02-23
A GIRLS MISTAKE.


f AUHl alu continually uoiNE- tudi ial See
Ing pretty girls who would have Been
so very much prettier and nicer In all
ways II only clever woman had
caught them young and trained them.
Not only trained them IN fascinating
ways and manners and carriage and
voice but IN brains and common sense.
They do such inexousabiy idiotic
things, these giddy, vacant-headed girls
mot trivial forgotten-ln-a-week2)it it
tie senseless acts, but mistakes which
will dog them to the end Of their lives.
Take Helen Ormsby, for instance When
Helen was about IS II was plainly to be
seen that she was developing into a
beauty, one OF those rounded creatures
of the clear brown skin which Is 50 rare.
lustrous eyes and heavy blue-black hair
remember my pleasure in looking a.
her Then It was dulled by the fact that
she talked with rasplng drawl through
her nose--but her nose was so beauti-
fully shaped that It helped condone the
sin Only hoped her mother would no
tice It.
Mrs. Ormsby was bright. energetic,
pleasant little woman who might rea-
sonably be supposed to know how to
bring out girls best points and restrain
her faults. forgot at the time that
mothers who can see their daughters
faults are as rare as dollar bills grow
ing on oak trees. Helen's command OF
polite slang was marvellous If she had
devoted the same energy to French and
German she would have been wonder.
Even then she was quite belle and the
boys of her age showered her with can
died attentions.
Helen really oughtn't to be going out
evenings while she Is in school," her
mother often said. anxiously. Il want
her to GO to college when she is through
here. and there's her music But when
half dozen boys each want her to go
T. tho sarnA marty and she heas 40 what
can l do? There's no denying she is
popular"
Helen certainly had popularity, what
ever else she lacked Her humble
slaves jumped at her bidding. Mrs.
Ormsby, unhappy between the convic-
tion that adoring youths should not in
terfere with her daughters education
and good deal of pride over being
mother to such an attractive young per-
son, worried and enjoyed her misery.
That young Lapham would call every
evening to see Helen If I'd allow 1t, she
said one day when Helen was nearing
her eighteenth birthday. His father is
the rich Lapham you've heard about and
the boy is certainly handsome. You
ought to see the flowers he sends her
It's Standardization beauties and all
thatl"
Helen still talked with twang, was
sublimely condescending to her mother
and took the good things of life her
parents showered on her with gracious
disdain. She was blase young person
instead of girl just ready to begin to
enjoy living. Mrs. Ormsby spoke rather
anxiously now when she mentioned coll
lege. 1t seemed there had been rue
ton In the OrEsby family on this sub
ject Four more years of study did not
meet the approval of the young lady Of
the household. The gracious, broad
minded, reserved and sweet womanhood
her mother had dimly pictured always
as within her daughters grasp. the nat
ural complement Of her beauty, seemed
distressingly elusive. Helen's only in
terest In life was to outdistance all the
other girls as a favorite, Young Lapham
still continued her shadow. Mrs. Orms-
by was not so enthusiastic.
He isn't the right sort, she confided
to me one day when she was blue.
Helen doesn't notice, because he spends
money on her like water; she thinks he
is splendid but he is selfish and lazy and
rude and know he is too fond of liquor.
He never earned dollar In his life"
Mrs. Ormsby grew frantic. Helen
only laughed at tears and expostulation.
Young Lapham gave her good time. a
Rn4 tima--ali the girls anvied her. What
was the use of looking ahead of to-day?
1t was not in her philosophy.
! Every one else expected what hap
pened long before the Ormsbys dreamed
of It, Young Lapham called one even
ing and smiled carelessly at the politely
frigid reception he got from the older
members OF the family.
You know that day Helen Epent out
at her cousins in Evanston last week?"
he began, abruptly. Mr.. and Mrs. Orms-
by looked up. well, she wasn't there.
She and took little run up into Wis
consin and were married Show them
your ring. Helen"
Laughing triumphantly, the girl did
so. She could not appreciate the stab
she had given her father and mother.
sitting white-faced, incredulous, sick at
heart She never will, for she is selfish
to the core. She and young Lapham had
thought the whole affair a good joke
So there Helen is to-day-when other
girls of her age are gayly and whole
somely enjoying their first dip into the
outside world at college or abroad, learn
Ing to judge the world and men and
themselves so that there is small chance
to wreck their lives-established In a
tiny fiat with a husband already careless
of her who has a $50 a month clarkshin