The Lambertville record., 1905-05-17
G5e SAVING
REVELATION
By Virginia Leila Wentz
Copyright, 1905, 1v Virginia LeiIa wents

cold. Out in Central park there was
the jungle of sleighbells In the air
people, for the most part, making for
home. because the strong wind which
had suddenly swept up the city streets
was now driving dizzy herd of SHOW
flakes before it.
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. pinehed
faces
Helena Chrlsty had to hold her toque
ON with both hands. Her checks and
lips were as red as June roses. Some
chiffon ribbons blew out from under
her furs and happed across her com
panions face They had the faint scent
of some flower or other. Whatever it
was, ii 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 It, His handsome,
manly face Wore the aspect of stern
restraint habitual 10 him.
AS he leaned against the sleigh eush
ions and beheld the diminishing per
spectiVe of electric light prieking itself
cut down the snowy drive, caught sight
of the blue mounted police on their
mettlesome steeds and recognized fa-
miliar faces In the long procession of
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 mt the lower end of the park.
lie was man who never went back
on his fixed purposes.
As they were turning out of the park
on Fifty-ninth street Helena was say
Ing:
"'Fhe woman who is worth while new
er undertakes 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
Il compliment Is the more to be valued.
But | cannot marry You"
The man did not answer ut 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, I'D
like To trcspass II little further some
time and ask permission to discuss the
matter with youf" They We're pulling
up in front of the big white stone apart
ment house where she lived.
AS | said" came back IIelena's
voice lightly as she undid his work of
robe tucking. lin asking me to marry
you YOU paid me 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 me?
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-
dor In the fast growing dusk the fire
light flashed on the little silver kettle
beginning to steam at the spout; Oh the
Dresden and old Worcester ware on the
ebony tea table; on the woman who
had drawn low cushioned chair close
beside It,
'"Fhe 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 ease before the su-
preme court: you are thlrty-or Is It
thirty-onef You have reputation ny n
brilliant. beautiful woman and all that
You can, | am aware. marry any one
of three or four men who can offer
quite as much as |, but modesty was
never characteristic Of mine. And |
can give you almost anything you wish
that costs money | stand well In my
professlon-close to the top of II, In
fact. am not yet forty. On the whole,
marriage between us might be what
Is termed Il very suitable match"
The woman smiled openly "Does the
prosecution here close Its defense?'
Her father also had been judge.
Sugar and cream? Yes? Well, here"
She deftly poured out the fragrant
drink.
AS the man reached for his cup he
looked at her trifie perplexed
Are you offended" he asked. eve
made an offer of marriage In perfect
ly buslnesslike way, having heard you
often declare that n marriage contract
Is like any other contract and should be
entered into only when both parties are
aware Of what they are doing and are
rid of glamour"
His companion paid him the tribute
OF lingering glance in which n uues-
tion mark WAS barely perceptlble But
In the shadows he could no longer see
her facc-only the white parting of her
FURNISHED hair where the freight
shone. In second she was slipping her
tea nonchalantly enough and had re-
covered her vein of light ralllery.
Offended Oh, certainly not. But
the defense will submit an argument
The match would be, as you say,
suitable one-what do our French cous-
ms call itf-mariage de convenance.
As for the three or four men to whom
you refer, I cannot answer I've no
ticed, however that the number OF my
proposals Is falling off lately l attrib-
ute the fact to advancing age. You
were not wrong when you said was
thirty-one. The defense will close the
argument by saying that she has de-
termined to become an old maid"
The Hon. Kelse Siddons was leaning
forward, his strong, muscular hands
clasped loosely before him, a whimsical
smile on his lips.
"Oh, you will never die an old maid!
| will answer for that" The smile
vanished. He resumed his stolid man
ner. But your refusal OF me Is final,
/ take IT."