The Washington times., 1906-09-23
CHAPTER Y-fContinuedl .

o11iet and unobtrlIsive person, LOOKING
iuzr what h. had been represented
"a DIetn. senslble man" who attended
IN his half OF the family affairs, ana
left the other half to his wife. lie
gazed upon Helen and blinked once
or twice. as n blinded by so much
beauty. and then took the end OF heT
fingers very lightly In his ana pro
nounced her absolutely perfect
And. my dear" he added. It's
after 7. so perhaps we'd best descend
So he led the girl down 10 her
triumph. 70 the handsome parlors ot
the house where eight or ten men were
stroIllng about II was quite exciting
70 Helen TO meet them, for they were
all strangers. and Aunt Polly had
annarentIv considered Mr. Harrison of
so much Importance that she had said
nothing about the others. leaving her
niece az liberty 10 make what specu-
latlons she pleased
II was a brilliant company which
was seated in the dining room p short
while later As II was assembled IN
Heien's honor, Aunt Polly had taken
care 10 bring chose who would please
luxury at It's best; all Of the guests
were young. and therefore perfect
The members of the smart set" when
they have passed the third decade, are
ant to show signs of WEAKNESS: a lit
tie Of their beauty and health IS gone,
and some Of their animation. and all ~
their foy-so that one may be led to ask
himself n there be not really some
A.. @ ..-N. H.. 4 rH.r rHr
Of living When they are young, how
ever. thcy represent the possibilities nf
The human animal in an things OK
ternal. In some wonderful way known
only 70 themselves they have managed
% manipulate tho laws Of men 20 as
10 make men 40 for them the hard
and painful tasks of life, so that they
have no care but 20 make themselves
IS beautiful and as clever and as gen
orally excellent as selhshness can be-
Helen of course. was not in the least
troubled about the selhshness and she
was quite satisfied with eNteTnals. She
saw about her perfect toilets and per
feet manners. she saw every one rs
happy as she liked every one to be;
and the result was that her spirits
took ne and she was clever and fas-
rfrauoG beyond even herself. She car
rled everything before her, and per-
formed tie real feat of duminatiGg the
. table by her beauty and clevcrneas,
without being either presumptuous or
vain. Aunt Polly replied g. the de-
lighted looks of her husband at the
other END of the table. and the two
only wished that Nh Harrison had
been there then.
As a matter OF fact Helen had for
gotten Mr.. Harrison entirely, and he
cid not come back 10 her mind until
the dinner was almost over when sud
denly she heard the bell ring. 1t WAS
just the time that he was due 10 ar
rive. and so she knew THAI she would
see him In another half hour. in the
eXultauou OF the present moment all
az her hesitation was gone, and she
vyas as ready 10 meet him as her aunt
could have wished
When the party rose a few minutes
later and went into the parlors again.
Helen vas the first 10 enter. upon the
arm of her ueighbor. She was think
Ing of Mr.. Harrisoni and as she
glanced about her she could not keep
from giving "a slight start Far down
at the other end Of the room she had
caught sight of The figure of man.
and her first thought had been that il
must be the millionaire. His trail,
slender form was more than half con-
CealcI by the cushions of the sofa
upon which he was seated. but even
60. Helen could discover that he was
UiEut cripple.
The man rose as the party entered.
and Aunt Polly went toward him: she
apparently expected her niece 20 fol-
low and be introduced 10 the stranger,
but in the mean time the truth had oC-
CURED 70 Helen, that II must he the
NIr. Howard She had been told OF; she
turned TO one side with her partner
and began remarking the pictures in
the room.
When she found opportunity she
glanced over and saw that the man
b~G seated himself on the sofa and
Vyas talking to Mrs. Roberts. He look
ed, as Helen thought. all the invalid
her aunt had described him 20 be, for
his face was white and very wan. so
that Il made her shuddor.. Dear mer'
she exclaimed to herself Il don't
think such a man ought TO go into
public" And she turned resolutely
away. and set herself to the task of
forgetting him. which she very easily
did.
A merry party was soon gathered
about her, rejoicing IN the glory of
her presence. and listening 10 the
stories which she told Of her adven-
lures i'm Europe. Helen kent the circle
well ia hand that way, and was equal
j. ready when one Of the young ladies
turred the conversation OF uDon
French noetry In the hope OF eclipsing
--r Thus her animation continued
without rest until Mrs. Roberts es-
Corted one Of the guests TO the plano
TO sing for them.
shes keeping me for Mr.. Harri-
SON thought Helen. laughing mis-
chievously 10 herself; "and I suppose
she's picked out the worst musician
first. so as to build up a climax.
Il seemed as If that might have been
the plan for a fact; the performer
sang part OF Glucks "Jat perdu mon
Eurydice." a" IN strange French. and in a
mournful voice which served very well
20 display the incompatibuity OF the
melody and the words. As It happen