The Washington times., 1906-09-23

proved entirely we'll made. FOR when
she stopped she received a real ova-
tIOn. having genuinely astouished her
hearers, and she crossed the room,
heaming radiaDtly upon every one and
acknowledging their compliments.
more assured Of triumph than ever be
fore. To cap the climax. when she
reached her seat she found Mr.. HIrrl-
son hetraying completely his profound
admiration, his gaze being rlvcted
upon the glowing girl as she sat down
beside him.
Miss Davis" he said with evident
sincerity. that was really wonderfult'
Thank YOU very much said Helen.
Tad.antly
'It was the most splendid piano
playing ] have ever heard in my life."
the other went on. Pray what was IT
that you played-somethmg new"
"Ch. no. was the answer, 1T Is
very old indeed"
''Ah," said Mr.. Harrison. those old
composers were very great men"
Yes" said Helen, demurely.
Il was astouished TO see with what
ease you played" he continued, "and
Yet so maryeluu,iy fast, That must
be a fearfuiy hard piece Of music 10
play"
Yes. IL is" said Helen; but Il Is
quite exciting" she aided. tanning
herself and laughing.
Helen was al the top OF her being
just then and iu perfect command of
things, she had no idea OF letting her
self be dragged down into the com
monplace again II think its about
time I was fascinating him." she said
20 herself. and she started in. full of
meFFmeut ard life. Taking her last
remark as a cue, she told him funny
stories about The eCCentricities Of the
souGt1's great composer how he
would storm and rage up and down
h.s room like a madnau. and how
he aired boy 10 pump water over
his head by the hour. I'm case OF
emergency.
Mr.. Harrison remarked that Il was
funny how all musicians were such
queer chaps. but even that did not
discourage Helen She ratified on quite
as supremely captivating as she had
been al the dinner table, and as she
saw that her companion was yielding
20 her spell the color mounted 10 her
cheeks and her blood flowed faster
yet.
K IS of the nature of such a flame
10 feed itself. and Helen grew the
more exulting as she perceived her
success-and consequently all the more
irresistible, The eyes Of the man were
soon rlyeted uDOn the gorgeous vision
Of loveliness before him, and the con-
tagion of the girls animation showed
itself even in him. for he frightened
a little and was clever enough TO
startle himself. Il was a new delight
and stimulus 10 Helen TO perceive il,
and she was soon swept away In much
the same kind of nervous delight as
her phantasy with the thunderstorm.
The sofa upon which the two were
seated bad been somewhat apart from
the rest and so they had nothing 10
disturb them. A short half hour fled
by. during which Helens daring ami
nation ruled everything, and at the
end Of which Mr.. Harrison was quite
oblivious TO everything about him.
There were others, however. who
were watching the affair; the keen
ered Aunt Polly was comprehending
all with joy. but she was as ever calcu-
lating and prudent, and she knew that
Helen's monopoly Of Mr.. Harrison
would soon become unpleasantly con-
spicuous. especially as she had so far
introduced him to no one else. She
felt that little would be lost by break
ing the spell. for what the girl was
doing then she might do any time
she chose; and so. after waiting lit
tie while longer she made her way
uuobtrusIvely over TO them and Joined
their conversation.