The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1906-09-16
Author of

the novels and poems she had read. az
the instinct Of her maideUhogd. which
made her shrink from The thought Of
marriage with a man whom she did
not love SO strong was this feeling
In her that az first she felt that sls
could not even bear 10 be introduced
TO him with such an idea IN her mind.
II was Aunt P5uys wisdom and
diplomacy which finally overcame her
scruples enough 20 persuade her 10
that fast step: Helen kept thinking Of
her aunt's wOrds-that no one wanted
10 compel her 10 marry the man. that
she might DO just as size chose. She
argued that IL was foolish 10 worry
herself, or TO be III at ease. She might
see what sort of a man DE was: II he
fell tn love with her il would do n.
harn-llelen was not long in dlscovc--
ing oy the increased pace OF her pulses
that she would find IL exciting 10 hay.
everyone know that a multi mllliona.-e
was In love with her, As for the
rest, She SAID 10 herself. well see
when the time comes, o. aud knew not
that one who goes 10 front his LIES
temptation with that resolution is
mariner who leaves the steering of his
vessel 10 the tempest
She had stlleI her objection by
sueh arguments. aud was lust begin
ming o. ieel tie excitement Of the
prospect once more, when the maid
knocked at the door aud asked 10
know IL maGemoiselle were ready 10
dress for dinner. and mademoiseIle
arose and baJhed her face and arms
and was once more her old refreshed
and rejoicing self for that mysferi-
Gus ana wonderful process which was
10 send hCr ont an hour or two later
a vision of perttctness. COMPOUNDED
OF the hues Of the rose and the od0rs
OF eVeIlns, with the new and unutter-
able magic that is all tie wuman.s
own. Besides the prospects her aunt
had spoken of, there were reasons
enough why Helen should be radiant.
Tor IL was Ter first recognized appaar-
aECc in his b society: and so she sat
IN front of tn tall mirror and erin
cised ever detail of the couture which
the maid prepared, and eyed by turns
her cleaning neck and shoulders and
the wonderful dress, as vet unvvor,
which shone from the bed through, its
covering of tissue paper: and was an
the time so filled with JOY and delight
that II was q pleasure TO be near har
Soon Aunt Polly clad in plain bla..I,
as sign that she retired ia favor If
Helen, came IN TO assist aRd superiD-
tend the toilet So serious at the task.
and so filled with a sense of its nm
pOTtqnCe and the Issues that were
staked upon it was she and the maid
also that one would not dare think
Of the humor of the situation if Helen
herself had not broken the spell By
declaring that she felt like an Asian
tee warrior being decked out for bat
tie with plUmes and war paint, or like
Rinaldo, or Amadis donning his armor.
And Helen was in fact going to war,
war for which nature has been
training women since the first fig tree
grow. She carried bow strong as
the one Of Ulysses, which no man
could draw, and an arrow sharp as
the sunbeam and armed with a barb:
for helmet beside her treasure of
golden hair, she wore one rose set
there with the art that cOnCeals art
so that IL was no longer a red rose.
nut one more bright perfection that
had come to ripeness about the glow
ing maiden. Her dress was of the
same color, color which when worn
upon a woman is a challenge. CRYING
ebroad that here is perfection beyond
envy envy and beyond praise
ben the last touch was finished
and Helen RaZed upon herself with
her bare shoulders and arms and her
throat so soft and white. she knew
that she was, compared to all about
her. q vision from another world.
Choicest OF all, she knew that neither
arms and shoulders, nor robe. nor
cleaning hair would ever be thought
Of when once the face that smiled
upon her with its serene perfectness
had caught the eye; she knew shat.
IN
saw her. and never take their ewes
from her. The thought filled her with
an eXult!ng consciousness of power,
and reared her form with a new dig
nifty. and mace her chest hfaye and
her checks burn with yet a new
beauty.
ITO Be Continued Next Sunday