The Washington times., 1906-10-07


argued that she was not engaged to
the man because OF his cleverness, and
that when she had come TO the infinite
happiness toward which she was
travelling so fast, she would have IN
spiration enough for two. She had
enough for che present TO keep them
both happy throughout the drive, and
when she returned she found that
some Of the neighbors had driven over
10 see her. end 10 increase her ex-
citement by their congratulations. 2he
Machavellian Aunt Polly bad told the
news 10 several friends on the day be-
fore knowing full well that II would
spread during the right. and that
Helen would have her first taste Of
triumph the next day.
And so Il continued and exactly as
on tho night before the feverish ex-
element swept Helen on until the
bedtime hour arrived. Then she went
up into her room alone 20 wTestle
with the same dreadful specter as be-
fore.
The story OF that day was the story
Of all that followed; Helen was des-
tined 10 find that she might sweep her
self away upon the wings Of her am
bitIon "a often as size chose. and Tevel
all she pleased In the thought OF Mr.
Harrison's wealth; but when the ex-
element was over. and she canc 20
be all alone. she could think only OF tho
one dreadful fact Of the necessity Of
marrying him. She was paying a
Faustus price for her happiness: and
in the night time the price stared at
her and turned all her happiness 20
misery.
A state OF mind such as this was so
alien to Helen that 90 would have been
strange lid eed ir she had sunk into il
without protest and rebellion; as day
after day passed. and the misery con
tlnued. her dissatisfaction with every
thing about her Quilt itself INTO n
climax. more and more plainly she
was coming 70 see the ideninE or the
had missed during the night, and was
pursuing and the place where she
stood Finally there came one day,
nearly "a week after Her engagement,
when Helen was so exhausted and so
wretcheG that she had made up her
mind tr remain IN hcr room. and had
wfthstood all her aunt's attempts {"
dIssuads her She had passed the
morning in bed. between equally vain
attempts 10 become interested in
hook and 20 make up FOR the sleep she
had missed during the night, and was
iust about giving ny both IN despair
when the maid entered 10 say that
Elizabeth wished tc see her. Helen
cave a start. Tor she knew that some
thing must be wrong. Th"n the NO
man entered she asked breothlessly
what it was-
nus about Mr.. Arthur" was the
hurried reply. and Helen turned paier
than ever and eIutched the bedcloth-
fng in her trembling hands
what is it," she cried.
WHY. you know Miss Helen said
Elizabeth. your father wrote me 20
E1 and see him whenever / could, ana
I've lust come from there this morn
ing
And how is hc2'
"He looked dreadful, but he had got
ten up TODAY. and he was sitting oy
the window when ] came in- He was
hardly shadow Of himself
Helen vas trembling.
..You have not been 20 see himg'
asked the woman.
NO. said Helen. family. L"
and then she stopped.
..Whv not2" Elizabeth inquired anxi-
ously
-Tie dld not ask for me. did he?'
asked the girl. scarcely able 20 utter
the words.
NO" said the woman, but you
know. everybody told me you were
engaged 90 a rich man
And Helen started forward with
c-v. .EIizabethr' she gasped, you
YOU 6idn't-!"
Yes" said the other. Il told hima'
and then seeing the girls look OF ter
ror. she stopped short. Helen stared
at her for fully half a minute with
out utterlng a word; and then the
woman went on, slowly, 1T was very
dreadful. Miss Helen; he went almost
crazy. and 7 was so frightened that !
didn't know what I should do. Please
ten me what rs the matter
Helen was still gazing dum5ly at the
woman seeming not 20 have heard
the last question II can't tell
YOU" she said, when Il was repeated
again. "you ought not 10 have told
him Elizabeth"
Miss Helen" cried the woman. anx-
iouslv YOU must do something! For
I am sure that 7 know what IS the
n nfiFT. NE iFhTE 'Nf anu '-' mus
know Il too. And II will certainly
XIII him: weak as he wa. he rushed
out Of the house and I could not find
him anywhere Miss Helen. you must
go and see him."
The girl sat with the same look Of
helpless fright upon her face, and with
her hands clenched tightly between her
knees: the other went on talking hur-
riedly. but Helen scarcely heard any
thing after that her mind was too
full OF it's own thoughts. Il was sew
eral minutes more before she even
noticed that the woman was still in
sistlng that she must go TO see Ar
thur. please leave me nowi" she
cried wildly; please leave me! I can
not explain anything want 20 be
alone" And when the door was shut
she became once more dumb and mo-
tlonlcSs, staring blankly ahead of her
helpless victim Of her own wretched
thoughts
THAT is the end Of it." she groaned
TO herself. "oh, that IS the end Of IT."
CHAPTER VIII.
Thou wouidst be happy,
Eudiessly happy,
or endlessly wretched.