The Washington times., 1906-11-04

No one but her father knew why II
was that she was 50 subdued and
silent
II was only on the third morning.
when there came a letter from Mr.
Howard saying that he was coming
out that afternoon to see her. that
Helen seemed 10 be interested and
stirred again. She went 10 the win
do4 more than once to look tor him;
and when al last her friend had ar
rived. and the two We're seated in tho
parlor. she said 10 him without walt
ing for any circumstance, i have
been wishing very much 20 see you,
Mr.. Howard. because there is some
thing / am anxious 10 talk TO you
about. II you viii let me"
Il am sorry to say that it is about
myself" she went on. when the other
had expressed his willingness to hear
her. FOR / wanted 10 ask you 20 help
me. and to give me some advice. /
ought TO have asked you the ques-
tions / am going 10 before this. but
the last time I saw you / could think
about nothing but Arthur. They only
came to me after you had gone
What are thev?" asked the man.
You must know. Mr.. Howard" said
me the wrongness Of all that ] was
doing in my life. and stirred me with
desire TO do better. find now that
such thoughts have always been so
far from me that the wish 10 be right
Is all that / have. and ! do not know
L all what 10 do. II seemed 20 me
that ] would rather talk 10 you about
Il than any one. even nay own. father.
I dS not know whether that Is Just
right but you do not mind my asking
you. do yOu?"
1t Is my wish to help you in every
way that I cam was the gentle re-
sponse
II will tell you what ! have been
thinking" said Helen. Il have been so
unhappy IN the last three days that
have done nothing at all; but 70 seem
&c 10 me somehow that fl must be
wrong OF me 10 let go OF myself in
that way-as IL / had no right 10
pnmper myself and indulge my own
feelings. II was not that ] wished 10
forget what wrong things ! have done.
or keep from suffering because OF
them; yet it seemed to me that the
fact that / was wTetched and fright
ened was no excuse FOR my doing no
good FOR the rest Of my life. When /
have thought about my duty before. IL
has always been my school girls task
Of studying and practiCing music, but
that Is rot az all what ] want now,
for / cannot bear To think OF such
things while the memory Of Arthur Is
in my mind. / need something that
is not for myself Mr.. Howard. and
find myself thinking that il should
be something that / do not like 20 do.
Helen paused for a moment. gazing
at the other auNlously, and then she
went on; You must know that what
Is really behind what ] am saying
is that YOU said that evening in the
arbur. about the kind of woman ]
ought 10 be because God has made
ne beautiful Nv heart is fun OF A
great hunger 20 be ser right and q
get clearer sight OF the things shal
ARE truly good iu life. ] want YOU 20
talk 10 me about your own ideals,
and what you do 20 keep your life
deep and true and then 10 tell me
what you would do in my place. :
promise YOU that no matter how hard
IL may be : shall feel that just what
YOU tell me 10 do is nay duty. and At
lesst / shall never be happy again
until ] have done H. DO YOU under
I
Yes" the man answered in a quiet
voice Il understand you perfectly.
And then as lTs paused. watching the
girl from beneath his dark brows.
Helen asked. you do not mind talk
ing to me about yourself?"
When a man lives all alone and
as seIf-centeTed as T. the other re-
piled. smiling. Iii is fatally easy for
l. Ia. .
with his ideals ia such curious way
that he never talks about anything
else. But II you will excuse that,
will tell you what I can"
Tell me why II Is that you live
So much alone" said the girl rs It
that you do not care for frleuds?"
1t IS very difficult for a man who
feels about life as I do to find many
friends" ne responded. II one
strives to dwell in deep things, and
Is very keen and earnest about il,
he Is apt to find very little 10 help
him outside Of himself; perhaps it il
because ] have met very few persons
in my life. but Il has not happened TO
me 70 find any one who thinks
about It IS I do. or who cares 70 live
it with my strenuousness- / have
very lard at their art. but none who
felt Il a duty 20 labor with their own
souls, 10 make them beautiful and
strong, and / have met literary men
and scholars. but they were all in
terested in books. and were willing 10
be learned. and 10 classify and plod
/ have never found one who was swift
and eager. and fun OF high Impotence
for What is real and the best. There
should come times to a man. / think.
when he feels that books are an i'm
pertinenCe. when he knows that he
has only the iOng-delayed battle with
mis- own heart 10 fight. and the prize
Of Its Joy to win. When such moods
come upon him he sees that he has
TO live his life upon his knees, and it
is rarely. indeed that he knows Of
any one who can follow him and
share in his labor SO IL IS that 1
have had 10 live all my life by my
self. Miss Davis"
You have always done that?" Helen
asked. as he stopped.
Yes" he answered, cor for very
many years. I have a little house on
the widest Of lakes up in the noun
tains. where I play the hermit in the