Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1906-03-23
SHE WAS STARING AT A PHOTOGRAPH.

Ing against the asccndcncy Of the
worse side of Churchill's nature. for.
after all. when n man leaves running
after pretty faces and begins to run
after one pretty face he Is not much
the better for the change \ mans
higher nature should impcl him to seek
q suitable mate. II woman who can help
him and in some measure comprehend
him. 1t seemed to Helen almost n duty
to show Churchill that not all pretty
women were dolls; that one Of them
might possibly be companion and
even an equal In her own way.
Upon the day that has been mention
ed Churchill was not looking his best.
lie was somewhat pale: he seemed to
have grown older, and all the lines In
his face were Intensified He greeted
her with Ills customary Indifference.
and then 1t all suddenly fell away from
him.
Helen" said he--for she had per
mlttcd him that liberty with her name
II am going to say goodby to you
now before any one else comes, though
l may see you again even after today"
''Goodhy!' she echoed. amazed.
I'm going away" he said hurriedly.
all out of sorts-broken down. l can't
work. l need Il change"
"Why, what in the world is the mat
ter?" she demanded.
He hesitated and then almost spranS
to his desk. In another instant he had
shown her the gold frame, empty.
ITS all over" said he. Better for
her-much better for her And for me,
Perhaps don't know-there's been
another influcnce-I'm not the same
man."
What influence she began.
He looked into her eyes. She started
back
mo. no" she cried. Il did not mean
to do this"
He smiled sadly and extended his
hand.
"Goodby," said he.
In the moment that followed they
both heard steps upon the stairs.
I'm few days you'll have forgotten
all about It," said he. Il shall be
gone
mo" she cried. II don't want you
to 60"
His hand closed tighter upon hers.
and then some one knocked ut the door.
at the close Of the session of the class
Helen went to the Traveller office. She
wanted to see Gregory. whom she rec
ognized as her best available mentor.
and yet she had by no means decided
to tell him what had happened. In
fact, she did not know what really had
occurred except that she had broken
Churchills engagement. Her own senti-
ments were In wild confusion. She
seemed to be two different girls. one of
whom still remained bound In honor
and affection to the man who held her
promise, while the other was whirling
away into another part of the universe.
Gregory was not In his office, and no
one seemed to know what had become
Of him. While waiting Helen could not
be Idle. She seized upon the portfolios
Of the department and ran through
endless stores Of portraits and scenes,
as IL in frantic search for something.
When Gregory entered she was rigid
as stone, staring Mt photograph which
she held In her hand.
Jack" said she, "who Is this?"
He glanced over her shoulder.
English beauty" he replied. Used
to be on the stage. Dead, poor girl"
"Dead?"
Eyes, three or four years ago. !
thought I'd thrown the picture away"
Jack" said she, Mr. Churchill had
this girls picture In frame. Was he
ever engaged to herY'
ITO her! Why. he never saw her
She was never in this country nor be
abroad. He made portrait of her
once long ago for the Traveller"
| why. he told me-
Eyes" said Gregory. sitting down
heavily. "IIe told you that you had
interrupted n romance. Old game
| Wish you'd Informed me sooner. But
you didn't think l knew enough to
make 1t worth while"
Jack" said she. '.I'm going home,-
no, I'll go somewhere else Cor Il week
or two. and then I'll go home and stay
That's my good little cousin." said
he heartily. I'm glad to hear