The Washington times., 1906-09-02

Helen has left her cousin for another
year Of travel. and returned home in
all tho glory OF her own springtime
and Of natures which brings Us 70
where we left her. hurrying away 70
pay duty call IN the little settlement
on the hillside.
The visit had not been entirely = sub
terfuge. for Helen's father had men
toned 20 her that the elderly person
whom she had named % Arthur was
expecting to see her when she return
ed, and Helen had been troubled by the
thought that she would never have
any peace until she had paid that visit
I; vas BY no means an agreeable one,
for old Mrs. Woodward was exceed
ingly dull. ard Helen feiJ nat Fhe
was calle1 uDCn Ia make war up n
dullness. However. Il had occurred 10
her TO get her task out OF the way at
once. while she felt that shs ought 10
leave Arthur
The visit proved 10 be quite as de-
pressing As sne lad expected or Il Is
sad 10 have 70 record tnat Helen. how
ever sensitive 10 the streamlet and
the flowers, na1 not the least syInpa-
thy IN the world for an Old woman
Who had a very sharp chin. who stared
at one through two pairs Of spectacles.
and whose conversation was about her
own health and the dampness Of the
sprlngtime, besides the dreariest gossip
about Oakdale's least interesting peO-
pie Perhaps II might have occurred TO
tho girl that Il Is very forlorn 10 have
nothing else 10 talk about, and that
even old Mrs. Woodward might have
liked TO hear about some OF the things
IN the forest. or 20 have been offered
the My and the marigold. I'ufOrtu-
nately, however. Helen did not think
ABOUT any OF that. but only moved
restlessly about in her chair and gazed
around the ugly room. Finally when
she could stand 81 no more she spragg
NJ between two OF Mrs. Woodward
longest sentences and remarked that II
was very ate anI a long WaV nome
and that she would come again some
time.
Then at last when she was out IN
the open air. she drew a deep breath
and fed away 10 the woods. wonder
ing what could be Gods reason for
such things. u was not until she was
half way up the hillside that she could
feel that the wind. which blew now
upon her forehead had quite swept
away the depression which had set
tied uDou her. She drank in the od0rs
s,hi-n blew from the woods. and be-
gan singing % herself again. and look
ing out for Arthur.
She was rather surprised not 10 see
him AT once. and stu more surprised
when she came nearer and raised her
voice % call him. for she reached the
forest and came 20 the place where she
had LETT him without "a reply having
come. She shouted his name again and
again. until AZ last. not without a half
secret chagrin TO have been so quickly
forgotten. she was obliged 20 set out
for home alone.
perhaps he's gone on ahead" she
thought. quickening her pace
For a time she watched anxiousIy,
expecting 10 see his darkly clad figure.
but she soon wearicd OF continued fall
ure. and because II was her birthday.
and because the brook was stiI al her
side and the beautiful forest still about
her. she took TO singing again. and was
quickly as happy and glorious as be
fore. ceaslng her caroliug and moder-
Grating her woodland pace only when
she neared the town. she passed down
:He main street Of Oakdale. not quite
ri lout an ting-c0nsciousness that
he- walk had crowned her beauty and
that no one whom she saw was thiBk-
ing about anything eise. and so she
came 10 her home. 10 the dear old par
sonuge. with its spreading ivy vines
and its two great elms.
When she had hurried up the steps
and shut the door behind her Helen
felt privileged gain 20 be Just as mer-
~ as she chose. for she was even more
at home here than in the woods, Il
seemed as II everything was stretching
out IT'S arms 10 her 10 welcome her.
and to invite her 70 carry out her de-
ClaTed purpose OF taking the reins OF
government I'm her own hands.
Upon one side Of the hallway was a
parlor and on the other side two rooms
which Nr- Davies had used as recep-
ton room and a study. The psrlor
had never been opened. and Helen
promised herself a Jolly time super
intending the fixing up of that; on
the other side she had already taken
possession Of the front room. symbol
caily at any rate. by having her
piano moved IN and her music un-
packed. and a case emptied for the
books she had brought from Germany.
To be sure. on the other side was stu
q dreary wall OF theological treauses