The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-02-03

Self-defense against the attractions of
Miss Winstanlcy. A Judgment so clear
and cool and fair as Hclcns in ordi-
nary matters, he had rarely seen, and
he believed her capable of more than
the allotted amount OF feminine gencr-
osity toward those of her own sex.
AS far as he had been able to gather,
she had never before seen or heard of
this mysterious young person who had
made their voyage so guy. What could
the reason be?
II had not escaped him that the
Southern girl. taking heed of IIelen's
low-pitched voice, of her quiet garb
and reserved manner among strangers.
had protited by them to tone down some
of her own cXtrnvagances Already,
Miss Winstanley's hair was brushed
simply back in a glorious golden sweep.
allowing It's natural waves to reveal
Themselves untortured. Already, the
obnoxious blue dress. with it's lace
had goue into retirement, the young
girl appearing at dinner in white
blouses as simple as Helen's own. Bet
ter than all, she no longer challenged
people within earshot witt her senti-
mcnts and opinions.
From time to time, Mariol had de-
tccted passing from her to Helen the
3 liiilt'o oL ilOillut5C - SCty uiISpfiiS
Gated girl bestows upon one she has
elected to make her heroine. And, de-
spite this artless worship, Miss Car
stairs did not relent in her cool de-
meanor. She was civil always. con-
siderate often, but never yielding In
keeping Miss ;Wihstanley at a distance.
Tho men at their table were unani-
may win casiYsi In the chief events of
such contest, and yet be badly worsted
In the end.
The only onc5among them who SEEM
ed to have preserved Indifference on
the subject Of PoseX's wrongs, was the
quiet little man III the mustard col
ored tweeds. with the cowboy hat OF
sunburnt felt, who accompanied the
beauty to her meals, but was rarely
seen with her elsewhere.
One afternoon. however, she broke
away from her cordan of admirers.
and finding the old fellow walking
alone, linked her arm in his, adjust
ing her pace to his.
"Why. little girl, what's come to you.
that the beaux have left you no better
company than mine?" he said with
the jocular homage of his habtual man
ner to her
There isn't much better company
than yours, dad. and I'm beginning
to find it out" she answered, caress-
ingly.
well. we'll. a compliment from the
belle o. the. ship! Reckon when | get
to London I've have to be buying my
self new suit, and dozen o. boiled
shirts, though, come to think of it.
seems to me I'm no great way be-
hind that Lord Channel Fleet o yours
in the matter of clothes and footwear
regular beetle-crushers, those shoes of
his, and his hat an even match for
mine
Hes rather an old dear. anyhow"
said Posey; "but I've got another an
Gent on the string that's too foolish to
talk about That Mr.. Ncreker-he's
dyed and made-up, and always fussing
about his digestion. FIe has young
doctor travelling with him to give him
llypodermics for his nerves, and they're
going to some queer place where he'll
have to walk barefoot on wet stones,
and diet, with lot of grand dukes
and things that he just loves to talk
about. Aren't they funny though,
these old society men? Imagine YOU
prancing around after young girls!"
81 can't" said her father. simply.
'"There isn't a woman living. old or
young. that could take any fancy away
from the girl I won in Baltimo, after
the wah. She's my love, the same
now as then. You're pretty good-ook-
Ing, Posey, so people seem to think.
But your mother. Lord! She was n
evenin' breeze"
I sometimes wish | had her now.
daddy. Since I've been eighteen, and
everybody's so good to me, mean.
There are such lots of little things a
mother could tell me, And to think /
was the only child she kept-the very
last of your family-and she couldn't