The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-02-24

Is SIZE. CANE no .A DESPERATE CON,

"a u T 3 +
special umbragc reserve Of manner
more suspicious to an Interested look
er-on. 10 Helen, a petty agony of the
cruise was that Mr.. Danielson should
conceive himself Obliged to devote most
OF his leisure hours to attendance upon
tho owners daughter, refusing with
fatuous persistcncy 10 be shaken off.
A few brief. scornful words OF rcnon-
STRANGE on this subject, addressed to
her stepmother, were met by the laugh
inglng assurance that there was really
nothing for Helen to npprchend. and
that man 80 universally run after as
was Mr.. Danielson, by what Mrs. Car
stairs called the fair SEX" must meet
the risk OF h,Ying his casual attentions
nisinterprcted at times.
Proud, wounded, scornfu1, feeling that
her standard of life had dropped to an
uncomfortable point, Helen got into the
habit OF keeping to herself as much
as practicable. At Naples she would
take her own maid and absent herself
for hours from tho yacht and its
dubious company. To her father there
was actually no chance OF being what
she had hoped. fIe was mostly cap
tious. prcferring to be left alone when
his wife did not vouchsafe him her
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES was now q rare
event. Tho great Mr.. Cairstalrs was,
indeed. socially q cipher among these
half-brecds, who drank his wines and
allowed him to pay their expenses OF
travel.
Miss Blocker. under the infatuation
OF Mrs. Carstalrss liberal lnoney-spend-
Ing. Of their luxurious living and con-
tinued seeking of pleasure and excite
ment In which she was Included when.
as usual, Helen refused to go-became
as broken reed in support OF her
charges movements Poor old Eulalie,
with some sense of the loss Of refined
surroundings they had sustained, and
q hearty dislike OF the imperative chap
eron, ranged herself exclusively upon
the aido OF her young 1ady-refusing
to fraternize with Mrs Carstairss maid.
whom she regarded as second-ratc
creature In every way and going
through the routine of life in general
with q logged determination to en-
dure unto the end
A day came Mt least when Miss Car
stairs went out to Pompeii with her
maid, instead OF to the museum in Ma
Piles, where she had announced her In
tention OF spending the afternoon.
She left Eulalic sitting upon an i'm
memorial stone and wandered OFF alone
through the beautiful sad place. To the
guardian. who would fain have fol-
lowed her. she gave piece OF money
and a gracious smile. explaining that
she knew 1t oil by heart, and wanted
only to gain general Impression OF
the dead city on that day OF radiant
spring. She had been standing for
some time near the tomb OF Mania,
looking out over the bay and noun
tains OF Castellamare melting together
In sunshine, and, recalled to the pres
ent by the lateness Of the hour, start
cd to walk back to where she had left
the monumental Eulalie.
Her resolution to leave the yacht.
T to abandon the party, and If needs be
ITO forfeit all that her acquiescence
had secured for her, was now def
nitcly taken. To avoid discussion. she
would simply ask her father to allow
Miss Bleeclser and herself to 20 up
to Rome, where Mr.. Carstairs could
mover abide visiting, on the ground
that lie did not like living over cata,
combs and being face to face with so
many things already done for. lie
Knew Hclcn's tender passion for the
Imperial City, and might excuse hor
IRON going on with them to Sicily.
From Miss Blocker she felt sure OF
meeting fierce and stubborn resistance
to her plan. The dream Of Miss Bleeck-
er's life had been cruise in the Sans
Peur," and it was hardly to be sun
posed she would easily relinqulsh it.
But Helen felt that upon occnsion she
could be stubborn too. And clash OF
Wills, and subsequent victory for her.
was worth undertaking. to rid her Of
the offensive compans!onship of Mrs.
Carstairs--and ono other.
She could not be sure Of what she
suspected between them. She scorned
to make herself assured. She could not
stoop to the miserable method neces-
saryg to the requirement Of dread Ger
tainty And yet "she was walking
every day with bare foot on burning
pavement without feeling the burn"
Passing with noiseless step before n
house, wall arising like screen before
her path. she paused for a moment to
enjoy one last gaze at the pageant
OF sea and sky in the light Of waning