The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1907-10-05
WHEN HELEN WAS SELFISH.
BY FLORA STEWART EMORY.

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It had. always been so, a matter of
course, no one really knew Miss Helen
was imposed upon. She was the doc
tors only daughter and had frequently
assisted him in nursing his patients.
That was her first mistake. After a
time he and the village became accus-
toned to asking all kinds of sacrifices
at her hands and long before she was
twenty-five she was conceded to be
an old maid.
No girl of twenty-three likes to feel
she is no longer considered young
and her days and nights of unceasing
nursing had certainly told on her.
She stood before the mirror and
looked long and searchingly at the
sombre face reflected there. IT will
be getting gray next" she murmured.
She leaned forward: eyes, there is a
gray hair now" She jerked it out
by the roots and threw it from her.
Two big tears glistened in her deep
gray eyes and she turned from the
glass impatiently.
An open letter lay on the little
dressing table and she picked it up
mechanically. She read it for the
tenth time and smile gladdened her
whole face. She was not looking in
the mirror then or there would have
been no tears. She appeared what
she really was-a bright and pretty
girl, trihe too earnest and sincere
of ofexpression, but the very lines mark
ing her thoughts and proving them
high and noble.
DEAREST COUSIN HELEN
You have SO long promised us a
visit, don't you think you might keep
the promise this month? The city is
gay and beautiful in its holiday garb
and you must come down for few
weeks. 1 can promise you all sorts
of times, from the theatre to ball if
you will attend. Don't plead the
lack of clothes, you know you and
are of the same build and height and
I have more than can possibly wear.
So come along.
Affectionately,
NELL"
"And I'm going, too. Idon't care
if Tim Murphy dies. Let someone
else nurse him. And the new baby
that Mrs. Gerald S expecting-I don t
care who washes and dresses it. I
am going to be sinful, selfish, dread
full girl. I am going to think of my
own wicked pleasure. J"
That it was positively the first time
in all her young life that she had con-
sidered herself in preference to any
one else, did not cross her mind.
When her father came home at
noon he remarked, casually, II guess
you will have to go down to Woods
this afternoon, the two babies have
the measles and the mother is worn
OUT"
Helen's face became hard and her
voice had a metallic ring as she an
swered, II cannot go, father; I am
getting ready to spend the holiday
days with Nellie"
He looked up, surprised and hurt.
81 think, Helen, the visit could be
put off until later day. That is the
woman of it, thinking of her own way
instead of the way of others. Inever
knew one who was not selfish. Your
mother"
"You will kindly leave my sanity
mother out of the discussion" Helen
said sternly. She had seen her moth
er's life dragged out of her in the SER
vice of her father and she had never
ceased hearing about one certain Eas-
ter day when the flesh had been weak
and because there was no Easter hat,
the feeble, nervous wife had cried and
mortified her husband in the presence
of the minister.
That was six years ago and the
mother was laid away to rest. Helen
had unconsciously stepped into hei
shoes.
''I am going to spend the holidays
with Nellie" she repeated firmly
The repetition of the words gave hel
strength and she started to say them
over again when her father rose from
the table.
Every well, young lady, but if yor
go-l",
He did not complete the threat
perhaps the exact meaning was as yet
incomplete as was the sentence.
In spite of almost prayers Heller
was at the station ready to start. She
felt that if the train did not soor
come her resolution would weaken.
"Poor Tim Murphy" she though
guiltily. She recalled the dish watel
soup his wife was giving him befor'
she stepped in and made him gooc
broth.
But the time for further indecisior
was over. She was fairly started anC
! flying along at rapid rate. He