Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-10

best friend, happier than anything in the
world. Also, 1 was f1attered that he should
ask me. Down at Alison's, where John lived
as boy, they think he has taken the head
of his firm into business with him, and that
all New York looks on admiringly. He's
about the greatest hero we have after Lee
and Davis. He's a splendid man, Miss
Carstairs. Perhaps you have heard of him?
l remember now. daddy said Mr.. Carstairs
had spoken well Of John. When that Lady
Channel Fleet had the cheek to say at sup
per she considered the American men, as a
rule, inferior to their women, and de-
cidedly so to Englishmen. 1 could have
flown at her and asked her to wait till
she'd seen JOHN
Helen, conscious that something of the
same mental protest had formulated itself
in her during the same period of provoca-
ly, Miss Winstanley, being fairly launched
upon her confidence, did not pause for an
swer comment.
You will see. then. that I do honestly
mean to be what l ought to JOhn-that-I
have no other wish or fancy-and yet there
is another influence that's come without
my seeking-one that could not bring me
happiness. 1t frightens me to think of it.
l don't know what to do, where to turn.
Think of putting the thing of day and
hour against the other, the safe one, the
true one! Yes. it frightens me. Miss Car
stairs, you are older and wiser than l. Tell
me what 1 shall do to conquer it?'
All the voices in Helen's heart sang In
chorus in answer to this simple and pa
tnetrc appeal. The voice of JOY, tue vo.ce
of temptation were louder for awhile than
the others, but she dared not let them pre-
vail. She had never been demonstrative
person, and the touching Of strangers, UNI
der no matter what stress Of sympathy.
was an impossibility to her. She did not.
therefore. "lock Posey In a warm embrace
and kiss her upon the virgin brow, bid
ding her to be of good cheer, as all would
yet be well between John Glynn and her
self But she told her. calmly and dispas-
sionately, that 1t is probable no girl ever
grew up to womanhood to escape some
Grant fancy for man whom she after
ward thanked God she had not been al
lowed by destiny her parents to marry.
She counseled her to indulge in no dreams
or reveries or sef-questionings about the
matter but to keep to the pledge she had
of making a good man happy.
Posey frightened wonderfully during Miss
Carstairs' little lecture AS she ran off to
bed it was with the joyful step of a freed
schoolgirl and the feeling that she was not
altogether stepped in wckedness. Half
way down the corridor she turned, ran back
and ventured to knock again at Miss Car
stairs door. Her errand was the very
feminine one of asking Helen to be so good
as to undo two wretched hooks in the
region of her shoulder blades, service
she knew Mrs. CASHIER would never at that
late hour be awake to perform for her.
When Miss Carstairs opened the door,
standing in the aperture in some surprise
to know what was wanted, Posey felt sorry
and puzzled to see that her new friends
eyes were filled with tears.
AS Miss Winstanley, finally relieved from
the apprehension of having to spend the
night in cuirass Of white wolfe with many
little pipings of satin and a good deal of
scratchy net, crept In like a thief at her
own cabin door, her roommate reused up
and groaned dismally.
Seems to me I'm to have not a wink of
sleep tonight. Just as I'd settled down for
my first nap there came a stupid steward
with note for you. told him to put ii in
your berth and go out as quick as he cou:1 j,
and since then / haven't closed my eyes"
Thank you. I'm sorry you are not rest
ing well,' said Posey, still under the :liu-
ence of her recent gentle mood. is ~
thing you've eaten. do you Think
Eaten? l never eat at sea-" shifted the
sufferer. Its my nerves, as usual. and
since you've reused me up completely I'll
thank you to mix me another trional pow
der and not to turn up the light. While
you're about it you mays well step outside
and get my rug off the rail and put it over
my poor feet Blocks of ice they are; cold
feet are constitutional in our family.
Humph! Single fold, not double; 1 don't
father'd know better than to let girl like
you go traipsing around a ship alone at
this hour of the night. Perhaps if you'd
heard what did since I've been lying here
trying to count sheep and say the ten table
you'd haul in your horns a bit and not
think yourself such museum wonder. The
people in the next room were talking about
you. and l heard the man say as plain as
anything: If l wanted my daughter to keep
her good name I'd not let her go out on
deck a night with that gay old bird, Tom