The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1907-07-24

handsome, unsophisticated debu-
young woman in black chiffon who
was dancing with their host. Mrs.
Meranth's uncommon beauty, COM
bined with her graceful Waiting,
was attracting-so many of the wom-
en- present thought-an aggravating
amount of attention that night.
Il suppose she is," Penrose ad-
mitted, grudgingly. But she
doesn't appeal to your humble serv-
ant. She is so frightfully stand-of-
fish-makes a fellow feel a regular
worm, don't you know, and without
uttering a word"
Jennie laughed and pressed her
fiance's arm in mock sympathy.
80 you tried to flirt with her, did
you? Never mind, I'm not jealous.
I don't suppose for a moment that
you never made love to any one until
you met me. Indeed, I'm rather glad
you practiced philandering with other
people; otherwise you would not be
puCl uh CApClt III tuC ult yOu uiC'
81 wonder what sort of chap old
Meranth was" Penrose pondered. 81
never heard much about him, except
that he was an American, made a CO.
lossal pile and was burned to death
in some hotel fire."
''He was a perfect BEAST" Jennie
assured him, solemnly. Helena
never said so, she isn't that kind of
woman, but she never mentions his
name. She hasn't a single photo
graph of him about her rooms, and
she is evidently in no hurry to marry
again 49, ' ss.1 ...,ssi, Sses'''
G1Altogether most convincing testi-
mony as to the iniquity of the late
, lamented," Penrose laughed. Still,
] am ready to bet yol anything in
reason that your friend does marry
again eventually. l will even ven-
ture to spot the happy man. Talk
about telepathy!-she has stopped
dancing, and lie is speaking to her
now. Watch her face, Jennie, and
then take my bet If you dare"
The room was brilliantly lighted,
and Jenlie's keen young eyes could
detect every change of expression on
Mrs. Meranth's face as the latter
stood at the end of Lady Vereker's
pink room smiling at "Chum" Win
stanley. Jennie duly noted the flush
on Mrs. Meranth's cheeks, the light
In her dark eyes, and her sudden as
sumption of an air of absolute con-
tent.
II believe you are right, Cecil.
But l thought Chum was the last
man Helena cared for!"
Helena tucked her program Sc
curely away among the soft folds of
her chiffon bertha when Winstanley
bowed and left her. 1t had fallen
once that evening from her fan, and
she had no mind that prying eyes
shoulc discover the number Of times
she had allowed the young man to
scribble his initials upon it.
HE will speak to me tonight"
she told herself, with little thrill of
excitement.
No one should have been better
acquainted with the premonitory
symptoms of a proposal than Helena
Meranth, for many men had wanted
to marry her since she had dawned
upon the now waning London season,
and had taken society by storm with
her loveliness and reputation for
great riches.
But double harness with Gerald
Meranth had proved so disastrous an
experiment that it vas small wonder
grand passion should tempt her into
matrimony a second time. She had
been just twenty-one when she had
engaged herself to the middle aged
millionaire, whose handsome features
and masterful way first attracted
her. Her father was dead, her youth.
full mother had married again, and
Helena was free. So she had &C.
cepted Meranth.
She pretended no acute grief wher
tAC CeLbetcbA OphO OSSuAA thNA hOo
bands end had been tragically sud
den. In one of his occasional moods
of amiability he had accompanied hel
to townsville for the wedding of {
former schoolfellow, and had ever
allowed her to attend without his
chaperonage the ball the bride!
mother was giving on the eve Of thC
marriage.
Meranth had remained at their ho
tel on the plea of indisposition ant
had talked of retiring early. Ant
the last time his wife had seen hi
face had been as he handed her int
the carriage-he was always punctil
iously polite TO her in public-whicl
was to take her to Mrs. Grimes. Fou
hours later the hotel was a smoking
ruin, and Helena, hurrying back
identified her husband by his in
itialed gold watch.
Once recovered from the shocl
and horror OF her husbands demise
Helena put her affairs in order-Me