The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-02-03
Copyright 1906. by Constance Burton
Harrison; all rights reserved.)
CHAPTER /.

exceptionally fine October morning,
Miss Carstairs convinced herself that,
off, no one could reasonably discern in
her movement the suggestion of re-
treat. The commonplace Of a sailing
for tho other side would not, indeed,
attendance at the pier among her
set save for her hint that she might
remain abroad year. There had been
q small rally on the part of a few
friends who had CHANGED to meet at q
dinner overnight, to go down, to the
White Star docks and say good-by to
Helen Carstairs. Helen sincerely wish
ed they bad not come, both because tho
ceremony proved a little fiat, and be-
cause, when she had time to think them
her friends.
But the main thing was that she had
been able to withdraw, easily and natu-
rally, from doubly tying situation.
the novelty and sparkle had gone out
OF thsa business long ago. She knew
foreige travel from to 2. and she
ioathsd tables dhote, even more than
with Miss Blocker in sitting-rooms
redolent Of departed food, insufficiently
atoned for by an encircling wilderness
of gliding and red plush. The very
thought OF n concierge with brass but
tons lifting his cap to her every time
she CROSSED the hall, OF hotel corri-
doris dscked with strange footgear upon
which unmade bedrooms yawned, OF
cabs pnd galleries and harry dress
makers, of sights and fellow tourists,
gave her mental qualm. But it was
better than staying at home this win
ter in the big house in Fifth Avenue
where Mr.. Carstairs had just brought
a stepmother for her, in the person
Of that Mrs Coke
There was apparently no valid reason
for Helens shuddering antipathy to
the lady. whs had been the widow OF
n junior partner of her father, a man
whom bir Carstairs had made" like
many another beginning in his ems
ploy.
Mr.. Coke had died two years be-
fore, of nervous overstrain, leaving this
flamboyantly handsome, youngish wo-
man to profit by his gains. Helen had
always disliked having to ask the Coxes
to dinner when her fathers fiat COM
PEELED her to preside over the dull BAN
quets of certain smartly- dressed wo-
pen and weary, driven men, whom he
assembled at intervals around his board.
She coald not say what she objected
to in Mrs Coke; she thought it might
be her giggle and her double chin. 1t
had been always relief when one of
these business" dinners was over, and
she knew she would not have to do it
Econ again. When Mr.. Carstairs dined
IN return with the Coxes, they had
him at some fashionable restaurant
taking him afterward to the play. Mrs.
Coke had shown sense enough for that!
During the interregnum Of Mrs Coxe's
mourning following the demise of her
exhausted lord, Mr.. Carstairs had had
the yacht meet Helen and himself at
Gibraltar, and cruised all that winter
en the Mediterranean.
That had been life abroad, Helen
thought, with a throb Of yearnng!
1he was very fond of her father, rather
p stony image to most people, and inn
mensely proud Of the way people look
ed up to his achievements in the Street,
the resistless rush Of his business COM
bnations, his massive wealth, and his
perfect imperturbability to newspaper
cavil and attacks by enemies. She had
loved to be at the head of his es-
Establishment, and to receive the clever
and distinguished and notable people,
foreign and domestic, who accepted Mr..
Carstairs's invitation to meet one an
other, because they were clever and
distinguished and notable, not because
they wanted to talk all the eveAing
what they had talked all day.
When they had come home from their
cruise, Helen spent the summer III
Newport, where her father rarely went.
The yacht was his summer home, he
was wont to say; and Helen did not
suspect how often that season the noble
Sans Peur had been anchored off the
chores OF settlement in Long Island
where Mrs. Coke was enjoying the Sc
clusion of shingled villa with broad
verandas set in pocket-handkcrchief
OF lawn. Back and forth flew the own
er's steam launch between the Sans
Peur and the landing, and yet nobody
told Helen. That autumn she had af-
fairs of her own to absorb her time
and give her q SOLDERING view of hui
manity For the first time in her life
her father had vacated his throne as
masculine ruler of her thoughts She
had passed into the grip of strong,
real passion for n man nobody" knew.
That is to say, John Glynn was too
hard at work to let himself lie found.
out. Helen had INDUCED in her affair
with him almost unknown to her ac-
quaintances, most OF whom regarded
the foot Of the ladder of wealth. where
he distinctly stood. as the one spot
where dalliance in sentiment was to be
stunned Her movements We're ham,