The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1907-07-05

handsome, unsophisticated debu-
tante's admiration at the tall, stately
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.
II 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 world"
Jennie laughed and pressed her
fance's arm in mock sympathy.
$50 you tried to firt 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 philan6ering with other
people; otherwise you would not be
such an expert in the art as you are!"
Il wonder what sort of a chap old
Meranth was" Penrose pondered. Il
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 single photo
graph of him about her rooms, and
she is evidently in no hurry to marry
again!"
Altogether most convincing testi-
mony as to the iniquity of the late
lamented, Penrose laughed. Still,
/ am ready to bet You anything in
reason that your friend does marry
again eventually. | will even ven
ture to spot the happy man. Talk
about telepathy.-she has stopped
dancing, and he is speaking to her
now. Watch her face, Jennie, and
then take my bet if you dare"
The room was brilliantly lighted
and Jennie's keen young eyes could
detect every change of expression on
Mrs. Meranths face as the latter
stood at the end of Lady Vereker's 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 ol
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
should discover the number of times
she had allowed the young man tc
scribble his initials upon it.
He will speak to me tonight!
she told herself, with a little thrill o.
excitement.
No one should have been better
acquainted with the premonitor!
symptoms of proposal than Helena
Meranth, for many men had wanted
to marry her since she had dawneC
upon the now waning London season
and had taken society by storm will
her loveliness and reputation TO
great riches.
But double harness with GeralC
Meranth had proved so disastrous al
experiment that IL was small wonde
his widow should resolve that only
grand passion should tempt her int
matrimony a second time. She haC
been just twenty-one when she haC
engaged herself to the middle-ageC
millionaire, whose handsome features
and masterful way first attracted
her. Her father wasd dead. her youth
full mother had married again. anC
Helena was free. So she had &C
cepted Meranth.
She pretended no acute grief wheI
the catastrophe occurred. Her hus
bands end had been tragically sud
den. In one of his occasional mood
of amiability he had accompanied he
to townsville for the wedding OF
former schoolfellow. and had evei
allowed her to attend without hi
chaperonage the ball the bride
mother was giving on the eve of tn
iOirrisge.
Meranth had remained at their no
tel on the plea of indisposition an'
had talked Of retiring early. AM
the last time his wife bad 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. Crimes. Fou
hours later the hotel was smokini
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