The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-02-17

knew nothing OF the anonymous letters,
and thoir vile attacks upon Posey.
which. long after silence had set in
in the direction Of the enemy, con-
tinued to burn and sting in their OBJ,
ject's clean, sensitive soul. Since she
had told Clandonnld Poscy had spoken
Of this insult to no one. 1t made her
feel, however. that she coulu never be
quito the Same again.
Helen had exchanged letter or two
with her. but the acquaintance had
seemed to drift. It was Miss Carstairs's
feeling that until Posey and Mr.. Glynn
were safely married. it would be more
honorable of her to keep out of sight
altogether: which goes to show that
deep down in the bottom of her heart
Miss Carstairs was not altogether GER
tain She had lost nll hold upon her for
mer lovers sensibilities.
Ono of the strangest experiences ever
coming to Helen befell her at this time. It
was nothing less than declaration of
his love in letter, en- route from M.
de Mariol, He had written to her in
termittently since their parting In Lon
don charmtngly, airy missives in his best
vein, his critics would have said: LETT
ters Of rambling travel. of European
politlces, of observations; graceful, in
cisive, glowing with color. sparkling
with happy phrases; the letters of
poet, a cultured eclectic of the TWEEN
tieth century to his Inspiration. But
she had not imagined until she finished
reading the last OF the series it could
como to his doing her the honor Of ask
ing her to be his wife. She was pro-
foundry moved, more even than fiat.
tered. She had loved Glynn because he
was young. handsome. unjaded there
fore broader than most of the men SUR
p1,Y Ind H,i,o
because 1t had made her smile to be
near him. and the touch Of his stalt-
wart hand had thrilled her with thrill
that sometimes came back now. Marlol,
appealing to her Intellectual side, to
her sense OF high companionship, re-
PEELED her as a lover, and what he asked
her to do seemed, on the face Of it.,
grotesque. His suggestion thar II she
could be brought to look upon him Ia
vorably, he would return Immediately to
Paris, filled her with panic. Her letter
sent in return was purposely gentle
and simple and apparently unstudied.
although nothing had ever cost her
such epistolary birth-pangs
M. de Mariol did not return to Paris,
and in the course OF some days Miss
Bleecker also received an important
letter, although not of matrimonial
cast. 1t was from Mrs. Carstairs, in
) new IL ok, proposing an lnCerDOSltlOn
Of diplomacy between her stepdaugter
and herself. Miss Carstairs self-con-
tossed q suffering angel who had borne
in silence Helcn's malignant oppose
ton to her, was about to come abroad
to spend the spring in yachting with
her husband In the Mediterranean. and
would be glad to have Miss Blocker
and Helen JOIN them anywhere that
was convenient. If Mr. Carstnirs him
self did not write to repeat this invi-
tation, Helen would know 1t was be-
cause the poor dear was overWorked
ana brain-wcary. For that reason, II
for none other. Helen should put aside
her unjust, and Injurious. and missisll
fancies. and become ono Of their family
circle in the eyes OF all the world.
('Naturally." said the astute chapc-
ron to herself, there Is one Of two
reasons for this urgency to have Heller
with them. Either some man sho Is
flirting with Is to make ono OF tho
party. or somebody has refused to re.
ceiYe Mrs, Carstairs unit. her step.
daughter has done so frst.'O
II Helen would prove herself thu
devoted daughter she had Away!
boosted of being. and subscribe to hel
fathers wishes. Mrs Carstairs was en-
powered by him to say that he would
give her at once the fortune, inde