The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-02-10

old mummy that Two done nothing but
make fun OF OH the voyage" cried tho
girl, tlery bushes streaming into her
face III he hadn't said such fool
words when he did 1t. might have
thought he was Just like old Grand
ways doddcrs along in tho sunshine
and kisses the girls when they stop
to speak to him, thinking they're their
own grandmothers. But even Grand
father Billings has never kissed me-
hate 1t, and never would put up with
{ 1t from living soul, SO when old Yere-
ker tried 1t on, I boxed HIS ears, and
boxed to hurt, too, and then I ran
away. What business had he follow
Ing mo out on deck, anyway, when I'd
said wanted to be by myself II
daddy knew-but he shan't know, he's
too good to trouble. and reckon I
can take care OF myself"
She ended bravoly, but one glnnce
into Hclen's grave, kind face sent her
again into tears.
"Oh! Miss Carstairs, don't mind me.
Let me be q little while, and I'll prom
Use not to bother you again. After you
looked at mo that time at supper. I
seemed to shrink up into such q poor
pretending creature saw In a flash
how chcaply I'd been showing or"
It was mostly to make those people
THAI looked down on me sit up on
their hind legs, anyway! / felt common
and half-brcd beside you, whom I'd
been trying 80 hard to initiate since
we came aboard. I do want to be
lady, your kind, I do, do. Not only
for my own sake. and my mothers,
who was q real ono. but bccause-
If yousonly knew
am ready to know" said Helen
after a pause. her voice, In spite OF
her, curiously flattened.
II am engaged to marry man. to
whom twill mean everything that
shall be. let me say, all you are. And
there's a. great reason why I should
try to please him in those things. How
strange that should want to tell you
such an intimate secret. out of my very
heart! But there Is no other woman I
can talk to. and that look you gave
me seemed to open every door within
mel"
IT will help you II / can" Helen
breathed, rather than spoke. Her splr-
it, wrestling with the certainty that
i crushed 1t, was yet ready to rise to
generosity Was it not what she had
q bid John Glynn do IN the moment OF
his acutcst suffering? Find younger,
freshcr. more trustful life-partner than
herself, and put swiftly out of mind
their disastrous venture together that
could not end in happiness! What right
had she to be feeling these force heart-
beats OF rebellion against the childs
superior claim upon him, these des-
perate yearnings to have him. back
again?
II am ashamed to let you know what
will make you think even less OF me
than you do. When promised my
self to John Glynn-there I've told you
his name, but 1t doesn't matter-I did
so because thought 1t would make my
dear daddy, who was in some sort his
guardian and his fathers best friend
happier than anything in the world.
Also, was flattered that he should
ask me. Down at Alison's, where John
lived as a boy. they think he has taken
the head OF his firm into business with
him. and that all New York looks on
adniringly. He's about the greatest
hero we have after Lee and Davis. He's
splendid man, Miss Carstairs. perhaps
you have heard OF him? remember
now. daddy said Mr.. Carstairs had
spoken we'll of John When that Lady
Channel Fleet had the cheek to say
at supper. she considered the Ameri-
can men, as rule, inferior to their
women, and decidedly SO to English
men, I could have flown at her. and
asked her to walt till she'd seen john"
Helen, conscious that something Of
the same mental protest had formu.
lated itself in her during che same
period OF provocation, could not for
bear smile Fortunately. Miss Win
stanley. being fairly launched upon her
confidence. did not pause for answer
or comment.
you will see, then. that I do hon.
estly mean to be what I ought, to-
John--that-I have no other wish or
fancy-and yet there is another's In
fluence that's come without my seek
ing-one that could not bring me hap
pness. 1t frightens me to think of 1t.
1 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 Carstairs, you are older and
wiser than I, tell me what I shall do
to conquer it?"
All the voices in Helen's heart sang
in chorus, in answer to this simple
and pathetic appeal The voice OF joy,
the voice of temptation were louder
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