Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-29

90" she said, I'VE shall have such good times
working these OUT and must go right at it;
they ought to be done-before cold weather"
Yes said her lover fervently, 1--WE will; and
O-Helen-I will do anything. l love you-you
know love you-darling Helen"-
He caught the hands she instinctively put up
to ward him off, clasping them to his breast, pas
sionately kissing first one soft palm, then the
other.
How dare you"-the hands were snatched
away; You are not gentleman; did you suppose
I meant"
She glared at him moment, then fed lightly,
swiftly up the stairs and out of sight Closing her
door and locking it with unnecessary emphasis,
she stood trembling and listening, with her out
ragged hands behind her, out of sight
What did he mean"-she painted as the front
to th1nk-to expects"
door shut with muffled bang; what did he dare
She dropped upon the floor and hid her face in
the pillows of the couch, and her humiliation
flowed over her like sea- and even while she still
felt the sting of those kisses-her heart ached so
she wondered why.
She was like child who puts foolish finger
upon button, and starts back dismayed at the
clamor of the gigantic force it has set in motion
Was this the way-men fet-about such things?
She rose at last, and groped her way across the
hall to her mothers room.
What is it-Helen" voice called as she
touched the door. "O-Mamma"-the overwrought
girl stumbled across the darkness, and flung her.
self upon her mother
Il am not sck"-she whispered don't turn on
the light-just let me lie hereby you-Mamma"
The mother gathered her child in her arms and
waited; after a while Helen ceased to tremble and
sob; she hugged her mother close, and whispered:
Mamma-when you were married-to Papa
were you in love with him? I mean-before"
Yes, dear; otherwise-how could l have mar
ried him."
What is it like-Mamma-to be in love?"
The mother smiled in the darkness as she laid
her cheek upon the disheveled brown head
Child" she said slowly, "how can | tell you?
10 love-my Helen-is to lay your soul bare-to
the touch that claims it. 1t is to feel your life
melt into that other life-and to be glad. 1t is to
have no thought-but his; no wish but to be neces-
sary-to him; no life but to serve-him"
But-Mamma-that is giving up everything:
your individuality very soul"-
Helen-you talk of service-to the race; do
you not see-that is woman's service'-
But Mamma" Helen interrupted sit seems so;
1t isn't reasonable-it isn't sane; do want to be
always -sane-reasonable she stopped but her
mother did not speak
to give up-like that-O-what shall I do
Mamma?"
What haze you done, Helen?" her mother
asked, and smiled through her tears at the un-
vanished tale that followed.
Il thought it right, Mammal but now-he
was-horrid tonight what do you suppose-he
thought? | can never-never see him again."
81 will write to Morton in the morning said
Mrs Gracely; will tell him it was all mistake
he is gentleman-and dear boy" she sighed,
then we will go away; let us go out to Grandpas
for the summer, and be very quiet; you need
to be relieved from this strain you have been
living in so long"
Can we go tomorrow, Mammal"
Certainly; now lie still-and try to Sleep"
The mother dropped few tears upon the brown
head, and just she falling into doze