Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-29

0urC1ng 1er,-tlatS what I'm AFRAID OI;-lm SuC0
clumsy fellow"
All that day Helen was very busy; she caught
her breath from time to time with a sharp sigh,
and quickened pulse, and when she ran up to
her room after dinner, she looked anxiously in
the glass, pulling her hair this way and that, and
turning slowly around before the long mirror.
Finally, with frown at her own vanity, she stood
quite STILL and gazed seriously, almost sadly at
the charming image before her; at the tall, slight
figure in its simple white gown the graceful
brown head; the soft pure outlines of the young
face then long and earnestly into the large, clear
gray eyes. Suddenly the brightness of those eyes
quenched in a rain of tears that ran over her
firm little chin, and dripped on the fluffy front
of her gown; she leaned wistfully toward the
weeping face, murmuring-"It's very serious
you are really nothing but silly girl-you-with
your airs; am very tired Of you" and she pressed
her forehead against the cool glass.
81 wonder what he really thinks?" she said
aloud, and flush burned in the tips of her ears,
and spread across the whteness of her neck She
reused herself as the door-bell rang, and wiping
her tears away, descended, with her most stately
step, to the parlor, where her affanced hus-
band awaited her, with his heart in his mouth and
his hands icy cold, breathing prayers to all his
saints
That evening was long agony of embarrass-
ment to them both; in vain she started serious
conversation various topics in vain he ven
tured to speak of their future; she could find
nothing to reply to him, and he simply leaped to
meet her statements, with eager assent that
left her with nothing further to say; and all the
while, he gazed-and gazed at her as 1t, she
angrily declared to herself, she something
ever she explained it to herself; the change in
good to eat, and he-starvng.
There was burning anxiety in his eye, and a
strangeness in his voice, and from time to time
he mopped his brow with handkerchief that
visibly trembled AS the clock struck ten, he
promptly rose and sought his hat
"O-must you go?" Helen asked ruefully, feel
ing that the evening had been dismal failure.
She said it with a little wstful, appealing re-
fhof,1 hnr1 rpC hnor
from Cupids own bow, and he was beside her in
instant
Helen" he CRIED in voice tender enough to
melt marble Venus but Helen drew back,
ately
'I mean," the wretched young man faltered, II
only awnted to express a sense-ny sense-of
gratitude-of appreciation-for the honor-Helen,"
with another burst, 81 sure we shall be very
happy"
"i have thought very little about happiness"
said Helen severely, 81 think it is unworthy'-she
looked at him sternly.
O-certainly-certainly" the culprt hastened
to agree then picking up little spirit again. but
shall be perfectly happy; I am afraid you'll have
to allow me-to he happy-Helen-I shant be
able to help it." Helen smiled indulgently
"Of course" she said 1--WE shall be good COM
rades-as have always been and we shall
enjoy our work together; O-here are some plans
Richter lent them to me-and I want to show
them to you; they would dol think-on Wells
street"
She took large roll of paper from the table
and Morton helped her to unroll and spread it.
The house quiet, and the two bent over
the plans, side by side, and Helen pointed and
planned, the old feeling of comradeship began to
creep back them they not trying to
look into each others eyes now, and Morton was,
for the first time, really interested in what Helen
was showing him, in what she was saying, as we'll
as in herself. This in his line; he warmed to
the subject and talked well.
When at last Helen raised her head, she faced