Evening star., 1909-04-11

about it, You will marry Bower. of course:"
Helen's heart futtered. Her color rose in
sudden wave. IL don't think So, she
breatned.
Don't yous Well. like you better for
saving can picture myself putting the
same questions to one OF the Nragg girls; TO
both of EN-, IN TACT. | am older than YOU, and
very much wiser in some of the worlds ways,
and nv advice is, Don marry any man unless
YOU are sure YOU love him. If YOU do love him,
YOU NAV keep him; for men patient Great
ures. But that is for You to decide. | can't
help YOU there | am mainly concerned for
the moment, IN helping YOU over the ice during
the next dav or two-if YOU viii let me, that Is.
Probably You have determined not to appear
in public tonight That will be "a mistake.
Wear Your prettlest frock, and dine with Reggie
and me We shall invite Mr.. Bower to join us,
and two other people,-some man and woman
can depend on to keep things going. If we
laugh and kick up no end OF noise. 1t Will not
only worry the remainder of the crowd: put
YOU score heavily off the theatrical lady. See:
:" / can see that YOU are acting the part OF the
good Samaritan" cried Helen.
oh dear, no; nothing so ant1quated. Look
at Your future position-the avowed wife OF
millionaire. Eh, what? as George SAYS
But am not anything OF the kind. MI
Mr. Bower is all right He has the recog--
nzed history of the man who makes good
husband, and you can't help liking him, unless
unless there another man.
There at least l am" Helen hesltated
Something gripped her heart and checked the
modest protestation of her freedom.
Mrs. de la We're laughed. " If YOU are not
sure, YOU are safe" she said, with hard ring
in her utterance that belied her easvgolng phi
losophy. Really, YOU bring me back lost
decade Now, Helen-may call you Helen?"
Yes, indeed"
Well. then, don't forget that my name IS
Edith. You have just half an hour to dress |
need every second of the time: SO of YOU run to
YOUR roo1ll As hear Reggie flingng his boots
around next door / shall hurry him and ar
range al the table. Call for me. We must
go to the f., er together. Now kiss me, there's
dear.
HELEN was wrestling with her refractory
- lresses when servant brought her note
DEAR Miss WYNToN," it ran, p" If YOU are
able to come down to dinner, why not dine
with rae Sincerely, CHARLES X. SPENsER
She blushed and laughed little. : am IN
demand" she thought flashing pardonable
glance at her own face in the mirror. She read
the brief invitation again. Spenser had trick
of printing the X in his signature. 1t caught
her fancy. 1t suggested strength trustworth-
ness.
Il cannot refuse" she nlurmureds To be
candid, don't want to refuse. What shall
do?"
Bidding the servant wait, she twisted her
hair into coil, threw a wrap round her shoul-
ders. and tapped on Mrs. de Ia ere door,
Il am in a bit OF difficulty, said Helen. Mr..
Spenser wishes me to dine with him. Would
you-"
Certainly Tell him to join US. Reggie will
see him, too. Really, Helen, this is amusing.
| am beginning to suspect YOU.
So Spenser received surprising answer. He
read it without any sign Of the amusement Mrs.
de la We're extracted from the situation; for
Helen took care to recite the whole arrange
ment.
I'm going through with this, he growled
savagely, even if ! have to drink Bowers
health-damn him!"