The Falls City tribune., 1911-05-19
HER
HELPLESSNESS
BY MARY L. BRAY

Copyright, l9ll, by Associated Literary Press.)
Mildred had been shopping all morn
Ing, attending to some last little pur-
ehases for her trousseau, and now as
she sat at a table. on what the man
agement of this small but quietly
fashionable cafe was pleased to call
its terrace-garden, with a sense of ac-
complishment that lessened fatigue,
she felt especially deserving of the re-
freshment of a dainty luncheon.
She drew off her gloves and amused
herself by watching the heads of PEG
pie, just visible through the lower
part of the box-hedge as they passed
In the avenue below; and the sudden
thought that BILLY might just posi-
bly, pass among them unconseiously
brought soft color to her cheeks and
a smile to her lips.
The waiter was pleasantly slow in
bringing her order. The passing heads
grew less interesting. Mildred leaned
back in her chair with a sigh of con-
tent and observed the people around
her. She was mentally commenting
upon the amusing difference between
the hats of two handsomely gowned
women at a distant table, one hat be
Ing large. enough to throw a shadow
over the table. and the other consist
Ing Of a twist of straw and an aigrette
that extended some twenty inches into
the air, when the words of a man be-
hind her called her attention nearer
home.
well" he was saying, c%heerfully, II
suppose you know that Billy has done
It."
Yes said his companion. Il saw
the announcement this morning"
you know" said the first man,
m~editatiyely turning his blass, there
Is as clear an instance of a man ma
king up his mind to a purpose and &C.
complaining IT as any | have ever
known"
Opposition In the family?" the sec.
ond suggested.
"Oh, no. | imagine everyone con-
nected with the affair is pretty well
pleased. Billy's rather a charming fell
low. you know"
mo; | don't know" the other said
stiffly. BILLY never made a great hit
with me. He has too good an opinion
of himself"
Why shouldn't he have a good opin.
Ion of himself?" the first retorted.
He's a ~fine-looklng fellow, fascinating
talker, attractive personality, and a
pretty good business man, too. The
things that other men struggle for
have always come easily to him. I've
known Billy since the kindergarten
age-almost; and he has always been
about the same, easy-going, witty,
good-humored, charming. His mother
did her best to spoil him, and didn't
quite succeed. In college he was too
popular for his own good. And with
the ladies-oh, the way that Billy cap
tivates the ladies'"
The speaker laughed as If In great
enjoyment at some recollections. I've
always thought there must be a good
deal of character in Billy that he sur.
yived his early training. 1t was
enough to make a cad of the average
young man"
The silence of the second man
seemed to intimate that he was not
sure Billy had survived the training;
and Mildred's cheeks grew hot with
loyal resentment.
The waiter approached With an iced
pnnCnnAnn AIf1IrAJ ,g1I.o1 l..
spoon, but presently put it down again.
What was the determination that the
mar had spoken of?
AS If in echo of her thought. she
heard the question behind her:
You haven't explained the deter
mination you mentioned. Did he have
to win the girl away from some other
man?-Teach her to love him."
NO said the first man. she was
like the others-willlng to learn.
But his voice carried a note of sur
prise-'you know about Billy, don't
your"
Il don't know just what you're driy-
ing at was the response.
why. everybody knows it. He never
made 1t a secret. Billy was out to
marry money. That is. money wasn't
to be the whole thing, but a certain
amount of 1t was to be an absolute
condition.
Il said to him one day: Billy, why
don't you get married? You've been
frisking around long enough. The man
who waits until he is an old bachelor
before he marries is pretty sure to get
the worst of the deal. Young, pretty,
charming girls aren't looking for old
bachlors-anyway. aren't loving them,
any more than your kind are looking
for old maids. There's no doubt about
1t, Billy | said. You're the last fell
low I'd like to see follow my example.
You ought to get married.
We'll, we had quite a talk on the
subject. Billy had it all figured out.
what he could do and what he was go
ing to do. He said his income was