The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-01-05
FATE'S VAGARIES

, out some foolish excuse and left you.
Probably you don't understand. even
vet: but. you see. 1t was just that ]
was longing for companionship, sym
pathy, anything
And then / failed you" The tears
stood In her eyes and Slistened IN
her lashes.
HIS eyes darkened as he watched
her After "A moment he turned his
head deliberately away from her.
And are things better now" she
asked softly.
Better" He laughed mirthlessly.
They are--finished. / think. The
fight is over"
Tell me-" she commanded.
Well, it's just this way. ! am n
lawyer. and when l graduated every
one cried, New York, New York at
me. There is no future here, they
said: go to New York. New York
Is the place to get ahead And be-
lieved It. / came here and rented an
Office. / had been given letters to
one or two influential people, who all
promised TO do what they could and
send things my way when the chance
came. But, somehow. things haven't
come and the few little cases I've
had have In most instances failed to
pay up. ! hate 10 tell such a hard
luck story" he ended. but these are
hard facts. II can ali be put in one
word, / suppose, I'm failure"
You are nothing of the kind" con-
tra6icted Helen Indignantly. Now
don't let's talk any more about II. This
Is my street. and ] want you to come
home with me to dinner"
Really. do you?" he bre6thed. with
such look Of Joy and gratitude that
HeIens eyes filled again as he fell
into step beside her.
| My name il Archauld." he smiled.
"a he handed her his card.
And ! am Helen Winston Isn't
IL odd" she laughed. II had forgotten
all about names This Is the place,
she added.
When the elevator had taken them
up To the snug little apartment which
she shared with her aunt she led him
into the coy living room.
This is Mr. Archauid. Aunt Anne
a friend whom | have Just met accl-
deatally," she said, II brought him
home To dinner"
sfiss Winsiow greeted him with a
grecious warmth and sweetness that
brought a lump into his throat and
after showing him into her own bed
room that he might make a perfume
tory toilet. turned inquIringly TO
Helen.
/ I'm tell YOU all about II later.
whispered that young woman as she
disappeared into her own room. Re
very good TO him. dear"
When she reappeared, wearing a
soft trailing gown of pale rose. sh e
found Arehauld talking with her aunt.
aud as they all passed into the dining
room, she noticed that the table was
set out with even more than its usual
Hat ella af
loving gratitude at Miss WINSTON.
All through the meal. as they talk
ed end laughed lightheartedly. Arch
auld's eyes kept straying to Helen's
face in sort of eestacy OF alteration.
I while In his heart there swayed an I'M
dcrcurrent scr wonder and unhelief.
as II he might wake suddenly and
find himself hack. lonely and heart
sick, in the bleak desolation of his
| little ballroom.
After dinner Helen PLAYED and sang
TO him and when he left she said;
Z wish you would come IN again
Tomorrow evening. ! have something
to- suggest.
When he came the next evening
| she was radiant
! 4 wanted to consult Mr. Benton
she said. lin whose employ / am. lie
has been speaking for some time OF
InE necessity fE tHhiHE an aNslEkAf I,
and he wants YOU 10 come In to-mor-
row to see him. He liz an old friend
of the family she explained ''ani
gave me the position I have with HIM
when my father died, and he has a
great deaf or faith In my Judgment
Of people She laughed Mp at him
tedsingfy. And really. YOU know, In
New York II is much better To
start IN with some one who is known.
II is almost impossible TO build up
success alone. DO you think you
II ?"
would car for IT,
Care Tor ati''> HIs. e~es% expressed
what he could not find words for.
ut = n case of John Benton. Barris-
ter. caring fer me- ne added. whim-
! siealips
And considering the fact that John
Benton, Earrister. did care, and
eventually took him into partner
ship, II seemed an unfair deal OF Fate
that the firm or Benton ~ 4srchauld
should thereby lose a very valuable