Omaha daily bee., 1911-04-02
CHAPTER XIX.

Thursday morning, the morning after
Hardy Maxwell, or Milton Fletcher, or
Stewart, or whatever his name was, had
dined at the Ohlstroms' and had made his
avowal, Helen Ohlstrom was awake earlier
than usual, and looked at herself in the
mirror with unaccustomed interest 1t
seemed to her that by assuring herself
that she was still in the flesh, and not
dreaming, she could get an answer to the
question that was continually running
through her head:
Am 1 engaged or am l not?"
Her preoccupation at breakfast was so
evident that 1t attracted the attention Of
her parents; but she turned aside their ques-
tons with a laugh. Immediately after
breakfast she went out for a walk; but
while she looked in the shop windows, and
occasionally went in for a moment, she
was conscious that she saw nothing, or did
not care about what she saw. Her whole
mind and Imagination were occupied in
running over again and again everything
that had happened the night before.
She tried to recall Maxwells exact words.
She could still feel that first kiss upon
her cheek. And then. she had kissed him,
had she not2 Yes, there could be no mis-
take about that. woman never forgets
the first time she kisses a man fun upon
the mouth. She could still feel his pow
erful arms about her waist. She had no
idea that he was so strong; or was 1t that
she was so unresisting? And what was It
that he had said? How did he express it?
OF course she must be engaged! And yet
he had not exactly asked her to marry him
He would surely call again that evening,
and then IL would be settled. Perhaps he
would bring something for her during the
day; or was II the proper thing for him to
put the engagement ring on her finger him
self? In her heart she felt that her faith
in him was absolute whether the engage
ment ring was on her finger or not.
But Hardy Maxwell did not come that
evening nor the next He wrote no line
he spoke no word. It was very strange
She did not like TO appear to be running
after him, or she would have sent a note
to the club. On Sunday she was certain
he would call. Dressed In her best frock
with her hair done up in the most bewitch-
ing fashion, she sat at the window watch
ing for him from 2 o'clock until tea time
Many a passer-by cast a longing glance al
the window that Sunday afternoon.
After tea Helen went to the window
again and stood looking out into the deep
ening shadows until her mother brought
her back into the room. Was there any
suspicion in the mothers heart of wha
was wrong? Did she guess the truth wher
her daughter went up to her own room
shortly after o'clock and locked herself
in2 Who knows?
Monday and Tuesday wore away ant
Wednesday came. without a word or
sign from Maxwell The happy recollec
tons the eager rehearsals OF the event.
OF the Wednesday before were changed 4
a feeling Of modification and chagrin
Helen could not help telling herself tina
perhaps she had been hasty OF foolish, al
though she had gone too far 10 retrace he
steps. She had given her heart 70 Hard
Maxwell, and even II he had trampled Of
II, 1t was stin his. His pledge to secrec!
worried her; it added to her sense OF hu
initiation.
But this suspense was becoming too muc
/ for her When her mother remarked tina
Mr.. Maxwelrs calls had ceased, she did no
answer. When Mrs. Ohlstrom limited tina
she feared they had had a quarrel or some
thing, Helen only turned her head away I
5 hide the gathering tears. Then the mothe
knew. All she could do was to shake ne
s head sadly and TO express a hope tina
I things would turn out all right.
% Madge annoyed her more than anyou
else. OF course the girl had heard a
o about the handsome young Englishma
E and knew Of his attentions 70 Helen.
! fact. she was 10 have met Mr. Maxwe
that week and had learned the reason VIII
5 Helen had Cancelled the invitation that ha
. been given TO her. Madge's idea seemed I