The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1912-07-12
HELP.
<copyr:sht. 1911. BY Associated Literary Prsss)
+ + +
BY JOANNA SINGLE

Mrs. Jerry Towne could never lei
anything alone. She wanted to help
Her: pretty home, though not exactly
a heaven. was a place where mar
riages were made. Some OF them
were happy. And many occurred as
scheduled by the lady. Others die
not:
Fairlie Trent, a little pale. but
quantity lovely. had just dispensed tea
In her studio while her friends-and
others-viewed her winters work. II
had been hard winters work, fruit
full. and with picture hung In the
salon. But Fairlie was dispirited. She
did not like teas.
John Carter was one of her guests
They had studied together. but be-
her elder, was some laps ahead. She
called him the "pacemaker." He
praised her, but also criticised mer'
cilessly and helpfully.
He had come to the tea with k1ttle
Morse, and was now leaving with her.
This fact gave Mrs. Towne an idea.
She looked after the two from the
window, and then came to take her
leave Of Fairlie. gurgling and chat
tering. The girl heard her talk at
the door to old Peter Terr1ss.
John Carter hasn't eyes to see
that kitt1e Morse is wild about him!
Her money and position would do
wonders for him. 1t would be saliva
t1on-give him travel and chance
to study abroad. He could quit do
ing pot-boilers." Her fine tmagina'
ton helped her along the road of con
versation. She continued warmly:
Besides, am convinced that he cares
for her, but won't WOO her because OF
his foolish sensitiveness about her
money. And it would keep him from
marrying some poor girl-he i3 the
sort that is bound to be In love with
somebody, and that would spell sim
ply disaster! And" She interrupt
ed herself to wave fat little gloved
hand at Fairiie and was gone. She
was the last OF them, and Fairlie shut
the door and locked IL almost savage
~.
Then she did a queer thing. She
put her hands over her eyes and
stood erect and stifr against the
door. After that she walked slowly
over to the hearth where fire still
smoldered, poked the Goals a1mlessly
moment and then threw herself
down full length on the rug, hid hel
face TN her arms and cried. The dusk
of the March evening came down anc
Enclosed her, but she did not stir I'm
til some one knocked and kept knock
ing. Then she asked who was there
John Carter! Let me in, Fairlie!'
60 away" she called. II am tirec
to death. l won't let you In" liz
parleyed a little, pleading that she
needed walk. that at least she
should 60 that evening to the theatel
with him. But she was obdurate. He
went away.
Then Mrs. Jerry began to help. She
gave parties and invited kittie anc
made John Carter take her home. She
always threw them together. Anc
she did 1t with the skill and delicac,
OF long practice. 1t did not occur Il
the young man what was being done
to him. But F'airlie saw And she
knew that the little matron was right
In few things.
Fairlie knew that John Carter, also
just making good, had suffered also
She knew better than anybody. he
had told no one else. He knew she
would understand. She vas his com
rade. But wife was, OF course. VIVA,
he needed. 1t was bound to come
And kittie was pathetically In love
with him. Fairlie shut herself up and
worked harder than ever
The late fall; the early winter
passed, and something new came
over Fa1rlie that made her world
wonder. She came out Of her shell
Once 1t had taken coaxing to make
her accept invitations. All at once
she was seen everywhere She sold
picture or two to rich people she
met, she bought a few stunning
gowns. Her quaint little figure, her
black hair and Irish blue eyes made
her noticeable anywhere No gayetv
was too gay, no hour too late. And
she worked also-no one could see
how. She grew thin. but more bril-.
liant
With all this she kept her old cir
Gle Of intimate friends at SOFT OF
distance. She was friendly enough
but never to be seen for three min
utes together. The busy; 20 awav!'
card was on her door, or she was GU,
at some festivity. John Carter al
most never saw her, and though be
went where she went, she managed
never to give him word. Thus. b,
grace Of circumstances-and Mrs
Jerry Towre-kittie was somehow
constantly III his company
1t was along IN early spring thai
Carter, taking stock with himself
realized that he was becoming mere
acquaintance to his old comrade he
seemed to be coming out of daze OF
dream of some sort. and wondered