The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-03-12
HELP
BY Joanns Sintls

(copyrisht 1911. b.. Assoeiassd Literary Prssa)
Mrs. Jerry Towne could never let
anything alone. She wanted to help.
Her pretty home. though not exactly
heaven, was q place where mar
riages were made. Some Of them
were happy. And many occurred as
scheduled by the lady. Others did
not.
Fairlie Trent. little pale. but
quantity lovely. had just dispensed tea
in her studio while her friends-and
others-viewed her winters work. 1t
had been a hard winters work, fruit
full. and with a 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 he,
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 Kittie
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 Terriss.
| John Carter hasn't eyes to see
that Kittie Morse 10 wild about him!
Her money and position would do
wonders for him. It would be saliva
tion-give him travel and . chance
to study abroad. He could quit do
Ing pot-boilers." Her fine imagine
tion 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
bis tooliQh sensitiveness about her
money. And It would keep him from
marrying some poor girl-he II the
sort that 10 bound to be in love with
somebody. and that would spell sim
ply disaster! And" She interrupt
cd herself TO wave . tat little giovsd
hand at Fairlie and was gone. She
was the last Of them. and Fairlie shut
the door and locked It almost savage
y.
Then she did . queer thing. She
put her hands over her eyes and
stood erect and stu against the
door. After that che walked slowly
over to the hearth where q fire still
smoldered. poked the Goals aimlessly
q moment and then threw herself
down full length on the rug. hid her
face In her arms and cried. The dusk
Of the March evening came down and
inclosed her, but she did not stir un-
til some one knocked and kept knock
ing. Then she asked who was there.
John Carter! Let me in, Fairlie!"
60 away" she called. Il am tired
to death. won't let you In" He
parleyed a little, pleading that she
needed walk. that at least she
should go that evening to the theater
with him. But she was obdurate. He
went away.
Then Mrs. Jerry began to help. She
gave parties and invited Kittie and
made John Carter take her home. She
always threw them together. And
she did It with the skill and delicacy
of long practice. II did not occur to
the young man what was being done
to him. But Fairlie saw. And she
knew that the little matron was right
In few things. Pot-boiling pictures
were stultifying. She had done it un-
til she was heart-sick. She had worked
until she ached, soul and body, when
little money--so little-would have
freed her to do the good work OF
which she was capable. She was at
last getting recognition, but It was
like ashes In her mouth. The Joy was
out of 1t.
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 was his com.
rade. But wife wa, Of course, what
he needed. It 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 Fairiie 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
a picture or two to rich people she
met, she bought few stunning
gowns. Her quaint little figure, her
black hair and Irish blue eyes made
her noticeable anywhere. No gayety
was too gay, no hour too late. And
she worked also-no one could see