The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1912-04-17
Little Bald
Head
toOpyrisht isi2, BY AssOciated Literary PressJ
A. MARIA CRAWFORD

well as l love you, and when you adj
nit that you love me but refuse to
marry me, / believe that l am JUS
titled in wanting to know exactly
why"
They were having late supper at a
table in an alcove in large restaur-
ant. The gold tassel at the side Of
her little theater cap swayed slightly
as she leaned her head over, staring
at the white cloth with its mound of
yellow roses.
"Look at me, Helenl It's high
time that we threshed this thing
out" continued John Haldon quiet
ly.
Helen Rayner's face flushed pain
fully. T-I wish you wouldn't dis
cuss such personal things-here."
"Nobody is listening to us. Dean
Sherwood is grinning his usual
She'll never have you, my boy and
/ am not willing to submit to ex-
pressive public speculation any
more. You'll either have to take me
now or chuck me over for good. 1
won't hang fire another day."
"Mercy, John! You astonish me.
You are so dramatic. Be pleasant
and let's enjoy this excellent sup
per"
''Helen, have put a plain ques-
ton to you. I can't force you to an
Iswer, but l ask you to for the last
time. You can't play with me and
my love for you another day."
Her eyes met his for a fleeting
second and she saw a stern look on
his face that forbade further banter
ing.
"What is it you want to know,
John?"
ado you still admit that you love
me?"
eyes. You must know that I do"
"Then why aren't you willing to
marry me? l can, offer you all that
your father is able to give you"
81 am not ready to settle down. /
want to have a good time. When
girl is not yet twenty-five she
doesn't want to give up all her fun"
"Granted, but why give it up? Is
it because you want other men
around?"
''No. As it is, I go practically
everywhere with you now"
"Helen, it's because of Tom Gray
ner. You want TO remain single I'M
til after he comes home with your
brother in the spring. He has more
money than | have. Are you mer-
cenary, after alp
eff | didn't love you, John Hal
don, l would never speak to you
again. I'll tell you why I haven't
wanted to marry you. You have so
many theories, II have been afraid
l would fail as your wife. Now,
that's the truth"
'What do YOU mean, Helen?"
"You believe in what you call
brotherhood and try to help people
who are less fortunate than you are.
You believe in really doing service
for your friends. For instance, when
Jim Thornton's trouble came and /
demonstrated with you for giving up
your time as well as your money to
help him, you said, 'Anybody's
money can accomplish as much as
mine, but nobody can do for that
boy as l can, for he loves me and
has faith in me. With little en-
couragement and help from me, he
will soon get on his feet again. He
will do whatever / expect Of him.
l never forgot those words. They
were indicative of your outlook on
people in general and on me in par
ticular. i am afraid to fail you"
az don't expect any help from
you, dear"
"That's Just it. You think you
won't, but if we ever come to mar
riage, you would be sorry that you
had taken a woman who was in no
sense your helpmeet. I know, John,
/ have thought about it great
many times and tried to laugh the
fear out of my heart"
"Don't say that, Helen. It's like
whip in my face"
'You expect so much Of woman.
Perhaps / am not the woman you
want to marry. l am selfish. All
my life I've been warm, silk-lined
and well fed. / have never thought