Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-03-16

or riding habit so they had faxed
one out of an old linen suit, that Jean
might make her entry consistent with
her speech.
1t was long speech, full of fowery
phrases about her glorious ride
through the hills and dales, the prairie
breeze and the sky dappled with
clouds. She gave it as though it
We're commencement recitation, and
in the same high pitched voice.
She's the girl that Max makes love
to-" judged Warren.
Hardly had TeXana cleared the
table after the two-minute break
fast, when there was a knock that
shook the flimsy door, and in came
Jack Maxwell. Warren dropped his
program and clappeI uproariously.
"Don't-don't," whispered Helen
lpleadingly, pulling at his arm. AS no
one else was clapping, the sound was
startling.
But Warren did not stop until Max
well glanced out and acknowledged
the applause with a twitching grin
under his false mustache.
If Helen had not been so en-
barrassed at Warrens conduct, she
would have been convulsed at the
stilted way in which they all stood
around the stage and spouted their
speeches in the commencement style
I of oratory
Maxwell was tall and thin, with
a voice surprisingly deep in contrast
! to the high-pitched tones of the girls.
! He evidently took his part most SER
! iously, and Helen thought that once or
twice he looked out in annoyance at
/ Warren's ill-concealed chuckles.
| The play was undoubtedly written
by an aspiring playwright of the Gin
re rict
combined with the amateur acting.
produced a real comedy.
But the redeeming feature of it all
was jeans adorable prettiness, and
when in the last act Maxwell caught
! her in his arms, Warren muttered,
Lucky Dog"
! When the red curtain hitched to
after the final touching scene, War
4 rem made straight for the door be-
side the stage. Feeling that they
had no right to intrude behind the
scenes, Helen hung back, but he
i beckoned to her peremptorily. Re-
+ luctantly she followed, feeling self
conscious and very much out of place.
She looked for Maxwell to greet
Warren with effusive cordiality, but
now to her surprise he was quite cool.
He had taken off his false mustache
and was wiping off the grease paint
with a towel.
He bowed formally to Helen when
! Warren introduced her, but he
evinced none of the hearty good-fel-
/ lowship that Helen had naturally ex-
| pected.
| a number of the audience had now
made their way back to congratulate
the actors. And on all sides were
heard gushing comments of how
! "splendidly" the play had gone off,"
and how beautifully" every one had
acted.
] Helen thought that of course Mr..
Maxwell would show them around,
/ explain the various crude devices, and
then walk with them to the station.
But he merely expressed his regret
that they had had so bad an evening
to come up, and asked if they were
going back on the 1885.
They had intended taking the later
train. but now Warren glanced at his
watch with casual look.
Yes, we'll just about have time to
make that"
With brief good-by they went
back to the dim chapel for their
J wraps. Helen's cheeks We're burning
with fierce resentment She could
hardly wait until they were outside
! before she broke out Indignantly.
What WAS the matter? What
MADE him so COOL? After we had
come all the way from New York to
| see him-why he was hardly civil"
| "Oh. Maxwell's all right. He's a
mighty fine fellow-best ever. He was
just ratified, that's ALL"
''No, that WASN'T all, He was lust
as cool as he could be- And to think
we came all the way out here In the
rain to see that silly play!" Helen's
indignation was growing.
! We'll. he may be little sore. I've
guyed him pretty hard about that
lplay. But Max's a good fellow-he's
all right. He'll come around"
1t was still raining and Helen
| chung close to Warren's arm as they
| trudged to the station through the
/ dark village streets. Her disapprovaI
| and embarrassment at his conduct in
the church was now forgotten in her
consuming Indignation at Maxwells
sighting attitude. 1t had amounted
almost to a snub. That any one
! should snub Warren!
| In spite of the chilled mist that
blew in her face. Helen's cheeks still
burned hotly. She had conceived a
profound animosity for this man. She
had never met him before, and she
never wanted to meet him again. For
mild meek little woman, Helen's
thoughts were almost revengeful.
/ Warren had been sighted! And
with the primitive woman instinct
| she was up in arms i'll his defense.