The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-04-13
sUzETTE's SOLUTION.
Nv INA WRIGHT HANSON.

1t was only few minutes until
train time and the woman who. all
, ;he morning, had been wandering
restlessly about the house. forced her
reluctant consciousness to the real.
ization Of the fact that soon-very
soon-Suzette would be here. Suzette
after her four years at an Eastern
college, was coming nome. And what
was she. Helena Crosby. going to say
to the girl? 1T was in answer TO
Helena's own urgent appeal that the
girl was coming: that and Sanford's
letter Despite the warmth Of the
sweet June day. Helena shivered
What was she to say?
Sanford's letter sVke for itself In
clear. unmistakable~ terms il begged
Suzette to give up that long dreamed
of year in Europe. and come back
and marry him. His anxiously awaited
promotion had arrived he was At last
in position to ask the fulfillment of
their boy and girl pledge. Helena
knew well enough what the letter
contained. Had she not practically
dictated the substance of il?
And Suzette's only answer had been
a noncommittal telegram. starting
for home today"
Did she mean to marry Robert or
did she not? That was the question
which over and over again rose few
erishly to the sisters mind. Since
Suzette was lG and Robert g. the two
had been engaged-or, rather. there
had been an understanding between
them Then Suzette had gone TO COL
lege and Robert had followed his regi-
ment to the Philippines.
Had the trouble begun. then, Won
dered Helena DULY. when a triangu-
lar chain of correspondence linked
the three? Or was il not until San
ford had come to Helena first TO talk
about the absent Suzette. then to ar
que and tease about her own con-
Germs. and lastly to discuss that never
firing topic for conversation to a>man
himself? Helena could not tell. But
lightly. unthinkingly. they had drift
ed along until all unwittlngly sud-
den shock laid bare the truth to lover
and sister that new feeling. strong
er. deeper. had taken the place of
that childish affection.
Sanford. manlike. had wanted to ad-
nit the truth and face the conse-
quences But Helena. her heart a
fiery turmoil of conflicting emotions.
would not listen. She. who. although
only a year and half the elder. had
been always mother./ nurse. svery-
thing to the cherished little sister
She 10 De the one 20 destroy tnat SIS
ter's happiness. break forever her
faith in humankind?
"Impossibler cried Helena, her gray
eyes dark with anguish. And from
that determination she could not be
shaken, despite Roberts most impas-
stoned pleadings.
Il cannot hurt Suzette.' was her
answering answer. And at last Rob-
ert. desperate. had written SuZette.
Since the thing must be met, let il
be met at once. Let them be married
at once and return to the Philippines.
1t was the only reNedy either could
see.
And so II was that Helena Crosby
could see nothing fair nor lovely in
the clear. warm sunshine. the rust
ling. bird filled trees. When would
SuZette come? And what would be
the end? This was all her tired brain
could carry.
There was a. crisp football in the
street, sharp tinkle of the bell. Then
the sound of Suzette's voice in a low
interchange of words; n retreating.