The Raymer enterprise., 1918-02-14

She turned and saw Wade Barber.
you like it7" he said.
Like TT" she answered. THAT is
not the word. 1t Is too wonderful, too
splendid vislon-to tell you just now
what l feel"
Your eyes tell me-" he said. ut Is
enough. I never had just such appre-
citation before" t
They sat down and began talking
together. What came to both Of these
souls suddenly revealed to each other
must lie with themselves, but what
their faces revealed was much.
The lights went up In the gallery.
"Oh" exclaimed Helen with quick
realization Of the time. "Aunt Ethel
will be waiting dinner!"
"She will not scold, will she?"
"Never!' cried Helen. Aunt Ethel
is darling! l am so glad you like
her,"
Quite Unexpectedly to herself she
WIS finding 1t hard to finish the sen.
tence.
"Yes, she is a charming, beautiful
woman"
Helen had never heard her aunt
called beautiful before. "Only a lover
could say that" she thought.
Don't run away the next time ]
come he said as they parted.
True to her promise, Helen did not
run away" but Mrs. Pickett en-.
crossed the young mans attention
sporadic attempts at conversation be.
tween him and Helen seemed to be
nlpped in the bud. the girl began to be
sure she was simply being endured
and excused herself.
In the quiet Of her own room she
had battle to fight. She knew now
that she loved this man. She also
knew he loved her aunt, and felt for
her only friendly interest. What
was more, she was convinced that her
aunt loved him. Even II she could
have succeeded In supplanting anyone
In his affections, that one must not be
the one who had been to her such q
friend. Generally when they went tc
the opera she was one Of the party, but
the next time, she pleaded an excuse
1t was best for her not to see him.
Things went on this way for several
weeks, then his visits ceased entirely
Helen supposed he must be out Of
town, but as her aunt offered no ex.
PLANTATION, she did not ask. One day
she met Barber at reception. He
drew her into quiet corner and they
had talk. Finally she got up cour.
age to ask lin why he had deserted
them. He begged her to let him an.
swer her question some other time
where they would not be Interrupted
1t was out Of the question for him tc
call. SO they arranged to meet the next
day IN the park.
Helen felt something like q traitor
ns she started out; cut 1t was spring
In the park-she had not known It he
fore amidst the brick and stone-the
grass and sky looked like his picture.
lie was waiting and they found a seat
In a quiet place.
Il am going to make confession,
he said. Il know you are going tc
think me a contemplate cad. know
! have been one; but l also believe
one need not go on being cad. II
can be blotted out. hope you can
think so. | was fascinated by your
aunt never was In love with her. d
persuaded myself that did not so much
matter. II she cared for me enough
we could marry, and would try to not
let her see the lack In me. | am mis-
erably poor, so far as money goes. II
have had frightful struggle. My art
means everything to nse, and II seemed
must give 1t up or starve. She TOLD
me she had enough to make the way
for me easy. You see. now!" he cried
with intense disgust. "You see how
low ! fell when could take this won.
ans money and give her no love In re.
turn! Then that day before the pic.
ture-when ! knew you'll couldn't do
1t. Can you forgivs iti"
Il can blot II out" she said.
"They told me you were the poor re-
lation. Could you go on being poor
with me? love you so much 1t would
not matter to me-"
ut would not matter to me-" she an.
swered.
It was a quiet place, and when he
next spoke he said: I'VE shall not be
so very poor. My pictures are begin.
ming to SELL"
NO. she said. with a queer little
smile. "You see, ! have a great deal
more money than Aunt Ethel. I'm
going to own that wonderful picture,
and We shall always have the Spring