The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-10-05
d IL Y
81 L STORY
TEde Chinese Jar
loo n. " as,,a aTGg, sYndicate.l
II... .I.olIls RAYnoLp.

chair drawn mp before tho COM
forta BE blaze. She was definite
IL through with thoughts OF MAJ.
riaee and home and chlldrenZEnot
Fiat she didn't want them. HeaV.
ems, no But they SO evidently
iyyereilit coming her way, that It
would be the part Of wisdom 10
ion thinking about them.
no recent occurrences had
brought Helena to these conclu.
5Gi6na One was the wedding OF
s9pluffrsd Wood, her dearest friend
the last OF the old crowd, e%,
flsufinR Helena herself, to discard
iSnie hIessedness. Until recently
if{ Ind Wtnifred had mutually con-
doned WtLhfone another and bra2en'
~ Haunted the advantages OF TIT
{inwod But somehow Helena
could not see herself carrying on
the tradition alone. Parnc3i oi,iyy
when eYerY fiber Of her being
ached TO acquire some masculine
creature whose possession entail
cd wonderful rousseau and Beau
tifuf weddings and romantic hon
eynoons ana happiness forever
after.
5irhe second occurrence which
had caused Helena to Danish once
Rfid forever her hopes was tho
news thA4 Curtis Enderby had gone
out 70 the Pacific coast. Curtis
was really her last and only
chance. Helena felt sure. And he
had been at least very attentive
Z eriand for years, Yet now, with
nut word OF farewell, he had COMO.
aud r1fnor limited that his depar-
tIfe was connected with the open
inf sol \ branch office In Oregon.
Why Was 1t, Helena wondered, as
she sat taxing thoughttully into
K the heart OF the smoldering EN-.
l5efe that no man had ever asked
her TO be his wife? She was not
had.I looking. In fact, she was sup.
posed to have an "air, which IS
prettiness. She flattered herself
ffiat she could dress-certainly her
clothes were always very up-to-the'
minute. She could discourse on
.Rrt OF politics quite as inteIllGentiy
* any other married friendR. And
finally ot, however, that she
vfhnt6de It to prove drawing card
she had considerable money.
We'll. she was through. For nor
own peace Of mind, she would new
81 again think Of marriage. II was
evidently her lot to be a spiustef,
and the quicker she made up her
5lLsELEl6 BbLlGks nv G4AA4 NSSf
these days, no obloquy attached 10
5ille name of'tmaiden lady"
But Il domesticity was not to BIS
heT destiny, she must find some
thine 10 take its place. The ques-
sion was, What2 For Helena had
many little talents. but none OF
: them developed greatly.
iSlancing idly about the room, her
fell upon q squat little Chinese
lar standing on the top shelf OF an
iihgaiply swhatrnot." 1t was an
odd little piece OF pottery: Dun
blue background licked with pts
sots black and rose anu goId. ~
the most beautiful thing In the
nom 2, said Helena to herself, halt
y iinconsciously. Then, in surprise.
why; it's the only beautiful
Helena, along with the legacy
ffF6Y6 har aunt. had inherited the
MIN New England house with its
ancunuIations OF stiR horsehar
and grotesquely carved black, wal
mi. and so accustomed was she to
lts clumsy uglipess that never hao
81 Occurred TO her TO change II.
Bat now, suddenly, she sat up
.JgSt ssIs L CAN'T marry am go
ifIe 10 have hobby. And II this
Il the only house / shall ever know
aIn going to make 1t as Deautttul
as possible to live In! TO SIGNIFY
IA herself the seriousness or her
IYikenfiOns Helena ro3e. went over
IA n shaky mlrble-topped table.
NAKED up a gIass.Cased wreath OF
{ Sgsxed lilies and cast 1t bodily into
HE fireplace, ~.
rest Of this room has got to 1--we up
"a that Chinese jar!
Frorn now on, Helenn's days tooH
nm 4 ieyy interest. So absorbed did
"a become in her pursuit OF tins
81 Interior decoration that she
o1fte forgot to feel any pangs OF
envy when one of Winifreds
brfd maids stopped her as she was
c3infrfg homo from the library, her
srTl9 81 laden with books on furnish:
iira and rugs and curtains ana
antiques, to show her q letter re-
ceived from the blissful bride.
Little by little the formal, square
roomed house nlossomeu INTO
adprnment Frightening, yet NOV les.
SEEMING its dignity. Gay, flowery
So1fntxes balanced soberer hanginRd,
gransful consoles replaced top
isavy Secretaries, cool settles took
sfI, place OF oyerstuffed, ornately
4 Elaborated sofas.
And gradually, Helena herself,
Il almost unawareB, responded to the
6nged surroundings. Instead OF
tfhe Atlionable gowns which occen'
ed her tallness she affected &C.
4 6aqionally Smocks over simple
iyirts, vivid strands Of embroidery
ii1ging out stray gl.nts OF gold in
her hair. A string OF old blue
tl{ead DIS, picked up by chance IN a
sflon where she was hunting down
~ dam mirror, deepened the blue
4 In her eyes.
md 81 ives In such a garb that,
N estalling her aunt's old house
aepar, she answered the ring OF
III doorbelI one blowy autumn
s5urtisis she exclaimed, COM
Isl telys taken ab9ck.
M; NHeienRly cried Curtis, no
aatoniRhed-not at seeing Hell
ems but ct seeing O brand new
t8sleu years younger than the one
4 Rad Known.
baf6rey the fire, Helena
\ 49, how Curtis had been called
81. not ~ business, but by fam.
~ A8ntrR; how his return had
a dared: how, sorry he had
MOI u sly Eood.hy.
WxpianattpnB over, he lot his
eyles stray appre daetVelY ABOUT the
ii room. Then bringing his gaze con-
ffly back TO Helena, he let II
Il FAHt sfFeIana3 he exclaimed, this
4 5le peeati After the dusty ride