The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-10-06
Ece.,nin,g Story
The Chinese Jar.
BYH LOUIS RAYBOLD.

deep armchair drawn up Before the
comfortable blaze. She was definitely
thru with thoughts of marriage and
home and children-not that she
didn't wantthem. Heavens, MOI But
they so evidently weren't coming her
way, that it would be the part of wis
dom to stop thinking about them.
Two recent occurrences had brought
Helena to these conclusions. One was
the wedding of Winifred Wood, her
dearest friend and the last of the old
crowd, excepting Helena herselfs-to
discard single blessedness. Until re-
Gently she and Winifred had mutually
condoned with one another and bra
zenly Haunted the advantages of the
unwed.\ But somehow Helena could
not see herself carrying on the tradi-
ton alone. Particularly when every
fiber of her being ached to acquire
some masculine creature whose pos
session entailed wonderful trousseau
and beautiful weddings and romantic
honeymoons and happiness t'forever
after"
The second occurrence which had
caused Helena to Danish once and for
ever her hopes was the news that Cur
tbs Enderby had gone out to the Pa
cific coast. Curtis was really her last
and only chance, Helena felt sure.
And he had been at least a very at
tentive friend for years. Yet now.
without a word of farewell. he had
gone, and rumor limited that his de-
parture was connected with the open
ing of branch office in Oregon.
Why was it, Helena wondered. as
she sat gazing thoughtfully into the
heart of the smoldering embers, that
no man had ever asked her to be his
wife? She was not bad-1ooking In
''air," which is often more valuable
than mere prettiness. She flatterec
herself that she could dress-certainly
her clothes were always very up-to-
the minute. She could discourse on
art or politics quite as intelligently as
any other married friends. And final
ly-not, however. that she wanted it
to prove a drawing card-she had con-
siderable money.
Well, she was thru. For her own
peace of mind. she would never again
think of marriage. 1t was evidently
her. lot to be a spinster, and the
quicker she made up her mind to it,
the better. At any rate, these days no
obloquy attached to the name of
maiden l4dy."
But if domesticity was not to be
her destiny, she must find something
to take its place. The question was
What? For Helena had many little
talents, but none of them developed
greatly.
CHANGING idly about the room, hr
gaze fell upon a squat little Chinese
jar standing on the top shelf of an
lihgafnly "what-not." 1t was an odd
little piece of pottery: dull blue
background flecked with bits of black
and rose and gold. ITS the most
beautiful thing in the ROOM" said
Helena to herself. half-unconscfously-
Then, in surprise, "Why, it's the only
beautiful thingi"
Helena, along with the legacy from
her aunt, had inherited the prim New
England house with its Accommodations
of stiff horsehair and grotesquely
carved black walnut, and so accuStom-
ed was she to its clumsy ugliness that
never had it occurred to her to change
it.
But now, suddenly, she sat upright.
IF I can't marry l am going to have
a hobby. And if this is the only house
1 shall ever know I am going to make
it as beautiful as possible to live in!"
To signify to herself the seriousness
Of her intention Helena rose, went
over to a shaky handicapped table,
picked up az glass cased wreath of
waxed liiies,~cast it bodily into the
fireplace.
beginning now" she cried, "the
rest of this room has got to live uP to
that Chinese jar!''
From now on, Helena's days took on
a new interest. So absorbed did she
become in her pursuit of the art of
got to feel any pangs of envy when
one of Winifred's bridesmaids stopped
her as she was going homel from the
library, her arms laden with books
on furnishings and rugs and curtains
and antiques, to show her a letter
received from the blissful bride.
Little by little the formal, square
roomed house bIossomed into aGorn-
ment Frightening. yet not lessening its
dignity. Gay, flowery chintzes bal
anced soberer hangings. graceful con-
soles replaced top-heavy secretaries,
cool settles took the place of over
stuffed, ornately decorated sofas.
And gradually, Helena herself, al
most unawares, responded to the
changed surroundings. Instead of the
fashionable gowns which accentuated
her tallness she affected occasionally
strands of embroidery bringing out
stray glints- OF gold in her hair. A
string of old blue beads, picked up by
chance in a shop where she was hunt
ing down an Adam mirror, deepened
the blue in her eyes.
And it was in such a garb that fore
stalling her aunt's old housekeeper.
she answered the ring of the doorbell
one blowy autumn night.
ICurtis." she exclaimed, completely
taken aback.
And, "Helenav' cried Curtis, no less
Acknowledgement at seeing Helena, but
at seeing brand new Helen. years
younger than the one he had known
Seated before the fire, Helena learn
ed how. Curtis had been called west,
not by business, but by family affairs;
how his return had been delayed; how
sorry he had been not to say geod-by.
Explanations over, he let his eyes
stray appreciatively about the room.
Then, bringing his gaze contentedly
back to Helena. he let it rest.
Helena he exclaimed, this is great
After the dusty ride across the conti-
nent and memories of stuffy hotels and
the last few days at my old boarding
house, tell you, to be in a place like
this for a few minutes does man
good. : But haven't you fixed it up, or
something 2" he asked puzzled.
Helena smiled Yes she said. 'I
f1ave-and my latest purchase is that
Bokhara rug With an animation
| that had not belonged to the old
Helena, the girl was Off in an anus