The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-07-02
NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY

"Adraste will wait at the end of
the garden" said Helen. But now
she's gone, I must say, Charitas, I
see no point in whispering. If it's
uncomfortable, don't let's say it."
Dear Charitas, I mentioned your
son only because you did, and 1
wished him a happy fate. You, it
seems to me, expressed distrust of
him, and before the girl. She hasn't
lost her heart to your description.
You really ought to send him over
to our house some day soon, to prove
he's more of a man than you've tried
to make him. I'm curious to see the
boy"
"He's been there several times re-
Gently, to see Hermione," said Chair
tas. 81 couldn't say it before your
servant, but I'd be well satisfied if
he cares for Hermione. No one
could breathe word against her. -
Does she happen to be interested
in Damastor?" said Helen. "Her
father always wanted her to marry
her cousin Orestes."
"She never mentioned Orestes to
me-" said Charitas, nor my son
either, I must say. Come to think
of it, she's talked chiefly about you.
She explained it all, and I must say
she took a weight off my mind"
what did she explain? What
was en- yo1r mind?"
ut seems silly to be telling you,
Helen-I'd rather have you tell me
what happened. But you know, we
thought you just ran away with
Paris, until Hermione explained that
he took you against your will, and
robbed Menelaos of some furniture
and altogether showed himself for
what he was-a low character"
"Charitas, you really didn't be-
lieve Hermione?" said Helen.
Certainly I did! 1t was entirely
plausible, and for your sake I
wanted to believe it,"
"Well, then, let me correct your
eror," said Helen. 81 loved Paris
dearly. He never would have taken
me away if I hadn't wanted to go.
And he didn't steal the furniture.
Some pieces did disappear, 1 under
stand, in the confusion, but they
must be here somewhere in Sparta;
Paris took nothing to T'roy-except
me-"
ooh, Helen, don't tell me that, "
said Charitas. II can't believe it
as I look at you. You look $3.50
innocent! And for youto contradict
the creditable story yourself"
= THAT you, dear Charitas, for say
ing look innocent. I am innocent
That is, of everything except love
That is, of everything except love,
Now if I allowed you to believe that
shabby story I should be Sinking
the blame for all the wretchedness
at Troy. To deny it would be to
deny myself-to exist only in false
hood"
"For goodness sake, Helen" said
Charitas, "I'll go mad with your
reasoning. You want the world to
know you caused the wretchedness
at Troy, and you want us to think
you're as innocent as you look
What's your idea of innocence?"
Here is my account of my inno-
cence," said Helen. II am used to
having men fall in love with me
but never wanted them to, and
never flirted with a man in my life
Against my will I fell in love with
Paris. 1t just happened to me. But
I could be sincere-that- at least was
in my choice. Since love had be-
fallen me, I saw it through to the
end. CharitaS, sincerity was the
one virtue I salvaged out of the
madness, and I kept little inteui-
gence, tool had enough wit te
know that the end would be bad. !
was deserving my child; what WOULD
happen to her character, growing
up alone, and with such an ex-
ample? was sure the TrojanS
would repudiate Paris and me, else
there would be war. But instead
the Trojans welcomed me. Wher
the war was going tlg wrong way
for them, they said more than once
that it was worth it, just to have
me with them. Charitas, a woman
who does wrong she feels she car
not help, yet expects to suffer fol
it, and is ready to pay the penalty
as, though it were altogether hel
fault-such woman, in my opin-
ion, is moral far above the aver
age. I am proud of my willingness
to pay for what others suffered from
my misfortune. Without that mora
clarity, I could have no peace Of
mind F,.o,,, the beginning of the