The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-09-25
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smiled to himself, thinking of the
surprise he was planning for her.
His words pleased Helen. She had
not ceased to hope that if he was
not going to accept her as his grand
daughter he would soon let her go
back to Brent.
The uncertainty of her position
irked her, although she had found
much to enjoy at BrambleWood that
had not appeared to her at first
sight.
The grounds of the place had af-
forded one delightful surprise. Seen
from the highway the estate had a
neglected. forsaken look. But Helen
quickly had discovered the western
veranda with its climbing roses and
the well-kept garden that led down
to the lake
This small garden. she learned
one day. was visible from the room
that had been her mothers.
Her grandfather had given her
the keys to the room without COM
ment other than, you are the first
to enter it."
Helen understood that he meant
since her mothers departure. She
went at once to the closed door and
stood before it with prayer on
her lips that she might come close
within it to the parents she could
not remember.
THERE was much that she was
L grateful for. Many things to be
fondled and wept over. And at last
she came upon photograph Of
Charles Nellin-of the man she be-
lieved to be her father.
She studied his handsome fea-
lures intently and reverently and
wondered why there was a slight
chill at her heart. The picture Of
her mother, in the locket, she loved.
There was a sad fatality in it that
touched q responsive cord in her
own heart. but Charles Nellin's
countenance lacked the power to
move her.
Still, she took his photograph to
her room and placed it on her
dressing table, being motivated by
dutiful feeling.
AS the days passed and the prep
arations for her birthday party went
smoothly ahead, she paused often
to look at that pictured face and
wonder if her mother had been hap
ply married.
A happy marriage, Helen was be-
ginning to believe, might conceiv-
ably be a very rare thing. For, old
fashioned as she was in certain
matters, she was modern enough in
others.
In regard to Brent, for instance,
she was frank with herself. She
knew she would marry him if ne
asked her to. but she knew also that
their life would be Swallowed by his
past.
She tried. struggling with her
fledgling philosophy of life, to tell
herself that she was not jealous of
him. Its only that my ideals are
toppled a bit" she put it.
She thought she preferred a priS-
tine love, ungueSSing of the pas
sion that accepts the past as dead,
and forgetS it where that is the only
way to happiness.
This thought was in her mind on
the night of her party when she
witnessed Brent'S triumph with the
other girls. Helen smiled over it,
but a hint of worry crept into her
eyes as she saw him lift Eva En-
mis- lovely hands to his lips.
Had she known with what detach-
ment the act was committed she
might have been ct peace. But had
she known that it was a duty kiss
one that Eva would accept-She
might we'll have been disturbed.
The girls had not exchanged con-
fdences. Brent'S training of Helen
had cultivated a natural reticence
almost to the point of making Sc
crecy a habit with her.
And Eva was too shy to talk.
Brent was too wise. Eva did not
know that Helen was more than a
ward to him and Helen did not know
that Brent was amusing himself
with Eva,
ON the occasions when the two
" met at Brambleyood it seemed
quite natural TO Helen that they
/ should sometimes be alone together.
Brent had been surprised to find
that Eva interested him at second
meeting.
He had flirted q trifie and then