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Show -t. I Ml If II ,.. (, ., IIWMB-.. I .1 . II IB " I I 1 . BMBBa IIMBBBBBBaB-B " T IT IMf1 TATTTTTh AtI' I By upton Sinclair I jiIUIXJnJJ: lyiUilii"Ai author of the jungle" - "j j ' ' Copyright and It feeling of weariness and dissatisfaction dissatis-faction that was new to heft She arose and looked in the glass, and seeing that she was pale, vowed again. "They shall not torment jne in this way! I do not even mean that be shall propose to roe; I must have time to realize it! " And so firm was she in her own mind that she Tang the bell and sent the maid to call her aunt. It was then only 9 o'clock in tho morning, and Helen presumed pre-sumed that neither ilrs. Koberts nor any of the other guests woijld be awake, they not being fresh from boarding Vhool as she was: but the girl was so nervous and restless, and . so weighed upon bv her urgent resolution, that she felt sho could do nothing else until she-had she-had declared it and gotten rid of the matter. "I'm going to tell her once for all." she vowed; "they shall not torment me any more. " . It turned out, however, that Mrs. ; Koberts had beeij up and dressed a con-siderable con-siderable time for reason which, when Helen learned it, prevented her delivering so nuickly the speech she had upon her mind; she noticed a worried wor-ried expression upon her aunt 's face as soon as the latter came into the room. "What is the matter f" she asked, in some surprise. 'A very dreadful misfortune, my dear," said Mrs. Boberts: "I don't know how to tell you, you 11 be so put out. " . , Helen was quite alarmed as she saw her aunt sink down into a chair; but then it flashed over her that Mr. Harri: son might have for some reason been called away. "What is itf Tell me!" she asked eagerly. "It"s Mr. Howard, my dear," said the other; and Helen frowned. - "Oh. bother!" she cried; "what about himf" - "He's been ill during the night," replied re-plied Aunt Polly. "HI!" exclaimed Helen. 'Dear me, what a nuisance 1" "Poor man," said the other, depre-. catingly: "he cannot help it." "Yes," exclaimed Helen, "but ha ought not to be here. "What is the matter mat-ter with him 1" "I don't know," was the reply, "but he has been suffering so all night that " 1 i .. r- x- ' S' - ' J CHAPTER V. (Continued.) . . y ..... . Y At any rate, as Helen rose from the Jpiano site received a complete ovation, ' everyone coming to her to thank her I and "to praise her, and to share in the I jy of her beauty; she herself had never , iceeja more radiant iod more exulting ! : Jn all her exulting life, drinking in even ptr. Harrison's rapturous compliments nd finding nothing exaggerated in them. And -in the meantime, Aunt Polly : having suggested a waltz to close the festivities, the furniture was rapidly frnoved to one side, and the hostess her-' her-' eelf took her seat at the piano and , struck up.: the ''.'.Invitation to the '. , panco:" Mr. Harrison, who had been at Helen's side since her singingiiad i Koased, was of course her partner, and l the girl, flushed and excited by all the homage she had received, was soon Waltzing delightedly In his arms. The t man danced well, fortunately for him, 'and that ho was tbe beautiful girl's fcdmirer was by this time evident, not ?oalv to Helen, out to everyone else. ' In-tbe mood that she was then, the fact was as welcome to her as it could - hossibly have been, and when, therefore, Mr. Harrison kept her arm and begged for the noxt dance, and tbe next in turn, Helen wai sufficiently carried i away to have no wish to refuse him; ; when after tho third dance she was tired out and sat down to rest. Mr. . tlarrison was still her companion. ,' . Helen was the very height of her i happiness then, every trae of her former for-mer vexation gone, and likewise every race of her objections to- the man be-ide be-ide her. The music was still sounding faierrily, and everyone else was dancing, so that her animation did not seem at - all out of taste; and so brilliant ' and fascinating had she become and so completely enraptured was Mr. Harrison, Harri-son, that he would prebably have capit- tlated then and there if .the dancing ad not ceased and the company sep-Ivyted sep-Ivyted wh6 it did. The end of all the I'xVitement was a great disappointment t"r Helen; she was completely happv rt then, and would have gone just fsfar as. the stream had carried her. t "being her first social experience was seen that you were in your element! You outshone everyone, Helen, and you should do. just the same all your life. Can you not see just what that means to yout" - "Yes, Auntie," said Helen, "but then' "Were you not perfectly happy last night!" interrupted the other. T'No " protested , the other, "that's just what I was going to say." "The only reason in the world wy you are not, my dear, is that you were tormenting yourself with foolish scruples. scru-ples. Can-you not see that if vou once had the courage to rid yourself of them it would be all that you need. . Why are you so weak, Helen?" "It is not weak! " exclaimed the other. oth-er. " . - - . " "Yes," 'asserted Mrs. Boberts, "I say it is weak. It is weak of ou not to comprehend what your life is to be, and what you need for your happiness. It is a shame for you to make no use of the glorious gifts that are yours, and to cramp and hinder all your own progress. pro-gress. I want you to have room to show you true powers, Helen!" Helen had been leaning over the foot Of the bed listening to her aunt, stirred again by all her old emotion, and angry with herself for being stirred; her unspoken un-spoken resolution- was. not quite so steady as it had been 'though like all good resolutions it remained in her mind to torment her. She sprang up suddenly with a very nervous and forced laugh. "I'm glad I don't have to argue with you, Auntie, she said, "and thA I'm saved the trouble of worrying myself ill. You see the Fates are on my side I must have time to think, whether I want to or not." It was that comfort com-fort which saved her from further struggle with herself . upon the subject. sub-ject. (Helen much preferred being nappy to struggling.) She set hurriedly hur-riedly to work to dress, for her aunt told her that the guests ( were nearly ready for breakfast. "Nobody could sleep since all the excitement," she said. "I wonder it did not wake you. ' ' "I was tiredLi' said Helen; "I guess that was it." . (To Be ContinuedTJ the doctor has had to give him an opiate.". The wan countenance of Mr. Howard rose up before Helen just then, and she shuddered inwardly. "Dear me, what a state of affairs! " she exclaimed. ' ' It seems to me as if I were to have nothing noth-ing but fright and worry. Why should there be such things in the world t" "I don't know, Helen," said the other, "but it is- certainly inopportune for you. Of course, the company will all nave to leave." "To leave If echoed Helen; she had never once thought of that. "Why, of course," said her aunt. "It would cot be possible te enjoy ourselves under such very dreadful circumstances." circum-stances." "But," AunfToHy, that is a shaaer" cried the girl. "The idea of so many people being inconvenienced for such a cause. Can't he be moved t" ' "The doctor declares it would not look right, anyway, you know. He will certainly have to remain until he is better." bet-ter." " And tow long willihat be 1 " j "A week, or perhaps more," was the reply. And Helen saw that her promised holiday was ruined: her emotions, however, how-ever, were not all of disappointment, for theugh she was vexed at the interruption, interrup-tion, she recollected with sudden relief that she could thus obtain, and without so much effort of her own, tbe time to debate the problem of Mr. Harrison. Also there was in her mind, if not exactly ex-actly pity for the invalid, at, any rate, thenearest to it that-Helen had ever learned to feel, an uncomfortable fright at the idea of such suffering. "I promise you," said Aunt Polly, who had been watching ker face and trying to read her emotions, "that we shall only postpone the good time I meant to give you. You cannot possibly possi-bly be more vexed about it than I, for I was rejoicing in your triumph with Mr. Harrison." . "I'm not wormng on that account, said Helen, angruy. , , "Helen, dear," said Mrs. Boberts, pleadingly, "what-can be the matter with vou't I think anyone who was watching you and me would get the idea that I was the one to whom the fortune is coming. I suppose that was only one of your iokes, my dear, but I truly don't think you show a realization of what a tremendous opportunity you have. You show much more lack of experience than I had any idea could be possible." "And the second!" she asked. "It isn't that. Aunt Polly," protested protest-ed Helen, "I realize it, but I want time to think." "To think, Helen! But what is there to think t It seems to be madness to trifle with such a chance." "Will it be trifling to keep him waiting wait-ing a while f " asked Helen, laughing in spite of her vexation. "Maybe not, my dear; but you ought proDatuy the reason that she was less pasily wearied than the rest; and be feides, when one has thus yielded to the '.sway of the senses, he dreads instinct- , Ively the subsiding of the excitement fcDd the awakening of reason. , The awakening, nowever, is one that piust always come; Helen, having sent kway the maidt suddenly found herself standing alone in the middle of her own oom, gazing at herself in the glass, and feeing 4V-frightened look in ner eyes. I the merry laughter of the guests ceased gradually, and silence settled about the' halls of the great house; but even then Helen did not move. She was standing here still when her aunt came into the oom. ' Mrs. Boberts was about as-xcited-as Iras possible in a matron of her age and lignity; she flung her arms rapturously round Helen and clasped her to her. .'My dear," she cried, "it was a tri-. tri-. tjmph!" ' . "Yes, auntie," said Helen, weakly. .J "You dear child, you! i' went on the sther, laughing. ' l don 't believe you jealize it yet! JDo you know, Helen, hat Mr. Harrison is madly in love with rouf You ought to be the happiest girl n the land tonight." "Yes, auntie," sajd Helen again, still more weakly. - ' Come here', my dear, ' ' said Mrs. 'Roberts, drawing her gently over te the ied and sitting down beside her; "you ' are a little dazed,-1 fancy, and I do net blame you. ' I should have been beside .'myself at your age if such a thing had happened to me: do you realize, child, . khat a fortune like Mr. Harrison's ist" "No." said Helen; "it is very hard. Aunt Polly. I'm afraid about it; I tnust have some time to think." , , ' ' Think!" laughed the other. "You ! nueer child! My dear, do you actually I mean that you could think of refusing 7ihis chance of your lifetime t" t "I don't know," said -Helen; trem-tSline; trem-tSline; "I don't" . i " Everybody 'd think you were crazy I I child! I know I should, for one." And be added, coaxingly, "Let me tell you hat Mr. Boberts said." . ."JVhat, auntiet" V"He sent yon this message; he's a i?yat person for doing generous things When he takes it into his head. He told i, me to tell you that if you 'd accept Mr. f Harrison 's dffer ho would give you the finest trousseau that he could buy. ! Wasn't that splendid of hunt" "Yes," said Helen; "thank him for ne;' and she shuddered. "Don't talk k to me any n ore bout it now, though." ' yhe pleaded." "Please, don't. Aunt Pel-f Pel-f 1y. I was so excited, and it was all like V dream, and I . must think, homehow! j It's too dreadful!" f "You shan't think about it tonight, fchild." laughed the other, "for I want j .ou to sleep and be beautiful tomorrow. - fcee." she added, beginning to unfasten f feelen'a dress, "I'm going to be your little .mother tonight, and put you to 5 ied." to Know that every otner gin in mis house would snap him up at one see-end's see-end's notice. If you'd only seen them watching you last night as I did." "I saw a little," was the reply. "But, Aunt Pollv. is Mr. Harrison the only man whom t can findt" "My husband and I have been over the list of our acquaintances, and not found anyone that can be compared with him for an instant, Helen. Wo know of no one that would do for you that has half as much money." "I never said he'd do for me," said Helen, again langhing. "Understand me, Auntie," she added; "it isn't that I 'd not like the fortune! If I could get it without its attachment-r " 4 'But, my dear, you know you can never get any wealth except by marriage; mar-riage; what is the use of talking such nonsense, even in fun!" "But. listen," objected Helen in turn: "suppose I don't want such a great fortune suppose I should marry one of these pther ment" . "Helen, if you only could know as much ag I know about these things," said Mrs. Koberts, "if you only could know the difference between being in the- middle and at the top of the social ladder! Dear, why will you choose anything but the Dest when you can have) the best if you want it) I tell you once for all I do not care how clever you are, or how beautiful yon are, the great people will look down on yeu for an upstart if you cannot match them and make just as much of a show. And why can you not discover what Jrour own tastes aref I watched you ast night, ckild any one could hare - - 4 - - , .1 1 ' : And so. soothing the girl and kissing per burning forehead and trying to L laugh away her fears, her delighted pto- t tee tress undressed her, and did not " leave her nntil she had seen her in bed and kissed her again. "And promise ne child," she aaid, "that you won't Kerry yonrself tonight. Go to sleep, and vou '11 have, time to think tomorrow." tomor-row." . . Helen premised that she would; but ("no did ;not keet her promise. She ear.l the great clock in the hallway Bt.rike many times, and when the darkest dark-est hur of the night had passed she tvss sitting up in bed and gazing about her at the gray shadows in the roora, holding the covering tightly about her, because she was very cold; she was muttering mut-tering nervously to herself, half delirl-' delirl-' onslv: "No, no, I wilPtiot do it! They hall not make me do it! I must have time to think." ... And when at last she fell Into a restless rest-less slumber, that thought was still in her mind, and those words upon her lips: "I will not do it; I must have lime to think!" CHAPTER VI. .cd yet, -Bethinks I km It In thy fae. ri'ad thou, shouldst be; th' occasion (peaks '- . thee; and v ' My strong Imagination sees a crown Propping upon tby bead." ' When Helen awoke the following toorning, the resolution to withstand her bunt's urging was still strong within her: as she. strove to bring back the Iwift events of the night before, the , first discovery she mad was a headache - - . |