King Midas

y 'erse's legs, as

proputty-that's wh

aker feller as oft

for munny, but goa

o see what effect the trip had had upon her beauty and accomplishments. Then too, she had the unpacking of an incredible number of trunks; it was true that Helen, having been a favored boarder at an aristocratic seminary, was

ents had of course been bitterly opposed to the match, but the girl had had her way. Unfortunately, however, the lovers, or at any rate the bride, having been without any real idea of duty or sacrifice, the match had

few miles from Oakdale, together with the privilege of frequenting the best society in New York, and of choosing her friends amongst the most wealthy in the neighborhood of the little town. This superiority to her erring sister had probably been one of the causes that had contributed to develop the most prominent trait in her character-which is perhaps the most prominent trait of high society in general-a complete satisfaction with the world she knew, and what she

en to come for a week or two at her aunt's, who was just opening her country home and who intended to invite a score of people whom she considered, for reasons of her own, proper persons for her niece to meet

raction there with the keenest delight. In the meantime, however, she slaked her thirst for happiness just as well at Oakdale, accepting with queenly grace the homage of all who came to lay their presents at her feet. Sunday pro

ned for her conquest. Helen was amusing herself by sorting out the motley collection of souvenirs and curios which she had brought home to

o slip on her hat, and to bid her father a hurried farewell. In a minute more she

aid her aunt, beaming upon her; "I hop

everybody and everything I wanted to at h

you would be foolish not to make the most of it. But I should think this town would se

d Helen, "but it seemed good to

thur here on Saturday," said

You can fancy how glad I was to meet him. I spent

y may be imagined; it was f

now?" she a

, "he went on Saturday afternoon, because he's writing a p

not; it was very frequently difficult to tell, anyway, for Helen would look serious and amuse herself by watching ano

she herself might have once made some pretense to being a belle, but she was very humble before Helen. "My dear," she said,

ghtedly. "Isn't it nice, Aunt P

ghed the other. "What

with open eyes. "Why, dear me! I can look at myself in the glass

she laughed. "I only wish I could say something to you

ed the girl. "Have you

and I only wish you could appreciate the gift that has been given you, and not fling it away in any fooli

riousness, "I often think of it; perh

ur, and being a young lady of electrical wit, had understood just what it meant, and just how the rest o

devote myself to art? It would not make any difference, you know, if he were poor-we could struggle and help each other. And oh, I tell you, if I were to meet such a man

ched. But she could not get any further, for the look of utter horror upon her auditor's

linging one arm about her, "have you real

nt of that fearful tragedy that she could only

ach on the impropriety of walking in the woods alone with a susceptible youn

other, "you are too qui

am ready; and if you meet with any difficulties in the course of your sermon, I've an expert at ho

nough to be your own mistress now, and to do as you please, but you ought to realiz

ng at her aunt. "What do you want me to do, now that I am home? I will be really serious

more than I ever had. And you owe it all to me, Helen,-you do, really; if it hadn't been for my insisting you'd hav

elt that that was caus

. It was for no reason at all but that I saw what a wonderful woman you promised to become, and I was anxious to help y

Helen; "I'm going with you, and I

, smiling a little; "but that

do you

while by visiting me; but that will not be permane

the girl, taken

that you might not hope for; you must know yourself that you could make any man fall in love with you that you wished. And you ought to know also that if you only

that already," sa

u want. You know that your tastes are not those of a poor woman; you have been accustomed to comfort, and you need refi

s money," protested the girl, not altogether

ou may marry for love if you like; but it is n

sfied as I am now. I do not want to marry

your own time. All I am anxious for is that you should realize the future that is before you. It i

r a moment, and then the ir

tter, child?" a

s thinking about how these

o you

ur. Auntie, I do believe you're afraid I'm

to sleep at night if I thought you capable of anything quite so ghastl

o the divine fire which even society's leaders pay. If it had been a question of a person of her own sense and experience, the word "genius" would

y," said Helen, "everybody unde

ther, turning her keen glance upo

ut w

t in love w

r eyes very wide open: "No, I

eat breath of relief. "Is he in

question could not but bring a smile. "I-I

ertinence!" exclaimed

s very young, and I used to think them quite exciting; but I'm getting used to them now. All the men seem to fall in love with me,-they do, honestly, and I don't know h

said the other;

's staff, and the colonel at the head of it. But I'll tell you about Johann,

nking how fortunate it was that she learned o

ared at me as if he were in a trance; he had the most wonderful round eyes, and puffy red cheeks that made me always think I'd happened to ring the bell while he wa

eable wretch!"

a whole foot, and was quite a man. I sent for him to put the straps on my trunks, and guess what he did! He stared at me for a

ou know, Aunt Polly," she said, "it is really a dreadful thing to make people unhappy like that; I suppose po

for a romantic marri

e, and I'd have served the guests; and Arthur might have come, and I'd have cut Butterbrod for hi

ins out afterwards

instead. You know I don't believe half the things these poets tell you, for I think they put themselves throug

"I don't know much about such things. Nobody reads poetry any more

inquired the girl, smiling to herse

be too fearful to talk about; but suppose you were to take any one of the young men you might meet at Oakdale even, you'd have to live in a mean little house, and do with one or two servants, and worry yourself about the butcher's bills and brush your own dresses and drive your own horse. And how long do you suppose it would be before you repented of that? Think of having to be like those poor Masons, for instance; they are nice people, and I like them, but I hate to go there, for every time I can't help seeing that the parlor furniture is more dingy, and thinking how miserable they must be, not to be able to buy new things. And their servants' liveries are half worn too; and when you dine there you see that Mrs. Mason is eating with a plated fork, because she has not enough of her best silver to go around. All those things are trifles, Helen, but think of the worry they must give those poor people, who are pinching themselves and wearing themselves out soul and body, trying to keep in the station where they belong, or used to. Poor Mrs. Mason is pale and nervous and wrinkled at forty, and those three poor girls, who spend their time making over their old dresses, are so dowdy-looking and uneasy that no man ever glances at them twice. It is such misery as that which I dread for you, Helen, and why I am talking to you. There is no reason why you should take upon you such sorrows; you have a clear head, and you can think for yourself and

than being happy, A

he other's ken, as indeed it was beyond Helen's

should you not have the very best that life can give you? Why should you have to know that other people dwell in finer houses than yours, and are free from cares that make you ill? Why should you have the humiliation of being looked down upon and scorned by other people? Are these other people more entitled to luxury than you, or more able to enjoy it; or could anyone do it more honor than you? You are b

soul, deeper than words generally sunk there. She felt her cheeks burning, and her frame sti

aid anything about it then, because you were too young to understand these things; but now that you are to manage yourself, I have been waiting for a chance to tell you, so that you may see what a prize is yours if you are only wise. And if you wonder why I have care

for a minute, d

at a woman is to train herself and grow beautiful and to have

nnot possibly hope to accomplish anything in society. With your talents and your beauty you

t such a rich man, Aun

are at the very climax of your glory, when you are all that I ever dared dream of? My dear Helen, I am more interested in you just now than

, laughing nervously. "But ther

been picking and arranging my hand for long, long years; and you are

t was before her; her aunt was watching her closely, noting how the blood was mounting to her bright cheeks. The g

d, "you tell me t

t the rout. "All that I tell you, you may see for yourself," she said. "I don't ask you to take anything on my word, for you have only to lo

te that question. "You have invited some ri

ut I thought afterwards that it would be better to tell you, so that you could manage for yours

ne by one and put them through their paces, won't you, Auntie? And have them labeled for comparison,-so that I can tell just what stocks they own and

m so natural as usual, even to her. She forced herself to l

olly, "please do not b

Auntie," said the girl. "I have ne

be serious abo

; you must tell me all about these rich men that I am to

anything ridiculous. I have invited a number of o

other girls; but what's to be done? It

a week or two; they all know each other, more or less, so there won't be much formality. We shall amuse ourselves

tone of her aunt's voice. "Are t

ood are; most of the men will be down on

who are the

lancing out of the carriage. "We are too near home.

aughed Helen. "Is

and I think he is, and we are anxious to see what you think

eet men from the West. He must be a

her, "he is a rai

nk he's the king-be

ten million dollars

ildly. "Ten million

t, probably a little more. Mr. Ro

ace. "Tell me," she asked, very ner

ha

you are bringing

" said the o

just then. "Aunt Polly," she asked, "what kin

f he owned all New York? I want you to be happy. Mr. Harrison is a man who has made his

ust be ol

ung, Helen, on

never marry a man as old as forty;

ten miles from here-the old Everson place, if you remember it; and he is negotiating for a house near ours in the city. My hus

ed look upon her face; "it is whether I can fall in love with him. Aunt Polly, it is d

he girl; "there is no hurry, my love, and no one has the least thought of asking you to do what you do not want to

self-made men are; they tell you about how they made

been that of the world, and not of books. But nobody thinks less of a man for that in the world; the most one can ask i

ot," said He

My husband makes no pretense to being a wit, or a musician, or anything like that; he's just a plain, sensible man

man?" asked the girl, apparently no

ith it? But don't worry yourself, my child, because the first thing for you to feel is that if you don't like him you need not take him. It all rests upon you; he won't be here t

pon her cheek. "By the way," she added, "if you want to meet a romantic person to o

ard of him,

You didn't suppose that your sensible ol

out it," la

the Roberts house; it was a drive of a minute or two, how

the Adirondacks; there were only two others near us, and in each of them there was a young man about my age. We

f them is

lone, in the winter in New York somewheres, and in the summer up at the same place in the mountains; he's the most romantic man yo

o?" asked the

eply, "but I can't tell;

I'll fall in love

iling to herself; "I'm n

y n

was the reply; "if you choose him

rved the girl, gazing at her a

he has been feeling unwell today; he may be down a while this evening, for I've been telling him about y

" echoed the gi

invalid, with some ver

olly, that is horrible! What in the world did you invite an inval

in getting him to promise to come anyway, for he's a very strange, solitary man. But I wanted to have

hird one i

be in a d

is

the navy; he's stationed at Brooklyn just n

as the carriage was drawing up in front of

three are going to keep to ourselves and talk about old times and what has h

he other, "for I can't ev

ng out she found that there were six or eight people upon the piazza, to whom the excitement of