King Midas

angels are,

dows that wal

s door, trying to gain admittance. This time she did not have to knock but once, and when she entered she was surprised to see that Helen was already up and d

cely know how to begin to talk t

"that you would not begin t

what in the world is the m

Helen's voice was firm, and there was a determined look up

girl!" she b

. For I have made up my mind just what I am going to do, and I am going to take the reins in my own hands and not do any arguing or explaining to

unt with an unflinching gaze, with the result that Mrs. Ro

e. "Here is a letter," she said, "which I have written to

e other; "why,-yes, of cour

ontinued. "It is of the utmost importance, and I want you to do me

Helen,

e told you that you must let me manage this affair myself. If you will not send it

t do to mai

d then at the girl. There is an essay of Bacon's in which is set forth the truth that you can bewilder and master anyone if you are only sufficient

"There is only one thing more," she said, "I want you to have breakf

e?" echoed

ish to drive over to

et greater consternation, and showing s

yet more audacity and confidence. "Yes," she s

words whatever; she could only gaze, and in the meantime, Helen w

be down to brea

as the reply, after which Helen quickly completed her toil

culties a trifle, "do you really mean that you will not explain

plain it now; I have too much else to think of. You must

you, all the interest that I have taken in this and all that I

I should do, and I do not mean to stop a minute for anything else until I have d

king up her parasol and gloves she turned towards her aunt. "I am ready n

id; she went down into the garden where she could be alone, and paced up and down impatiently until she heard the

eyes; she bit her lips together, however, and forced herself to look at him, saying very resolutely, "Mr. Howard, I have to d

in silent wonder, but she paid no attention to it. After eating a few hurried mouthfuls she excused herself, and rose and went outside, where she s

o him, "but I have real cause for hurrying; I will explain abou

were in the wagon, Helen taking the reins. She waved a farewell to her aunt

, and she was trembling very much, and staring straight ahead, busying herself with guiding the horse. When they were out upon the main road wher

f him thoughtfully. "Miss Davis," he said suddenly, t

aid Hele

hat I said about

away. "Yes, I heard it all," she sa

in a low voice: "I scarcely know how

pon him, wonderingly. "Apologize?" she said; she had never once

o many hard and cruel things that

him, as she said, "Did you say anyt

n he answered: "I said many things

en simply. "Did you say an

" he said at last. "Most of what I said I feel to hav

-hearted at all. It was something that my-that people were making me do, and all the time I was wretched. It was dreadful, I know, but I was tempted, because I do love beautiful things. And it was all so sudden, and I could not realize it, and I had no

rembling with excitement; Mr. Howard turne

he said. "Te

a start, but she was so eager that she did not even notice it. "I coul

an not to marry hi

gain in the world. Please do understand me, for if I had really been so base I should not come to you as I do after what I heard. I cannot tell you how dreadfully I suffered while I was listening, but after I had cried so much about it, I felt better, and it seemed to me that it was the best thing that could have happened to me, just

other, "it was v

ess and lost, and what you said came last night like a wonderful light. And I don't care what you think about me if you will only tell me the real truth, in just the same way that you did; for I realized afterwards that it was that which had helped me so. It was the first time in my life that it had ever happened to me; when you mee

on; she was very pale, and the sorrow through which she had passed had lef

" said her companion, gently, as

d again. "Do you wish me to tell you?" she asked. "Do

about it, indeed,"

d now that I can scarcely talk to you; and that if there is anything that I can do-oh, absolutely anything-I will do it!" Then the girl bit her lips toge

person?" asked the

ile I was letting myself be tempted in this way he was very sick, and because I knew I was so bad I did not dare go near

dship with him, and of how long he had waited for her; she narrated in a few words how he had left her, and then how she had seen him

ice about this, I should not worry myself too much; it is better, I find in my own soul

on?" ask

ble has happened; and when you have seen your friend and told him the truth just as you have t

I remember how much pain I caused him, I scarcely dare think of speaking to him. When I saw him by the roadsid

gives him all his joy and his power, and makes his life a very glorious thing; but when anything happens to destroy his vision or to keep him from seeking it, he suffer

ess I was all along. I only knew that he loved

at her. "You do not

ver have had a thought of all these other things. But I ha

ied gently. "Some day you may

len said. "Arthur w

, "he cannot well be otherwise in his love. Such devotion ought to be ver

rd as he spoke to her thus. "You really think," she s

the other's answer. "But it seems to me that it is there you might fi

. I should have supposed I was acting very unwisely indeed if I loved Arthur; everyone wou

k the precious things of the soul, I should think you would be very glad to prove it by some sacrifice; and I know that two hearts are brought closer, and all the memories of life made dearer, by some such trial in the early days. People sneer at love in a cottage, but I am sure

and repeated the word "vulgar

ughing. "You may hurl the words 'selfish' and 'worldly' at it all you please,

said Helen, with so much seriousness th

and seeks it is only hailed as gentleman, and aristocrat, and that he who does not honor it and seek it is vulgar, tho he be heir of a hundred earls, and leader of all society, and lord of millions. Every day that one lives in this presence that I speak of, he discovers a little more how sacred a thing is true nobility, and how impertinent is the standard th

ttle hour and be as wonderful as they chose, if it were not for the painful fact that they are eating the bread of honest men, and that millions are toiling and starv

in her heart; finally she asked, her voice shaking sl

his own life earnest and true. A woman who felt such things very keenly might be

of Arthur once mor

as if we were the queer little Niebelung creatures that dig for treasure in the bowels of the earth, and see no farther than the ends of their shovels; we live in the City of God, and spend all our time scraping the gold of the pavements. Your uncle told me this morning that he did not see why a boy should go to college when he can get a higher salary if he spends the four years in business. I find that there is nothing to do but to run away a

the light of it. Suddenly, however, because throughout all the conversation there had been another thought in her consciousness, she glanced ahead and urged the horse even fa

ely free from her wretchedness; she felt that she might remedy all the wrong that she had done, and win once more the prize of a good conscience, provided only that nothing irretrievable had happened to him. Now as she came nearer she found herself im

g rose before her again, and made her fears still more real and importunate. She forced herself to look, however, half thinking that she might see Arthur again; but that did not happen, and in a minute

d the door; the visitor stepped in and gasped out breathlessly, "Wh

Miss Davis," th

he?" Hel

was the respons

arted back, catching at

know, Mi

-" began

, as she fumbled in her apron, and put a scrap

t sinking. The note, in Arthur's hand, but so unsteady as to be almost illegible, ran thus: "You will

in, and then let it fall and gazed about her, echoi

ave not seen him since Elizabeth was here yesterday morning; h

us for a long time, without either sound or motion, and the woman stood watching her, knowing full well what was the matter. When Hel

he woman. "I was asounde

they must! Someone must have seen

hat he took care not

one, it would be possible for him to do it. Helen remembered Mr. Howard's saying of the night before, how the sight of her baseness might wreck a man's life forever, and the more she thought of that, the more it made her tremble. It seemed almost more than she could bear to see this fearful con

d have come last night, I should have stopped the

r first meeting; in the deep loneliness of her own heart Helen was face to face just then with FATE. She shrank back in terror, and she struggled frantically, but she felt its grip of steel about her wrist; and while she sat there with her face hid

sped faintly-"you will tel

he other gent

took the reins and silently drove towards home, while the girl sat perfectly still. They were fully half way home before she could find

face; and yet there was no word that he could say to soothe her, and no hope that he could give her