n and she seemed very
thoughtful.

"Mother, do you think I will ever feel that way? As you did?"

Mrs. Douglas was startled by the question, in spite of the fact that
from Helen's babyhood the utmost frankness had existed between them. She
wanted a few moments before she spoke. Helen was "till looking down, but
her hand tightened its hold on her mother's.

"Yes, Helen, I would not wish you any greater happiness than to love as
your mother did."

"But men like father seem very scarce."

Mrs. Douglas could not help laughing, and at that Helen looked up
soberly.

"You know they are, mother," said Helen almost indignantly. "Just look
at that Randolph boy. And--and--Mr. Damon. I don't believe there are any
young men like father was when he was young. Wasn't he very handsome?"

"He certainly was, and he is now."

"And didn't he talk sensibly? Didn't he know how to say things?"

"He didn't say anything very wise or deep while he was courting me,"
laughed Esther. "I would not dare say how many foolish things he said. I
don't remember all of them."

"Mother, you know what I mean. The young men nowadays can't talk any.
They don't know half so much as the young women. Why, I feel superior to
all the young men I know."

Mrs. Douglas looked amused.

"And I could never marry an inferior man. I would just despise myself
and him, too. But why should I get married at all, mother? Why can't I
just be a physical training teacher all my life?"

"I don't want you to marry an inferior man, You would just despise
yourself and if you do not love in a natural way someone who is
altogether worthy of you, you ought never to marry at all. What has made
you think of it?"

Helen did not look up, and after a long pause Esther said gently, "Hide
nothing?"

Then Helen looked up suddenly and burst out: "That horrid Mr. Damon
proposed to me last night! I went with him to the organ recital and he
was very nice at first, but on the way home he made a fool of himself
and tried to make one of me. I told him I wouldn't marry him if he was
the only man left. Why, mother, he is ten years older than I am, and he
has false teeth and I believe he wears a wig and he makes a living
selling rubber goods!" And at that Helen burst into a flood of weeping,
laying her head down in her mother's lap.

When she was cried out, Esther said: "Mr. Damon is a good man, or I
wouldn't have let you go with him. But I had no idea he was thinking of
you that way