Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-04-16

speaking the truth. one cares nOtnlng
for wishes or opinions; yet think it is
something when man of my age says to
girl of hers, love you"
'tMy poor friend!" murmured Mrs. Vim
cent, and tears of real sympathy gathered
in her eyes.
Half to hide his emotion, half in idle
gaIlantry, he raised her hand to his lips.
A sound al the door made them both look
up. Helen Brevoort was standing there
gazing full in their faces, with an express
sion Falmore was never likely to forget.
Mrs. Vincent laughed outright, really
attaching no importance to the scene,
saying as she passed Helen. "COme and
console your incOnsolable. l must go
and dance"
Helen did not answer; she walked. on
into the room, still gazing fixedly at her
lover with those cruel eyes, which had
neither softness nor mercy left in them.
He rose mechanically; che thought he
meant to leave her without word.
Zone moment" she said in a voice so
hard and stern that it did not sound like
hers. 81 will not detain you long, and it
is for the last time"
"Helen!" he exclaimed, half in anger,
half In establishment. ''What is the
matter-haye you quite lost your rea-
SOM"
''No; l have found it," she cried with
bitter laugh, sad to hear in one of her
age. 81 have found it! Just word, and
then you may go back to that vile woman
who is fit associate for man like you"
'Heleni"
'fStop! Don't you speak-it's my turn
now, and will finish. have known
for good while that you were false. 1
have been patient; your own lips, your
own act have set the seal to my doubts
''You are going too far" he said harsh
ly. 81 have borne great deal from your
impossible temper, but there are limits to
my endurance. !"
''There are none to your treachery,"
she answered. 'T'n not waste words.
Take this backi".
She wrenched from her finger the spark
ling brilliant he had placed there as sign
of their betrothal, flung it on the floor at
his feet, saying in low, dreadful tone:
81 have done with you! Don't ever dare
to speak to me-to look in my face2"
"Helen!" he cried again, this time in
share agony, because he realized now
what she was TO him.
'tDon't take my name on your lips"
she said. "We are strangers"
''What have done-What does this
mean?n
"Will you stoop to duplicity after
what heard and sswl" she broke off
with shudder. ooh, you are capable
of any thing; but you cannot deceive me
now!"
'Let me explain"
''Let you tell more falsehoods, you
mean. No, have had enough. am
weary of them. Why should you try to
deceive mt? am nothing TO you"
81 love you, Helen" he groaned.
She moved forward a step, her hands
themselves, her cold white pas
sion was fearful to watch.
'1f were a man," she whispered, |
SID kill you where you stand. Don't |
insult me again, or if there's one of your |
sex in yonder room with honor enough |
in his soul to avenge helpless woman, |
l II Cdll HlLu ucIS!
By this time Falmore was as angry as |
she, and the stubborn obstinacy which |
was one of his worst traits, asserted it.
self.
'Gf lifting my finger, if speaking one
syllable would right me in your eyes, I'd |
neither stir nor speak. You have outraged |
NE beyond what any man ought to bear.
will never forgive you"
"ForgiVe mel" she repeated. "To dare |
10 it would be the most objectionable in |
suit of all. You pretended TO love me;
what end of your OWE you hoped to serve |
can guess now. You thought me a |
child to be coaxed into good nature-to |
be kept blind-to serve as a shield be- |
,Ween you and your infamous love-
$50 on" he said, 81 wouldn't stop
you if my fate for eternity was con-
,erned."
"You made a mistake. am not a
child. l am woman, strong to feel, |
strong to resent, and l would be strong
10 revenge, only l should scorn to seek |
It against man so base and degraded as
you."
81 wouldn't try to stop you," he said
again in the same steely voice, mot if
heaven would open to me for the speaking
q wOrd.n
EASY to assume that tone when you
perceive am no longer to be duped, she
cried. 81 have done now. Go your
ways; they shall never cross mine again.
Take with you my hatred and contempt.
God shall deal withyou for that. Us not
grief don't think it. I've no broken heart
to mourn over, but you have destroyed
my faith in humanity; you have placed
me face to face with wickedness such as
l never dreamed of, and God will punish
you for the work"
Before he could move or speak again,
she was gone. He stood there few
in the pleas mt gloom, while the
echo ot The merry music surged through
the room, and her terrible words seemed
still ringing in his ear. The last of his
youth had been wrenched from him with
q sudden shock, and he was stranded
without warning or a bleak, desolate mid
die age. He had loved this child SO
truly, had thought her everything noble
and pure, and she showed now a fiendish
Mcuusd GAuGluS La tuC pau SuC nau
wrought. She had dared to believe him
false; if she had loved him, no evidence,
not even that of her own senses, could
have shaken her faith.
He remembered there was a private
staircase by which he could reach The
drswing-room without meeting the crowd.
He hurried away, 60 utterly crushed by
the desolatiou which had ruined his last
hope, that there was no longer place even
for anger in bis soul.
Up to the last Helen supported her
role, never had she looked so handsome,
never been so gay. She snatched q
leaf from Mrs. VIncent's book and beat
her ct her own art. All the while there
wss mad thought in her mind that it
was the end; nothing could come after
not life itself could support this agony.
The next day came, and at noon aletter
was handed Helen; it was from Fal-
more. Her first impulse was to tear it
unread, but she broke the seal,
81 am on the steamer bound for Eu-
rope; be content. l have written to
your relatives that you broke our engage
inert. l could not allow your pride to
suffer by any hints that it was my doing.
Take your life free from me. In this
world we shall never meet again, and
think Heaven will be merciful enough to
keep us worlds apart in the hereafter
uolar rapoo;rad fovU IUaalya 1Opoer ~,