The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1872-02-17

tricks. She caught at the fact of nv
nationality, and instantly begun to ply
me with questions. Was it true that a
poor woman was as good as a rich one {?
That girls could be married without
any dot? That one could make a for
tune, if one liked ?
launched out into the praises of my
country. Be sure they were not less
enthusiastic because l had been absent
six months.
Madame listened with cleaning eyes,
turning every now and then to Helene
with an exclamation.
AS for Helene, the rose on her
cheeks, the smile on her lips, her lus
trous eyes, would have betrayed a stu
pid man into eloauence.
| took leave, at last, with madame's
permission to follow up an acquaint-
ance. But that day I had a telegram
from dear friend, who was Ill in Paris,
whittier | went by the next train.
was absent, necessarily, four weeks.
Directly | returned to Brussels, |
hunted up the queer old shop. But
what was thiss The premises were
shining with new paint, and gilt and
glass.
To my nquiries-madam was gone,
and this was cafe. Would monsieur
be served
TWAS sharp disappointment.
| Wherever [ went all Summer.
Helene's lucid eyes haunted me- IsaW
beauty that might have eclipsed hers,
but no manner at once so frank and
winsome and refined I knew she was
as noble and good as she was charming
and had lost her. She had slipped
through my fingers into this great vii
derness of a world, and was gone.
l went home that Autumn, finding
myself recovered. The Winter sped,
the Spring days came again, and by
and-bye, June, bringing "reminiscences
of Brussels, and Interlachen and HON
burg, and Helene's tender eyes.
One day, as 1 sat in my Office, heard
rapid, confused talking in the anti
room, and in a foreign tongue. A
steamer was just in, and [ OWNED that
this was some evaslve female bent upon
defrauding our customs
| went out just as volley of sibilant
French-or, rather, that BeIeic 33ufios
which so offends the ear of a Partisan
fell upon the dismayed clerks. They
appealed instantly to me, and the lad ,
looked around
By all that was wonderful It was
Madame Hombert
She knew me instantly, and appealed
to me for protection.
Could 1 expect her to submit to 6
personal examination ? All the in
| of A
Never-never would she be so used
Monsieur could testify to her honesty
He knew she was poor emigrant
scarcely noticed all this, for Helene
was there, pale and red by turns, NOR
titled beyond expression, tears In hel
sweet eyes, her lips quivering.
g begged her not to do it :" she
whispered.
Don't cry, mademoiselle, " man
aged to say. Then, turning to madame
" How does it happen, madame ha!
grown so stout Madame was SO slen
der at Bru 'sels -
She crimsoned, but fought bravely
She had lived year in Paris. Tha
Partisan air made people corpulent,-
Besldes-though monsieur was not ;
gentleman, to make her confess it-sh,
was forty years old. When one i!
forty, one begins to grow fat. * All
monsieur !"
But monsieur was inexorable, Ever
Helene could not blind him to his duty
Madame was taken into a private
room, and attended by one Of the in
spectresses. When madame emerged
she had regained her slender comeli
ness, and vast miscellany Of laces
ribbons. Jewels. gloves, silks, etc, wcr,
contiscated to Uncle Sam.
6 1t was Helene's dot" sobbed ma
dame, quite abased. And, now, tn.
poor girl will not be married She vii
retire to convent"
whispered something which check
ed her tears suddenly.
8 Is monsieur in earnest %
Quite in earnest
Itwas easy to satisfy myself that Hell
enc as all I hau believed her to be-
She was madame's niece, the child o.
respectable parents, who had died ear
ly, but had left fortune enough to ed
ucate their little maiden, but no more
Then she fell into the hands of hel
thrifty aunt and, later, when love leo
the way, she came to me.
And SO, my passion for the lovely
singer secured the sweetness OF nv life