Wilmington daily commercial., 1874-07-03


absent daughter to feel her fathers arms around
her, and to receive her mothers kisses given
with tears and EXPLANATIONS of joy, and to hear
her sisters happy voice now singing with enthu-
siastic delight and then mellow and soft with
thankfulness.
'Albert couldn't come, Helen" Clara hasten
cd to say. "He had an important case to try,
aud wanted to get it postponed, but he couldn't.
He felt very vexed over it, but you'll see him to-
morrow, dear"
"He is WE'LL" said Helen, great tears spark
ling under her vail.
"Oh, yes, and as handsome as ever. He's
been the most discontented man that ever lived
since you've been gone"
Further conversation was prevented by the
approach of carriages and the party entered
and were driven to hotel.
The next evening saw them at home. Helen,
regally beautiful in pale blue silk with lace
trimmings sat in the drawingroom waiting the
coming OF her lover. How her eyes glowed, how
soft and warm the roaeate tint upon each cheek
Suddenly her heart gave great bound !
Quick, springiIlg steps sounded upon the stairs
then merry tussel and Claras silvery voice rose
high in laughter Free again, the footballs
came nearer. the door burst open, young no.
BILE featured man came into the room.
"My love My Helen T.
She stretched out her hands yearningly
He caught them with his own, pressed them
an instant, and then drew her to his breast while
his eyes sought hers with glances more eloquent
than words. With the confidence of a child she
rested there. and drank in the sweet thoughts
that passed by sympathy between their minds.
Twas sacred moment - one when hearts
oercharged with emotion could find no relief in
words, the pulsation of each nerve, and ardent
glance, the pressure of a loved hand, the sigh
that has no language yet means 80 much, were
the only methods of conversation.
Anon he drew her still closer and kissed her
now with reyerent tenderness. Her eyes filled
with tears of joy. She lifted one little hand and
| stroked his brown hair fondly
knew you would always love me darling, p"
he murmured, gratefully. :" That was my con-
ISOLATION In the weary months of your absence"
II cond only tell you how lonely l was, how
my heart yearned for this blessed moment p
His words recalled thoughts of Valleja and
the incident on the steamer to Helens mind,
and try as she would she could not drive that old
terror from her heart, nor keep its anxious re-
flex from her face. His quick eyes noticed the
sudden change in her expression, and he gazed
upon her with solicitude.
s'What troubles you, darling p
Nothing, dear Bert, nothing !" she answered
with forced smile. ''What could trouble me
now that Heaven has brought me safely back to
you, and kindly preserved you for me?'
He pursued the subject no farther but won't
home with the tantaiizng feeling in his heart
that his betrothed held secret from him.
week passed.
Madame Beauclair, member of the circle in
which the Martins moved, was to give a grand
party on this bright Tuesday evening, and her
elegant parlors were richly ornamented for the
OCCASION
Uncle Abram. blunt and dryly comical as
usual, was there with his fastidious wife; and
Clara was constantly running to Helen and Bert
to repeat some Of the old genteman's queer
savings.
'Come, Helen, let us go into the conservatory.
am weary of this noise and glitter, said Albert
Larner, rising and giving her his arm. |
want to talk with you alone, darling-your socie-
ty is all ask.
Reaching the observatory they wandered
among the shrubs and flowers and gazed at the
sparkling fountains Pressing her hand
tenderly, Bert said, with feryency that thrilled
her very being
"Fell me now, darling, when you will be mino,
wnen our lives shall be joined to bless each
other"
"Never, never!"
In shril unearthly voice those words broke
upon tho fragrant air. Valleia, his swarthy
face blue with rage and hate, appeared at the
open door, and aiming pistol at Larner's head
pulled the trigger.
Twas all done in an instant, and before Albert
could defend himself the report echoed through
the building, the ball buried itself in the neck of
Helen's lover, and his blood spurted on her
white dress.
ooh, Heaven my love my Albert p
In heart-rendng accents the words left her
| lips, and, bending over him, placed her hand
| over the cruel wound, and then tainted dead
| away III she saw the crimson blood.
All sSan now oonfuniVn Buerts were running
| to and fro in sympathy and terror, and trying
| to do 30 much, did nothing.
| Valleja, sneaking along toward the conserya-
tory, watched the demoralized spectators and
| grinned iiendishly.
Approaching window he sought to open it,
and in 30 dong knocked over a vase. Clara
| heard the noise, looked up with her Wild fright
ened eyes, and then, possessed of a sudden pur-
pose, darted by him. fixed her slender fingers
around his throat and cried loudly
"Help Help Here he il p
| With muttered oath the william drew knife
and was plunging it into her white neck, when
one of the guests gave him stunning blow on
the head and the Spaniard sank to the floor in
sensible Brave little CLARA all out of breath,
| sank unconscious into Uncle Abrams arms. In
| the meantime Helen had been carried away from
the dreadful scene. surgeon had made an ex-
animation of Albert's wound, and announced
that there were chances for recovery. Madame
| Beauclair would not listen to having the patient
removed, and 30 he was borne to a chamber
| above, and every attention paid to him.
"Who is he2 How did he get in here?' were
| the natural questions that were asked when Val
| LEILA was given i'll charge of the police, but he
| sneered at them with his thin lips and CRASHED
| his white teeth, and none others could answer.
| When Clara recovered she went at once to her
| sister, Poor Helen Itseemed that the presen-
timent which had haunted her 80 long was about
to come true
'what have done that he should die ?" she
walled. 'He was mine all mine, all love, all
faith, he was good Albert, my own, my dar-
| ling !"
Clara stood near her sister, vainly trying to
soothe her, but the idea that her lover would
die could not be banished from her mind.
Another week flew away. Helen, very pale
| and thin, sitting up for the first time since
that dreadful night. Albert was becoming con-
valescent, the ball had been extracted and he
would undoubtedly get well. Helen was thank
full in her heart for this assurance, but the ole
cloud sill hung over her, for the crafty Span
lard had broken Jail and was at large again. At
any moment he might renew his attempt upor
her lovers life.
"Helen darling, I've come to you again."
And Albert Larnier, pallid and haggard-eyet
from suffering, came slowly into the room, sup
porting himself with a cane. Helen wept wheI
she saw him.
''My poor dear love-" she murmured, pressing
a kiss upon his brow
"You are ILL, too, Helen this has been an or
deal for us both, he said, slowly. "We never
dreamt how much we loved each other before
how our hearts are twned together. Love, tel
me of this Vallejo, for he is dead nova de
tectiye shot him yesterday while trying to cap
ture him "
Dead? Oh, Albert, am at rest now"
And with his head resting upon her shoulder
she told him all she knew of Jean Vallejo.
"Aud you kept it secret from fear?"
eyes, Albert-the only thing ever kept iron
you-the only one ever shall have kept when
close my eyes for ever. We will teach each 9th
or everything, dear, we will have little heay
Ell of our own ON earth, that we may be bette
fitted to enjoy that beyond"
my angel my noble Helen !"
Two months later they were married, and