The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1874-12-31
A Wornan's Hand.

woman ruined man, you've ruined me!n
Helen Stuart said nothing-not word
and ensned a great silence, a silence 50
intense that she almost screamed to hear
it, like the roar Of a mighty ocean wave
sweeping between her and the man who
had Just asked her to be his wife
1t was only narrow strip of balcony.
carpeted and protected from the night air
and provided with a couple OF chairs for
the benefit OF weary waltzers--a quiet
little nook, separated by a crimson curtain
from the crowded ballroom. the lights
and noise and music within. Up from the
dark, silent street came the monotonous
tramp of the policeman on his beat, and
the occasional rattle and roll of q cab on
carriage bearing home its weary load OF
pleasure-Seekers over the dry, dusty pave
ment; while from behind the crimson
draperes hoated out sweet strains of Ian
guild, pass.onladen music. merry voices
and merry ripPles OF laughter, mingling
with the tread Of countless feet. in the
may windings Of the Blue Danube"
And yet outside on that little bit of bal
cony. a small tragedy had Just been enact
ed which trlliiug AS it may appear-a few
WOTds-no mOre-taking but little time
in the utterance-had gone far to wreck
two lives
Ten minutes earlier, and helen stuart,
bright, beautiful, flushed with excitement
and dizzy with strange beWllderlng hap
plness which made her bosom throb and
her fingers quivcr and thrill, was whirl-
ing round the room in the firm clasp OF
Percy LennoX as lie bore her swiftly and
steadily through the giddy circles Of the
dance, gazing into her beautiful face the
while with passionate intensity which
revealed all 100 plainly the love and admI-
ration which We're making that waltz a
toretaste OF Paradise, and those few min
ntes, during which his arm was round
Helen waist and her hand on his shoulder,
a pleasure almost terrible in its favor.
Ten minutes later, and now Helen
Stuart was sitting on one of the Two chairs
in the little balcony, the flush settled into
a brilliant scarlet spot on either cheek.
the proud head, with its coronal oi glossy
chestnut pleats. dropping forward and the
crisp transparent folds Of her white dress
all crushed and crumpled in the nervous
grasp of her small gl0ved hands; while
Percy half kneeling on the chair beside
her. leant with folded arms on the stone
parapet, gazing. with Heaven knows what
unhpe,ling ewes. at the pale crescent moon,
Just rising above the trees in the oppo-
site park
Presently he turnedround and confront
ed her Win Helen Stuart ever forget
that white, drawn face. from which every
emotion but passionate misery and anger
seemed TO have been wiped out as with al
ron hand A terrible despair in one
moment had transformed a Young, hand
some happy face into a spectre which in
the time to come would rise with ghostly
reientlessness before one wOman's eyes as
often as ever she saw the argent crescent
of the early moon or heard ono bar from
that waltz.
She looked up at him, but only for a mo-
ment That glance showed her what her
words had done. and her head dropped
lower than ever beneath the sight lie
must speak first. must speak to renew his
pleadinps and then-tben ii would be time
enough tor sottening or retraction, if it
MIGHT be that either were possible from
the jps which had spoken SO hauohtilv a
moment back. The second pleading for
which Helen waited was never to come
| Percy spoke, and the sound Of his voice
sent a quick shuddor through the girls
round white shoulders-it was so harsh
and altered
.Doyou know whatyou have done ?" he
asked, abruptly. as her eyes tell before
his. Not much you may think-only
tilted man who loved and honored you
and gave you his whole heart, while you
led him on that you might trample on
him when your vanity was sutfi ficiently
gratilied. Ay look away and smile you've
had your victory and sent me to destruc-
ton, and, by Heaven, Ill go there as
/ speedily as may TO please you F! If ever
man believed i'll woman, believed IN you,
Helen Stuart, | would have done any
earthly thing for yor-,given up the whole
world to make myself worthy OF the an