New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-05-09

pale face framed In its lusfrelees hair, bl
!. be was not attracted. He liked livel.
vivsciOus women. Who cbatted and ente
{ tanned him, and with whom he was NJ
he hid the fact under an easy, jOvial NAL
ner. Anecdotes, repartees, great burs
: of Homeric laughter, these made up h
coat OF armor. People generally did ~
!. suspect that he wore any. Gu: Of I'll
( pulpit he was just like other mel
, they said, the truth being that onl
IN the pulpit was he really himself.
He scarcely noticed Helen again thi
evening. Not once did they speak, and h
was quite unconscious of the quick, startle
glances with which she favored him. Neve
had she looked thus at any one. From tn
moment of their meeting a new intiuenc
possessed her. She did not question, G
analyze, but drifted On its flow, asking n Q
whittier.
1t is hard to be classified as stone, an,
vet to have none OF a stones immunities
This luckless Helen of mine was no wise
than the rest OF her sex, and far less happy
Weeks went on. She and Mr. ThurstOl
met continually, as people do when one
they begin. Continually his attraction TO
her became stronger. 1t was not long be
fore she knew that she loved, and (tOr sh,
never blinded herself) loved hopelessly
This did not pain her greatly, except a
/
locked away from the everyday expert
ences of other women, and the mere fact OF
loving brought with it a stir and thrill Of
which she had not dreamed herself capable
After while strange happiness came
to her from the very secrecy of this unre.
turned affection. In her heart she named
Reginald by tender names; every day her
thoughts went out toward him. She dared
to believe that in some way unknown to
her, but known of God, his life must be the
better and richer for this ceaseless dew
OF benediction poured upon it. Nobody
| guessed, nobody read the lineaments of
generous passion behind the cold veil of
her face; none heard the prayers in which
his name stood first Those who know not
the bliss Of receiving feel full JOY of giving;
she thought herself-she was-ccntent.
| This contentment would of course have
vanished in whirlwind had Reginald
| given sign of an intention to be happy with
somebody, but she was not tested IN that
way.
Family ties have habit of pulling when
you least expect it, Helen had few such
ties. An older sister, married in France,
was her only relation. This summer, nearly
twelvemonth after the evening. at Mrs.
LeClerc's, the sisterly tie asserted itself for
the first time. Mime. Farard wrote urgently
to claim visit. Her husband was in bad
ried; if Helen would come to them for a
few months it would be such comfort Nor
mandy was pleasanter than Cape Nav or
Long Branch; and for the voyage across
the Atlantic, what was it now a-daysl A
pleasure sail, mere bagatelle. Surely
Helen would come.
"Of course you'll CO." cried aunts and
cousins and second cousins in full chorus,
It's an opportunity; it's charming plan;
a do
must GO" Helen gave consent. The at.
fractions OF home were not particularly
strong in summer, when the people Of
Emanuel Church were scattered, and it's
pastor off on his long vacation. "As we'll
Normandy as anything" she thought rather
YEARLY. An escort was easily found in the
persons of old Mr.. and Mrs. LIE Clerc, going
abroad in the steamship ST. Malo on the
second of June. No better ship going, peo.
pie said, and June was the very month for
sea voyaging.
Helen's last appearance before sailing vas
at Mrs. Doylston's ball. on the twenty.
eighth of May, a beautiful festival in one of
the most superb modern houses. Flowers
abounded, carnival OF fragrance and color,
from the similaxwreathed staircase 10
chimney pieces converted for the nonce into
banks of roses and stephanotis. But the
one inimitable glory of the occasion, iov of
Mrs. Doylston's heart and despair of rival
florists, was century plant in full blossom.
1t stood in the middle of the dra wng room, |
its spike of dusky yellow rearing itself |
from the base of jagged shapeIess lea YES: |
and to everyone who entered Mrs Doylston |
said. "Be sure you see the aloe. 1t will be |
a hundred years, you know, before the
plant flowers again."
"But / thought aloes died IA soon 90 tbev
had done blooming" said Mary Rogers to
Reginald Thurston, as they stood by the
30 wer.
They door SO runs the legend"
Dear Inc ]! what waste it seems that
hundred years should go to perfect thing
which Is to die as soon as it is fairly nader
Helen also was looking at the aloe. She
wore white dress that night, and looked
more like snow woman than ever
Il can't help plying the aloe" went on
lay, sentimentally. "Of course, it wouldn't
blossom at all if it knew that it's death must
'e the consequence
"Oh, do you think SOL l don't Poor
loer
Il feel as if it was the happiest flower in
he world, said Helen, in an abrupt tone,
he turned as she spoke and walked away.
What a singular girl Miss Miles ISL re-. |
larked pretty May. "Inever can make her
ut at all. She is going abroad for the sum.
ler you know; going next week."
as shel So am II
"Really! Tell Inc about it," And the
'nversati0n drlfted away from Helen.
one the less her strange sudden speech
I'd made disagreeable impression on
eglnald. He would not ask the name of
e ship in which she was to sail, from
sinclination to have it his own. g
Nor was Helen's feeling one of unmixed S
y when, on her third day out. as she
Merged from the companion way under o
cort OF the stewardess. his face was the d
st she saw. Nothing but ciyilities could
ss. however. a
" Miss Miles, did not know that we were 1
Let Inc place your chair
re out of the wind
Thanks" said Helen, in her deep meas
ed voice, hating herself for being I'M | 81
lie to say any thing more apropos than r,
ranks" in
you'd best pin your shawl fast. num-" II
vlsed the stew ardess. She tucked Uelen's b;
t in, put rug behind her back. and RI
wing reduced her to the wooden chry..l II
is, which must be a sailors one idea of a @,
hlonable lady, went away. W
Have you been sick! Are You going
Dad for long!" So the conversation h,
at. never getting an inch beyond the "a
nmonplace. Helen might have shone II
re had che not been so busy thinking of ri
ngs which were unsayable 1t is NOT -,
y affecting interest in hot weather, when N
the while you are putting inward CUES sh
Is, uttering secrets past speech. AT sea- hi
7ever, no one is blamed for silence. Be. III
long they ceased to talk. Reginald W.
book in his hand, but he did not A,
4: the width and glory of the tossing ar
lion filled his eyes. And soon he forget A.
en-, and into his face came what Rosalie IL
Clerc had once called his "preachin5 To-
l." a look which Helen knew well. H.
ousing suddenly, he caught her ewes z,
d upon him with an intensity which fo
lie him start. Co. Co.
What is it ~ he asked involuntarily. Al,
beg your pardon; | did NOT sneaL ~ NA