Daily globe., 1878-05-19
erty soon will be. I have nothing left


handsome face Of the woman before him.
For moment she sat naughty and silent
then the angry blood burned red)yi in her
cheeks, and a cold light sparkled in her
sullen. slumberous eyes.
'You wish me to understand that am
the wife of a poor dishonored bankrupt"
she observed, and each chilling word
stabbed mis- heart like sharpest steel. IL
will never forgive you / will never for
give you,'' repeated the woman who had
tempted and beguiled and maddened
ana destroyed him.
And he thought of her whom he had
wronged by falsehood and disloyality.
whom he had repudiated and iorsaken;
he thought of Helen as he saw Ter last,
standing Injured and heart broken before
him, and yet crying to him out of the
depths of her outraged love, I ,fsrgiye
you, Stephen.'
For the nrst time he turned upon Clelia
look OF such scoIn and anger and bitter
ness that the quailed before it,
''For what will you never forgive me,
MADAME he asked sternly "Because l
have been weak enough to let you ruin
me?" Because / have allowed you to
waste my fortune in folly? You have
been to me she bitterest curse that ever
poisoned and blackened the life Of man.
For the kisses Of your lalse lips ! have
lost aH-honor, riches, usefulness, happi-
ness. And yet you dare reproach ne
yoat, who care less for me than for the
jewels you wear
"Certainly," she returned, with cruel,
mocking laugh; II supposed you had
guessed the truth long ago.
You never loved me?" he demanded,
hoarselY; it was my wealth for which
you cared. Is that what you mean?"
Precisely so,' she replied, with icy
calmaess.
Stephen Darrell said no more. He had
drained the cup to the last drop, and
the lees were very, very bitter. Without
another glance toward the woman VIII ose
fascipations had been his bane, he arose
and left her.
Some time after, sitting in his chamber
more miserable and desolate than he had
ever been in his life before, he heard the
roll of carriage wheels, and the soft, MUIR
murous confusion OF many voices told him
that Clelia's guests were arriving. By
and-by he heard the preluding tinkle OF
the grand piano, then 3 Strauss waltz was
executed so finely tnat he listened and for
a moment forgot half his misery. Then
there was pause followed by q sweet
voice singing. AS the first not Of that
rich, deep voice tloated by to him he
sprang to his feet.
Like the monk of old, who followed a
bird song for years thinking them but
hours, and who returned to find the very
earth changed, he listened, narvelling il
he heard terrestrial melody or the music
Of heaven.
But the song that Stephen Darrell
heard was simple ballad that told OF
tinkling brooks and whispering leaves
anu sun. kissed flowers and happy trust.
ing hearts. Often in the old dead days
he had sung that ballad with Helen when
she was an artless, passionate hearted
the religion of her fathers But Helen's
voice was fresh and ringing, and that Of
the singer was rich and passion haunted
telling of q spirit which had learned tht
f gamut CT love and suffering.
His brain whirled and his heartthrilled
Why should he think of Helen, who was
forever lost to him? And why should any
one sing Helen's songs in q voice such as
Helen's might be now after years Of care
full culture?
: Just then q note was brought to hin
by servant AS he glanced at it the ho1
blood flushed his baggard face. Heller
was the singer, and she was waiting fo1
him in the conservatory.
"You will pardon me for coming here,
!, she wrote; "it is for your own sake wisf
2 to speak with you. I came with an in
!. vited guest, and as Dulcie De Leon, tn,
l prima donna, no one recognizes me a
), one who was once known by anothe
name."
E.Poor heart! poor, broken heart! true
7 to the last!" he murmured, and two grea
I tears rolled down and smirched the not
: he held with quivering fingers.
He went to the conservatory. By tn
}. fountain, beside tall Egyptian lily, h
. saw grant figure in dead black robes
r and noble head with single whit
e flower in the golden hair.
e 'Why are you here, Helena" he asked
e kindly
For a moment she looked at him, he
dusky gray eyes full Of trouble and wist
c full surprise. She could have flung he1
! self down among the flowers and sobbe
k aloud her grief, when she saw the sa
y change those few years had wrought ur
on the handsome, spirited man she ha
/ SO dearly loyed. But she answered hr
g with quiet gentleness.
/ IL have come to save YOU, Stephen,
# she said.
: "You?' he returned, in a troable
g whisper.
: Yes, Stephen she replied; s:tor II
p love you once bore me, tor the sake
+ the old happy days, have come to b,
y friend you, for before to-morrow's su
r. goes down there will not be another
a, all this great city to defend or to he]
IN you.
y He was too troubled to wonder how 81
er knew so intimately Of his misfortunes an
ID of the disgraceful calamity that threatel
A ed him, and he turned fearful glan>
K toward the entrance seen across the pa
lor where Clelia, in her rubies and amb
a silk, stood among her guests with laue
ly on her lips.
I'd "You have ueen suspected Of mo-
(k Isr f0