Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1881-12-03

Interviews with Helena The severity
4 OF pai ernal despotism had even, Us 1 as.
certained, imposed upon her the confine.
ment Of locks and bars, upon her posi-
tive refusal to discard me- Her house was
now prison to her
Enbittered by such relentless oppo-
slttton as this, began to consider He
lena IA forever lost to me, and following
/ The idle impulse of the moment, started
upon voyage to Europe. Wandering
restlessly over the countries Of the
Old World for year, | at length re.
ceved letter from hons, which among
other things spoke Of the marriage of
Helena-----. ] smiled bitterly ~ the
name Of tho husband caught my eye.
The man who was thus preferred to ME
was coarse, sensual and unrefned, but
wealthy and therefore unexceptional to
Judge c.. / shuddered as /
thought Of her future-sighed, perhaps,
at the thought Of the event ofmy hopes
and expectations--an then resolntely
dismissed the theme from my mind, |
commenced my homeward Journey.
1t was the very day, if / remember
rightly, subsequent to my return to
B., that I was sitting here IN my of.
fee, solitary and alone. had as yet
seen hardly u single one OF my former
acquaintance, and more utterly wretch
ed and desolate, If possible, than before
my departure, for, spite of my utmost
endeavors, nay thoughts were constantly
fixed on Helena. | had almost lost con
seriousness Of external objects, when
light rap upon the door reached nue..
There had been an audible step IN the
passage, and conjecturing that my vis
tant was q woman, fastened to admit
her. was correct; it was woman,
and none other than the object Of my
thoughts.
Helena stood III the doorway, but how |
changed! SO altered was she, that | |
could scarcely recognize her, her thin,
prematurely walste1 face marked with |
lines OF grief and care, preserved few,
very few, vestiges of the beauty It once
wore The shock which her unexpected
gave me composed me at
'nce, and closing the door after her, |
placed chair and calmly awaited her
pleasure. She, however, was embar
'assed and agitated. She remained
tanding for moment, slipping ring |
N and of her finger, her eyes resting on
he floor Finally she said In q trem-
ling voice:
DO not think i'll Of me, Walter, for
oming here. | heard of your return
nd wished to see you, if but for mo-
nent. ] am very unhappy" (
Her last words were addressed rather
herself than TO me, and yielding to
er emotion she sank into n chair and
obbed bitterly. Respecting the feeling
'hlch knew she could not control, and
'hlch was momentarily gaining upon
re, turned away until she had nm on.
ortnnity to compose herself. 10
My eFrand here to day." she contin-
ed 'is TO return yoa this ring. You
Ill remember it, you know. There Is
o person to whom / could intrust it,
nd my husband almost daily demands
to know the history of it,
nd beside, wished to say farewell,
rever. G6odby, Walter"
Her hand was icy cold. As released
, she turned toward the door, but in g
instant she tottered toward me, her u
ce blanched to the wilderness ofdeath. 81
nd | not sustained her she must have o
Hen to the floor. u
Good heaven, Walter! it is my bus. I
lnd's steps on the stairs" she whisper. d
in thrilling tone "You know him, ri
8 iealopsyis always active-I am lost "
he finds me- here! Save inc from dis. lc
very, in Gods name !--eyerthing de h
uds on tw |if
"Ibere is q closet" suggested. u,
ut might be left little ajar for air, ia
hurriedly. w
no CLOSE it-lock itw was excitedly
1ispered back, and ] had hardly with
avn the key when Helena's husband ST
tered. W
"Why, what is the matter ~ were his hi
st words "You are pale and agitated; az
lat has happened :" W
'Nothing--nothing assure you, more 4,
N the effects Of travelling" was nv 6.
ny, -
re
The REMARK was an unfortunate one. W
my nnwelcome visitor Immediately mn
listed upon bearing detailed account In
my foreign experience. Uneasy and to
tless rs ] was, was compelled to Of
unit, and for q full hour MY tormen- he
compelled me to sit and answer his tie