Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1884-02-01

throwing herself ,..,.i tie tl,-t. an.
do Try not to hear them call. l l.ut uine
fingers on my ears, but hear them just the
same,n
who calls You, Helenore?'I askc!.
"All things QUITO doors; the birds AMI bees
and the winds. They call me, always, al
ways; they say, 'Hclenorc, Helenorc, come!
and must go!' she cried, springing to her
feet and looking wildly arouni
feared she was losing her mind, AMI was
much alarmed about her: we tried } divert
and amuse her in every possible way. and for
a few days she really seemed to he more quiet.
But one morning we missed her. The after
noon previous, a hanl-organ grinder and a
woman, evidently his wife. entered our
grounds, and HelenoIe went out to hear
them play; and we noticed that she stood
conversinG with them in her own language
for some time afterwarl.
They had been hanging about the neigh
borhCOd several days and somehow we felt
sure that she had gone with them. Our sus-
picions were confirmed by farmer living q
mIle or 50 above u, who said he met them
just at dusk, as he was returning home from
the city-a man and woman and our Hell
enore. lie said hc recognized Helenore at
once, and spoke to her, but she made no
answer.
We learned furthermore from her mother.
that an n-grinier and his wifc-olI nc
quaintances of the famly-had been in the
vicinity for week past, and had put up a
night or t-'o at her house; and she doubted
not that they were the same persons we had
in mind. She made light of her daughters
disappearance, saying, with shruS of her
fat shoulders, that '',he would lie hs,cl: soon
enough" anl sconin, to think that in any
case we We're well rid of her
But we missed her and we
try to fill her place. My Every latest, y
as Jack still called her, seemed to have proved
q sad failure.
Twas lingering in my rose garden in the
twilight of a warm September day, hanging
fondly over bed of pet hybriis-latest and
sweetest of roses-when | suddenly missed
little Ned from my side, ani, looking around
for him, spied him swinging on the front
gate started to go toward him, anl at
that moment the figure Of a woman sprang
up, as it were out of the ground near him,
and at the same moment l heard a glad cry
from Ned: "Helcnorc! Hclenorem
II was our Helenore! She caught him to
her breast and flew, swift as the wind, across
the lawn to meet me- and, dropping on her
knees, with one arm still round the bewil
dered child, she chung to me desperately, sob
bing and groaning; but not one word did she
speak.
begged her to rise, but she would not; 80
l sat down there on the damp grass, and,
taking her head in my lap, soothed her with
the old touch Of the hand she loved 50 We'll
AT last she heaved n long tremulous sigh
and lifted her face to mine.
81 cannot ask you to forgeev," shs mur-
INJURED humbly; ''that would be too good for
Helenore; but come to see you once more,
and TO tell you what is SO heavy herc"--press
ing her hand on her heart-tand then to
die"
led her into the house and drew from her
the history of her experience since she left us
in the spring.
"Were tho people with whom you went
away kind to your asked.
"kind!' she cried fiercely. "Oll, they were
indeed most cruel! True, they did never hurt
me like mine moder, but they have made ME
SO to suffer that wish not now to live any
more.'
''But you liked 1t at first, did you not-the
fields and woods and the music!'
"Yes; l liked we'll to wander and
to be free; but l learned soon that
only children and birds and SOUR
rels are truly free-not woman with heart
here and hcre"-touching her forehead and
laying her hand on her heart.
wondered at her words, but understood
them later.
"For few days we had happy time, and
they were good to me, but then trouble came.
could not dance when was tired, and |
could not learn to sing their songs-and they
laughed at my own poor songs, So they be-
gan to speak only had words to me and to
care not if starved and suffered.
1--WE were far away-r know not where
when we came to large woods, where many
men chopped the trees, and some wives and
children were there too, and l begged the
music man and woman that l might stay
and work for them and leev in q little
hut; and l stayed. They too came back
afterward and worked"
"And were you happy therer
She clasped her hands tightly over her
bosom, and a new and strange expression
swept over her face that l did not under
stand.
"Happy, happy" she murmured; ooh, yesl
listen-I will tell you!
Zone chopper was kind to ME; he said he
loved me-loved mel" she repeated solemnly.
with tender thrill in her voice that ex-
planned all. "And he was so kind to me, as il
had been queen! 1t was he, too, madam,
that did teach me to speak so well: for he was
Yankee man." she atided proudly; "and
you see do speak much better!"
Iassented. "Where is he now?' / asked.
"Oh, know not! know notr' sho cried.
rocking herself back and forth and wrineinc
her hands.
THAT wicked man and woman took me
away one night: they said that he, my Eloi,
hal sent for me to go to meet him far, far
off; and when We found him not they Knocked
and laughed ut my pain. Oh, could kill
them! liars! beastsIn The last words were
only hiss of rage, and she stopped short,
choked with passion.
"Helenore," said, "why did they deceive
you so9 What had you done to thems"
"What had l done to theml
Noting, noting; but they hated me
like mine moder do, and would not that
should be happy"
of feeling seemed to sweep over her."
'None are ever kind to Helenore," she said
sadly-''none but you and him. Then lift
ing my hand to her lips she kissel it rever-
emily and made again that sign of the cross.
Twas deeply touched; drew the girl to me
and said with tears on my cheeks:
''Stay with us, Helenore, and try to lie
happy again"
"Whats say you so?" she cried, her eyes
wide with wonder. Then, now, you do in.
deed forgeev like God" And she began to
weep naturally and softly, shedding those
tears that always relieve the heart
She was very tired, and when l reminded
her, presently, that her little chamber AMI
the pretty white bed We're waiting, she smiled
for the first time
"Ah," she said almost brightly, at cannot
be that shall die now, and perhaps my Eloi
will find me- though could not find him."
Her words proved prophetic. One night, a
few weeks after her return, we We're startled
by the drumming of banjo under Helenores
window, soon joined by lusty voice bawlng
out right heartily some foolish ditty we hear
in the streets.
Isprang up at once. "Jack," said l, ''that
IS Helenore's Eloi; / know it.'
1went quickly to her room-she had not
vet yafira1 for bo ax,l I