The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1885-08-06

bright day in my care, Helen from
that day / have worshipped you, mad
! ly, hopelesly, know, but as never
man loved before and now to stay
here and see you Victor's wife, is
worse than Death"
"Have you quite fnished?" she said
coldly as he paused. "Then 60 1t is
well you have chosen to leave here at
once. And never dare to come in my
presence again"
He turned without another word
and went YEARLY out into the autumn
evening, where the wet wind, sobbing
through the leahess branches OF the
trees, seemed q dreary echo to his
thoughts.
And inside, prone on the floor, her
golden hair trailed over the rich car
pet, Helen Vinton lay struggling with
the great sense of loss and pain, as she
listened to the sound OF his footsteps
down the broad path and out of her
life, realizing that Stephen Walker
had loved her no longer or no better
than she had loved him, but knowing,
too that between John Vinton's
daughter and the foreman of her mills
was a gulf that not even love could
bridge.
The winter that followed was try
ing one to Miss Vinton. Brown, the
man whom Mr.. Walker had left to fill
his place, fell i'll soon after his depart
ure, and the burden of responsibility
fell upon her.
She was proud woman, and hat
never made friends among her EN-
ployees. Murmuring and disconten
on one side, and scornful implacabilit,
ON the other, eliminated in n strike
involving heavy loss to Miss Vinton
and much suffering among the peo
pie.
In the sprng Victor returned
bright, handsome Victor-with hi
happy heart and sunny smile. AM
with his coming the trouble vanishe'
as though by magic. The men love,
him, and subdued by the sharp lessor
: of the winter, were quite ready t.
I come to terms.
He was eager for speedy marriage
but on one pretext and another it wa
y delayed until the summer faded an
a autumn was upon them.
Once or twice during the summe
Victor brought her newspaper col
o tanning favorable accounts of an il
u yention Of Stephen Walker's-an in
proyement that had been in operatio
d in her mills long before it was patel
II ted.
:, The paragraph stated that he ha
q accepted an offer to superintend tt
n erection of some mills in South Anne
lea, and was going far away.
II And then the restraint she had pl
u upon herself suddenly gave way, al
'e she fell down unconscious at Victor
g feet, who, in all his alarm and anxie
le did not dream OF the true cause.
Is A few days after this, she was e
le gagged in some household duties, loo
+ ing very beautiful in her mornil
lg dress OF soft muslin, when Victor
g. bright face appeared at the windo
te II want you to come down to Il
mills by-and-by, Nell" he said. "Tl
Il, addition is almost finished, and / wa
II, your approval before we remove Il
q, scaffolding."
n Every well, Victor, l will be doy
tn presently" she said, laying her han
us on his shoulders, and looking doy
into the frank handsome face, witt
is, secret regret she could not love h
IL as he deserved to be loved.
"And, Nell" he continued eager
IN "the men have been working Ii
ed beavers to get 1t finished and ha
ut promised them half-holiday to-morr
on and picnic up at the quarri
H. Could not you lay aside your digni
al and honor us with your presence
'se awhile? 1t would be so much bett
for all concerned, if there was bet
no feeling between you and your peopl
ed "No, thank you, Victor" she s.
haughtily. "If there is anything
Die this house that will serve them, ii
III are welcome to it. But to go up th
nK and play the Lady Bountiful, nu
ng the babies and listen to the accou
Of last winters rheumatism and t
nd summers lumbago, is too dreadful
60 contemplation"
ute "What thoroughbred little ari,
= crat you are, Nell2 You were Dor
ud hundred years too late, But tn
nm L love you the better as you are" I
ing the taper fingers to his lips.
ent Yielding to sudden impulse,
his bent forward and touched her lips
the bright boyish brow.
mt And Victor went down the road
g the mills with lighter heart than
go had known for months, for he 10
Won