The Wilmingtonian., 1886-10-09


turned it to her without a thought of appro.
p iating it,
'This is like the guava preserve brought
you and Amy from Martinique, ''he said tast-
ing the comft.
| SIS it ?" she said, cayelessly. II don't
care much for those things. | suppose yon
know most of the people here Mr.. Dwght?"
'Too well, he answered briefly. ."
Barbarian y she cried. ''rhat is not the
proper think to say"
81 never say what | am expected to.
didn't come here to see those people, Hell
ene."
"Unfortunate people How have they
incurred your dspleasure?"
81 came to see you," he persisted. ut is
not often that -
miss Martineau, said an atttnuated sol
der, who precipitated his bows before her,
1--WE are all dying to hear you sing, Won't
you favor us?"
| Oscar had fierce desire to give him a
kick and send him all the way over. He
was bowling so profoundly that it would have
taken very little to dn it.
''If Mr.. Dwight will excuse me-" said
Helene turning to Oscar. "No Stay here
and finish your tea. Captain Eyre will give
me his arm."
"Oscar watched her as she moved with
languid grace over to wle the piano st rod
He remembered her voice, fresh, pure and
resonant. She used to sing "Killarney, +"
"Within Mile of Ednboro" and "The last
Rose of Summer" but now it was oLes
| Feur les Alpes" and waltz song of Lee
coos. Her voice had improved with time
and cultivation but there was something left
out of her songs.
"She is just as much lost to me as though
she had married that Russian" said Oscar
bitterly. AS soon as he could lie vent away.
He left with a listless handshake. He
was the first to go, for her guests generally
stayed late, and it was deep in the twilight
before the farewell was spoken.
There is nothing more forlorn than fes-
tive scene after the guests have Departed
Helene looked around the veranda with a
wretched feeling of loneliness, and suddenly,
with an irresponsible sob, she flung herself
down on the couch where Oscar had sat be
side her.
o, my love p she Cried with burst of
bittAr tears. "You do not care for me al all %
The moon had risen high and full. Tnr jug,
the screen Of tangled vines the sively light
fell upon her prostrate form which was
shaken with a storm of grief.
"Heene !"
She sprang up as though some me had
struck her when she heard 0 O.car Dwight
pronounce her name.
"What are you doing here ?" she ciieu
passionately, enraged that lie should hay,
seen he- in tears.
Pardon me = he fatered. IL lost ;
diamond stud this afternoon, and
Thought"
81 will call servant to ct Light" SHE
said, sweeping past him.
Helene Y he said, taking step towalc
her.
"Well?"
"Have you quite forgotten the old days
that you treat me SO coldIy ~ he asked in
a gentle voice.
alt is you who have chosen to ignore th
past, she said, locking her hands SO that h
might not see how they trempled.
"You left me no other alternative. Hell
enc speak to me My heart tells me yol
have not become so Indifferent as you seem
There was time when You priced the Low
gave you. Is it utterly valueless now ?"
"fou do not care for me as much as yo
used to, " she said, with averted face
II love you, Helene. 1t is yours to sa
whether it shall be more or less"
She turned to him then with a radiau
smile and held out her hands.
"Take me back" she said, II have bee
1 miserable ever since you went away"
If at that moment any Of the guests la
returned to the veranda they would have wi
: messed tableau like Milais "Hugueno
: Lovers" for Oscar possessed himself Of hi
:, own.
: "Why did you repel mt? ~ he said, luokiu
down into the face which assumed its ow
true and tender guise "Why did you nj
: let me see you as you are ~
81 was proud" she said. II did NOT wal
i you to know that l cared to please you. {
! Oscar don't be angry with me- How was
9 to know that you loved me 2''
y 81 told you once"
'Yes; but that was long, long ago."
d 'Had you ceased to love me?''
n "No !; but"
"Why should your love be stroager tina
d mine 2'
N 81 don't know" /" she sighed; only did III
l. think You cared"
re He bent over and kissed her,
10 "Never doubt me again, DEAR" he said.
1t 'Think how nearly lost you II Ihad N
came back and found you here weeping
IT should have gone away and never seen yt
W again"
Helene bowed her head with due patenc
eff As she did so, bright flash of light fro
ID the floor made her cry
30, Oscar There is yolr diamond y
r, She stopped and picked up the jewel fro
ID the floor. 1t was superb white stone, ,wh
was seen to sparkle afterward on the tbi
ID finger of the left hand, for Oscar had it s
IL as au engagement ring. Democrats Mo
es thly.
4
Aufumu ou Tho SWftchhaoH