Nevada County picayune., 1886-07-28

sembled.
 Helene was sitting at the far end of the veranda. He singled her out at once, for she was taller than most women, and her small head had a proud poise which he could not fail to recognize. She was at her best that afternoon in a rich gown of crimson plush that was set off with ivory satin and trlm- mings of duchess lace.
 How beautiful she has grown" ! Oscar murmnred, with sharp pang, "and yet, if she had come into her fortune she would prOba- ply have married that rascally Russian.n
 The thought was uppermost in his mind when he met Helene, and she held out to him hand fault leRs shape and fairness.
 "Ah, Osnrw she said with Ian guid sn,le-"or ought 1 10 say Mir. Dwights 1 am glad to sec you vraiment. But how horribly old it makes one feel to find yon so grave and mature! You are an inch taller, I do believe. You look lise-who was that heathenish Greek you used to dotc On.n
 Ideally, now, Miss Helene,' said Oscar with clever imitation of the fashionable drawl, ''you mustn't cor Ter q fellow in that way!"
 Helene leveled her eyes at him ill a brief stare, which gave no re- spone to the amused twinkle in his.
 "lt is just as l feared," thought Oscar with sinking heart. "They have spoiled her among them" Helene cast furtiyc glance at his face and thought how well it had fulfilled its early promise. He Was making proper speeches to her now. She listened with a con veutionalized smile, aAd then said swecuy:
 "You must take cup oftca with me. Sit here, if you please. You will find this a cozy corner, and l think you will like my tea"
 "l have no doubt of it,' Oscar replied. "As .E3chylus says--"
 "Mr. Dwight,n she cried, flip panty. "dOn't begin by quoting Greek at me! What had Eschylus to say about tear"
 "Nothing. It was about wo. men,"
 "O." said Helene, laughing. Like other men, l presume he fancled he knew a great deal about them.'
 T don't think he ever fancied that said Oscar, taking his cup of tea. He WAS not such an inlatu- ated fool"
 "Your tone IS not complimenta- ry, MT. Dwight, 1 fear you are a sad cynic. You ought not to fiji your head with haresy. ltis not good for you, pas du tout"
 "PardonW
 "Wiy, you understand French perfectly, l remember"
 70, yes. But my mind never hankered after sandwich of , tongues. l always feel as though , 1 had a slap in the face when l am getting on so smoothly in one ian- guage and some one hurs at me a fragment of another. l will speak French with you if you prefer it," he added, more gently.
 Helene flushed. How like him that blunt speech was
 0, no" she hastencd to say. "What will you have? Try these comiits. You will like them, am sure. They taste just like" A luscious jacquemmot rose fell from her corsage. He picked 1t up and eravely returned it to her without a thought of appropriating it.
 "This is like the gnava preserve 1 brought you and Amy from Martinique" he said, tasting the comiit, ,..
 "Is its" she said care lessly. 'l suppose yon know most of the peo- pie here, Mir. DwightF 'Too we'll" he answered, brief ly. "Barbarianw she cried. "That is not the proper thing to say.'
 sI never say what lam expected to. l didn't come here to see those people, Helene"