The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1886-08-12


.rought you and Amy from Martinique, |"
he said, tasting the comfit.
rs it," she said, carelessly. Il don't
care much for those things. suppose
you know most of the people here, Mr..
Dwight?'
'Too well" he answered briefly.
"Barbarian!" she cried. THAT is not
the proper thing to say"
Il never say what am expected to.
didn't come here to see those people
| Helene"
Unfortunate peoplel How have they
incurred your Gispleasure?"
Il came to see you" he persisted. ut
is not often that L"
Miss Martineau," said an attenuated
soldier who precipitated his bows before
her, I'VE are all dying to hear you sing.
Won't you favor us?"
Oscar had a fierce desire to give him
kick and send him all the way over. He
was bowling so profoundly that it would
have taken very little to do it.
IF Mr.. Dwight will excuse me-" said
Helene, turning to Oscar. mol stay
here and finish your tea. Capt. Eyre
will give me his arm"
Oscar watched her as she moved with
languid grace over to where the piano
stood. He remembered her voice, fresh,
pure, and resonant. She used to sing
Killarney" within Mile of Edin-
boro', and THE Last Rose of Summer"
but now it was LES Fleur des Alpes"
and waltz song of Lecocqs. Her voice
had improved with time and cultivation,
but there was something left out of her
songs.
"She is just as much loss to me as
though she had married that Russian,
said Oscar, bitterly, and as soon as he
could he went away.
He left her with listless handshake.
He was the first to go, for her guests
generally staid late, and it was deep in
the twilight before the last farewell was
spoken.
There is nothing more forlorn than a
festive scene after the guests have de-
parted. Helene looked around the ver-
anda with wretched feeling of loneh-
ness, and suddenly, with an irrepressible
sob, she flung herself down on the couch
where Oscar had sat beside her.
"Oh, my Lowell" she cried, with burst
of bitter tears. "You do not care for me
at ALL"
The moon had risen high and full
Through the screen of tangled vines the
silvery light fell upon her PROSTATE
form, which was shaken with a storm of
grief.
"Helene!"
She sprang up as though some one had
struck her when she heard Oscar Dwight
pronounce her name.
what are you doing here?" the cried,
passionately, enraged that he should have
seen her in tears.
Pardon met" he faltered. 'I-I lost |
a diamond stud this afternoon, and 1
thought"
Il will call a servant to get a light" !
she said, sweeping past him.
"Helenel" he said, taking a step toward |
her.
%Well?"
"Have you quite forgotten the old days
in gentle voice.
the past, she replied, locking her hands
SO that he might not see how they trem-
bled.
you left me no other alternative.
Helene, speak to me! My heart tells me
you have not grown SO cold and indiffer-
emit as you seem. There was time
when you priced the love gave you. Is
it utterly valueless now?"
You do not care for me so much as
you used to-" she said, with averted
face.
Il love you, Helene. 1t is yours to say
whether it shall be more or less"
She turned to him then with radiant
emile and held out her hands.
Take me back" she said. Il have
been miserable ever since you went
away"
If, at that momsnt, any of the guests
had returned to the veranda, they might
have witne ssed a tableau like Millais'
'Hugenot Lovers" for Oscar possessed
himself of his own.
"Why did you repel me?" he said,
looking down into the face, which had
assumed its own true and tender guise.
why did you not let me know you as
you are?"
Il was proud, she said. Il did not
want you to know that cared to please
you. Oh, Oscar! don't be angry with nae.
How was 1 to know that you loved
ne?"
I told you once"
"Yes; but that was long, long ago."
"Had you ceased to love mel"
"No; but"
"Why should your love be stronger
han miner"
81 don't know" she sighed; "only did
lot think you cared"
He bent over and kissed her.
Never doubt me again, dear, he said.
Think how nearly lost you'll If I had
lot come back and found you here weep
ng, I should have gone away and never
cen you again"
Helene bowed her head with due peni- '
ence. As she did SO, a bright flash of
ight from the floor made her cry:
"Oh, Oscar! There is your diamond"
She stopped and picked up the jewel |
rom the floor. 1t was superb white 1
tone, which was seen to sparkle afterward
n the third finger of the left hand, for l
oscar had it set as an engagement ring. {
= Emily Lennox in Demorest's Monthly. s
Markets of Siberian City.