The Washington critic., 1886-08-24

de toutr
"Pardon?"
"Why, you understand French,prop.
fectly, remember"
"0h, yes. But my mind never han.
kered after q sandwich of tongues.
always feel rs though | had slap In
the face when ! am getting on so
smoothly in one language and some
one hurls at me fragment of another
! will speak French with you If you
prefer 1t, he added, more gently.
Helene flushed. How like him that
blunt speech was
ooh, no " she fastened to say
"What will you have9 Try these
comflts. You will like them, | am
sure. They taste just like"
A luscious jacqueminot rose fell
from her corsage. lie picked 1t up
and gravely returned 1t to her without
thought Of appropriating It,
This Is like the guava preserve |
brought you and Amy from Mar
Unique" he said, tasting the comft.
rs it2" she said, carelessly. 81
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"
II never say what / am expected to.
] didn't come here to see those people,
Helene"
unfortunate people How have
they incurred your displcasure?"
81 came to see you,' he persisted.
clt is not often that Il
Miss Martineau," said an attenua-
ted soldier, who precipitated his bows
before her, Eve are all dying to hear
you sing? Won't you favor us?'
Oscar had fierce desire to give him
q kick and send him all the way over.
He was bowing so profoundly that 1t
would have taken very little to do 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
piano stood. lie remembered her
voice-fresh, pure and resonant. She
used to sing "Kiilarney,' within n
Mile of Edinboro'," and "The Last
Rose of Summer but now it was
Lies Fleur dGs Alpes," and waltz
song of Lecocqs. Her voice had i'm.
proved 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 the Russian.
said Oscar, bitterly, and as soon as he
could he went away.
lie left her with q lstless hand
shake. He was the first to go, for her
guests generally staid late, and 1t 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
veranda with wretched feeling of
loneliness, and 5 .denly, with an ire.
pressible sob, she flung herself down
on the couch where Oscar had sat be
side her.
"Oh, my lovel" she cried, with a
burst OF bitter tears. "Iou do not care
for me at all"
The moon had risen high and full
Through the screen of tangled vine,
the silvcry light fell upon her PROSTATE
form, which was shaken with a storm
of grief.
"Helenel"
She sprang up as though some one
had struck her when she heard Oscar
Dwight pronounce her name.
"What are you doing here?" she
cried, passionately, enraged that hC
should have seen her in tears.
Pardon me-" he faltered. I-I los
a diamond stud here this afternoon
and thought"
81 will call servant to get light,
she said, sweeping past him.
"HeleneN' he said, taking a stel
toward her.
"WellF'
"Have you quite forgotten the oil,
days that you treat me 50 coldly?" III
asked, in gentle voice.
1T is you who have chosen to ignor
the past" she replied, locking he
hands so that he might not see how
they trembled.
you left me no other alternative
Helene, speak to me My heart tell
me you have not grown so cold and in
different as you seem. There was
time when you priced the love | CAV
you. Is it utterly valueless now :"
"Iou do not care for me so mucl
as you used to" she said, with averte
face.
II love you, Helene. 1t is yours t
say whether il shall be more or less"
She turned to him then with Il rad
ant smile, and held out her hands.
Take me back, she said, 81 hay
been miserable ever since you wen
away"
If, at that moment. any of the guest
had returned to the veranda, the
might have witnessed n tableau lill
MiIlais' "Iluguenot Lovers" for Osca
possessed himself of his own.
"Why did you repel me?" he said
looking down into the face, which ha
assumed its own true and tender guisC
"Why did you not let me know you q
you are?'
II was proud" she said. 81 did nc
want you to know that cared to pleas
you. Oh, Oscar! don't be angry wit
me. How was l to know that yo
loved mc?"
81 told you once"
Yes; but that was long, long ago,
"liad you ceased to love me!'
"NO; but"
"Why should your love be strongc
than miney'
Il don't know" she sighed, "only
did not think you cared"
He bent over and kissed her.
Never doubt me again, dear h
said, Think how nearly | lost yo,
il had not come back and found yo
here weeping | should have gone ava
and never seen you again"
Helene bowed her head with dr
penitenco, As she did 50 bright nas
OF light from the floor made her or,
"Oh, Oscm there is your diamond
She stopped and picked up the jew
from the ilom. 1t was Il surpGrb viii