St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-04-17
A SLAVE OF BEAUTY.

AIidlCACO OClilOlo Hdu lOQAo Qh w
portunity to break his engagement with
Helen Gray because he was fascinated
with her cousin Adele's beauty. Helen
put no obstacle in the way when she
learned of his infatuatiOn, and as. soon
as she could slipped away to Europe
with her mother. leaving the field to
her cousin.
Adele's parents interposed only one
objection when Laurence proposed for
the hand of their daughter, and that was
that he should wait four years, as she
was still a schoolgirl. He reluctantly
agreed to this arrangement, and went
travelling for several years to fill in the
time when he could claim her as his
own. He returned to find Adele the pet
of society, surrounded by train of adj
mirers and full of vain ideas of social
conquest. And worst of all, it seemed
as if she was not as beautiful as of old,
for her constitution was naturally not
strong, and late nights and suppers
were beginning to tell on her.
One day he met Helen Gray in the
street and could hardly recognize in this
beautiful woman tue plain girl he had
once been engaged to. She had just re-
turned from Europe, where her mother
had died, but she received Laurence as
kindly as if he had not treated her SO
badly.
Adele always had several weeks en-
gagements ahead, so she found little
time to see her lover. "You and Helen
can compare notes of travel in the mean
time" she told him airily. 81 dare say
UnI, will hn al In RI nnncnln un1IvcQIf ~
Laurence was not slow to avail him
self of this permission, and for two
brief, bright, dangerous weeks he
walked, talked, drove and chatted with
this beautiful girl, whom he had once
told he would willingly relinquish half
his fortune to endow with the beauty of
Adele, and now, if Adele we're but half
aS beautiful he would think himself
blest. While he talked with Helen of
men, places and customs, while he lis
tened to her bright fund of anecdOte
and incident. he looked at her
lovely face, at the curves of her eX-
qdisite form, at the tempting crimson of
her perfect mouth, and grew intoxi-
Gated. What blind fool he had been!
1t was Helen he loved-Helen he had
always loved. She was his bOyhoOd'S
fancy, his manhood's ideal!
2 One afternoon he was shown into the
shaded parlor, where Helen was play
ing softly. do not let me disturb
YOU" he said, as she arose. II am in
the mood to have my savage soul
soothed by music's charms. Are the
other ladies out?'
81 think So" answered Helen. "They
went out to lunch before l took my
usual long walk. ! have just returned,
and have not seen them"
She played on softly, her dark eyes
idly over the white keys and bringing
out sweet, plaintive chords.
Laurence'S eyes were fixed upon her
face with brOoding passion in them.
Presently Helen rose, and as she turned
toward him, she saw the fervor of his
glance. At the same time her hands
were closely prisoned in his.
''HelenP' he cried, impetuOusly, s'my
own sweet Helen 1 cannot longer be
silent. love you'll have always loved
you. You were my early only love; you
cast me off for foolish whim. I tried
to believe myself content without you
to form other ties-but know now I
have always loved you. These two
weeks have been delirium of Joy to
me. Helen, Helen, tell me that you
will take me back into the place where
belong"
II s face was on fire. his voice trem-
bled with passion. But Helen stood up
cold and proud, and her voice hard, as
she replied:
ssMr. Bedford, cannot excuse this
most inexcusable behavior. l loved
you once, long ago, and you chose to
make me so ashamed of the love that I
cast it out of my heart forever. l have
for four years thought of you only as
my Cousins lover, almost her husband.
You insult both her and me by this con-
duct. / supposed you were aware that
am to be married to very worthy
man, Mr.. LenOX, as soon as my term of
mourning expires. Please allow me to
pass"
She swept by him, and as she van
ished through the door, the alcove cur
tains parted, and stately and white and
stern as Nemesis herself, Adele stood
before him.
81 heard it ALL" she said. "Go, and
never let me see your face again." She
dropped the shining solitaire which she
had so long worn into his hand as she
spoke, and pointed toward the door.
With bowed head he left her accusing
presence, and went forth from the
house for the last time.
Six months later he read the notice of
brilliant event in high life-a double
wedding of the beautiful cousins.
Adele had married the richest of her
many admirers, and Helen her foreign
lover.