Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-01-24
FOR HELEN'S SAKE.

cluded wonderful piece of legarde-
main, and as the plaudits of his audi
ence died away, he stood facing them,
trife paler than usual, with his eyes
resting upon a little box which he held
In his hands.
Now, ladies and gentlemen" he
said in a slow measured way, 81 am
going to show you a little trick in
which you will be the principal per-
formers. You see this box? 1t is
empty. | shall pass it around the
audience, and with your kind assist
ance, when it is returned to me it will
be full-of gold-pieces let us say"
A smile, half scornful, half satirical,
curled the corners of his mouth, which
was shaded by a small black NOUS
tache.
He stepped forward, and gave the
box to a gentleman standing near.
People felt for their purses.
''What pity!" murmured one of
group of ladies in the corner. "Such
handsome gentlemanly fellow as he
seems to be. l should think he'd find
a better occupation. | say, Maya,
have you any changer | haven't
bit"
The dark-eyed girl who was thus
Baluted made no reply. She was look
ing, with parted lips and half-closed
hands, at the so-called Professor Wien
erausky.
''Maya" cried her friend, shaking
her gently. Have you gone to sleep,
or are you bewitchedP"
NO. said the girl slowly; but l
wanted to make sure. Anna, 1 know
that man."
'What manP"
he call himselfP 1t is Walter Grafton"
''Maya," cried her friend in we'll
bred horror, ''you are crazy! How
could you know "a person like
thatP''
1T is Walter Graftonr she persisted.
at used to 90 to school with his sister
Helen. She fell in the gymnasium one
winter and hurt her back. She had
curvature of the spine. l used to 90
to see them when they lived in Darby
street. They were orphans; | knew
them very WELL"
"Goodnessr' exclaimed Anna Har-
well. 'How annOying OF course
you can't recognise The man."
"Why notP" said Maya, sharply, as
she dropped her contribution into the
maglcian's box. 81 am an orphan, too.
Am | any better than they because my
father happened to leave me fortune
and they are penniless?'
mo; but her friend replied
hesitatingly, ''he need not have taken
another name"
The Graftons are very proud"
Maya said simply. There! he is looking
this way. He has recognized me l am
sure"
maya, you are not going to bow to
himr' cried her friend in panic.
''Don't-please don't"
There was no need of such a strong
appeal, however.
The moment Professor Wienerausky's
eyes rested on Maya's face, a deep
notifying flush suffused his counte-
nance. He dropped his eyes and turned
aside quickly, to busy himself with the
implements of his trade, which were
scattered over the table.
MAYA saw that her gaze and presence
confused him. He gave her one more
look, which seemed to implore her to
go away. She rose from her seat and
vent out.
After the performance Professor
Wienerausky left the hotel. He had
taken room. but he gave it up.
As the waning moon rose out of the
ocean, he was walking alone up and
down the beach in a desperate i'm
patient way.
ooh" he cried in an agony ofshame,
s'to think that | should meet her face to
face in this wav! She knew me. I
saw it in her eyes. And she would
have spoken to me. All, but that was
good of her! Why should she recog-
Mise travelling Snowman, mOunte-
bank. a slight-Of-hand manP Yes. that
is all / am. And to think that no
matter what / do afterwards, the world
will always remember this against me
this of all thingsm
''Mr. Graftonm
''He started at the sonnd of his name.
He had not heard light swift step on
the sand, and when he turned he was
astonished to see Maya BroOke's fair
face close to his shoulder.
She held out her hand to him.
Il am glad to see yor," she said,
smiling.
For a moment his heart leaped, and
he longad-oh, how he longedi-to take
that dear little hand in Mistake it
and never let it 60.
But he told himself that he owed her
better treatment.
Ill think you have the advantage
of me he said with an effort, and he
drew himself back. my name is
Wienerausky."
81 beg your pardon" said Maya in
her own wilfuI way; lit is no such
Shinu Don't no foolish Mr. Gro fto,
can't you recognize an old friendP /
want to hear about Helen-why did
she never write to me? | have COM
pletely lost sight of YOU"
MADAM" he said hurriedly, "you
are mistaken-you are indeed, and if
you will allow me to suggest it, you
ought not to come down here alone to
speak to a man who"
Il am not Alone" she said, drawing
back suddenly; my maid is with me,
few steps away. | came to speak to
an old friend. but see that nv efforts
are not appreciated. You refuse to
recognize me.
you have mistaken my identity,
madam" he said in strained voice.
.In that case" she retorted, Il beg
your pardon and bid you good-eve
ming"
She turned from him abruptly, and
in a moment she was gone.
But what it cost him to refuse II
recognise her she never knew. Ht
stood rooted to the spot, looking after
her with desperate longing.
Thank God was able to resist her!
he breathed. Il would not have he
exposed to comment What woult