Wichita eagle., 1890-03-09
been very happy tosether.

stammered, surprised at nndinG my out
posts carried so easily.
"You do not mean TO say that she is
compromised with any mani almost
fsrcely.
Il do not know what meaning you at
tach to that word" for the counts I'M
perfect French was not always intelli-
gible. There is young man. the son
of neignbor, who has admired her a
long time.
.'Oh, he admires her." with a curl of
the exquisite lips. as if to say, .'Who
does mott
But | think she may ike him little"
"Why do you torture me so? Tell me
at once that they are betrothed. cried
he, pale with concentrated anger.
He thought she had trifled with him,
knew instantly, but quietly said: Il cam
not tell you exactly in what relation they
stand to each other, but l think Miss ST.
Clair would if she found an opportunity
TO speak with YOU
"You do not know how I have tried TO
make opportunities. l go everywhere,
hoping to see you, and have never met
you-not once. Won't you ask her to
some down tonight" coaxingly, like a
child.
Not tonight: it is too late"
u must see Miss ST. Clair tonight"
Impossible.
Il must see Miss St. Clair. Find out
for me when / can see her. | will go
with you," in white heat of passion.
(We had been alone for some little time }
took the arm which he held out, not
little agitated by the excess of emotion
which thrilled and quivered through his
youthful frame. as he hurried me up the
broad stone staircase and along the wide
corridors that led to our rooms. What
business had | to NEEDLE: How should
an old fogy like me know anything Of
the love affairs of this generation: The
girl would have managed more wisely
than l, reflected, by no means jubilans
over the result.
"Wait here;;" and l walked on 10 Miss
st. Clair's door, opened it. and there sat
Helen In her pretty white wrapper,
bathed in the moonlight, serene as a star,
as if there were no passionate young
heart breaking in waves of anguish at
her teet. Helen, the count is In the
corridor, and he will not go till / have
told him when you will see him."
How can l? You must think for me-"
a hasty consultation. The count was
standing where had left him. I'VE
shall be at the Sistine chapel tomorrow
at O'Clock"
He bowed and was gone.
l did not sleep well that night. A
pretty person am to take charge of a
young girl! wonder what Mr.. st. Clair
would think if he knew had made an
appointment for his daughter to meet
young Spaniard? On the way, however,
| adnlonished Helen, as if no misgiving
of my own wisdom had ever crossed my
mind: You must be firm with him.
Tell him so decidedly that he cannot
doubt you really mean it"
Yes" said she, but do dread it so.
1 can't bear his thinking that l encour-
aged him."
Then you did:'
Il didn't mean to. but do like him;
and didn't think of his taking it so to
heart. Men are so strange. You think
you have charming friend, and then
they will go on just so, boys and all, and
you have TO take them or lose them; and
you can't take them. 1t is TOO bad,'
We were at the door. The keeper
opened it, and there stood the count
waiting for us. 1t was not the first time
we had been in the wonderful chapel
Fortunately, there were very few persons
there on this afternoon-none that we
knew. | sat down 70 look at the grand
frescoes: Helen and the count walked on
to the farthest corner. | looked at the
Cumaan Sibyl, the impersonation of age
and wisdom, and wished. as glanced at
the youthful figures talking so earnestly
in the distance. but moi murmur of
whose voices reached my ear, that she
would impart to NE her gar reaching
vision Of futurity. gazed on the image
of the Eternal Father sweeping in ma
jestic flight through the air. bearing the
angels on his floating garment as he di-
viies the light from the darkness. saw
Adam, glad with new life, rising from
the earth, because the outstretched finger
of his Creator gave him a conscious
strength. | looked at The Last Judg-
ment," grown dim with years, till every
figure started out in intensity of life, and
it seemed as if the faces would haunt me
forever.
And yonder still progressed the old,
ever new drama of love and anguish,
with its two actors. who seemed scarcely
to have changed their position or taken
their eyes from each other. 1T length
they walked slowly toward me with more
serenity OF aspect than | had dared TO
hope.
Shall we go into the picture gallery
asked the count.
Il think We may have time to walk
through it," l answered III Is half
past g."
lis it possible that we hare kept you
waiting SO long they asAed simultaBe-
ouslv
"An hour and half is short time in
a place like tie Sis-ine chapel, | re-
marked sententiously
As soon as We were alone drew Helen
to the confessional: Did you tell him
about lIr Denham:'
YES, everything. and he was so noble. /
| am so sorry. The tea.s stood in his
eyes, and he said: i suffer, but am a
man. I can bear it. Then he thanked
me for dealing 80 openly with him he
never once hinted g reproach. And |
deserved it, she said with unwonTed
humility Il never felt before how
wicSed it is 70 fii~s just a little. He Is