The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1891-12-27

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n Enz8M n THE spring Of 1869
N # was induced, for the sake
,SM Of rest and recreation, to
VW take charge Of young
nm American girl during
lsz9 tour in Europe Tisis
young girl was Miss Helen st. Clair, Of
Detroit, Mich. We two were by no means
strangers. She had been my pupil since
the tirne when she was the prettiest little
creature that ever wore scarlet hood
| have a little picture, scarlet hood and
all, that would not exchange for the
most beautiful one that Greuze ever
painted Not that her face bore any re-
semblance to the pictures Of Greuze. 1t
had neither the sweet simplicity of the
girl in THE Broken Pitcher nor the
sentimental graces which he bestows on
his court beauties. It was an exceeding
" piquant, animated face. never at rest,
always kindling. flashing. cleaning,
whether with sunlight or lightning. Her
movements were quick and darling, like
those OF hunming bird. Her enuncia-
ton, though perfectly distinct, was mar
velously rapid. The same quickness
characterized her mental operations. Her
conclusions, right or wrong, were always
instantaneous. Her prompt deeisiveness,
her talent for mimicry and her witcherv
of grace and beauty won her a devoted
following OF school girls, to whom her
tastes and opinions We're as authoritative
as ever were those OF Eugene to the
ladies of her court. School girls, ike
college boys, are very apt in nicknames
and Helens was the Little Princess,
which her pretty. imperious ways made
peculiarly appropriate.
lido not know how her parents dared
trust her to me for 4 year beyond the sea,
but they did We set off in high enthu-
siasm, and Helen was full Of 1nirth and
laughter till we were fairly on board the
steamer IN New York harbor, when she
threw herself on her fathers breast with a
gesture of utter abandonment that would
have made the fortune Of debutante on
any stage In the world. It was so I'M
looked for that we all broke down. and
Mr.. St. Clair was strongly inclined to
take her home with him. But so sudden
was she in all her moods that his foot
had scarcely touched the shore before she
was again radiant with anticipation
will not linger on the pleasant sum
mer travel, the Rhine majesty. the Al
pine glory. September saw Us established
in the city of cities-Paris. Every
where we had met throngs of Ameri-
cans. Neighbors from over the way in
our own city greeted US warmly in most
unexpected places But we had not
crossed the ocean merely to see our own
countrymen. In Paris we were deter
mined to eschew hotels and pensions
and to become the inmates Of French
home. Everybody told as this would be
impossible, but / find nothing SO stinu
lating as the assertion that thing can't
be done. Two weeks OF eager inquiry
and we We're received into q family which
could not have been more to our wish
if it had been created expressly for US.
1t was that of II. LIE Fort, profess
sor in the medical college, hand
some elderly man with the bit Of red
ribbon coveted by Frenchmen in his but
tonhole. Nine. lie Fort, a charming.
graceful woman midway between 30
and 80, and pretty daughter of II,
completed the family. With great sat
isfaction we took possession of the pretty
rooms, all white and gold, that over
looked the Rond Point des Champs Ely
sees.
My little princess had found prince
in her own country. and, considering the
laws of attraction. his sudden appearance
in Paris ought not to have been a sur
prise to her. But. to his discontinue,
and even anger Helen refused to see
him. She had hidden him good-by at
home, she said: they would not be mar
ried for three years. If they ever were;
she was going to devote herself to her
music; and she did not wish to see him
here. When he had completed his stud
les and their engagement was announced
lit was only mutual understanding
now there would be time enough to see
each other at home Excellent reason
ingl but fortnight later a tiny hand
slipped between my eyes and The Fig
arc little note on which read;
DEAR FRIESp---I think should like
to say good-by again.
Yours, HELEN.
The dark eyes hooked half shyly, half
ccaxingly into mine.
We'll" said I, Katrine win mail il
for you"
The next day saw for the first time
aIr. Frederic Denhara. BE was tall and
slender, with sallow complexion, rath
er dull gray eyes and black hair, by no
means handsome, bat sufficiently web
looking to please friendly eye. In his
manners there was GOODNESS and re-
serve which passed for haaghtiness. He
was said to possess great talents and am
bition, and Helen had tile fullest BELIEF
ia his genius anI success. Not Goethe
;,.,ceNf xx-< a t,st. II, her t,,aa