The National tribune., 1891-12-31

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especially that OF certain set. True, she
had developed into more attractiveness Than
she had prOmi isad in early childhOodi despite
her uuietness there was reality IN her when
gave charm 10 her brightness and refinement,
and she was pleasant TO look az, though neither
beautiful nor pretty. The figure was slender,
graceful, aud delicate; the face, not very
regular, was yet sweet with its tender. true
month and lustrous hazel eyes.
Three OF four days after the consultation
Mrs. FaWcett and her daughter were driving
ia the afternoon. Mrs. Fawcett had gone into
one or two shops, while Helen remained IN the
carriage. They were stopping in front OF a
shop ia Bond street. and just as Mrs Fawcett
WAS re-entering the victoria young man
passing lifted his hat then stopped ana shook
hands warmly.
Il thought Won had left town. he said; =" SO
many people have gone. I'm of myself next
week"
ave are thinking Of going somewhere
soon /" said Mrs Fawcetl. Helen as not very
strong, and we are trying 10 fix on some very
quiet, mild place where l can nurse her up
somewhere in the West Of England, think.
+" Have You not been wellP nc asked. turn
ing 10 Helen. " You don't look ll"-his voice
was one Of those which have the dangerous
charm Of expressing an earnest interest which
the speaker may or may not feel, and hls eyes
sought the girls face as he spoke, win o cer-
tain tenderness in the keenness OF their glance.
he was right; the girl did not look all; her
cheeks and lips had gained color her eyes
were deep and beautiful with melancholy
subduod into pathOs as despite her struggle,
their gaze rested on his face.
" am much better than was" she said-
she spoke Of the present moment which she
had longed and hnngered for aud yet winch
was Slipping away SO fast
"Nn, remember now" said Paul Beatoun.
II have not met you out lately. hope you
have not boen very i'll"
How his voice touched her!-unconsciously
cruel as the words were, in spite OF the interest
warm and real, even II only momentary' OF the
last sentence. She looked at the elear-cut lace
she knew so well, yet which ever seemed 10
hold doarer secret Of beauty when her eyes
again beheld it. IL had never meant so much
10 her rs il did at that moment vision oi all
life would be 20 some other woman. IL might
have been hers if No. he never had cared,
he never would have cared for her. All this
passed through her mind as her mother an
swered Mr. Beatoun's inquiry:
"Oh, no! She will be all right sOGn."
few more words. then he held out his
hand. Well" he said, q il is good-by for some
time j snppOse-till the Winter"
Yes" said Helen. "Till the Winter, good
by"
She longed that her mother should ask Paul
BeatOun 10 come and see them before they lett
town; but Mrs. Fawcett was far too engrossed
with the one thought Of Helen 10 think OF
doing so. lie was charming and clever and
hans0me enough, this young man Of whom
some prOphesied much when be should have
learned his own power. Mrs. Fawcett liked
him, but Just now he had no interest for her; (;
she could not know that when Helen was once
more 10 her Own room alone, she paced rest
lessly up and down in misery. "Good-by tili
the Winter" Had il meant "EOod-by for
ever 2"-that the touch Of his hand, which
still stBid with her. which made her treasure the
glove she had then worn, was the last She
should ever feel?
They were hardly friends, at all events not
great ones, she and Mr. Beatoun. Most likely
he never gave her thought unless they were
In the same room, not very often then; but all
her life had grown 10 be the thought Of him
sleeping or waking, even when she thought she
was dwelling on other people or things, las
strong idea possessed her entirely, passion
atcly, as Il had done these two years II Mrs.
/ FaWcctt gave a dinner or dance TO which he
was asked, Helen spent the time till his answer
1 came in sickeuing suspense, and then tried,
1 even IL he accepted, 10 school herself into the
belief he Would not come, so as TO prevent the
disappointment, IL he did not being cruelty
shRrp-a selt-discipline utterly without effect,
ms had been proved % her cost once or twice.
/ Dlb never went 10 aNN EaAtAN N4EuDuA INC
vague. subtle hope be may be there" or the
drcary certainty he viii not" Without him
all life WAS
"As naked
As corune without the stones"
Yet in spite Of this folly. madness-what-
ever you RIll-ruling her life, she knew Paul
Beatoun could never guess what be was 90 her,
or tie strange intensity Of emotion which pos
sessed her IN his presence, from her quiet
\ "a
meut belonging 20 many women, by which
without uumaidcnlincss or lack Of refinement
they can. ~ by magnetism, draw the man they
wish 10 win 10 their sides; she felt aud owned
the lack in herself though she could not have
/ defined IT, Her love made her shy, almost
cold, la her manner 10 Paul BeatOnn some
times, indeed. she felt less nervous, but then a
4 frank friendliuess which seemed strange 10
I herself was all that appeared.
Here was The bitterness Of death. The kBoEl.
edge which tent the shHrpest paug 10 its near
ness. lie would not forget her, for she would
4 never be 20 llim even a memory. IL she had
I ever held any vague, dear hope too sweet "a
+. lay bare, even 60 hcr own gaze that was dead
now. Helen knew that when she died Paul
Beatoun would be rather shocked, would say
or think, Poor thing" and perhaps sigh
/ The French verse She had read years ago rang
bitterly now in her cars:
! JappHrus uu jour a D. meurs;
Je meurs, ci sur ma tOubc, GA lentcment Jar
rive,
Nul ne viendra verser des pl urs."
Oh! she wanted no one but him 10 remember
her!
Through the golden Autumn days, as hel
strength slowly burned out ia that restless
fever which was consuming her life, the long
ing aud aching 10 see him grew worse aut
worse. She did not know where be was or wha
he did, aud the feeling that she should b,
nearer hearing Of him ia London, made he
crave 70 return there sooner than had been in
tended, SO the beginning OF October found he
and her mother once more in town. Helen ha,
grown worse dnriRg the Autumn months; th,
trgitOr cOl0fs which might have been taken 10
"bCauty's cnsPn" but which were in truth TIA
herald Of deaths pale flag" had, even from
her mother, part Of tho change. But she wa
Tar thinner. more restless. aud more irfitab
than WAS her wont aud often, though not al
ways, she realized how short her span Of 10
was growing. She had looked death 50 stcadil,
IN tHe face now. that il seemed the dreadful
c0uutenanee grew gentler; tae old mad fear hat
left her, though II returned at times, but stil
Paul BsatOun's face dlled her dreams by night
her thoughts by day To die aud be forgotten
The pain Of the thought was as keen AS ever
all her life had boon his. though he did no
know t, and hc would never think Of her-sh
was nothing 10 him! She told herself she dit
not wish 10 be first with him, but she Wante
10 be IN has life, not 10 fade utterly into Ga
past.
30 an idea came 10 her, repnlsed at first ye
returning ever and again. each time NOR
sironiy, aud dwelling longer with her ms Au
I tumu cTcFt on 10 Winter aud She gugW Weake