Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-10-30
captain AD0NIS." "
RY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.

BIZ HELEN FORREST GRAVES.
'How charming it must be to be
richw said Sara Ponsonby, rocking
jreamilv to and fro on the vinegar
landed veranda, as she watched the glid-
mo motion Of white e-wiDged yacht on
the blue Hudson River below.
"Richl" echoed Helen Hyde. "That
don't signify, Sadie. To be loved
that is the secret of true hapPpinessl"
Sara Ponsonby was tall, large aud
beautiful. like a Greek goddess. Her
eyes were clear liquid blue; her nose was
straight, from the forehead down, and
her lips we're as red as if they had been
stained with ripe cherry-juice.
Helen was small and dark, with bril-
liantly black eyes, al olive skin, and a
quick, glancing way, like human but
terhy.
Sara was poor governess, come to
spend her vacation at Hyde Hall, and
Helen was an heiress. The two girls had
been in the same class at school, and
still preserved a romantic friendship.
Helen showered kisses, gifts and pro
testations on the beautiful Greek god
dess, and Sara graciously accepted them,
and on this plane the days at Beauvoir
rolled away.
ITO be loved!" repeated Sara.
"Helen, Nhat do you meant 1t surely
can't be possible that you have secret
from mel'
Helen colored vividly.
'sBut remember, Sara" pleaded She
Ainging her arm around her friend, "that
you only came yesterday, and there has
has been 50 much to talk about. Your
new experience of life in that lovely New
Orleans family-the bayOus, the magnoli'
thickets, the orange groves"
"Helen, burst in Sara, "you are ii
love, and you haven't told mel
"But, Sara, | was only waiting"
'You are engaged"
"Darliug, what fortune'teller you
-
are" cried Helen, hiding her face on th'
marble fair shoulders. "He's coming
here next week, aud was going to Civ
YOU such a surprise! What! tearsi Oh
surely, surely, Sara, you are not vexed a
met"
Yes, tears. Genuine tears, round, bll
and crystal bright, were dropping on he
cheeks. Sara Ponsonby, one OF the mos
selfish aud calculating creatures in tn
world. was ill-pleased at the idea q
Helen Hyde's marriage.
With husband at Beauvoir, could she
ever again be quite certain OF yearl
welcome, a rain of presents, an equal pro
prietorship in ali the good things witt
which Providence had seen fit to endoV
cid Wslpole Hyde's heiressi
"No dearest, " she cooed, mot vexed
Can you fancy me so ungrateful as that
Only-only | am so utterly alone in tn
world And you have been everything
tome. Tell me about him, Lowell"
For in second she had resolved
make herself so agreeable to the man o
men that she should always be sure OF
welcome at Beauvoir.
.I never saw the man yet" she tol
herself in one OF those thought flashes
THAT couldn't wind around my finger
except"
At that moment the maid IN blue
ribboned cap and friIIed apron Of dotte
Swiss muslin, brought in card for Mis-
Hyde.
"Old Mrs. Perkins, said Helen, wit
an accent of disappointment in her voice
uAnd she is lame, and she has come $
far. must go down and see her, Sara
but won't be long"
Miss Ponsonby looked dreamilY sfte
her.
Except she repeated, mechanically
following out the thread Of her rehe'
tions, lone person. The only person
ever cared for, and him could murd'
for his cool, insolent indifference E1
cept Reginald LsscelIesl"
AS she sat there rocking slowly, wit
a flush on her exquisite cheek, Sd
caught sight Of photograph, half Col
cealed in her friends work basket
With quick, furitive glance aroun1
she leaned forward aud drew it out.
A low cry broke from her lips; sh
was looking into the calm, cold face
Captain LascelIes himself
"so," she murmured, we are destine