The National tribune., 1891-12-31

well enough, need not come down. But /
shall, you are curing fast"
81 will ask DIR. James," began Mrs. Fawcett.
Helen made a face. "No," she said; please
don't though / am snre he would tell you
might; but / want my own way. Indeed, l
| will be careful"
Whom would you like asked2"
Helen named three or four people, then
paused for a moment, as rejecting.
I'VE want a young man." she said. "Let
me have tho address book, mamma. We will
have the first We come 20. a No; there is
no a. except young Arbuthnot and he is
away with his people. b. Yes; here is Mr.
Beatoun."
Il don't know IL he is in town." said Mrs.
FaWcoit, but she wrote the note.
Mr. Beatoun was in town, and accepted.
The ftfal Ere which had fiekered up in
Heien's dying lamp of life for the previous
week burnt brightly enough 70 deceive most Of
Mrs Fawcctts guests on the evening of the
small dinner party. which 10 the hostess seemed
like a ghostly memory OF such parties in the
past. Excitement, nervousness, and the fever
| Of her disease gave Helen that night n vivid
ness she had never had in health. Paul Bea-
toun was struck whom he saw her by the
strange beauty Of her eyes, the brightness of
her face aud talk. He took her down 10 din
ner and they seemed 10 drift back into men,
ories OF different times when they had met.
A new sympathy sprang up between them,
4 peTHUnal HBaEntnS l1tieu nhG htNGE AGll btlDTc.
Later on in the evening, they were talking
Of an artist just dead, young sculptor of
Do you know that statuette by him mother
has in the bOudoir2" Helen asked Mr.. Bea-
| tOun.
mo; I should like to see it. Would yOu
show il me?"
Six months ago she would never have dared
10 use the transparent Tuse, far less avail her.
self of its success, for fear both Of his perceiv-
ing it, aud Of other people doing SO she was
careless Of all this tonight, or rather she had
neryed herself 10 gain one object at all costs.
| She rose. saying ~ her mother. al am going
10 show Mr. Beatoun the Fate" and went into
the boudoir followed by Paul.
81 wish he had had time 10 work at the large
statue" she said; "it would have been very
fine"
This is fine" the young man answered,
gazing at the figure, only the small rough model
for the statue that would never now live in
marble.
He told rs 81 was only a study" she said.
" He wanted 10 do group from that chorus in
the 'Atalanta'"
"Love between Fate and Death-yes.p ne
said musingly. lie looked Mt tho girl by him,
and some strange sadness in her eyes struck
! him like the sudden touch of a cold wind. A
dreamy melody, that was being played in the
drawing-room, came softened 10 their ears; the
only light in the room was a crimson glass
lamp that shed hectic glow over Helen's face
aud her dress Of misty white. Paul BeatOun,
looking at her, perceived with certain shock.
how very slight she was, how thin the hand
which rested on a dark claret velvet table.
Mr.. Beatoun," she said, suddenly aud sim
ply, wonder if you would understand wish
/ have"
Some note Of pathos in the sweet voice some
unconscious appeal in the eyes, touched the
young man to vague new feeling. Try me-"
he said earnestly. leaning toward her. There
was that in his look which some time earlier
would have seemed to her as The vision OF a
possible heaven, aud even now IL struck a
quick gladncss through her, though there was
no longer any hope.
"You know / am very IN" she said at last
You have been, but you are better now, are
you uot?"
u am dying" And then she told him all !;
how little lie remained to her.
lie looked at her with n strange sorrow and
astonishment 1T can't DO true" he said.
" Ii is too horrible,"
"No," she said, Il don't think ! fear it
now" Then there was q long silence.
=" II could help you!" he said al last, in
chOked voice. How can yoa be 50 brave?"
% 1 am not brave" she answered. g was
frightened at frst-oh, you don't knoR!" and
she gave a long shiyering sigh at the memory
Of her dark hours. :" "BHt somehow now the
dread seems 10 have died; pray IL may not
come back. There is one thing -
"What2"
81 can't bear to be forgotten" she said, with
a cry in her voice. "All the people / have
known. the life that has been 81 pleasant, IL
will all 70 on when am dead, and no ono will
ever think OF me again. want TO be reInem-
bered, not only by my friends who knew me,
but by people like you, whose lives have only
just touched mine, but helped TO make 1t
bright"
81 sh.l ,,,,. f,r,,at No., - - ,,-,.a
with quiver in his tone; this man who had
not once remembered her from the day they
had hidden good-by in Bond street, till three
or four days ago, when be had received Mrs.
FEwuetts note asking him 20 dinner.
Yes, She said, you will, but l wish you
and other people she felt ashamed in her
! soul or that ialsehood, knowing she only cared
for his thought Of her" to just think Of me
now and then, and 80 want 10 give you some
thing, a book or sketch, which has been mine,
that viii remind you sometimes FOR mo-
meut"--
She looked at his face with sudden terror
lest her words should have told any hint Of her
secret 10 him. On how she loved him! The
, full sense Of all her love seemed 10 crowd on
her al that moment with shame lest he should
read it. She wished she had never asked him
this.
"If you will" be said. "I shall value it
you do not know how dearly. Bot should not
need it TO remember you; you cannot think
! that"
Thank you" she answered. She gave him
her hand with quick impulse she regretted
) the moment after; he put il 10 his lips, hot
tear fell on IL, which Helen started 10 feel
7 lie did care little" she thought as she
laid her tired head on It's pillow that night
aud he will not quite forget me-always"
7 Helen was asleep when Mr. Beatonn called
two days later, and she did not see him again
: through the dark December days If she had
known the truth she would have learned he
longed 10 come, but did not, for fear she should
think be misinterpreted her request lie won.
9 dered once, indeed. if this girl, whom he had
: always liked, but who had never till the other
night made his pulses beat more quickly had
{ given him any thought Of her heart. The very
frankncss OF her wish proved her innocent and
e worthy Of far better love than his: had he un.
Willingly done her the wrong OF teaching her
! 10 care for himy He was not worth the love
: Of a girl like her. he thought. but he knew tina;
! women give their love generously as the dew
! without thinking IL that which IL rests on be
hi for such treasure. II she had, he had been
; fool; an impulse seized him TO seek her and
u ask her II even now u were too late aud then
e he told himself that IL would be an insult "a
Z her confidence in him, to let this be the end "a
read her wish thus But. il she had cared fol
Q him, why was her feeling for him only 10 work
her painp III Helen had mot him la another
Il world where spirits can read each others eyes
9 be would have known that her love had been
i the dearest treasure Of her life, aud that sh,