Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1892-07-14


in the country; OF Arthur, who had al
ready found favor in her sight and to
whom she is soon married. She sees
him then her devoted lover, with no
thought save hers, adoring her youthful
ignorances and her belief in goodness.
"It is you," he says, "who are right,
and my past life seems to me now an
evil dream, but you will make me bet
ter, and together we shall find happi-
ness, a happiness that will last forever"
The months pass by. She is in their
new city home, in the midst of the fash
ionable world. Several of its audacious
frequenters pay court to her. Now be-
fore Helen passes the face of Bessie, and
the words she spoke resound strangely
in her tired brain:
do you believe that woman who
has been deeply loved can live without
lover"
1t seems to Helen many long days
since yesterday, and even that her sur
roundings have undergone change
To escape from her illusion and return
to reality, she whispers:
"Arthur-Arthur"-
"WellY"
But that voice that used to reassure
her only augments her uneasiness, for
she Nd longer recognizes it. Again she
takes refuge in her thoughts. Why does
he not wish her to consult the clairvoy-
anti Why? Why?
Her heart beats violently and a sharp
pang assails it; doubts entering therein.
Il Arthur were false? If he were like
Bessie's husband? If all that seemed
impossible were possible, the whole
world infamous? How she suffers! 1t
must be jealousy that she feels. 1t is a
terrible malady, and she knows it will
hereafter torture her every hour.
4 Who can have stolen Arthur n n
her? She is trying to think. Can i. be
Ethel Goddard, or is it that little Mrs
Warburton? She is suffocating, her
throat tightens, her lips are dry and
burning. The light of the lamp vacil.
lates. The old tapestries are of sudden
clearly shown, then fall again into
shadow. The chairs, frightened here
and there by CLEANS that fall on the
gliding of their frames, seem to move
queerly around Helen, whose brain is
reeling. She is frightened at herself
for while thinking of a rival she feels
herself no longer responsible being
capable even of crime.
1t is thus, then, that one becomes
criminal through excessive suffering
But is she crazy? What proves tina
Arthur is false2 She cannot live will
such doubt. She must know and vii
! know. Why not consult the clairvoy
ant?
She rises, supports herself by the fur
niture to keep from falling and look
, earnestly at Arthur, who, plunged in
brown study, does not see her. 0
whom is he thinking? OF that othe
woman. She walks softly over tn
! thick carpet and looks for her scissors il
' her workbox. Now she draws neare
to the young man, her gaze riveted on
" lock of his hair. She could so quickl
, cut that lock were it mot for the lou,
:, beating of her heart 1t makes NOR
noise than the clock. Arthur will hea
it and turn quickly around. No; he re
/; mains motionless--still thinking.
, Suddenly he starts@and utters CRY
: Helen runs off, the lock of hair betwee
: her fingers. Her eyes look defiant, bu
= she tries to laugh. He does not laugh
), his face has grown pale; fear and rag
beset him.
! ~ order yar;immediately to return m
!. that hair" says he.
: "NO; / will not obey"
"Then will use force"
He strives to grasp Helen; she escape
him, running, around chairs and table,
= Then she takes a. jewel casket, locks th
y hair within, and finging the key ia
away tries toidy to her bedroom.
= But an ironlhand falls upon her an
- frightful face approaches her. Tt
: wrists of the young wife are pressed {
~ in a wise; tnespain is intolerable there
just the place@here Arthur had alway
! put his lips.
- Then the, casket slips tothe floor; I'll
. husband seizesiS, breaks it open with
kick of his boot, takes out the stolen loc
of hair and thrSws it into the fire.
Helen, half senseless, sees it burn.
g "What,does matter, ,noav," she sad
=. murmurs; "theclairvoyant has spoken
e Adapted for Argonaut from the Frenc
J. of B de Riviere.