The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-05-12
PLAYING WITH FIRE.

PLA lING WITH FIRE.
1t was 3 o'clock of a hot August after.
noon at Luc-sur-Mer. The bathers were
roaming ove the beach or -ensconced in
cozy, sheltered spots. Women, rosy pink
with the heat, were leisurely crocheting
and g~ossiping, emphasizing their remarks
with the movement Of the white ivory
needles. Bright eyed men, their smiling
listeners, idly traced hieroglyphics on
the sand Happy children, watched over
by white capped nurses, made mud pies
TO their hearts content.
Oyer one small group Of loungers pre-
sided a young woman, whose pensively
graceful, delicate featured face was one
81 rare sweetness. Her hair was blond,
her mouth fresh as q child's, while in her
black eyes quiYered lights and shadows
as on a placid lake. 4 crowd of young
men were gathered about her, each one
anxious to claim part Of her attention
by some trivial little speech. Now and
then she would quietly drop a word, and
every one stopped talking to hear and ap-
plaud her.
Marguerite Helm was a Norwegian.
She had married for love q countryman
of hers, a painter, but he had died soon
after. Gifted with a marvellous voice,
she had resolved to make it her means Of
support. Going to Paris, she had shut
herself up for a year with her grief and
her musical studies. Her stay at Luc-
sur-Mer was the first dissipation of her
widowhood.
Just 20 the conversation had turned
on a foreigners difficulty in using French
idioms. All her admirers seized the OPP
portunity to compliment her ON her pro-
fcience in the language.
Gentlemen" she said suddenly, .'you
shall each tell me which word in all
your language You prefer"
: After q moments hesitation the con-
test began. To the men it was a pretext
for new gallantries.
Marguerite" sighed one.
hnssorway," murmured another.
Lover suddenly exclaimed q boys
undeveloped voice-a voice just under
going a change.
The word was 80 impulsively uttered
that everybody started. Marguerite her.
self bent forward to see the speaker. It
was Jacques Lespar, a mere boy Of al
most girlish beauty. His white fore
head, his straight nose, with its sensitive
nostrils. his slender, refined hands-ali
betokened good blood. His penetrating
eyes fixed themselves upon those of Mime.
Helm. Hers were filled with a sweet.
indulgent curiosity.
We'll, there really are no more chill
dren. Make way for the youngr' were
the remarks heard from the men.
Happily the dinner hour was near, and
the group dispersed. Jacques and Mime.
Helm remained together. They both
felt q little embarrassed at being alone,
and neither knew what to say. Finally
they began to talk of the weather, of the
superb days and warm evenings. Then
the boy escorted Marguerite to her hotel
and went home.
Ever since the beginning Of the season
he had silently admired Mime. Helm. A
subtle fascination irresistibly attracted
him to her. When she took her morning
stroll, he instinctively walked behind
her. like a dog following his master.
When she sat down on the beach amid
her admirers, he furtively slipped in
among them, envying, with all the
strength of his ingenious youth, the
young men who could laugh with her OF
the old gentleman who called her Dear
child" How often he had tried to speak
to hertz But the great sadness rising in
his heart at his utter insignifcance would
choke the words in his throat.
An orphan from his cradle, he was en-
tirely alone in the world A distant rel
alive had become his guardian and di.
rected his education. He grudgingly
managed jacques finances and bestowed
only Il scant affection upon his ward
The boys generous nature was starved
In this atmosphere of indifference, and
he at once loved Marguerite with all the
energy Of long suppressed feeling. /,
was his FIRST passion, and like a ricl
spendthrift he laid at her feet all ths
treasures OF his heart. AS to being paiC
in return, he never dared think of that
He would have been satisfied if, like /
priest at Gods altar, he might be al
lowed to worship Marguerite all his life
After that August afternoon JACQUES
and Mime. Helm were frequently to
gether. They talked over their plans
and being mutually attracted learned {.
know each other well. Every day afte,
breakfast they walked on the quay, an.
the boy made the young woman his con
idant. Marguerite heard his gray,
speeches with a smile and reciprocate.
by giving good advice with almost moth
erly tenderness.
Time passed on, and often when re
turning from their walk the day die,
with the setting sun. The women com
ing home would greet them with som
half audible, TESTING remark; the raga
mullins would giggle at them on tn
road, and the men bow, with a sort o
pleased, boorish p~oliteness.
It was the first time since her depa1
ture from Norway that Mime. Helm fo1
got her sorrow. She liked her role q
tender and put an unconsciou
rnus1o<rv Snfa hor conduct Gha rrc~1