Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1894-03-29

AZ - a. IA GU. INV AieA AAC h1O"s
my dear, he had come out from
Naples that night in his boat. as he
does so often, and it was that which
you had taken. When he found it z one
and remembered how you had van
ished an hour before-he guessed
like the good Yankee he is. what you
had done, and taking another boat he
started out to find you. But it was
dark, and there was no answer to his
calls. At last he heard a scream, and
well, he reached you just in time!
But Helena, it's a mercy you were not
drowned. Yours was the narrowest
escape that anyone ever had. After
that you were very i'll, and we have
been worried almost to death about
you. But such an unheard of thing as
your going out on the bay of Naples,
alone, in the dead of night. You were
not accountable then, of course-but
it's the first really foolish thing l have
ever known you to do!''
Helena moved uneasily. And who
knows of this-folly?"
Trenholm and John, and mot
another soul. The girls We're in bed
and asleep when he brought you home
and all the Others had gone"
1t was still many days before Helena
left her room. All this time Trenholm
haunted the villa for tidings of her.
and every morning her room was like a
bower with the roses he sent her.
At last she was persuaded to try her
strength little and go out upon the
terrace once again. She was still pale
and languid, and lay listlessly among
~, , J,
loving care. Gazing upon the bay with
eyes that saw nothing of its beauty.
Helena did not notice that Emily had
left heI side. until hearing football on
the terrace she YEARLY glanced up and
| missed her, and saw Trenholm stand
ing in her place. He was looking down
upon her with an expression of tender
pity which was wholly new.
Il could not keep away" he said, as
if to excuse his presence there.
She had almost forgotten that he had
saved her life, and now, as it all came
back to her, faint tinge of color
flushed for a moment her pallid face.
Il have not seen you since that
night" she said, with an effort Il
am not ungrateful, but 1 wonder what
you must have thought"
Il thought that you were i'll" he an
swered, gently.
Il was ill-in body and SOUL" said
Helena, in 4 strange, low voice.
lin body and soul. My God-you
don't mean-that?' cried Trenholm,
his face blanching at the thought
which ne had resolutely put away from
him before, but which returned now
with her words. Helena, Helena, you
don't mean that
She turned her eyes upon him Won.
deriDgly, and then she understood his
fear that she had purposed self destruc-
ton.
No she said, hastily, you mustn't
think that of me- Whatever l meant
it was never that"
Thank God" said Trenholm.
lit seems strange that you SHOULD
care she add ed, istlessly
Helena. When 1 love you so! Oh.
l love you and l can't help telling you.
1 must speak now. You are all the
world to me, Helena-won't you try to
care fer me little in return?"
She looked al him again with a curl
Gus regret But l am SO DID," she
said, whimsically. Il feel at least a
hundred. And turning her face away,
IL have done with love forever
''Old? All, no, with your beautiful
eyes like child's. And you have not
done with love, for you don't know,
dearest-you don't yet know all a mans
true, faithful love may mean"'
Something in these words arrested
her wavering attention; something
within her stirred responsibility to
them. He was right She never had
known a mans true faithful love, no
man had ever loved her-until now.
| All her inner woman's life had been
based upon a dream; and when 1.-The
| light that never was" had been SO sud-
denly withdrawn she felt the darkness
which developed her to be etern al.
Yet now, as she looked upon Tren-
holm's earnest, ca ger face, she seemed
for the first time-to see how unreal
the glow Of that false, faded light had
been. And in its stead clear, reviv-
ing flame was springing up, which
warmed the heart she had thought was
cold and dead within her
Helena dear Helena, you will not
send me away" he was pleading, land
you will try to love me just a little in
return?"
A tinge of the old rich color mantled
| her cheek, and flash of the old bright
ness came into her eyes. but her tremu-
lous smile was wholly new as she
| bent little toward him.
If you really think l am worth the
winning" she murmured, Il will try
Oh, the rejoicings of E miIy and the
girls when they learn ed how we'll
Trenholm had awaited himself of the
golden opportunities" which they had
SO thoughtfully contrived for him!
And Johns warm, brotherly approval.
and the congratulations and good
wishes which came pouring back upon
| them from the upper cataract of the
Nile!
And oh. the added grace and beauty
which came to Helena with her new
found happiness, and made her far
more lovely than she had ever been be-
| fore.
1t was long, however, before she
| could bring herself to speak of that
phantom first love; but then, at the first
mention of his name, Trenholm smiled
and laid his fingers across her stammer-
ing lips
He had OWNED the secret he told
her. during those anxious hours when
| the woman he loved was lying between
| life and death. But now that she had
| recovered and lived for him, he was
not jealous of the early friend whose
| memory had filed her heart until his
coming.
And even with his words, that dim
l