The Worthington advance., 1896-03-05
Il Later. light step became audible in the

later. n light step became audible in the
corridor. 49,
II It was Helen. From his retreat
Manners saw her enter, glance round
hastily and, apparently under the be-
lief the room was untenanted, open the
piano and begin to play.
B In five minutes she was SO much ab-
sorbed in the music that lie was able,
without fear of detection, t., change his
position and take up one that allowesl
him to see her plainly as she sat at
the instrument. His eyes dwelt low
ingly on every line Of her beautiful,
calm face. How different was her ex-
preston now to when he had parted
from her! When, with scorn in her
voice and an angry CLEAN in her eyes,
she had hidden him go and never at
tempt 10 see or speak to her again.
He had loved her then-ah, never more
truly-and he loved her now with a
passionate longing that was more akin
to pain than to pleasure.
The sonata came to an end, and after
a short pause, she began to sing. OF
old it had ever been difficult to persuade
Helen to sing before anyone-even her
lover had rarely heard her voice.
Music and poetry affected her power
fully, and she shrank from making a
display of her feelings. The air she
sung now was unfamiliar to him, but
the words, Goethe's "Nur wer die
Sehnsucht kennt, weiss was ich leide,"
he knew we'll. They might or might
hot be an index to the state of the girls
heart, but they evidently touched her,
sfor presently, with something very like
q Sob, she ceased singing and left tho
lmusic-stool. - 81 . ~,
II She crossed the room and, bending'
over the large table, sought among tho
books and papers for something: to-
read Mowers held his breath as he
saw her, after apushing aside two on:
three Others, take up the Magazine
and settle herself comfortably in an,
Turning the leaves care-
lessly;, she fixed on an article towards
sthe end of the boolx-perilously! neaz: to
ut. Manvers thought;yremembering that
ssssIs 1t Too Late2" was the very last pa
per in the number. 50 .:
I And surely it was that very article.
she was reading, for what other would
have called up such 9 deep sigh, or filed
sthos se sweet:.eyes with tears. It was
wrong, it was ln1nanly thussto watch
her, and her lover, feeling this to his
hearts core, had risen to ring for some
one to help him upstairs, when the
reading-room door: opened and lady
and gentleman came IN ( $$$~# y
Their entrance brought matters to
crisis. With natural Discrimination
to- be foundein tears, the girl rose hast
sily, made her way into the ante-rooia
and closed the door behind her.
When Helen found herself face TO
face with her discarded lover she stood
,transfixcd. 1t seemed to her a:if, as 1t, her
own thoughts had called mp the VI
sion: But her quick eyes soon 500 noted a
change in his appearance; how ne was
ill and worn, his hair grizzled and thin,
his step hating and uncertain; and she
saw twas the living man that stood
before Her. She tried: to give him
some commonplace greeting, but tho
words would not come. his CHRISTIAN
name, softly breathed, was all she
could bring her tongue to utter.s&s e.
He heard the word and it gave him
II have startled you. I fear" he oe-
gun, hesitatingly.s2 Then you did not
know sIswas here p o#.&, ~aa> - !
"No," she replied, and then paused.
IT have been laid up for weeks with
sprained ankle" he went on slowly. Il
only left my room yesterday. l can
hardly move now without assistance,
which must plead my excuse, Miss
Elakemore, for my having remained
to listen to your music just now. !
have not forgotten your dislike to sing
before stranger"
"A stranger" Did she repeat the
word, or was it his fancy? She shivered
as if cold wind had passed over her,
and her book fell from her hand.
He glanced at it. All, if that poor
little story was ever to do good work
in this world, the time had surely come
now.
"A stranger" he resumed in tone OF
deep feeling, "by your wish, Hclen-not
mine. Dearest, my heart has never
changed towards you and it never will.
is it too late to make up our quarrel?
I'd confess that we were both in the
wrong? l have bitterly repented the
hard words I said to you. And you
know now--you have known for many
months--tlat the tale told you that
night was true. Can you not forgive
me and let us lie friends? Friends ut
least. if we can bc nothing more"
II do not deserve even that" she said
sorrowfully, asshe took his outstretched
hand in both her own. "Gregory, my
own dear love, have nothing to for
give. ] did you great wrong, and
should have acknowledged it long ago.
Oh, I see my conduct in such different
light to-day. Indeed, it is Iwho should
seek forgiveness from YOU"
'lhere is no Eeed," he whispered JOY
fully, rs he drew her towards him and
kissed her glowing cheek. ''There is
no need. my darling. Helen. I love