The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1896-03-07

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Is quite gone on Miss Blakemore. Blu
she keeps him and everybody else at
distance, and no mistake. 1 haven
had the courage to say word to he
| vet, and I'm not shy man, by an
| means"
Yes, that was Helen all over. How
we'll Manvers knew the look that would
come into those dark eyes of hers, if
by any chance, her fellow-traveler
showed undue familiarity. He hat
learned, now, what he wanted to know
and asked no further questions, deem
ing it better not to claim acquaintanc,
with the Blakemore family unless
which was unlikely-they should de
sire it.
AT night, as he lay sleepless, he de
bated with himself as to his course Of
action. With the pathetic appeal q
that little story ringing in his ears, his
heart was very tender towards his ole
love. Was it too late? One woro
would make such difference in the
happiness of two lives, and could he
let that word go unspoken? No, a
thousand times no. Still pride fought
hard. With all his unspeakable long.
ing to touch once more the hand of the
girl he loved, he could not forget that
if an advance were to be made. it was
in all right and reason, her place to
make it. But his better self conquered
at last, and when morning dawned, he
had come to the conclusion to put To
the test the lesson SO strangely forced
ON him.
So the magazine was not cremated,
but laid carefully on the reading-roon
table, and Manvers, screened from OBJ
servation by thick curtain, lay on a
sofa in the recessed window of the
ante-room, and waited to see what
would happen. Truly a tantalizing
occupation, for young girls came in and
out, but never the one he was yearning
for.
The morning had been stormy and
dark, but after two o'clock the sky
cleared, and one by one visitors tripped
past the ante-room window, eager to
enjoy the fresh air. Mr.. Donnithorne
sailed forth, guide at his heels. MIR.
and Mrs. Blakemore strolled along, fol
lowed by Muller and half-a-dozen
others, though not, as the watcher was
quick to observe, by their daughter.
At last Manvers had reason to believe
that, with the exception of Miss Blake
more, every inmate of the hotel had
left the place-a conviction that made
his pulse beat hurriedly when, little
later, a light step became audible in the
corridor.
1t was Helen. From his retreat
Manvers saw her enter, glance round
hastily and, apparently under the be-
lief the room was untenanted, open the
liano and begin to play.
In five minutes she was so much alb
sorbed in the music that he was able,
without fear of detection, to change his
position and take up one that allowed
lim to see her plainly as she sat at
he instrument. His eyes dwelt low
ngly on every line of her beautiful,
aim face. How different was her ex-
,ression now to when he had parted
rom her! When, with scorn in her
oice and IN angry CLEAN in her eyes.
he had hidden him go and never at
empt TO see or speak to her again.
lie had loved her then-ah, never more |
ruly-and he loved her now with a
'assionate longing that was more akin
o pain than to pleasure.
The sonata came to an end, and after
short pause, she began to sing. OF
Id it had ever been difficult to persuade
lelen to sing before anyone-even her
over had rarely heard her voice.
lusic and poetry affected her power
ully, and she shranll from making a
isplay of her feelings. The air she
ung now was unfamiliar to him, but
he words, Goethe's "Nur wer die
ehnsucht kermit, weiss was ich leide,"
e knew well. They might or might
OF be an index to the state of the girls
cart, but they evidently touched her,
or presently, with something very like
sob, she ceased singing and left the
lusic-stool.
She crossed the room and, bending
yer the large table, sought among the
ooks and papers for something to
,ad. Manvers held his breath as he
wv her, after pushing aside two or
Tree others, take up the - Magazine
Id settle herself comfortably in an
sy-chair. Turning the leaves care
ssly, she fixed on an article towards
e end of the book-perilously near TO
Manvers thought, remembering that
s 1t Too Late?" was the very last pa
r in the number.
And surely it was that very article
e was reading, for what other would
I'VE called up such deep sigh, or filled
ose sweet eyes with tears. 1t was !
rong, it was unmanly thus to watch q
t, and her lover, feeling this to his 9
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