Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-14

DO you mean you have just bought it.'
| asked Helen. It's not English
companlons interest Z souehs it G in PARIS nis
Just after the Commune"
| From the artist?' continued Helen in a
slightly constrained voice.
NO" said Sir James, although I knew
the poor chap well enough. You can easily
see that ne was once painter of great
| promise rather think 1t was stolen from
him while he was in hospital by those in
cendiary wretches. recognized it. how
ever, and bought for a few francs from
| and for"
I'm hospital?" repeated Hell an dazedly.
Yes" said Sir James. THE fact is II
artists life. Though in this case the man
was real artist, and believe, by the way,
was countryman of yours"
In hospital" again repeated Helen, then
| he was poor?
Reckless. I should rather say; he threw
himself into the fighting before Paris and
was badly wounded. But it was all the re-
| suit Of the Usual love affair; the girl. they
say. ran on with the usual richer man.
| At all events it ruined him for painting;
| ward"
And now?" said Helen. in the same nm
| moved voice.
Sir James shrugged his shoulders. HE
disappeared: Probably he'll turn up some
| uoy vi Tic l<OuuOH pavement, with ChalkSl
| That sketch, by the way was one that
mad always attracted me in his studio,
though he never would part from it.
rather fancy. don't you know, that the
| girl mad something to do with it, It's a
| wonderfully realistic sketch, don't you see;
and shouldn't wonder If it was the girl
herself who lived behind one of those queer
little windows in the roof there"
/ She did live therei said Helen in a low
l voice.
Sir James uttered a vague laugh
| Helen looked around her The duchess
| mad quietly and unostentatiDusly passed
into the library, and in full view. though
| out OF hearing, was examining with her
| shelves.
Il mean" said Helen, in perfectly clear
| Voice, that the young girl did not run
away from the painter. and that he had
reither the right nor the cause to believe
| her faithless or attribute his misfortunes
to herr She hesitated, not from any sense
| of her indiscretion, but to recover from a
momentary doubt If the girl were really
her own seif-but only for a moment.
| Ihen yoJ knew the painter-as did, he
| said in establishment
Not as you did, responded Helen. She
drew nearer the picture, and pointing a
| slim finger to the canvas, said:
| DO you see that small window with the
| mignonette?'
| Perfectly"
That was my ROOM His was opposite.
| He told me SO when l first saw the sketch.
l am the girl you speak of-for he knew
! no other-and l believe him to have been
truthful. honorable man."
| But what were you doing there? Surely
| you are joking!' said Sir James, with a
| forced smile
II was poor pupil at the Conservative,
and lived where 1 could afford to live
| "Alone?'
| alone"
| And the man was"
Major Ostrander was my friend. 1 even
think 1 have a better right to call him
h n
Sir James coughed slightly and grasped
the lapels of his coat. .'Of course-I dare
| say; had no idea of this-don't you know
| when l spoke" He looked around as if
| we ask the duchess to look at the sketch
don't think she's seen it." He began to
move in the direction of the library.
'She had better wait" said Helen quietly
| For WHAT"
"Until-" hesitated Helen, smilingly
Until? 1 am afraid don't understand -
said Sir James stiff1y, coloring with slight
suspicion.
Until you have apolcgized''
| III course, said Sir James, with a half
hysteric laugh, Il do You understand
| only repeated a story that was told me
and had no idea of connecting you with it,
beg your pardon, I'm sure. L er-er-in
| fact" he added suddenly, the embarrassed
| smile fading from his face as he looked at
| her fxedly, Il remember now, it must have
| been the concierge of the house-or the
| opposite one-who told me. He said it was
Russian who carried off-that young girl.
OF course it was some made-up story"
u left Paris with the duchess" said
| Helen quietly, before the war"
''Of course. And she knows all about
your friendship with this man,
Il don't think she does. I haven't told
her: Why should I?'' returned Helen, rails
ing her clear eyes to his.
Really, 1 don't know stammered Sir
| James. But here she is. OF course II you
prefer it 1 won't say anything of this to
| her"
Helen gave him first glance of genuine
emotion: it happened, however, to be scorn
How odd" she said, as the duchess leis-
| urely approached them, her glass still in
| her eye. Sir James quite unconsciously
has just been showing me a sketch of my
| dear old mansarde in Paris Look! That
| little window was my room. And only
think of it Sir James bought it of old
| friend of mine, who painted it from the
| as unconsciously, too
How very singular" said the duchess.
| Indeed, quite romantic"
| Very" said Sir James.
| Very" said Helen
| The tone of their voices so different
/ that the duchess looked from the one to
| the other. But that isn't ALL said Helen.
| with smile. Sir James actually fan
| "Win you excuse me for a moment?"
| said Sir James. interrupting and turning
| hastily to the duchess with forced smile
| and somewhat heightened color. Il had
| forgotten that l promised Lady Harriet to
| drive you over to Deep Hill after luncheon
| to meet that South American, who has TAX
| en- such fancy to your place, and l must
| send to the stables"
AS Sir James disappeared the duchess
turned to Helen.
81 see what has happened, dear. Don't
| mind me, for / frankly confess that shall
| now eat my luncheon less guilty than
| feared. But tell me, how did you refuse
| him?
| IT didn't refuse him." said Helen. Il
| only prevented his asking me"
| How"
| Then Helen told her all-everything eX-
cept her first meeting with Ostrander at
| the restaurant. A true woman respects
| the pride of those she loves more even
| than her own, and while Helen felt that
| although that incident might somewhat
| condone her subsequent romantic passion
| in the duchess eyes, she could not tell
| it. The duchess listened in silence.
Then you two incompetents have never
seen each other SINGER she asked. No"
.Rut Won hone to2,, II cannot sneak for