The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-08-15

windows level with hers; all these, how
ever, with their occasional revelations Of
the menage behind them, were also famil-
lar to her, but now she began to wonder
which was his. A singular interest at
last impelled her to lift her eyes. Higher
in the corner house and so near the roof
that it scarcely seemed possible for Il
grown man to stand upright behind il,
was an oeil de boeuf looking down upon
the other roofs, and framed in that circu-
lar opening, like a yignette, was the
handsome face Of Major OstrHnder. His
eyes seemed to be turned towards her
window Her first impulse was to open
it and recognize him with friendly nod.
But an odd mingling of mischief and shy
ness made her turn away quickly.
Nevertheless, she met him the next
morning walking slowly so near her house
, that their encounter might have been
: scarcely accidental on his part. She
walked with him as far as the COncerva-
toire. In the light of the open street she
thought he looked pale and hollow-cheek-
ed; she wondered if it was from his en-
forced frugality and was trying to con-
ceive some elaborate plan of obliging him
, to accept her hospitality, at least for a
single meal, when he said: II think you
have brought me luck, Miss Maynard"
Helen opened her eyes wonderingly.
F"The two Russian connoisseurs who
stared at us so rudely were pleased, how
ever, to also stare at my work. They
offered me a fabulous sum for one of my
sketches. 1t didn't seem to me quite the
square thing to old Favel, the picture
dealer, whom had forced to take lot
at one-fftieth the price; so simply re-
ferred them to him."
NO" said Helen, Indignantly, 'yoa
were not so foolish?
Ostrander laughed. 81 am afraid what
you call my folly didn't avail, for they
wanted what they saw in my portfolio"
"Of course" said Helen. "Why, that
sketch of the house top alone was worth
hundred times more than what you"
She stopped. She did not like to reveal
that she knew what he got for his pic
lures, and added, "more than any of those
usurers would give"
II am glad you think so we'll of it, for
do not mean to sell it," he said simply,
yet with a significance that left her
ilent.
She did not see him again for several
days. { The preparation for her exam
nation left her no time, and her earnest
concentration in her work fully preoccu-
pied her thoughts. She was surprised,
but not disturbed, on the day of the
awards to see him among the audience
of anxious parents and relations. Miss
Helen Maynard did not get the first
prize, nor yet the second. An accessit
was her only award. She did not Know
until afterward that this had long been
a foregone conclusion of her teachers, |
IN account of some intrinsic defect in her
voice. She did not know until long after !
that the handsome painters nervousness
on that occasion had attracted even the !
sympathy of some of those who were
near him. For she herself had been calm |
and collected.
No one else knew how crushing was the |
blow which shattered her hopes and made !
her three years of labor and privation a |
useless struggle. Yet, though no longer a |
pupil, she could still teach; her master |
had found her a small patronage that |
saved her from restitution. That night |
she circled up quite cheerfully in her |
sual swallow flight to her nest under the |
ayes land even twittered on the landing |
little over the condolences of the con-
cierge, who knew-my God! what q
beast the director OF the Conservative
was, and how he could be bribed-but
when at last her brown head sank on her
illow she cried-just little.