The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-15


said, as tho Duchess ieisurely approached them,
her glass ,stli in her eye. ",sir James quite un.
SGSpsciSnsly has just been !, SHOWING me 2 sketch Tts,
IT, H.'' Sir T; James S sought ay L tom Of an S 81 friend o. mine &C
lived. And quito as unconsciously too.
very singulaT," said the Duchess. In
Very" said Sir James.
Very" said Helen.
The tone OF their voices was va 30 different that
but that isn't ali, said Helen with a smile.
$ James actually tangled"
James, intorrupting, and turning hastily to the
Duchess with a forced smile and q somewhat
Used Lady Harriet TO drive you over to Deep Hill
after luncheon to meet that South American
who has taken, such e fancy to your place, and 1
As Sir James disappeared the Duchess turned
II sec what has happened, dear. Don't mind
me, for l frankly confess. that l shall now eat
my luncheon less guiltily than | feared. But
II didn't refuse him" said Helen. II only
prcyented his asking me-"
Then Helen told her all-everything except
her first meeting with Ostrander at the res
taurant; A true woman respects the pride Of
those she loves more even than her own.a and
while Helen folt that although that incident
might somewhat condone her subsequent no.
mantle passion In the Duchess's eyes she could
not tell 1t. The Duchess listened in silence.
Then you two incompetents have never seen
each other sincef g she asked.
Blu you hope to :"
~ cannot speak for him." said Helen.
And you have never written to him, and
don't know whether he is alive or dead T.
Then I have been nursing in my bosom for
three years at one and the same time u brave,
INDEPENDENT. matter-of,fact young person and
the most idiotic, passion that ever
figured in a romantic opera or u ballad
Helen did not reply.
pause, IL see that you are condemned to pass
your days with me in some cheap hotel on the
Helen looked up wonderingly.
Yes she continued, " suppose l must now
make up my mind to sell my place to this gilded
South American who has taken a fancy to it.
MIN now NJ we WIN excuse ourselves from
home quietly, after luncheon. 1t will be a mercy
But said Helen earnestly. II can go back
to my old life and earn my own living"
Not IL can help it," said the Duchess
grimly. Your independence has made you q
charming companion to me-, l admit, but I shall
see that 1t does not again spoil your chances of
marrying. Here comes Sir James. Really, my
dear; ! don't p know which OF you looks the more
On their way back through the park Helen
again urged the Duchess to give up the idea of
selling Hamley Court and to consent to her TAX.
ing up her old freedom and independence again.
shall never, never forget your loving kind;
%tenderly. You will let me come to you always
when yoq, want me. but you will let me also
The Duchess turned her grave, half-humorous
face toward her; That means you have deter.
up your other absurd idea Of independence /
may assist YOU; And now i really believe. dear,
pointing to a figure that was crossing the lawn
Of Hamley Court, lowering around like a WI
but you may. By the way, they say he is not
bad looking, was a famous General in the South
American war, and is rolling in money and
comes here err, on q fo a secret mission ,h from rasi his Il; G"ve ,Fgc
Is to be devoted to seeking another! And l
begin to think I'm not a good matchmaker"
Helen was in no mood for an interview with
the stranger. who, like the Duchess, she WAS in
fen' s 10 r1 fnsW s bsr a P PTiend!s OF str rate AND cai.sanGTri. .
stances that might make such a sacrifice neccs.
sary to insure a competency for her old age. and.
as Helen feared, a provision for herself; she
knew the strange tenderness of this masculine
woman, which had survived a husbands inf.
delities and a sons forgetfulness. to linRer with
her, and her heart sank at the prospect of sepa-
ration; even while her pride demanded that she
wondered II the Duchess was right; did she still
cherish the hope OF meeting ostra9der again
t hns assFS shs as as shs seRR un 1s'o open %lI '9 9Ss f iibHrn nfye door
I'm hospital, The words had been ringing in
her ears through Sir James's complaCent speech,
through the oddly constrained luncheon through
the half tender, half Imaseqlinu reasoning Of her
stopped. Al the further end Of, the walk the
OInlnOub bUTdnRtT WHO'LL .bnt WlSneQ TO avoid
was standing looking toward the house.
How provoking! She glanced again; he was
occupied as she was herself He was actually as aiE;
sketohing the iyy-covered gable OF the library.
VIII Whit hi fs sfftaR% aPnd: 4 sudden ApG hi thrill Mrs Of 's ssp c
ton came over her. She moved eagerly forward
for a better view Of him. No, he had two arms.
her, and before she could retreat she could sec
that he had thrown away his sketchbook and
and confounded. she would have flown, but her
limbs suddenly refused their office, and as he at
i upon f his lips ss she f Hit herself herr" fn sta srs IN and nfi Sas
sffhsnk Godi,' he said. "Then she has let
She disengagcd herself slowly and dazedly
from him and stood looking at him with wonder
the second arm, but still it was he, and with the
love which she now knew was his looking from
"She has let me come T. she repeated vacant
The Duchess"
Yes" He stopped suddenly, gazing at her
blank face. while his own grew ashy white.
not accepted himi"
II have accepted no one she I'M
with a faint color rising to her cheeks. lido
4 look Of relief came over him. But" he
Has she not told you how, in despair at your
crushed. and nothing left to me but my old
$3.50 49, oi'iNu ~ bt'iCJ tADtl
ton to help the CHILEAN revolutionistsf How
/, who might have starved as a painter, gained
distinction as n partisan General. and was re-
warded with an Envoyship in Europei How I
came to Paris to seek your How I found that
even the picture. your picture, Helen, had been
sold How, in tracing it here, I met the Duchess
at Deep Hill, and, learning you were with her,
IN a moment of impulse told her my whole story
How she told me that, though she was your best
friend. you, had never spoken OF me, and how
she begged me not to spoil your chances OF a
good match by revealing myself and so awaken.
Ing a past which she believed you had forgotten :
How she implored me at least TO let her make a
fair test OF your affections and your memory,
and until then to keep away. from you and her.
sentedl Surely, she has told you this now"
Not word. said Helen blankly.
Then you mean to say that II / had not
haunted the park to-day in the hope OF seeing
you, believing that, as you would not recognize
me with this artificial arm. / should not break
my promise to her you would not have known
n Yes! stay!' A smile broke over her pale
face and left it rosy. 81 see IL all now. oh,
Philip, don't You understand she wanted only to
try u.s.
There was a silence in the lonely wood, broken
only by the thrills of Al friRhtnnrd bird phnso