The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1897-09-23

| II haven't a notion. Jack says that
he thinks she gives lessons of some sort,
but that he doesn't pry. He offered to
let the mother come and live with them
| if Helen would consent to marry him,
but she only shook her head. Yester-
day he asked me if would go and call
on her. Of course, was obliged to re-
fuse. And then told him what friends
Helen and I used to be, and asked if he
could imagine why she had concealed
the fact from him all the time"
Didn't that open his eyes?"
HE turned very pale, but he only
said: No doubt Helen has some good
reason. will ask her to come and sed
you if you won't go and see her."
"And did he do sop
EYES,"
"Well?"
"She answered that she went nowhere
now.''
"She does, though. saw her the 9TH
err night at the theater-it was Romeo
and Juliet, at the Lyceum. She was sit
| ting in the front row of the dress cir
clc."
AuU WHAT Ulu Sic LOOK ike
For all the world like Rossetti's
Beata Beatrix. You know the absurd
affected way she has of doing her hair?
And she was very pale and sat quite still,
with her head thrown back and her eyes
shut nearly all the time, just like the
picture. She can't have seen much of
what was going on on the stage. I saw
lots of people watching her. have no
patience with women who pose"
The note of death again! 1t seemed
to me like foreboding. In Rossetti's
picture does not the dove bear peoples,
emblems of sleep, in it's beak, and lay
them in the maiden's lap, while the lover
wanders disconsolate in the back
ground?
series. All that I overheard, as we
waited for it to begin, was that Helen's
mother was dead, and that Jack now
dared to hope afresh.
almost expected to see the name Of
Miss Helen Ambrose appearing on the
bills as a vocalist before many weeks
should pass. But the concert season
was virtually over; besides, the girl
would no doubt devote a period to
mourning for her mother, and must
need rest from the labors of nursing.
I was not surprised, therefore, that
this new star did not shine out in the
musical armament. During the next
few months scanned the marriage COL
umn in my daily paper with more than
| usual care, but no announcement that
I found there gave tidings of union
between Jack and Helen.
About year later I rashly accepted
an invitation to an evening party given
by some musical friends at Hampstead.
went rather late, naturally expecting
to be bored. When arrived violin
solo was going on, and had to wait till
it came to an end before my name was
announced. I could see from the hall,
through the open doorway, the head of
the girl who was playing Her face
seemed familiar to me, and moments
rapid search through. the chambers of
memory assured me that it was "Grace"
my neighbor of the Monday 'Pops."
A hasty greeting was exchanged with
my voluble hostess. while the violinist
received her applause.
"Wiu you introduce me to the lady
who has just been playing?" asked.
with pleasure. Doesn't she produce
delightful tone? thought that you,
who are such a connoisseur, would be
pleased with her. She is great friend
of mine-my latest protege. Her name
is Miss Harlow. She is just coming out
as professional. If you have an op-
rortunity, as a journalist" At this
moment Grace came towards the door,
intent on finding her fiddle case, which
had been left in the hall. I seized my
opportunity, and the introduction was
effected.
We exchanged a swift glance of rec
ognition, and, ''Tell me-" said, ':did
Jack marry Helen?'
The girl looked at me with startled
expression and tears rose to her eyes.
used you to isten?' she asked, re-
proachfully.
ignored her question and repeated
my own:
did Jack marry Helen?"
"Alas, mol" she said, with almost q
sob. "Helen is dead"
drew her gently aside and we sat
down. Presently she told me the whole
sad story.
The beautiful Helen had been mis-
judged. In nursing she had contracted
the fatal disease to which her mother
was a prey. Too tender to let her pa
rent guess the cruel truth, too proud
to let her friends know that her voice
was gone and that the expected sue
cess could never be hers, too brave to
let her lover share her sorrow, she had
tried to cut herself off like leper from
the world and had kept her tragic secret
till the end. But in one respect fate
had been too strong for her wom-
ans nature. It had decreed that she
should give her heart to the sympathet-
ic young doctor, and at last his faith
full devotion had it's reward, for Helen
died in his arms, confessing with her
latest breath that she loved him.
"And how was it," I asked, "that she
and her mother lived apparently so
far beyond their means?"
1T was simple enough. Helen knew
that her mother could only live few
months, and that she herself would not
long survive the parting, so she had
been spending their capital"
| II knew there was some explanation"
I said. "Ah, why do you women judge
one another so harshly and so hastily 2"
II have had my lesson" said the girl,
humbly.
"And Jack?"