Rocky Ford enterprise., 1898-12-08
CHAPTER II,

.
Thoroughly startled sprang to my
feet. roughly lifting her from the floor
whittier she had sunk, and held her
firmly before me.
Helen" cried. do you know what
you are saying? What-what is the
matter with you? This is the way
you went on that day. at Lucerne.
shortly after We were married; what do
you mean? II insist on an expla-
nation! Speak out at once-I tell you
at once!"
She looked at me with cleaning
eyes, and utterly colorless face, her
lips moving. but no sound coming.
What Is it," / repeated, my wrath
rising. horrible suspicion blackening
my mind. How have you deceived
me? What have you done that IL
should have been told of before l
married you? Helen. speak. or by
Heaven, I'LL"
Il have done-nothing," she answer
cd, standing straight before me, not
the least sign of fear in her face.
you may kill me II you like, sha'n't
mind much: but have done no harm.
you should know that well. One day
OF my life was as dull. innocent, un-
eventful as another until met YOU"
Then what do you mean by these
hints and wild words? Why-why do
you thus torture. and try to raise a
demon in me. little me?" asked,
very much ashamed Of my brutal out
burst. Tell me. Helen?"
Il don't know don't know" she
replied. bursting into tears and lay
ing her white face on my shoulder.
II mean-nothinS-n What
should l mean? IL can't help 1t,
suppose. oh. pity me. pity me and
bear with me IL you can. dear boy!
It's-it's not all my fault. My poor
mother was like that before IL was
| born"
Your mother. dear?" asked pres
emily. when she was quite herself
again, and apparently as much asham-
ed of her outburst as was of mine. "I
never heard you speak Of her before.
Do you remember her at all?"
mo; she died when was a baby:
but often heard Molly speak of her."
she answered quickly.
And your father?"
"My-my father?"
"Yes, did you not know him?
After slight pause she said
mo. did not know him. l believe
he died even before her. He was an
Englishman. and they knew very little
of him at home. Granny did not like
him, I believe. Paul. let me sit up;
Miss Stopford is coming up the ave-
nue."
withdrew my arm quickly, and,
moving into the shade behind her
chair, said as carelessly as could
$50 she is. You and Edie seem to
be striking up powerful friendship.
Helen; she was here yesterday after
noon. and on Tuesday morning also;
wasn't she?"
"Yes: don't you like her coming?"
"Of course like 1t. I don't think
you could have pleasanter compan-
ion than Edith, or one who"
Gould civilize me more efectually.
I quite agree with you; Edith is doing
her best to tone me down, Paul; l
hope she may succeed. How pretty
she Isl" sighed Helen. as her visitor
passed the window where we were
sitting. II think she looks fairer in
blue than in any other color, Paul.
often wonder how you escaped fall
ing in love with that girl"
shrugged my shoulders vaguely.
"You have known her since she was
a child, haven't you?" she pursued, as
I made no reply.
Eyes. During my sisters lifetime she
almost lived with us. She and poor
Lily had the same governess, studied
together-all that. you know"
"And one seldom falls in love with
a person one has known all ones life
Looked upon as sister, you mean.
Paul?"
II suppose not"
"And yet your namesake, long ago,
Paul, gives the lie to that theory"
MY namesake?"
Eyes; the Paul who loved Virginia"
"Oh! He was an unusual specimen
Of tropical produce; besides. it's not
fair to quote him as"
Hush! Here she is!'
Greetings CT the new conner over,