The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-01-09

unshared was as nothing to her assugn-
ing, unselfish soul. Suppose it was love
that she felt for this stranger. to whom
she had never spoken, yet whose mere
presence made a home of the proSalc
District train? Suppose it was
| love? Need she grudge it, the precious,
revived feeling which secretly comfort
ed her, and did harm to no creature on
earth? He could never know 1t; but
she might blamelessly keep the mem
ory of these happy autumn mornings in
her heart, a sweet little secret, and call
the experience-what she knew it must
be-her last romance.
Suppose she did love him? And sup
pose it was all in vain-what of that?
Some half-forgotten words ran in her
mind as she walked up and down the
station:
In vain? Love shames the selfish cry;
| Love giveth unreservedly,
| without a thought of gain!
| What gain could come to her Her
secret was her own; he would never
know. He would miss her tomorrow,
she knew that; he would wonder, and,
perhaps, watch, day by day for a time;
then he would forget to miss her, for
get to wonder, forget to watch; and so
she would pass from his mind, or re-
main only as an episode, a faint, fra
grant memory, returning in some idle
moment, to vanish the next.
The platform gate opened, and Helen
passed through to her usual seat in the
Mansion, House train. Her heart was
strangely divided in sensation-light,
because she would soon see him; heavy,
because it was the last time. To-day
came the close of her Indian summer,
and she would soon realize, of surety,
that it was chill October in the land,
and the real beginning of winter in her
life.
But" she thought, as the station
bell rang, st has been very sweet Not
for worlds would / have missed it!''
District trainl" called a porter, and
the guard hastily pushed a passenger
into Helen's compartment with sharp,
Come along, ma'am, hurry up"
A stout, red-faced female, with a
rose-crowned bonnet and pepper-and-
salt hair, dropped breathless on the
padded seat opposite Helen.
I'm shook out of my seven senses;
that 1 am" remarked the aggravated
female, catching sympathizing look
IN Helen's eyes as she said kindly:
You nearly missed the train
| Yes, and if I'd known / had cut it
so fine, I'd have walked. I'm only 60
ing to Kew Gardens. It's just in and out
again, but thought I'd plenty of time
to catch the train, and I was on my
feet all day yesterday. Holiday makin's
the hardest work there is, in my opin-
fon."
The red-faced female proceeded to
smooth her ruffled feathers. She wore
cloth mantle OF the exploded dolman
lcut, much bebraided and be-cat- furre..
and fastening at the throat by a broad
satin ribbon. In her clumsy and irri-
tated haste to unite these strings for
more breathing space, she tangled the
knot, and drew it tighter about her
neck.
L declare I'm choking!" she snapped.
wrenching vigorously at the ribbon
Let me help you," said Helen. seeing
the dilemma, and wishing to be of use
Her quiet manner soothed the i1npa-
,ieht woman, who, dropping her rest
less hands, said civiIly:
Ii you would be so good. ma'am T
can see the knot, that's the worst of
Helen applied herself to the knot
Which proved obstinate
take off my gloves" she said.
then | can unfasten If >,
III really sorry to give Won sucb
trouble, ma'am," replied tba haIf
strangled lady. Break the knot nlaasa
or cut it, or something,
| On no.! responded Helen. annlvino
ner bare white fingers to the intricac,7
IL was tough knot, and ONLY vial5e,i
70 that persistent, persuasive toucb as
the train entered Kew Gardens static,
here, IN an avalanche of draperv and .
PERCUSSION of thanks, the stout ladv Loft
Inc compartment, dragging the doIrnan
round her neck preparatory to re-tviny
the satin strings. She smiled and orr
tesied grateful farewell. which Hole,
Pleasantly returned, as she settled her
sell AGAIN in her favorite corner.
Broad Thames was crossed with the
usual lingering up-and-down look. and
1lolng through the bare market gar
oeiis, Helen put on her right-hand glove.
but where was the other? Not on her
lap, nor on the seat, not on the floor. A
SWIFT but exhaustive search convinced
iier Oh tnls as the train stopped at Gum
Aerspufy. The glove must have been
swept out in the rush and flutter Of the
doubtless lying on the line at Kew Gar
oens, perhaps cut in bits by the next
following train
TO be we'll gloved and rhod was one of
Heiens pet vanities and thereon this
very morning when she wanted to look
her best, since he could be only a mem
DRY to\him henceforth-there was her
left hand bare
In all respects her attire was faultless
In It's simple way; coat and skirt of navy
serge, with tasty lines of fine braiding:
white collar, cuffs and satin tie; soft felt
hat with cocks plumes, with bright and
still abundant brown hair tastefully
coiled under it,. neat bordered kerchief
In breast pocket: a cluster of Car vjo-
lets-and one glove
The carriage nearly filled at Gunners-
bury. but the corner seat waited the adj
vent of her unknown. Helen glanced
ruefully at her left hand. White, shape
~, Well-kept the true artist hand, it
was prettier sight than she imagined
In her mental humiliation. She did feel
Inundated, for her mind became a sud.
den prey to one dreadful thought. Sup
pose he should think she had barred it
for the purpose of-to let him Sec
An angry color rose to her face, and it Is
not unlikely that she would have raped
the offending bare hand against the
woodwork of the door had she been
alone. But eyes of men and women, and
of one dreadfully inquisitive child, were
upon her, and she could possess her soul
in such patience as was hers to COM
mand. Had it been the right hand she
might have hidden 1T in her Jacket