The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1899-07-29
CHAPTER II.

CHAPTER III.
Thoroughly startled | sprang to my
feet, roughly lifting her from the floor
whittier she had sunk, and held her
firmly before me.
Helen" l cried, edo 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? IL 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 b~lackening
my mind. How have you deceived
me? What have you lone that II
should have been told of before |
married you? Helen, speak, or by
Heaven, TIL"
Il have done-nothing," she answer
ed. standing straight before me, not
the least sign of fear In her face.
You may kill me If you like, | sha'n't
mind much; but l have lone no harm,
you should know that well. One day
or my life was as dull, innocent. I'M
eVentful al 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 ay-
ing her white face on my shoulder.
Il Notwithstanding. What
should | mean? II can't help it, |
suppose. oh, pity me, pity me and
bear with me If you can, lear boy!
lt's-it's not all my fault. My poor
mother was like that before II was
born"
Your mother, dear?" l asked pres
emily, when she was quite herself
again, and apparently as much asham-
ed of her outburst as | was of mine. 81
never heard you speak of her before.
Do you remember her at all?"
mo; she died when l was a baby:
but l often heard Molly speak of her."
she answered quickly.
And your father?"
"My-my father?"
Yes, did you not know him?"
After a slight pause she said
mo, l did not know him. | believe
he died even before her. He was an
~Englishman, and they knew very little
of him at home. Granny did not like
him, l believe. Paul, let me sit up;
Miss Stopford is coming up the ave-
nue."
l withdrew my arm quickly, and
moving into the shade behind her
chair, said as carelessly as | could
80 she is. You and Edie seem to
be striking up a 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 l like it. | don't think
you could have a pl~easanter compan-
ion thar Edith, or one who"
Gould civilize me more effectually
I quite agree with you; Edith is doing
her best to tone me down, Paul;
hope she may succeed. How pretty
she isl" sighed Helen, as her visitor
passed the window where we were
sitting. Il think she looks fairer In
blue than in any other color, Paul
l often wonder how 0 escaped fall
ing in love with that girl"
l shrugged my shoulders vaguely.
"You have known her since she was
a child, haven't your" she pursued, as
l made no reply.
eyes. During my sisters lifetime she
almost lived with Us. She and poo
Lily had the same governess, studied
together-all that, you know"
And n seldom falls in love witt
a person one has known all ones lif,
looked upon as a 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
ooh! He was an unusual specimen
of tropical produce; besides. it's no
fair to quote him AS"
Hush! Here she isl"
Greetings of the new over
l retired to a distant window, and tool
up the Field; but my eyes wanderers
from the close, cramped print to tn
heads of the girls bending over thei
work, and thought what a charming
: picture they made in the chastene
golden light, and how refectively m,
wife's dark tumbled locks threw oil
} the smooth coronet of FURNISHED gol'
that crowned Edith's stately head.
She was a most beautiful womaI
tall, fair, with soft blue eyes heavil,
dashed, and a faultless profile. Neve
before had l seen her look so attract
I've as she did on that evening Will
: she directed Helen's little clums,
brown hand across that square of oat
= meal cloth or which such wonderful
birds, butterflies, and Towering vege
tation were to blossom into life. He
dress, of a light blue stuff, trimme
? with delicate lace, fitted her exquisite
ly, and there was a suggestion of grace
full poetic perfection about her genera
t appearance, her every movement. tbs