The Eddy current., 1899-02-11
CHAPTER IT.

CHAPTER IT.
Thoroughly startled / sprang to my
feet. roughly lifting her from the floor
whittier she had sunk. aud held her
firmly before me.
Helen" cried. do you know what
you are aaylng2 What what Is the
matter with you? This IL 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 oncel"
She looked at me with cleaning
eyes, aud utterly oolorless face, her
lips moving. but no sound coming.
What IL ~" | repeated. my wrath
rising horrible suspicion blackenlng
my mind. How have you deceived
mey What have you done that II
should have been told OF before
married you? Helen, speak. or by
Heaven, Ill"
II have nothing" she answer
ed, standing straight before me. not
the least sign Of fear In her face.
You may XIII me II you like. / sha'nt
mind much; but have done no harm.
you should know that well One day
OF my life was as dull. Innocent. un-
eveniful as another until met YOU"
Then what do you mean by these
hints aud Wild wordsg why-why do
you thus torture. and try to raise a
demon IN me. little mcg" / 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.
Il mean-nothing- nothing. What
should / mean? II cent helm Il.
suppose. Oh, pity me- pity me and
bear with me II you can. dear boy!
lists not All my fault. Ny poor
mother was like that before II was
born"
Your mother. dear?" I asked pres
emily, when she was quite herself
again. and apparently as much asham-
ed OF her outburst as was OF mine. Il
never heard you speak OF her before
Do you remember her at allg"
NO she died when / 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 hlm?T
After a slight pause she said
NO. / did not know him. / believe
he died even before her. lie was an
Engllshman. aud they knew very little
OF him at home. Granny dld not like
him. ] believe. Paul. let me slt up;
Miss stopford Is coming up the ave-
nue."
withdrew my arm quickly. and.
moving into the shade Lehlnd her
chair, said as oarelessly as could
80 she Is. You and Edle seem 10
be striking up powerful friendship
Helen; she was here yesterday after
noon, and ON Tuesday morning also;
wasn't she7'
yes; don't you like her eomlng?"
"Of course like H. don't think
you could have pleasanter compan-
ion than Edith. or one who"
"Could clyilize me more effectually
! quite agree with you Edl'h ls doing
her best TO tone me down. Paul. !
hope she may succeed How pretty
she lsl" sighed Helen, as her visitor
passed the window where we were
sitting. II think she looks falrer 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 your" she pursued as
| made no reply.
'Yes During my sisters lifetime she
almost lived with uH. 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 a sister. YOU mean.
paulf"
II suppose not"
And yet your namesake. long ago,
Paul gives the he TO that theory"
MY namesakef"
Yes the Paul who loved Virginia %
"Ohl he was an unusual specimen
Of tropical produce. besides. it's not
fair 70 quote him al--"
"Hushi Here G1e ISL"
Greetings of the new conner over.