The evening Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1902-1902, 1902-05-29

she kissed the one whom she would
marry. Almost Invariably 10 .
ife.habit, she decided that she
meant v do under untirsd, remote
c Giro nn.t.,ss 'ayd then held her,
The man observed that abe hssi-.
tated. "Ob, Helen, won't your"
be cried. &hF pa isiouats desire
and reproach.
The girl was bewildersd and shak
en-; she had been pushed into an
unfancied circumstance. She forgot
that she was not Helen, her whom
the thrill in the mans voice was
meant; and with a glowing spot on
each check, with an unaccustomcd
quivering In her usally so still, gray
eyes, she bent her head, and kissed
him.
10 her amazement and terror the
boy seized her face between his
hands, and feverishly covered her
lips, her forehead and her eyes with
kisses. His lips burned her face,
and with frightened gasp she drew
away. The boy s Hands had touched
her hat, and he did NOT Observe her
recoil, Oh. Hsleu, why are you
wearing your hat? he asked, drop
ping his hands. Mara removed the
hat. wondering that he had not
sooner noticed 1t; it was rather en-
pathic combination of soft yellows.
The man lay exhausted on the toss
ed pillows, his breath coming quickly
between his parted lips. Mara had
an impulse 10 call the doctor. Rea-
sonable as the feeling was, she did
not follow it, but knelt on the floor
beside the bed, and tenderly stroked
his wet brow. while the boy smiled
at her with a wonderful sweetness.
"Helen, oh, Helen!" he whispered.
Suddenly he fixed his eyes on her.
What have you done to your halr?he
demanded roughly.
"Nothing said Mara family, Per.
haps the wind has blown it about"
she ventured.
1T looks different-it looks dark
Cl, IuolSlCu Ullc Uuf.
1.-THE room is a little dark, said
Mara.
"But it looked just as usual, before.
you took off your nat, ''he protested.
"Well my Hat comes over my face. F."
replied Mara, gently. =. q. ..:r.r I.
She fell to wondering how Helen's
hair looked. Her own was very black
and soft and heavy, and gave an ad.
ded delicacy to her intent, mobile
face. She smiled slowly at the boy,
and let him take her hand. He seem.
ed to forget her hair. "IIe looks a
little like Sir Galahad sometimes"
she reflected.
the man absently played with her
hand. Again with a sudden move
ment, he flung it away and turned
to quiet the girl with a cruel, an
evil smile. Where is your wedding
rings' he cried harshly.
Mara's face grew white. II
don't know" she whispered.
The mans face hardened. He
looked at her quietly, then struck
her on the cheek. You don't" he
cried.
'Yon don't:" And you talk about
loving, and forgetting and you--
YOU" He raised his hand again.
But Mara sprang to her feet with
a low moan and stood against the
wall, her face colorless, her eyes
blazing.
You are a wicked, cruel" she
began, but all the wickedness and
cruelty had left the mans face, and
he said with pleading sweetness
"Oh, Helen, forgive me pleased"
Mara remembered again that he
was dying. She put her hand in her
pocket and took out plain gold
ring, her dead mothers wedding
ring. She slipped the ring ON and
went to the boy. She wondered a
little why she did SO. She said to
herself that she had not known that
She was capable of going to q man
who had struck her That the man
was deliious had almost escaped
her. She was masquerading as
Helen.
(COntinued.)