The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-03-24
present title passed through Helena .

Il VIII tnke charge OF this said she.
glancing at the envelope. upon which
might be seen faint mark at the close
Of the address.
The heavy door that had stood ajar
between the anteroom and the study
opened slowly, and Sir Frederick ap-
peared- He had not acquired the man.
ner OF the blind. He stood in the door
way graceful and at ease. totally with
out that visible and pitiable trepidation
characteriZing the sightless. Only the
great black shades 10y which his eyes
were shielded from all light made OBJ
vious his infirmity. He was erect as
ever and seemed strong. but his face
had taken on pallor. steadily increas-
ing. and his hair had grown quite gray.
Sometimes It had seemed to Helena
that the worst OF his aflliction was that
he had grown so old. and she with him,
in spirit at least. She was one who
loved youth. She should not yet have
been at the end of it, and he. though
nearly fifty. had seemed young until
darkness had begun to wither him. 1t
was that which had put her heart to
flight away from him-the fear of age.
Sir Frederick had great facility in
| finding his way without light. He
could walk confidently throughout the
great house. and. observing the readi-
ness of his movements. II was some
| times impossible to realize that he was
| blind. He came forward without hesi-
| tntion and took Helena's right hand.
which he raised to his lips. She had
shifted the envelope TO her left hand,
and she must have put some pressure
upon it. for the heavy seal of wax fell
/ to the floor. Ii may have been dis
lodged by contact with the rough cover
] Of the volume which Helena also held.
The blind man. seeking both his wife's
, hands felt the book and asked what il
was. Being informed. he seemed pleas
ed, even quite deeply touched.
There was an interval of silence. and
then Sir Frederick. conscious of Hal
lam's presence, turned his mind upon
the business of the day.
.Is there any word from the French
men?" he asked. Il fancied that /
heard you speak OF D'Epinay."
81 have a message from the embas-
sy," said Helena, and at that Sir Fred
erick stood back from the door. inclin-
ing his head with homage fit TO touch
ones heart as the dainty rustling of his
wife's garments and the faint. exqui-
site fragrance OF her hair passed before
him through the dark.
Lets begin with monsieur rambas-
sadeur." said Sir Frederick. Il think
his communication cannot be OF much
Importance nicely of diplomatic eva
sion. I've no doubt"
Evasion echoed Helena softly.
THE easy refuge of dishonesty"
He inclined his head. smiling. and
then:
Read II. dearest" he said.
Helena drew forth the contents of
the envelope. consisting of the usual
fine parchment paper sheet and one
small slip adhering so gently to the
other that It could be pulled away and
leave no perceptible mark. Then she
began to read the ambassadors note
emitting not a syllable of the fantastic
courtesies of diplomacy, and so on tC
the body Of the document, wherein ths
writer begged to reply TO the mos
highly valued communication, etc. anC
did reply. with nothing in particular
very finely expressed.
"Is that all?" asked Sir Frederick
"Well. we could have written it our
l selves. couldn't we?"
Was it possible that the clock whicl
J licked so loudly was a very small on
at the far end of this long room
Why did Helena hear Eunice's voic,
so plainly in the anteroom? She coul'
not remember ever before to hav
I heard articulate words through tina
heavy door. yet there was no indication
that Eunice was speaking loudly.
must be that there was a peculia
: quality OF stiffness at the moment.
Il wish to see my brother directl
g he is at liberty" said Eunice.
Helena looked at her husband keenly
: 1t is hard to read a face when the eye
are covered, yet Helena was as sure a
/ of her own existence that Sir Frederic
| suspected nothing. that he never woul
| know that his question-'Is that all?'-
had been n mere form of words.
What is vow? To the superstition
It may be much-to Eunice, perhaps.
compelling force having its spring
Y selfishness and fear But when one
free from all that? Why act agains
ones own interests without a motive
without reward?
1t was n moment when the forces q
/ war within her arrayed themselvs
/ sharply upon opposite sides. She In
| wished to live. really to live. She In
coveted her youth and the natural r
wards of hef beauty. She had wishe
i for eyes that could see her. for liviu
admiration. not mere memory.
Her husbands hopeless afiliction ha
j weighed upon her intolerably. She In
felt panic terror OF 1t. an almost III
controllable desire for flight. 1t hH
seemed TO her in certain hours of r
4 bellion that her hair was whitening
II dungeon. Yet all she had craved W:
J a very little life. breath of freedom.
momentary total contrast.
She had met u young. handsome. n
10 dent man. lie possessed certain shar
y ly attractive qualities. and her imasin
tion had endowed him with many OF
d ers. To this latter fact she had new
v been blind. NJ. d'Epinay was merely
e personification of her frcnZied prote
ne against destiny. She had permitt'
s. herself in regard to him certain me
III tai Indulgence. never passing beyOl
81 the sin of wishing to enjoy his homag
which in some mysterious way seem
n to unite her tn her youth.
y, Ii was all matter of n few week
IT. all intangible. without definite valU
ne And now for this vain dream she mu
On lose her most precious realities. h
~ husbands perfect trust. her own pa