Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1904-12-31
Woman The Mystery
BY HENRY HERMAN
By HENRY HERMAN

est wish was law. Had she CHOSEN to
keep him waiting for sixty days and
sixty nights, he would have waited I'M
murmuringly. No goddess of mythology
| ever had more obedient mortal slave
than Helen found In soft-hcarted, un.
selfshly devoted Walter Glaydcs.
Walter and Demon both stayed to
luncheon, and then the lady disappeared
In the privacy of her own apartments.
She looked not only lovely. but ma jcstic
when she entered the drawing room. and
the friends who had already assembled
there could not help expressing their adj
miration.
You have made yourself too pretty for
this world, my dear" said volatile
baroness-an expert and profcsscd match
maker. NO man will dare to propose t.
a goddess"
| Hclene's eyes travelled round the ROOM
and she saw. surrounded by n bevy of
fair ladies. prince. n statesman of
| European reputation. and half dozen
noblemcn of minor degree. But the man
whom she had specially invited. and for
whose sake she had taken such pains to
look her best. was not there.
Surely he will not dare to ignore my
| invitation" she said to herself. "That
would be adding insult to injury"
Her eyes wandered toward the door
whenever II opened to admit newcomer;
but the hour passed and Mr.. Roberts
came not. The time usually allotted for
the five o'clock tea was over. and her
guests had all gone away again. That
awful man Roberts had not come. nor
had he sent the slightest word Of expla-
nation. Was there ever such indignity
heaped upon womanf
| She hated all men. but she especially
hated General Demon for having suggest
cd the invitation. and she hated that man
Roberts, above all. She thought she could
have poisoned him. had he been there at
that moment. When she returned to her
room she stood for moment before her
mirror crashing her cleaning teeth. and
just one solitary tear stole down her
cheek. She wiped II away angrily Will,
her handkerchief. which aftcrward sh1
crushed between her little fingers.
| THAT Ii the first man to whom I have
ever held out an invitation. and who has
ignored me. He thwarts me Mt every
turn. but will make him suffer for It."
On a sudden a seemingly mad thought
shot into her mind. She repeated to her.
self Demons description Of that mau
Roberts.
"Middlins height, rather stout. between
forty and fifty. Not an unpleasant face.
Rather dark complexion. with dark eyes.
Iron.gray hair, huge mustache. and close
cut pointed beard. Seems to know Paris
exceedingly we'll"
Great heavens!" she said to herself.
"What II It were Henri"
She turned white as a sheet, and had
tn sit down to suppress her emotion. Her
woman's intuition had not mislcd her. II
was Henri Sainton, returned to Paris
after an adventurous career In America,
rich beyond the dream Of avarice. She
came face to face with him sooner than
she dreamed Of ever doing no.
One afternoon she was taking her
usual drive, accompanied by Mrs. Berlin
quay. The fashionable promenade was
crowded with the Paris world of fashion.
lnterminablc rows of carriages plodded
their ways up and down beneath the aca.
cias.
Helene grew weary OF acknowledging
the courteous salutes with which she was
greeted on every side. and sat In her
landau. staring Into vacancy. when the
cnrringc came to stop, being blocked by
the vehicles ahead.
| a gentleman was leaning against the
hon railing which separated the foot
walk from the carriage road. and Helene
recognized him. lie was French noble.
man who had considerable possessions IN
America. and had been introduced to her
b! Demon.
A conversation sprung up. when Hell.
enc. for the first time, noticed a stoutish,
hale and hearty, good.lOoking, middle.
agcd man standing next to the gentleman
who was conversing with her. As she
looked the color faded from her cheeks
and neck, and she stared so curiously
that the count said, blandly:
"YOu seem to know my friend, Miss
BcrinQuay. Allow me to introduce you
to Mr.. Henry Roberts,"
Helene's eyes were fixed upon the
mans face. Never was bird more
helpless under the fascination Of snake
than Helene ut that moment.
"Miss Berinquay and myself have met
BEFORE" said Mr.. Henry Roberts. In good
English, with the barest tinge Of q
French accent In 1t.
There was no installing the voice.
There was no installing the face. Both
/ were Henri's.