Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1904-11-29
CHAPTER VII

Helene was sixteen years OF age She
had been brought up in a school in
which many of her faculties had ripened
beyond the normal From her childhood
forward she had known her guardian
to play a game of hide-and seek for life
and liberty.
She knew little of what love meant,
except such love as she felt for her pre-
sumed father. Every one of she girls
she knew had a sweetheart; and when
Henri came bright-eyed, warm-hearsed
and voluble, Helene's acquaintances saiG
that they would make nice couple.
But Helene, though at times she liked
to be near him and with him, had to ad-
NIT to herself that Henri was not alto
gether the kind of man whom her girlish
mind had painted as a hero.
After that came the time when Wal
ter could speak, first of all with his eyes,
and then with his tongue, and, shrouded
as his mind was against all memory by
the thick veil of his injury, the young
mans questioning became most curious,
and his admiration for his fair nurse so
unbounded that a child might have read
his hearts yearnings upon his face.
1t was then that new pleasure dawn
ed upon Helene. She had never been
able to conceive what mans love for a
woman could be, for Henri's attentions
had reused her to but a poor apprecia-
ton. But when alter touched her
hand. the contact sent a thrill through
her which, whether it were pleasurable
or nearly painful she at first could not
tell. but she soon came to think that it
was not to be much resisted.
IL -.
totally oblvious OF the fact that but
short time previously she had thought
Henri very pleasant companion, when
in the late dusk of one evening, as she
was returning from an errand, she was
touched on the shoulder by a young man.
The young man was Henri, but his
appearance and his style of dress were
so changed that for the first moment
she did not recognize him. Directly af-
terward, however, there came a glitter
into the young fellows dark eyes which
put her on the right track.
'Oh. it is you" she exclaimed, Henri,
l am so glad you are alive"
For goodness sake, be careful.
escaped with my life, but if l were
discovered they might shoot me even
now. l am not Henri, but John Rob
erts."
II am very sorry" replied the girl eff
l did anything that might harm you.
You are surely certain that l would not
betray you: am very glad indeed to see
that you have escaped. How are you
getting on2 You seem TO be dressed
in an extraordinary fashion.
II am" hejoined Henri. rather proud
IL. You are right. | am employed by
a man who gives me whatever / ask"
what are you doing, then? What
is your employment" asked Helene.
Henri gasped for an answer. Even
his audacity and want of conscience did
not allow him to go so far as to confess
that he was employed TO watch the girl
who was even then speaking 10 him. He
stroked his chin, and muttered few I'M
ineligible words.
"0h, | do nothing much he burst
out ON n sudden; take messages, and
all that sort Of thing. My employer is
an Englishman. and you will soon see
him. for he has taken the Fat right above
the one in which you are living"
Il shall be glad" answered Helene.
Il suppose shall see you often, then p
"0h, very often" was the young mans
rejoinder; and the girl ran away. saying
that she was late already and had TO re-
tarn home.
As she sat again by Walters bedside
she could not help comparing the two
men whose figures were uppermOst in
her mind. To Helene the task OF waiting
upon Walter became a work Of delight.
When az last~Adams permitted her TO
take her patient. who was rapidly becom-
ing cOnvalescent except as his memory
was concerned. as far as the public gar
dens, and 10 sit there with him in the
sunshine. among the flowers, she was as
happy as little queen.
The only thing which darkened her
| pleasure was that often Henri would
stumble across her in her walks with
Walter. and would stand near. or sit on
a seat close by. with his face as dark
as night, and 4 savage. cruel gieam IN
his eyes, such as she had not often seen
there. bur dreaded nevertheless.
Matters Went on this way until one
morning Adams, having risen earlier
than usual. was sitting ii his study, when
he heG7d voices on the stairs. Helene
was saving to somebody. You really
must not follow me about. i forbid You
to do So"
Another vasce-a young man'S--an-
swered. And why should | not follow
yon abouts. l have known Jon longer
/ than this EnSlishmaa. You did not trea'
me Ike this when Jean Tenure was
alive. II he were here now ne would
soon give you a piece Of his mind
Adams opened the door and saw Hel
enc on the top OF the stairs opposite hls
door. There were tears IN her eyes. Hs
knew not who the young man was. and
for the moment cared not. He said quiet