Barbour County index., 1905-01-11

suffer yet more intensely. While look
ing among his papers he came across
| scrap found long ago, half-burnt
fragment of one of those accursed let
tiers from Helen's mysterious corre-
spondent. 1t read thus: MY SYM
pathy, even love, you have won through
your depth and nobility of character
:. your majestic presence
and enthusiasm must break down all
barriers once beyond the
seas
Here was mystery such as had
never confronted him. Which was it,
ambition or this influence? And dawn
found him thus, while he braced him
self to face life, silent and alone, amid
the silence of his shattered hopes and
home.
1T is with its main outline I am
here concerned :"
These words, reaching through the
vast assembly gathered in the rooms
of the Progressive club, caused the
listeners to lean forward as if at
tracted by the well-modulated voice,
the eloquent words, and majestic pres
ence of the lecturer. The unusually
animated debate lasted two hours; then
the reporters, their swift work over,
followed the various groups, so ex-
pressive each of the foremost thoughts
or struggles OF the cay. For many of
these thinkers these meetings held
their measure of benefit, received in
one way or another, but with a woman
like the lecturer they seemed but
minutes of delightful interchange of
ideas on topics of ever-increasing in
terest. She felt herself foremost
among those who were united in fur
thering the cause of universal sister
hood. Yet there were times of late
when her expressive eyes would fill,
times when she felt sudden terrible
void, heavy silence; then she would
shake the burden from her shoulders
and think with pride of the final
emancipation of woman and the uni
versal moral and mental enlighten-
ment which was the aim of progressive
thinkers.
The work accomplished for these
hoy causes, the enthusiasm she Great
ed in whatever circle she moved, caused
Helen Hunt years of delightful ex-
istence, for already five years had
elapsed since silence had fallen upon
Fernwood.
She had now reached her apartment,
very simple but for the handsome desk,
easy chairs and valuable books it con-
tanned. AS she entered, radiant with
the eXhilaration of an intellectual
feast, she plunged her face in a beauti-
full bunch of flowers handed By her
maid. Suddenly she paled, putting them
away from her.
Take them-take them away.-that
fragrance!" Yes, it haunted her-so
did the silence of Fernwood. Was it
only tonight it clung to her, that it.
dimmed the melody of her batteries,
the hum of society, of applause?
Her soul was awakening and yearned
for some kindred spirit-she thought
OF the dear friend and correspondent
from whom she was now expecting
news, such news as would thrill her
with its great joy, or turn her cold with
sad foreboding. She was full of con-
tending emotions now that she had at
last yielded and it had been arranged
that they would both sail for Europe
in the spring
1t might be the story of Ulysses
and Penelope reversed" had sarcastic
ally exclaimed a society woman, which
biting remark Helen had overheard.
Such comments CALLED her: and she
was annoyed, as well, by the discreet
attentions of wealthy barrister. Al
this thought Helen arose and walked
to the window; as she looked up to
the cold radiance of the frosty night,
her firm lips quivered, and two tears
stole down her cheeks, but bracing her
self against any weakness, she turned
TO the table and took up a paper. for
she was more than ever eager to ascer-
tain if, according to the letter received,
the departure of the steamer might
have been fastened. Yes, there was
news, absorbing news.
One dismal February evening the
train pushed along the station of Cliff
visited by severe epidemic. Owing to
the inclemency of the weather the sta
ton was almost deserted, and the light
from its lamps could barely pierce the
thick mist, through which a woman
who had just alighted tried to find her
way. Her anxious look at last dis
cerned tall form muffled in a gray
overcoat; as his keen glance shot
across the space, he slowly advanced
to meet her. One minute of rigid self
repression-and then, in the same 81
lence with which she had left her
home, he led her back to it.
Could any words have been spoken
after this barrier of FIVE long years?
He led her to the cozy bedroom, al
ways kept in readiness as she immedi-
ately saw, and tears sprang to her eyes
upon finding there every comfort. AS
he helped her settle down in the arm
chair near the fire, just as he had done
the night he brought her there as
XVIII