The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1905-01-14


which had taken her from him. And
from the silvery radiance that SO vivid
y brought his past into life again he
turned away with anguish, sternly en-.
/ tered his study, ana as on similar oc,
/ easions the wee, small hours found
hlm working at his civil engineering
plans.
But tonight he seemed destined tc
suffer yet more intensely. While look
ing among his papers he came across
scrap found long ago, half-burn.
fragment Of one of those accursed let
eers from Helen's mysterious CORE
| spendent- It 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 a mystery such as had
never confronted him. Which was it,
ambition Or this influence? And dawn
found him thus, while he braeed him
self to face life, silent and alone. amid
the silence Of his shattered hopes and
Ao1ne.
1T ID with its main outline am
6ere concerned II
These words, reaching through tie
vast assembly gathered in the rooms
Or 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-
pfessiVe each Of the foremost thoughts
or struggles of the day. 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 eyer-increasing in
tefest. She felt herself foremost
among those who were united in fur
therlng the cause of universal sister
hood. Yet there were times Of late
when her expressive eyes would fill,
times when she felt a 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-
Fersal moral and mental enlighten-
ment which was the aim Of progressive
thinkers.
The work accomplished for these
holy 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 e1hilaration of an Intellectual
feast, she plunged her face in a beauti-
fal bunch of flowers handed by her
maid. Suddenly she paled, putting them
away from her.
Take them-take them away-that
fragrance.'' Yes, il 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
a sad foreboding. She was fun 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 a wealthy barrister Al
this thought Helen arose and walked
TO the window; as she looked up to |
the cold radiance Of the frosty night, |
Der 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 aseer-
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
ford. The town Just then was being
visited by a severe epidemic. Owing to
the inclemeIlcy of the weather the sta
ton was almost deserted, and the light
from its lamps could barely pierce the
thick mist, through which woman
who had just alighted tried to find her
way. Her anxious look at last dis
cerned a tall form muff1ed in a gray
overeoat; as his keen glance shot
across the space, he slowly advanced
to meet ner. One minute of rigid self
renressinn-an then IL the sane 81 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?
lie led her to the coy bedroom, al
ways kept in readiness as she immedi-
ately saw, and tears sprang to her eyes
upon finding there every comfort As
be helped her settle down in the arm
chair near the fire, Just as he had done
HE nioff he hrn11nlt H. Al. ...,s- ~.