Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-21
CHAPTER XIV.


Nevertheless, Mr.. Sabin lunched with dis
erection. as usual but with no lack of ap-
petite 1t CHANGED that they were alone.
Lord Camperdown was down in the Mid
lands for a days hunting. and Helene had
insured their seclusion from any one who
might drop in by whispered word to the
hall porter as they passed into the house.
1t seemed to her that she had never found
Mr.. Sabin more entertaining. had never
more appreciated his rare gift of effortless
and anecdotal conversation. What mar
velous memory. He knew something Of
every country from the inside. He had
been brought at various times during his
long diplomatic career into contact with
most of the interesting people in the world.
He knew well how to separate the grain
from the chaff according to the tastes Of
his listener. The pathos of his present po-
sition appealed to her irresistibly. The
possibilities of his life had been so great,
fortune had treated him always so strange
ly. The greatest of his schemes had come
SO near to success, the luck had turned
against him only at the very moment of
fruftiOn. Helene felt very kindly toward
her uncle as she led him, after luncheon.
to a quiet corner of the winter garden,
where a servant had already arranged a
table with coffee and laueurs and cigar
been an element of greatness in all his
schemes. Even his failures had been mag
nificent, for his successes he himself had
seldom reaped the reward And now in the
autumn Of his days she felt dimly that he
was threatened with some evil thing against
which he stood at bay single handed likely
perhaps to be overpowered. For there was
something in his face just now which was
strange to her
Helene" he said quietly, Il suppose that
you. who knew nothing of me till you left
school, have looked upon me always as a
selfish, passionless creature-a weaver of
plots, perhaps sometimes a dreamer Of
dreams. but person wholly self-cened.
always self-engrossed?'
She shook her head.
Not seldsh"' she objected. mo, I never
thought that. II is tnnc- wrong word
AT least" he said. you Will be su7r-''sAd
to hear that I have loved one woman all
my life
She looked at him half doubtfully
Yes" she said II am surprised to hear
that"
q will surprise you still more. 1 was
married to her in America within month
of my arrival there. We have lived to-
happy. l speak. of course, of Lucille!'
1T is amazing she murmured. You
must tell me all about it,
Not ALL" he answered sadly. "Only
this. / met her first at Vienna when
was thirty-five. and she was eighteen. l
treated her shamefully. Marriage seemed
to me. with all my dreams of great
achievements an act of madness. / be-
lieved in myself and my career l believed
that it was my destiny to restore the mon
archy to our beloved country. And
wanted to be free. 1 think that l saw my
self a second Napoleon. So | won her love
took all that she had to give, and returned
nothing.
'In the course of years she married the
son of the American consul at Vienna.
was obliged. by the bye to fight her
carried n
through life. / saw her sometimes in the
course of years. She was always beautiful,
always surrounded by host of admirers,
always cold. When the end of my great
plans here came and I myself was a fugi-
tive, her brother found me out. He gave
me letter to deliver in America. 1 deliv-
cred ito his sister.
"She was beautiful ever, end alone
in the world. 1t seemed to me that I
realized then how great my folly had been.
For always I had loved her, always there
had been that jealousy locked little cham
Der in my life Helene. she pointed no fin
ger of scorn to my broken life. She ut
tered no reproaoheS. She took me as I
was, and for three years cur life together
has been to me one long unbroken harmony.
Our tastes were very similar. She was
well read, receptive, charming compan-
ion. Ennui was a word of which l have
forgotten the meaning. And it seemed so
with her, too, for she grew younger and
more beautiful"
And why is she not with your" Helene
cried. Il must go and see her. How de-
lightful it sounds!'
lone day. about three months ago." Mr..
Sabin continued, 'she left me to go to New
York for two days. Her milliner in Paris
had sent over, and twice year Lucille
used to buy clothes. l had sometimes &C
companied her. but she knew how l de-
tested New York, and this time she did
not press me to go. She left me in the
highest spirits, as tender and gracefully
affectionate as ever. She never returned"
Helene started in her chair
ooh, uncle! she cried.
II have never seen her since" he re-
peated