The Washington times., 1906-10-21
CHAPTER IX-(COntinued).

self up aHd stared about her. crying
out. half rhystericany: "No, no. it Is
not true! II Is not truel could never
have done it-I should have gone
mad And a moment later Helen
had staggered to her feet y must
tell him." she gasced. He must not
think so OF me-
Mr.. Howard had come to her as
vision from a higher world making
all that size had known and admired
seem hideous and basei and her one
thought just then was OF h.IL. He
will scorn me-" she thought. but I
must tell him I really did suffer"
And. Needless Of the fact that her
hair was loose about her shoulders
and her dress wet with the dsw OF
the grass. the girl ran swiftly up the
lawn toward the house whispering
again and again. I must tell him.
II was only moment more before
she was near the piazza ard could
see the peoplo uPon IL As they stood
IN the lighted doorway. Mr.. Howard
was one OF them, and Helen would
havs rushed blindiy Ut 10 speak 20
him had It not been that another
thought came TO her to stop her.
Arthur she nluttered. clenching her
hands until the naiis cut her flesh.
''Oh. what would he think tE6n2 And
what could I tell him?" And she
shrank back into the darkness like a
black and guilty thing. Sne crept
around the side OF the house and en-
tered BY another door. stealing into
one OF the darkened parlors. where
she fiune herself down upon q sofa
and lay trembling before that new
terror. When q few minutes lad
passed and she heard a carriage out
side she sprang up wildly, with the
thought that he might be going. She
had run half way 10 the door before
she rec0lleCted that the carriage must
be for the lieutenant, and then she
stopped and stood stlu IN the dark
ness. twisting her hands together ner-
vously and asking herself what she
could do.
It occurred to her that she could look
down the piazza from the window OF
the room, and so she went swiftly to
It The officer was just descending 10
the carriage. Mr.. Roberts with him.
and her aunt and Mr.. Howard stand
ing at the top OF the steps, the latter's
figure clearly outlined In the moon
light. Helen's heart was so full OF de-
spair and yearning just then that she
could have rushed out and flung her
self at hts feet had he been alone; but
she felt a new kind of shrinking from
her aunt. She stood hesitating, there
fore. mutteTing 10 herself, Il must let
him know about II somehow, and he
Will tell me what 10 do. Oh. I must!
And I must tell him now. before Il is
too late!"
She stood by the window. painting
and almost choking with her emotion,
lneading her hands one upon the other
IN frenzied agitation. and then she
heard Mr.. Howard say 10 her aunt:
II shall have 70 ask you to excuse me
now. for I must not forget that I am
an invalid" And Helen clutched her
burning temples. seeing him turn 10
enter the house, and seeing that her
chance was going. She glanced about
her almost desperate. and then sud
denly her heart gave a great leap for
Just beside her was something that
had brought one resource 10 her mind
She had seen the piano IN the dim
light, and had thought suddenly OF the
song that Mr.. Howard had mentioned.
He will remember she thought
swiftly. as she ran 10 the instrument
and sat down before IL. With a strength
born OF desperation she mastered the
Quivering of her hands and catching
her breath. began In a weak and tremb-
ling voice the melody OF Rubinstein:
Thou art as a flower.
So pure and fair thou art,
gaze on thee, and sorrow
Doth steal into my heart.
would Jay my hands upon thee.
Upon thy snowy brow
And pray that God might keep thee
So pure and fair now.
Helen did not know how she was
singing. she thought only OF telling her
yearning and her pain. she was so
choked with emotion that she could
scarcely utter a sound at all, and the
song must have startled those who
heard II. Il was laden with all the
tears that had been gathering in Hell
ems heart for days.
She did not finish the song: she was
thinking. win he understand" She
stopped suddenly as she saw a shadow
upon the porch outside, telling her
that Mr. Howard had come nearer.
There was minute or so of breathless
BUS pclSe anu ltltAs as tue slaQDW De-
gan 20 draw slowly backward, Helen
cleuched her hands convHlsively. whis-
pering 10 herself, He will think It was
only an accident! Oh. what can ! do?"
There are some people all Of whose
emotions take the form OF music. there
came into Helen's mind at that instant
a melody that was the very soul OF
her agitation and her longing-Nac-
DOwelIs ITO a Water Lily" the girl
thought or what Mr. Howard had said
about the feeling that comes to suffer
Ing mortals at the sight OF something
perfect and serene. and she began play
ing the little piece. very softly. and
with trembling hands.
IL is quite wonderful music: to
Helen, with her heart full OF grief and
despair, the chords that fioated so cold
and white and high were almost too
much To be borne. She played desper-
ately on, however, because she saw
that Mr.. Howard had stopped again.
and she did not believe that he could
fail TO understand that music.
so she continued until she came TO
the pleading song OF the swan The
music is written 10 a poem Of Geibles
which tells of the snow-white lily. and
OF the bird which wonders at its
beauty; afterward. because there fs
nothing in all nature more cold and
..v,. Fr.,,- M