The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1906-01-09
THE NOTES OF THE OLD BAL.
LAD THAWED OUT A
FROZEN HEART.

"She will freeze you to DEATH"
said Minnie Holmes, finishing an
elaborate description of her friend,
Miss Helen Rivers; anything so
cold and still l never saw. 1t is
so strange, Mordaunt."
Three years before when Helen
Rivers was a bale and heiress,
winning hearts by her beauty and
wit, and admired for her wealth
/ and taste, Mordaunt Holmes had
,, learned to love her. He was the
eldest of nine children, and his
father, physician, had given him
every advantage of education and
position; but when his college
course was finished he knew it was
his duty to earn his own livelihood.
No idler, he earnestly sought en-
ployment, and became an active
member of large commercial
house. Still, at the time he first
learned the secret of his love, his
salary was small, his position I'M
certain, and he fell from the train
of the heiress' followers, proud and
| honorable enough to shrink from
tn appearance of fortune hunting.
The way soon opened to amend
his fortunes. A responsible posi-
ton in the Paris branch of the
house where he was employed was
soon after offered him, and, at the
end of three years passed broad, he
returned to America, a member of
the firm. Not a day had passed
when Minnie, his pet sisted, was
not called upon for a full descrip-
ton Of everybody, and he learned
the change in Helen.
! His card was taken up and he
was shown into the large drawing
room of the fashionable house
where the orphaned heiress resided
with her aunt.
81 am glad to see you, Mr.
Holmes. We have missed you from
our circle"
Only few words of sympathy,
of pleasure in again meeting her,
passed his lips; but his tone of
earnest sincerity, his warm clasp
Of the little cold hand and his look
of sorrowful interest spoke vol
umes.
At last he rose to go. Yearning
with painful interest over this
broken life; longing to gather the
sad heart into the warm clasp of
his love, to comfort and love this
mourner, he must bid her a con-
ventional adieu, take up his hat
and gloves and walk off as coolly
as If his own heart was not aching
with sympathy for her burdened
one. There was no hope for 1t, and
accepting her cold good morning"
he left the room.
AS he stood in the open doorway
he saw her, erect and cold, but half
lying upon the sofa, her face buried
in her outstretched arms, and her
| froy oh II !,
utter prostration of grief he had
never witnessed. Her whole figure
was convulsed. The little hands
were clinched as she moaned audib-
ly. He was man, although a
lover, and restraining the impulse
to throw himself before her and
entreat her to tell him her sorrow
he softly retraced his steps through
the hall and left the house.
He loved her too truly, too con
stantly, to let his one repulse dis
courage him. Day after day he
sought her, devoting the whole
treasure of the heart and brain to
her service, trying by every ten
der vile to win the laugh from
her lips, the fire of her eyes.
At last, weary of the unequal
conquest, he risked all. They had
been trying some new music, in a
half lazy way, when almost uncon'
sciously his fingers dropped upon
the opening notes of the ballad
Rock Me to Sleep, Mother?" A
gasping cry arrested his hand. He
looked up to see the still, cold
face suddenly c9nvulsed with q
horror and misery that appalled,
him. Involuntary he spoke.
Helen! What Is it? Let me
share your burden of sorrow.
love you, and it kills me to sec
you suffer So"
you love me?" she said in a
tone of passionate grief "You