The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1907-12-07
CHAPTER xxvII.-contInued.

L..
In the shadow, so that she would not
at once confront Helena as she en-
tered. Her jeweled fingers touched
her hair lightly; her pose suggested
the languid Indifference of woman
sof the world who awaits the entrance
of caller. Mercy and tenderness and
iwomanly pity were denied this Deauti-
Hull animal at her birth. Or these d.
wine qualities had been hercely
crushed by fanatic zeal.
| paced to and fro in an agony OF
rage and pity; and this Medusa foi-
lowed my every movement with ner
cruel, mocking smile.
The woman whom / had hoped to
save from suffering, yes, the woman
i loved. was coming to this chamber
of horror. She was coming, radiant
with hope. Happiness awaited ner,
she thought-the caresses OF a loved
brother, repentant of his momentary
folly. And, perhaps, her heart was
beating high with gratitude to me-to
the man who she thought had made
this much wished-for reconciliation
possible.
Black despair awaited her in the
little oratory yonder. She was to De
tortured with a dilemma as cruel as
ever racked the heart of woman.
But her decision / could not doubt.
i had a proud faith in this lady VINO
had sent me into the lists TO fight Tor
her. When first / had seen her on the
terrace of the hotel at Lucerne-it
seemed ages ago, instead Of days.
remembered how her clear gaze had
thrilled me- The calm, unwayering
look of her gray eyes was truth itself,
i had thought. A lie was not possible
for her-not even lie to be spoken
by another for her sake.
But with what adherence would
she regard me! Had not been drawn
in the subtle web of this Circe's net,
the dilemma at least would not exist
for her. But if the dilemma did not
exist, Sir Mortimer's dishonor would
still be a terrible reality. After all
the curtain had not fallen yet. Helena
and I were both puppets in the HANDS
of capricious Fortune. 1t was sne
who held the balances; or, rather
Just God whose wheels may turn
slowly. but sooner or later He sees
that justice is done.
I had left the door slightly ajar. 1
was rushed open with brusque sud
.denness that startled. The servan
must have known the tragedy tina
awaited the woman he was conductin'
here. With Frenchman's love OF tn
dramatic, he ushered her in wit
pompous ceremony, and stood waitin
!expectantly. AS / closed the doc
roughly on him, Helena saw m'
Madame de WARMER, seated in tn
shadow, she had not yet SEEN
I scanned her face closely. l sa
that not hope nor the expectancy
a happy meeting with her brother wa
her dominant emotion. Eager 81
was. but it was the eagerness OF an
iety. and not of hope. Her quiet
surance came from courage and SCI
control. Her brother had disappeart
mysteriously; Captain Forbes had pee
the victim of trick; she had put n
faith in one who was almost a stra
ger to her; and now she had venture
to the chateau dlOne. E'oh q AA'
might have hesitated.
But when / stood before her, / W
touched to see how she leaned on
who had twice failed her.
"My brotherf" she whispered.
Once before she had wrung frc
me the bitter truth. Now, as then,
certain courage came from her pr
.ence. Her own scorn OF weakness
-subterfuge supported me. / answer
her simply. as knew she would ma
me answer-the direct, stern truth:
..Your brother is dead, Miss Bret
There followed silence SO inter
that could hear quite distinctly
river Aare beating against the chate
walls. With the curious irrelevaI
that comes so often in moments
tense anxiety thought it strange q
Captain Forbes had not given SO
sign of his presence in his prison d
ing the past half hour. Helena leaI
toward me, frowning slightly as II
perplexity.
Dead, did you say? Not dead!'
I repeated the words; unconscie
1y spoke a little louder. The SC
seemed unreal, theatric- Again
irrelevant thought intruded, h
when a boy, used to wonder If all
things that had hitherto happened
my life-all my existence-were
one long dream; dream from WI
1 should awake presently, to find
self living a life utterly different.
SRA y;r oh
your mission is always to bring
tidings. It was only the other
You told me that the man who lo