The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-02-24


however, took 1t back to her hotel
with her, wrestlcd with 1t during Sleep
less hours, and next day, to stavc off
jntolerable thought set out for long
walk alone.
Whittier she went she neither cared
nor knew. She had u vague remem-
brance OF having passed through tho
flower market, and being set upon to
buy, by soft-voiced, smiling woman
who stood behind great blurs Of red
and yellow and white and purple,
shrined In verdure, from which luscious
scent arose. To get rid of her, she
had paid q persistent child q franc for
big bunch OF violets, and the girl.
with saucy, merry face, thrust into
her hand also q spray Of orange blos-
som. Helen threw that last away
impatiently. Impossible to be rid OF
the suggestions Of that wedding, tens
fold more abhorrent to her now that
she had seen for herself and knew be-
You'd peradventure that it was In
spired by no such love as she and John
had felt for each other only day or
two before: such love as she must feel
for him, God help her, Till she died.
She walked on through the town, far
into the outskirts, till seeing q sign
OF New Milk" upon chalet near the
road made her suddenly remember she
had set out without even her morning
Coffee Going inside the building, she
sat for few moments at a table
while woman served her with rolls
and a glass of milk, and then, starting
forth again, was vaguely tempted to
ascend hillside which rose abruptly
above the spot crowned with a noble
growth OF trees.
Helen had no sooner gained the
smooth plateau of the summit than she
remembered where she was. Long ago,
as child, in charge of her English
governess, journeying from the Italian
seashore to Join her father at Mar
midsummer fcte at Mont ST. Cassien,
where, in blazing heat, the Cannois
and their rustic neighbors from miles
around had fulfilled an old custom Of
) Provence in holding service ut a little
chapel on this hill, the remainder Of
the day and evening being spent in
feasting at8tables spread on the slopes
and in the green valley below. She
could shut her eyes and see again the
lights cleaning around the tables. as
the hot darkness fell, the gay costumes,
and the chain Of dancers threading Its
way among the trees
The grass was growing wild and
coarse where she followed a shaded
path to the little hut in which a holy
hermit once lived and died A peasant
woman in the Kitchen of the hermitage
was cooking something in casserole
over a tiny fire, but she left it civilly
to conduct the stranger through to
4 the chapel adjoining. A girl grown
to woman's height, but, alas. a child
4 in intellect, began pulling and tugglng
at her mothers gown, asking witless
questions and being repeatedly. but
tenderly, thrust aside by the woman
and told to say in her own place.
Helen hardly knew why she had &C.
ceded to the woman's suggestion tha
she should visit the embarrassing sane
tuary, with its cheap emblems ane
smell of stale incense, and decorations
Of paper flowers
But she understood, when through
the now opened front door q gentle
man stepped from broad sunshine int
the chill.in interior, apparently as aim
less as herself and came up to he
side. fsfls
Helen! You are salone?"
"You here!" she answered under he
breath. when I have come all TIL
distance to be away from you"
ct is tho same with me, Helen,
Glynn said in sombre voice. IT hay.
wandered and wandered up here for n
reason in particular. trying to believ
you are not. in Cannes, trying to mas
ter my ungovernable desire to be wit
you only once again"
1T is all Of a piece with our beln
thrust together that day upon tn
train she cried impetuously. "Whu
have we done that such things shoul
be forced upon us?"
Come out at least into the sur
shine" he said taking her cold han
you will be chilled in this drear
place.
Giving douceur to the poor qua
dian Of the premises, they went tt
gether to a point Of the hillside wher'
on the trunk ola fallen tree offered
semblance Of a seat.
Helen. actually nerveless, droppt
upon 1t, Glynn standing beside he
neither daring to speak first
You know that am leaving t
morrow?" he asked finally
"Posey told mo SO last night" 81
answered..
"she told you what was to folio
my return at the end OF March?'
ives -