The Washington times., 1908-12-16

II you do not feel this way toward
me, simply leave the subject untouched
In your reply and I shall understand.
Do not fail to write me. however
think that much. at least, is due mt,
and I shall confidently await your an
swer at Genoa.
Always devOtedly.
HELENE.
Below she appended the address TO
which his letter must be sent
Then, with her face all afiame. she
hurriedly sealed the envelope and drop
ped 1t in a post box
A moment later she felt that she
would give words to recall il, and yet
she was not exactly sure that, given
the chance, she would have drawn It
back.
That. indeed. was her continual atti-
tude of mind during the subsequent
weeks. One moment she would glory in
her pluck, the next be abased in depths
OF humiliation and maidenly shame.
Sometimes she would wake up in bed
at night. sunfused in bushes. and won
der how she could have done such a
thing
Again. she would find herself quite
happily and compIacently planning her
future as Jim's wife.
PreOccuDied and unobservant. her
aunt knew not what to make of her
Foreign travel had been Helene's dream,
she knew; yet the girl seemed utterly
Indifferent to the scenes through which
they passed
The Alps. Florence, Rome. were all
one to her. She would gaze UninteTes--
eddy, then start chafng to be gone.
The frescoes Of St. Peters. dearier'
breathed auntie with uplifted eyes OF
reverentiaI awe.
Yes; aren't they wonderful But
she was not even looking She was
calculating. instead. Just about how Tar
his answer might be upon the way
Occasionally, IN moments Of depres-
sion, that ghost Of apprehension con-
corning his sanity which had SO ter
riied her on the evening Of the call,
would rise 10 haunt her: but she reso-
lutely put the tormenting fear away
She would make things so bright
and happy in his home life for JIM
she would so safeguard and watch over
MIN. that business troubles and perpleX-
tiles could not weigh him down
She would divert and hurlOr him.
Probably that was all that was the
matter now. In his lonely, bachelor life,
he was letting his mind dwell contin-
uaIly on business, and it was uUsettling
him.
Her restless. mercurial state became
more pronounced as they approached
the end of their continental wander
ings. Naples evoked only disdainful
sniff of her dainty nose; Nenice-'the
Mecca Of the sIghtseer '-aroused moth
ing but an Impotence 70 be gone.
What would he say?" her heart
questioned unanimously, as the train
rumbIed across the hills Of Lombardy
and Piedmont. bringing her every mo-
ment closer TO Genoa
Might It not even be possible that
he would be waiting for her there in
person? Nothing more likely was 70
be expected Of his imPulsive tempera-
meut.
But no tall, familiar figure was to
be dIscerned among the crowds on the
station platform. He has merely writ
ten. them
With a distinct feeling Of disappoint-
ment. but AT the same time formulat-
ing ready excuses for him. Helene hus-
tied her aunt into a fiacTe and driving
rapidIy TO the hotel. demanded ner mail
Hurriedly she shufhed over the let
ters-a dozen or more of them from
various friends and acquaintances-theu,
thinking she must have made a mis-
take. went through them more careful
" again.
At last, the unbeatable, uufOrEivable
fact forced itself upon her number IN
credulity He simply had not written!