The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-09-08

opduSlSu DduASi.
ooh, no." Helen responded, trying
to laugh. She leaned against the
trunk of a huge maple tree. No par
ticular thought came to her mind, but
some strange, cold gloom settled over
her heart. Lejarn looked at her very
intently.
The sunset had faded away, leav-
ing the sky a blue, shadowy expanse,
where stars twinkled family. The
moon was rising above the pines and
shone upon the Lac d'Amour with a
glorious light.
Helen, it is because you love me-"
Lejarn said softly and convincingly.
The tears coursed freely down Hell
ems cheeks.
"Helen, I love you. I've dared to,
although you are a Yankee girl" he
smiled, "but I cannot claim you-you
would not marry a poor F~renchman,
would you?"
Helen dashed the. tears from her
eyes and nodded, saying, in a panied
voice: "But my father"
"Ah, I realize" LEARN said abrupt
ly, then, Here, Helen, take this Ma
pie Leaf pin, and when I a stand on
an equal footing with you I'll come to
claim you. 1t will take time to build
myself UP in business, perhaps you
may tire of waiting, but remember, I
will always love you," and LEARN
pinned the silver token onto Helen's
dress; he clasped those strong arms
about her for a moment, and only the
tapping waves and her sobs were
heard. She almost pushed LEARN
away and fed from the lake.
flushed woodlands and tranquil
bay met the tired eyes of the passen-
gers on board of the boat which was
slowly drifting into the Canadian har-
Dor.
Helen, clad in black, her face rath-
er pale and sad, looked back at the
vast extent Of ocean behind her and
sighed. She would never return. Her
father had died, and the heavily mort
gagged estate had been coniscated, all
within the year that she had spent
since she left Canada the previous
fall. Helen was returning to make
her home with Aunt Sophia.
From the time she left the boat un-
til she got out of the pony cart at her
aunt's cottage, Helen unused doubt
fully, hopefully. LEARN was in that
town yet, so she learned-but had he
forgotten her after that brief summer
acquaintance?
Although fatigued, that same wen
ing Helen walked through the woods
to the lake. She even donned the
same muslin gown she had worn that
night when she and LEARN had stood
on the shore, and fastened the little
maple leaf pin to the collar. The lit
tie boat was still there and she got in.
For a time she rowed aimlessly, gaz-
ing beyond the black pines, into the
brilliant, glowing west.
LEARN had forgotten her.. prob
ably, and she must forget him. Helen
took off the pin and held it in her
hand a moment. At that instant a
rustling in the bushes disturbed her
and looking. up she saw-Lester Lee
jarn standing on the cleaning strand
of the Lac d'Amour.
"Helen!" he uttered; his face grew
pale with sudden surprise. With a
hasty movement he started to un-
loose the remaining craft that vas
tied to the stake, but Helen shook her
head, and with a few strokes brought
her boat to the shore.
pardon me, Miss MacNole, I have
again intruded upon your solitude
and on a sadder occasion" LEARN
glanced at the black ribbon band on
Helen's sleeve.
Helen nodded and stood silently be-
fore the tenor, who looked at her
Questioningly.
Il have not become wealthy enough
yet to claim you-but-protably you
had forgotten me" he began in a
choking voice. Then he told her how
he had struggled to advance in
business and how his father had died,
too, and left him utterly alone. Helen
told her own grief in a few words.
Then there was silence a few mo.
ments; Lejarn searched for the pin,
but did not see it. Helen, seeing the
action, blushed family as she un.
closed her hand and showed the little
emblem.
The Lac d'Amour grew dark and
pine fragrance filled the air. Again
the noon shone brightly and the wat.
ers of the lake Tapped a soft, tender
song, not marred by sobs Of sorrow.
but a happy silence told the simple
three-worded story more eloquently
than ever before. Far across, on the
opposite side of the lake, children's
voices were singing:
"The maple leaf, u emblem dear,
The maple leaf forever.
God save our King and heaven bless
The maple leaf forever"
And Helen walked through the 81.
lent aisles of the forest with LEARN.
w more to leave the region of the
Lac d'Amour.-Boston Post.
---
Rose That Changes Its Color.