The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1909-12-07


time, downto the shore with LEARN.
81 don't believe care to go out on
the lake tonight" Helen said, her
voice rather low and tremulous.
You are sorry to leave this place.
that's it?" LEARN asked kindly. Helen
nodded
"Why?" he continued. at cannot
believe you have grown to love the
Maple Leaf better than the Star
Spangled Banner"
"Oh, 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. LEARN looked at her very
intently.
The sunset had faded away, leav-
ing the sky blue. shadowy expanse,
where stars twinl1led family. The
moon was rising above the pines I'D
shone upon the Lac d'Amour wi;l a
glorious light. s-
Helen, it is because you love me-
LEARN said softly and convincingly.
The tears coursed freely down Hell
ems cheeks
Helen, love you. I've dared to,
although you are a Yankee girl" he
smiled, "but cannot claim you-you
would not marry a poor Frenchman,
would your"
Helen dashed the tears from her
eyes and nodded. saying, in a panied
voice: "But my father"
"Ah, 1 realize" LEARN said abrupt
ly, then, Here, Helen, take this Ma
pie Leaf pin, and when 1 can 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 1
will always love YOU" and LEARN
pinned the silver token onto Helen's
dress; he clasped those strong arms
about her for 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, Glad in black, her face rath.
err 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 confiscated, 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 I'M
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 even
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 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 q moment. At that instant a
rustling in the bushes disturbed her
and looking UP she saw-Lester Le-
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 was
tied to the stake, but Helen shook her
head, and with a few strokes brought
her boat to the shore.
"Pardon me, Miss MacNoIe, I have
again intruded upon your solitude
and on a sadder OCCASION LEARN
glanced att the black ribbon band ON
Heien'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 -5but-probab YOU
had forgotten me-" he began I'm a
choking voice. Then he told her how
he had struggled to advance. I'M
business and how his father had died.
too, and left him utterly alone. Helen
told her own grief in q few words.
Then there was silence a few mo-
mcnts; LEARN searched for the min.
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
pinp fragrance filled the air. Again
the moon shone brightly and the wat
ers of the lake Tapped n soft. tender
song. not marred by sobs of sorrow,
but a happy silence told the simple
three-worded story more elouuently
than ever before. Far across, on the
opposite side of the lake, chfdren's
voices were singing:
"T Tho maple leaf, our emblem dear.
The maple leaf forever.
God save our King and heaven bless
The maple leaf forever
And Helen walked through the ai.
lent aisles of the forest with Leiarn.
mover more to leave the region of the
Lac d'Amour.-Boston Post.
MOtorcor Service Across Cobb Desert.