New-York tribune., 1909-04-04
The Silent Barrier

C7r-rag- =
,ited cIamor Of welcome and inquiry. stood
rooted {, the floor by her friend $ words.
IL am So surprised she hall STAN
mered IN agony Of confused doubt. and that
was the only lame phrase she could utter during
s., few trying seconds
Bower trUwned. He hated scenes between
women With his first glimpse Of MillIcent he
guessed her errand For Helen's sake, the
presence OF that rabbit cared crowd. he would
not brook the unmerited flood Of sarcasm that
he knew Was trembling on her bps.
" Miss WvntOn has had IN eXhluStIng day.
he saId cOolly- " She must 60 straight 70 her
room and rest You two can meet and talk
after dinner Without further preamble, he
took Helen arm
MlIhceut barred the WAY. She did not give
place Again She PAID no heed 10 the man.
' shall not dctain you long. She sad looking
only AT Helen. and speaking IN "a low clear Voice
that her stage training rendered audible
throughout the large hall Il only wished q
assure myself that what | was told was true
! found It hard 70 believe. even when I SAW
Your name written at the hotel. Before g
let me congratulate YOU on Your conquest
and Mr.. Mark Bower on his. She added. w;th
clever pretcnSe Of atterthought.
Helen continued To stare Al her helplesSlv
Her lips quivered, but they uttered no sound
1t WAS impossible to mlSunderStand NllIicent
object She meant 10 wound and insult n tho
grOSscSt way.
To the woman who had struck tins shrewd blow
at Kim 3" give you this one chance he NUT
tered, while his ewes blazed into hers. Gro o.
Your room or sit down somewhere TIL | am
tree | shall come To YOU. and put things
straight that now seem crooked. You arr
wrong. horribly wrong IN Your suspicious
Wait my explanation OF, by all that | hold
sacred. YOU VIII regret It % Your diving hour
NilhCcnt drew back i little She conveyed
the suggestion that his ncarnesS was offensive
g.. t-,fl AvoI .bs. rla.i .f-f-.
ser.blanCe of real amusement What, Has
she made a fool OF You too She cried 5,tlngly-
THEN Helen did exactly the thing She ought
not to have done She tainted.
Spcnser. in his own vivid phrase. was look
ing for trouble" the instant he caught sight OF
the actress Had some Nahatua devised
magic lantern focused on the screen ~ his inner
consciousness = complete narrative ot the yir-
CumstanCeS that COnSpired to bring NllllCeCt
IaqueS to the Upper Engadjne. he could not
have mastered cause and effect more fully. The
unuClly letter ne asked Mackenzie t. send L.
the Wellington Theatcr-the letter devised As
probe into Bowers motives which wIS now
cruelty searching its authors hedUt-had un-
doubtedly supplied to a sighted woman the
clue To her rivals identity. Better posted than
Bower in the true history of Hclcns visit o.
Switzerland he did not fail To catch the most
significant word IN AElliceut IS ScprnfuI greeting.
And with bofh cavalierst''
In all probability she knew the whole ridi-
culouS story, reading into 1t the meaning lent
by jealous spleen
But If his soul Was veXed with a sense Di by
gone folly, his brain was cool and alert He
saw Helen sway slightly. He caught her before
she collapsed where She stood He gathered
her terdery in his arms. She might have been
a tired child. fallen asleep too soon Through the
mcSheS of her blue veil he could see the sudden
pdllor Of her cheeks. The tint Of the silk added
to the hfelcssneSs of her aspect lust then
SpcnSer'S heart sore within him. AMI he
WAS an awkward man To oppose.
George de Courcy Navdsuur hlpprucG o.
crane his neck nearer at the wrong moment
The American sent him flying with q vigor,u,
elbow thrust. He showed Bower aside with
scant ceremony. NlIlhCent Jaques met "a StecIv
glance that quclled the vengeful sparkle m her
own eyes, and caused her To move quickly, lest.
perChance. this pale faced American should
trample on her. Before Bower could recover
his balance, for his hobnailS caused HIM 70 slip
on the tiled floor. SpenSer was halfway across
the inner hall and approaching the elevator
An official of the hotel fastened forward with
ready protfer of help. " This way" he said
sympathetcallv. The lady was overcome by
the heat after SO many hours IN the intense
cold. Bring her 10 Il chair IN the office
But SpenSer was not willing that Helen S fir~t
wondering glance should rest on strangers.
- No he said. ring for the elevator. This
lady must be taken to her room.-No- So, / be
lieve-then the managereSs and a chamber
maid can attend 70 her. Quick the elevator
POWER turned on MIlIcent ike an angry
- bull " You have chosen Your own method. -
he growled. Very well You shall pay for II '''
Her venom was such that She was bv No.
means disturbed by his threat. The other