The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1910-12-16
Helene, an Individual Soul

AZ q 'iiioSC IiCdI lie BED WHERE L once
stayed for short while | had been
i'll, and was compulsorily idle, which
is the time when one hungers for
company, especially the company OF
children.
!, made my own introduction to her.
1t was the usual one of a pat on the
head and kindly word. Helene
looked up from her play in the dust
of the road, and the look convicted
me Of impudent patronage. Then she
went on with her play.
Acquaintance with her parents was
easier Her father welcomed my cad
for smoke and chat in the even
ings; but l should have found the
home uninteresting without Helene.
At first she flew from me like day be-
fore night, reappearing only when
had gone; or, if her bedtime came
while | was there, she would call her
father out of the room to say good
night to him. Brides of toys and
sweets proved futile. l began to feel
like an ogre. Then, and suddenly,
she changed. She came to the house
where | had my rooms, and asked for
me. Did feel better, because mother
had said l was very bad?
She was only six and diminutive at
that-pale, smill-featured child, with
firm lips and black hair. Her ex-
preston was peculiarly mature,s as
though her character were already
formed
Her few friends were queerly varied.
A headless doll, dog and Me; these
| knew Of, and each Of us, it seemed,
had to be transformed ere we were
worthy. The headless doll was a
baby. 1t was sad. she said, because
it had no face and it's neck was brok-
en-. That was why she loved it, sup
pose.
The dog, too, was sad He was a
beautiful prince whom a wicked fairy
had turned into a dog. He certainly
had the saddest face in alb the world.
1t was the brink OF tears made into
canine countenance. A black, little
dog, of no determinate breed, with the
round, miserable eyes of spaniel and
the nose Of pug. Her name for him
was Sammy. which lent itself we'll to
imperative or cOaXing call Helene
had no guests of affection; she was
regally undemonstrative. Her utmost
caress for him was a little benedic-
tory pat Herself, she SHE'D from a
touch as a colt from the whip.
And then me- Me she transformed,
God knows, else had we been strang
ers life-lastingly. But into what, she
never told me. She took possession
of me; that was ALL There is sadness
latent in all of us, maybe, and per
haps my sadness was the sort she
understood. l can find no other reas
on
Though she was solitary, and We.
her loved, motley trio, Helene had
20 gloom. She had nature as radi-
ant as sun on water When we were
all with her, subjects in her kingdom.
L believe she was the happiest thing
on earth.
We used to go out together, along
the lanes, into the fields. We found
favorite spots, and would spend the
whole morning or afternoon undis-
turbed She learned to fill my pipe,
and would hold the match, standing
the while, her face as solemn as
though she were performing a religi-
Gus rite. When | was sitting and she
standing, her height and mine were
about level.
She was strangely sensitised. She
seemed to culver to thought-waves.
Every mood of mine she could tell.
| was cross; | was sad | was feel
ing bad If l made the assertion OF
these things myself she would con-
tradict me fatty Ii l persisted she
would dimple into a smile and contra
dict again. 1t was impossible to be a
humbug to her.
Perhaps because of what her moth
er had told her she looked upon a
lapse of health as fault; and it was
fault that she declined to condone.
Even an accidental sneeZe would earn
her censure.
You are naughty" she would tell
Inc, with stress of infinite severity on
the verb. Excuse was useless She
would refuse to speak for long time,
castigating me for my good. There
was only one explanation of this, and
it bred humility. l was precious to
her.
When her mood was play she de-
lighted for me to sulk. Her unconcern
was exquisite-until it pleased her to
feign anger Then she would threaten
dire things. She was going home;
she would never come out with me
again; it was no good my being sorry.
She would even suit the action to
the threat and go. But for a few
yards. Then, still if l held out she
would creep slowly back and bring
her face close to mine, her eyes
dancing, a dimple lurking in her
cheek. The only way to avoid the
capitulation of smile was to look