Year: 1878




be obliged always to talk French or
italian was not to my liking, and to
marry anybody but compatriot seemed
very unpatriotic. But loved him, and
that was the solution of the whole mat
ter. His kindness to us was without
limit, and rendered in the most graceful
and grateful manner. He knew some
excellent English families who were liv-
ing in Paris, whose acquaintance we
afterward made, and who spoke of him
in the highest terms of esteem.


GAS the winter set in, Helen and ar
ranged to go to Italy. My friend was to
take advantage of our departure to go
to his provincial estates on business,
and afterward to join us in Italy. He
gave us letter to the Greek consul at
Rome, friend of his, to whose care he
he would confide his letters, and who,h
thought, might be of real service to us
notwithstanding our own ambassadorial
corps there.


MY separation from him proved to
me in a thousand-fold manner how deep
and strong was the bond that bound me
to him. We had scarcely more than be-
come well settled in Rome than q letter
arrived which he had mailed at Vienna
and which the polite consul came and
delivered in person. And what a letter
it was l-only page or two, but words
alive with the love and passion of his
heart. And that was the last letter, as
it was the first, that ever received from
him. The causespf his silence none of
us could tell. He knew that letter sent
to me in care of any one of the Ameri-
can consuls in Paris or in Italy would
reach me. AS the mystery of his silence
deepened the attentions of the consul be-
came more assiduous. For some reason
l did not like the man, although he was
very kind and gentlemanly. Once he
lightly remarked that doubtless 'our
friend had been epris by some fair Aus
trian blood , and the suggestion filled
me with shame. Who knew but it
might be true = that the man fell
in love with every pretty new face-for
mine was called beautiful then-and that
after an entertaining season of filtration
he had bid me adieu OF course blam-
ed myself for having been so confiding
as to be deceived by handsome adven-
turer without principle or honor. L can
not tell you what agony suffered. /
begged Helen to go on to Naples, for
Rome had become very hateful to me-
But at Naples, as you know, Helen fell
i'll with the Roman fever, and died, and
returned to Rome to bury her body
there in the Protestant cemetery. Four
months had gone by, and not word
from my friend. Alone as 1 was, my
troubles drove me nearly frantic. re-
turned to Paris. That was so sad and
changed seemed naturally due to Helen IS
death nobody suspected that was the
victim of keener sorrow. None of his
friends had received news of him. 1
was too proud to show that my interest
in him had been of more than ordinary
meaning. Nobody knew of my love for
him but Helen, and the secret was bur-
led in her grave.


C tarried month or two in Paris
hoping against hope for news of him,
without even the consolation of address,
ing him letters, as 1 did not know where
one would reach him. To know he was
dead would have been a relief; to think
he had abandoned me, that he had been
false, was insupportable. 1t was the
most probable solution of the mystery,
but have never believed it, and L love
him as deeply to-day as ever. have
schooled myself to cheerfulness and gay
ETY., but having known him spoiled me
for loving again. Here is his portrait, u
drawing a case from drawer; 81 wish
you to see how handsome and good and
noble man may look to be, and yet


She paused, and 1 added, =" Be vii
lain"


$50 you see," she smiled, show apro.
pos my advice to you is have nothing
to do with foreigners"


returned her the portrait without
comment, kissed her goodnight, and
next day sailed out to sea, with Aunt
Edith waving her handkerchief after me
like flag of warning. We lived in the
country, six hours ride from New York
and my Oldest brother and Aunt Edith
had followed me to the waters edge, )
as she playfully expressed it. At Lon
don l was to join Cecilia Dayton "a hand
some widow of forty-five, an old friend
OF ours, who was to act the part o.