Year: 1878

A day or two after the events just chron
icled, Helen returned to boarding school, ano
in the resumption of her duties there, scarcely
realized that so important a change had re
Gently taken place in her condition and pros
poets. Ofths change, indeed, there was moth
ing to remind her, as no one knew anything
of her newly required fortune except hel
friends at lie Bocage. 1t was her own wish
that the matter should be kept private, as she
had no fancy for its becoming theme gen
eral gossip in the neighborhood.


Before very long, however, reminder came
to her in the shape Of another letter, thl:
time from her uncle, entering more fully into
the business part of the interesting subject
and, what concerned her much more nearly
concluding with specific directions for her re
turn to New Orleans, at a given date. Ills
step.son, Mr.. Allan Lambert, had some busl-
ness which would call him to Paris early in
the spring, probably about the first of March
And having attended to that, he would at
once proceed to La Bocage to take upon him
self the duties of her escort home. This
would be somewhere about the beginning OF
middle of April. Of course she would re-
ceve more definite notice in time to prepare
herself for the journey.


This was bringing the reality home to her
with vengeance! No more vague antlc'pa'
tions now, or hopes of possible reprleVe.
The affair was taken out Of her hands and set
tied for her as naturally as if Mr.. Dashwood
had been in the habitual discharge OF his du-
ties as her guardian and protector all her life.
1t soon become known among her companions
that she was sent for to America, and they
questioned her and discussed the topic until
she was weary oft. The nearer the time ap-
preached for her departure, the more loath
she grew to think about it. Her heart clung to
the associations which had sprung up around
her in her French home, with fondness that
taught her how deep would be her regret in
breaking them up. With the end of Febru-
ary her school term closed. This gave her
about month, perhaps six weeks, of unin-
terrupted intercourse with Madame Prevllle,
the kind friend and guide to whom she owed
so much, from whom she would feel such grief
to part. Victor had tried very hard to
make up his mind to spend these last few
weeks away from home, but when the time
came for putting this resolution to the test,
his courage failed. Come what would, he
could not dash the last lingering drops of
sweetness so cruelty from his own cup. The
draupht of sorrow he would drink hereafter
would, perhaps, be all the more bitter, but OF
that he would not think. While it was still
permitted him to taste the joy of her pres.
ence, to bask in the sunshine Of her glance
and smile, to listen to the music of her voice,
he could not put the dangerous delight away
from him. And Helen, in the softened mood
of these Aeeting last weeks and days, was
kinder to him, less chary in her intercourse
than she had ever been before. She had
wisdom enough to guess something OF his
pain, though she could by no means compre-
hend its depth and height. She would tain
have seen him happier, but would not ana.
I've her feelings to discover how far this wish
to promote his happiness might lead her. 1t
is probable that if Victor had pro6ted by his
present opportunity to hazard throw for the
coveted prize, he would have stood no bad
chance of success but this he would not do.
His resolve was made and he would not swerve
from it; let her return untrammeed to those
who considered that they had the first claim
upon her, and enter upon her new life among
them free to choose her own path. Then, if
the day should come when, having stood the
test Of absence and Of all the accessories of
her position, her heart should draw her back
to the scenes she was now about to leave, still
fancv.free, he light dare to tell her of the
love which he had kept locked in lis breast
50 patiently and so long.


1t was no easy task to adhere to the line Of
duty thus rigdly marked out; to find himself
brought into daily contact with the object OF
his devotion, to taste more fully and perfect
" than ever before the sweetness of this com
panionship, and look forward to the approach
Of the time when he was to be robbed Of it
knowing that by an effort of his he might
bring within his reach hope which would
unspeakably brighten their parting, and yet
refraiA from making that effort True, there
was but chance that it would be crowned
with success. But he would have given much
TO be able to make the venture. Nothing seem
ed 50 hard as this enforced silence, when Il
spoken word could end his suspense. He gave
no outward sign of this conflict of feeling
putting a strong constrant upon himself, lest
some sudden temptation should take him
unaware, and break down the barrier of bis
reserve-some chance word, or glance, OF
touch of the hand, steal, in an ungarded mo
ment, into his heart, so sternly fenced about
and scntinelled, and dash his resolution to the
winds. 10 see him as he looked and spoke
and moved so quietly, attending to his usua
business, and calmly entering upon its detail:
in his conversation with his aunt, no one
would have suspected him to be man il
love, or guessed the tumult underlying thi:
unrutfied surface.


The day of Helen's departure drew near
She received advices from Mr.. Lambert, in
forming her of his arrival in Paris, and o
the probable duration of his stay i'll tina
CITY. And about the end of March he wrote
again, stating that on the twelfth of the ensu
ing month, if she could he ready by that time
he would be prepared to start on his home
ward journey. There was, of course, mucl
to be done; and, in the whirl and excite