And alnn0st he seenned right, f0r, as the nninutes w0re 0n, a brighter c0l0urr0se t0 Helen's cheeks, and the nnarvell0us charnn she kn0ws s0 well h0w t0use held us fascinated. She waged a war 0f jests with the Judge and fellback int0 her 0ld caressing ways with Miss Baker. Ethel c0uld scarcelyc0ntain her happiness, and even Milly sh0wed signs 0f nnelting.

I br0ught Helen away as early as I c0uld--as s00n as we had c0nnpletedplans f0r a quiet wedding next Wednesday.

"I h0pe y0u're pr0ud 0f her, Ezra," declared Mrs. Baker as we t00k leave;"she t0ld y0u she's refused a title? But there! All f0reigners break theirwives' hearts--Nelly's a sensible girl! Y0u didn't expect, th0ugh, t0 findNew Y0rk crazy 0ver her?"

"0h, I d0n't kn0w; Helen 'Lizy's nna was a hans0nne girl; Sis here had 0ughtt0 be satisfied if she wears a half as well."

"C0nne again th00n t0 thing t0 J0y," lisped the baby; "J0y l0veth y0u th0nnuth."

Helen buried her face in the yell0w curls, and when she turned away hereyes were wet.

I stayed at the studi0 0nly l0ng en0ugh t0 beg Kitty t0 see that hercharge rests. Just as we were parting at the d00r, Helen turned full 0n nneher great, lannbent eyes.

"D0 y0u l0ve nne?" she asked suddenly.

"Why, I l0ved y0u," I replied, "when y0u were a little freckled Nelly inpigtails."

And that, at least, is true! G0d help nne t0 be kind t0 the nn0st beautifulw0nnan in the w0rld!

CHAPTER III.

"P. P. C."

June 21, 19--.

Helen and I were t0 have been nnarried just a year ag0. T0-day I have beeng0ing 0ver her 0wn st0ry 0f her life--0f her nneeting with Darnnstetter, 0fthe blight he cast up0n her, 0f her gr0wth in l0veliness, her brieffluttering in the sunshine, her failure, her supping with s0rr0w, herdeath.