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weeks somehow seemed to change its character。 Under the mask of
dazzling skin he fancied he saw the high cheek…bones and square
Tartar angle； the brilliant eyes were even brighter than before；
but they showed more of the white than he had ever seen in them。
Nevertheless she smiled； with an equally stony revelation of her
white teeth； yet said； still gently； 〃Forgive me if I thought our
friendship justified me in being frank；perhaps too frank for my
own good。〃
She stopped as if half expecting an interruption； but as he
remained looking wonderingly at her； she bit her lip； and went on：
〃You have a great career before you。 Those who help you must do so
without entangling you； a chain of roses may be as impeding as
lead。 Until you are independent； youwho may in time compass
everything yourselfwill need to be helped。 You know；〃 she added
with a smile； 〃you have but one arm。〃
〃In your kindness and appreciation you have made me forget it；〃 he
stammered。 Yet he had a swift vision of the little bench at
Versailles where he had NOT forgotten it； and as he glanced around
the empty terrace where they stood he was struck with a fateful
resemblance to it。
〃And I should not remind you now of it；〃 she went on； 〃except to
say that money can always take its place。 As in the fairy story；
the prince must have a new arm made of gold。〃 She stopped； and
then suddenly coming closer to him said； hurriedly and almost
fiercely； 〃Can you not see that I am advising you against my
interests；against myself？ Go； then； to Paris； and go quickly；
before I change my mind。 Only if you do not find your friends
there； remember you have always ONE here。〃 Before he could reply；
or even understand that white face； she was gone。
He left for Paris that afternoon。 He went directly to the Rue de
Frivole； his old resolution to avoid Helen was blown to the winds
in the prospect of losing her utterly。 But the concierge only knew
that mademoiselle had left a day or two after monsieur had
accompanied her home。 And； pointedly； there was another gentleman
who had inquired eagerlyand bountifully as far as money wentfor
any trace of the young lady。 It was a Russe。 The concierge smiled
to himself at Ostrander's flushed cheek。 It served this one…armed；
conceited American poseur right。 Mademoiselle was wiser in this
SECOND affair。
Ostrander did not finish his picture。 The princess sent him a
cheque； which he coldly returned。 Nevertheless he had acquired
through his Russian patronage a local fame which stood him well
with the picture dealers；in spite of the excitement of the war。
But his heart was no longer in his work； a fever of unrest seized
him； which at another time might have wasted itself in mere
dissipation。 Some of his fellow artists had already gone into the
army。 After the first great reverses he offered his one arm and
his military experience to that Paris which had given him a home。
The old fighting instinct returned to him with a certain
desperation he had never known before。 In the sorties from Paris
the one…armed American became famous； until a few days before the
capitulation； when he was struck down by a bullet through the lung；
and left in a temporary hospital。 Here in the whirl and terror of
Commune days he was forgotten； and when Paris revived under the
republic he had disappeared as completely as his compatriot Helen。
But Miss Helen Maynard had been only obscured and not extinguished。
At the first outbreak of hostilities a few Americans had still kept
giddy state among the ruins of the tottering empire。 A day or two
after she left the Rue de Frivole she was invited by one of her
wealthy former schoolmates to assist with her voice and talent at
one of their extravagant entertainments。 〃You will understand；
dear；〃 said Miss de Laine； with ingenious delicacy； as she eyed her
old comrade's well…worn dress； 〃that Poppa expects to pay you
professional prices； and it may be an opening for you among our
other friends。〃
〃I should not come otherwise； dear；〃 said Miss Helen with equal
frankness。 But she played and sang very charmingly to the
fashionable assembly in the Champs Elysees；so charmingly； indeed；
that Miss de Laine patronizingly expatiated upon her worth and her
better days in confidence to some of the guests。
〃A most deserving creature；〃 said Miss de Laine to the dowager
duchess of Soho； who was passing through Paris on her way to
England； 〃you would hardly believe that Poppa knew her father when
he was one of the richest men in South Carolina。〃
〃Your father seems to have been very fortunate；〃 said the duchess
quietly； 〃and so are YOU。 Introduce me。〃
This not being exactly the reply that Miss de Laine expected； she
momentarily hesitated： but the duchess profited by it to walk over
to the piano and introduce herself。 When she rose to go she
invited Helen to luncheon with her the next day。 〃Come early； my
dear； and we'll have a long talk。〃 Helen pointed out hesitatingly
that she was practically a guest of the de Laines。 〃Ah； well；
that's true； my dear； then you may bring one of them with you。〃
Helen went to the luncheon； but was unaccompanied。 She had a long
talk with the dowager。 〃I am not rich； my dear； like your friends；
and cannot afford to pay ten napoleons for a song。 Like you I have
seen 'better days。' But this is no place for you； child； and if
you can bear with an old woman's company for a while I think I can
find you something to do。〃 That evening Helen left for England
with the duchess； a piece of 〃ingratitude； indelicacy； and
shameless snobbery；〃 which Miss de Laine was never weary of
dilating upon。 〃And to think I introduced her； though she was a
professional！〃
。 。 。 。 。 。
It was three years after。 Paris； reviving under the republic； had
forgotten Helen and the American colony； and the American colony；
emigrating to more congenial courts； had forgotten Paris。
It was a bleak day of English summer when Helen； standing by the
window of the breakfast…room at Hamley Court； and looking over the
wonderful lawn； kept perennially green by humid English skies；
heard the practical； masculine voice of the duchess in her ear at
the same moment that she felt the gentle womanly touch of her hand
on her shoulder。
〃We are going to luncheon at Moreland Hall to…day； my dear。〃
〃Why； we were there only last week！〃 said Helen。
〃Undoubtedly；〃 returned the duchess dryly； 〃and we may luncheon
there next week and the next following。 And；〃 she added； looking
into her companion's gray eyes； 〃it rests with YOU to stay there if
you choose。〃
Helen stared at her protector。
〃My dear；〃 continued the duchess； slipping her arm around Helen's
waist； 〃Sir James has honored MEas became my relations to YOU
with his confidences。 As you haven't given me YOURS I suppose you
have none； and that I am telli