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I don't kno long I gazed

I was trying to study the girl before me as if she had been merely a fact--a statue, a picture But here was none of the cal charhty as elusive, no more to be fixed in words than are the splendours of sunset Yet I saw the vital harrace of every exquisite curve--the firracious poise of her head, her sweeping lashes

I looked down at her hands; they were of marvellous shape and tint, but I missed a little sickle-shaped scar from the joint of the left thumb I knew the story of that scar I had seen the child Nelly run to hera piece of cocoanut for the Saturday pie-baking That scar was part of Helen; I loved it I felt a sudden revolt against this goddess who usurped little Nelly's place, and said that she had changed Why was she looking at me? What did she want?

"You are the most beautiful wonised as ain fro me in its sunshine, and the world was fair She started forward i out her hands

"Then it's true! Oh, it's true!" she cried "How can I believe it? I-- Nelly Winship--am I really--"

"Ah--you are Nelly! My Nelly!"

What happened is past telling!

With that jubilant outburst, as naive as a child's, she was iven her up if her hair were blanched by pain or sorrow, her cheeks furrowed, her face grown pale in illness? Need I look upon her coldly because she had beco!

And she was Helen Aat oddess-like face as un her in a arb of flesh

"Oh, I'irl on earth; I', wondering voice was not Helen's, but in every sentence some note or inflection was as faestures Yes, she was Helen; war, flushed with joy of her own loveliness, her perfect wo alive!

I seized the hands she gave me; I drew her nearer