HELEN'S RESOLVE
Cyril Sheene returned home to his lodgings quite satisfied with the
conclusion the case had come to. Entering the sitting room, he found Mr.
Palsey still busy writing, though the dinner was ready and fast getting
cold.
"Still busy?" cried Cyril, pulling off his gloves and sitting down to a
tempting looking dinner of juicy well cooked mutton chops, arranged
against a mountain of frothy mashed potatoes.
"Yes I'm terrificly busy" responded Mr. Palsey tearing up a large sheet
of foolscap as he spoke.
"Well lets have dinner now" responded Cyril sitting down as he spoke.
"Oh all right" replied Mr. Palsey, who was not the least hungry, "where
have you been all the morning?"
"In court" responded Cyril absently gazing at the mutton chops.
"In court man!" cried Mr. Palsey "what do you mean?"
"I mean what I say" replied Cyril. "I was in court, acting witness in
Mr. Winston's case."
"Really?" gasped Mr. Palsey "what is the result?"
"The case is withdrawn" replied Cyril feverishly, "they are convinced it
is suicide."
"Thank goodness" ejaculated Mr. Palsey "then we are well out of the
mess."
"Yes" answered Cyril and then vouchsafing no more the two men sat down
to their dinner.
Half way through ***y were interupted by Mrs. Pollard, who came in in a
great fluster.
"Please sir" she said in a hurry "Miss Winston seems so queer, she has
got up and dressed herself and wishes to see you at once."
"My stars" screamed Cyril, forgetting in his excitement what a gentleman
he was and with that he rushed upstairs to Helen's bedroom.
He found Helen standing by the bed, her hands beating wildly against her
heart and a hectic spot burning on her cheek.
She was completely dressed even to her grey travelling cloak which hung
limply on her shoulders.
"Cyril," she cried wildly, "I am going home, I can bare this
imprisonment no longer."
"Helen, my darling cried Cyril astounded by her words.
"Yes it is true" cried Helen again. "I shall go home now now--this
instant why am I kept in ignorance of my father's death? I know who
murdered him in spite of secrecy," she screamed," it was Mr. Palsey,
that false villain below," "Helen cried Cyril," "how could it be Mr.
Palsey, why I should know it if it was he, dont be absurd dear, get into
bed again do you know you are very ill, and to go out would be madness."
"I dont care" screamed Helen, her eyes dilating and her cheeks burning.
"I shall go home, I tell you it was Mr. Palsey who murdered my father
if you dont know it Cyril, I do so there,"
"Helen" said Cyril firmly "be calm and I will tell you about your poor
father's death."
"Tell me" cried Helen and she sank exhausted into a chair.
"I fear" began Cyril "I greatly fear that your poor dear father
commited--had reasons for depriving himself of life."
"What!" cried Helen, starting to her feet, "you Cyril Sheene dare to
insult me to my face, will you too turn, false, oh how dare you say my
father commited suicide."
"I dare Helen because I know it" replied Cyril.
"You dont know it" screached Helen, "oh Cyril," and the poor un nerved
girl sank sobbing on the bed.
"Hush Helen," cried Cyril stroking her ruffled hair, "we wont talk about
it any more, but indeed you can not go home today, it is impossible."
"I must I must" moaned Helen "oh Cyril let me go, I want to see
Marshland."
"Helen, you cant go" replied Cyril "why do you want Marshland?"
"Because she is my only true friend" cried Helen.
"Helen am I not a true friend" asked Cyril reproachfully.
"Yes Cyril you are" said Helen, "but do let me go."
Cyril remembering the doctors directions that Helen was to have
everything she wanted, replied "very well Helen, you may go to-morrow,
and now get back to bed and rest."
"No, no" said Helen "I must go tonight."
"But your father is to be burried today," replied Cyril.
"Never mind" cried Helen shaking her aching head, "It would break my
heart to attend the funeral, I must go tonight."
"Very well" said Cyril "I will go with you, by the 8-40 train, but now
do rest darling."
"Thank you, thank you Cyril" replied Helen gratefully and closing her
eyes she fell into a heavy sleap."