Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1873-05-27
The Story Of Helen TraVcrs.

1t is not pleasant story, and my
pen is unwilling to relate it; yet
since it may serve as warning to
some girl, tempted like Helen Trav-
ers, and save her from a like fate, I
will tell it.
She was bright, attractive girl,
this Helen Travers. Not beauti-
full, but pretty, even handsome, in
her own way, and with n certain
charm about her, which some wom-
en- possess, that made her favor
ite with all.
She was an orphan, adopted by
her aunt, with whom she made her
home till her seventeenth year,
when she chose school-teaching as
her profession, and taught, year in
and year out, till she was twenty
two. She had attention and admir-
alton, beaux and lovers, as most girls
have, but entered her twonty-sec-
ond year without being engaged, or
ever having been really in love.
It was then she went to Chiffon,
thriving young town, to teach in
primary department OF an Acad-
emy. And there she met her old
friend, Dora Fairbanks, face to face
in the street one day. She had lost
all trace of her during the past two
years, and there in Chiffon she
found her, no longer Dora Fair
banks but Mrs. Hinman, happy
wife and young mother. Dora in
sisted upon taking Helen home to
dinner with her, and so she went.
And there she met Ralph Hinman,
Dora's husband. He was dhand-
some man, a ueyy handsome man,
with curling black hair, and brilli-
ant black eyes. and white teeth. He
and his wife seemed devotedly at
tachcd to each other, and of course
Mr.. Hinman was very social and
cordial with his wife's friend and
guest. Helen went away thinking
what an extremely pleasant hus-
band her friend had and Mr.. Hin
man remarked to his wife that her
friend was charming girl, and
Dora agreed with him, and there
was a mutual feeling of friendship
all around. .H
Mrs. Hinman made Helen prom
Use to be very informal, and drop
into their cosy home as often as
possible. Helen promised, and the
old intimacy between the two was
renewed. Scarcely day passed
that Helen did not call in, either
going or coming from the Acad-
emy. One evening Mr.. Hinmsn
drove by, just. as she was closing
the school-yard gate, and seeing
her, reined up his splendid bays
and asked her to ride with him
His road lay toward her cousins
home, with whom she boarded, an(
he took her to the door and left hel
there. 1t was something of Ions
walk, and she was glad of the ride
Shortly after-a week perhaps
she dropped in to see his wife
moment on her way to the Acad
emy, and found Mr.. Hinman JUS
driving to the door, and accepted
his invitation to ride to her destin
alton. He told her then that he
and his wife were going out into
the country for drive that even
ing, and. asked her to accompany
them. She accepted, and when the
evening came he called for her, and
the three went. By this time Hell
en- Travers began to think Ralph
Hinman the most thorough gentle
man she ever met, and congratulate
ed herself upon her friend marry
ing so well. 'If she had married a
stupid or disagreeable man, / could
not have enjoyed going to her home
as now do" she told herself. at
makes it so pleasant for me, having
both 80 cordial"
A week OF so later, Mrs. Hinman
gave 8 little party, and she sent her
husband with horse and carriage
down for Helen. She looked love-
ly that night, and the host was very
attentive and cosrtly, and after the
party broke up, he drove her to
her boarding place again. When
he left her at the door, he said, "1'o-
morrow is Saturday you are free
on that day, and the weather bids
fair to be pleasant, what do you say
to ride in the afternoon You
need more fresh air, and l know a
lovely drive that you have never
seen. Will you go" oe
Now Helen Travers had reached
the dividing line between safety
and danger, just then. Heretofore,
the attentions she had received
from her friends husband, had been
proper and right. In the majority
of the cases they had been acciden-
tai, and when otherwise they had
been of a nature the most prudish
could not object to. But now he
was asking her to take q pleasure
drive-with no object, no excuse,
but for enjoymet Of the day, and
each others society, and by accept
ing, she wss taking her first inn
prudent step. But 1t was a tempt
inQ offer. A warm sunny day, as