Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-02-24
When Helen Tainted.

Uhen Helen Tainted.
Miss Helen Lorimer dropped her hand
kerchief; Richard Warner picked up tie
dainty lace trifle and gave it back into
the little pink -gloved hand from which it
had slipped. In return for the service he
received smile, bow, and a musical
/" thank vou.'
"a very fne-looking fellow that
Warncr--don't you think so, Mr.. Stick
ney?" she asked, arching her pretty brows
N a very patroniZlng manner, as her faith
ers clerk passed on.
I" Passable,' replied the young man
addressed, lifting, with exquisite tact and
grace, an cye-glass to the weakest of his
weak eyes, and scrutinizing Warner
through it with one of those long. aristo-
cratic starcs peculiar to well-bred people.
" But who is he?n
Now MIR. Stickncy didn't ask the ques.
ton for information. He knew, as we'll
as he knew the habit Of wearing No.
(ladies' s;ze) CATERS was giving him most
excruiciating corns, that the gentleman
about whom they were conyersing was
only a salaried clerk in the employ OF
his pretty companions wealthy father.
Mr.. Warner had made the circuit of
the room again during this conversation,
and was approaching the place where
they stood-this time with Miss Adelaide
Lorimer on his arm. There couldn't
have been greater contrast had some
little roseate morning cloud taken it into
its head to run away with its grandfather
the midnight, than there was between
the above named couple-W Warner, with
his tall, proud figure, in the suit of we'll
worn, but glossy, black broodcloth; his
dark handsome, manly face and magni-
ficent black eyes and Adelaide slight
sylph-like; sunshine in her robes of some
white, gossamer fabric, in her violet eyes
rose tinted cheeks, and soft curls floating
to her waist like golden mist
They looked well together, neverthe-
less, and Miss Helen angrily bit a line of
milky little teeth into the rose of her
under lip on seeing them in each other
company. She had been thinking Tor
the past few minutes what nice person
was tired Of the yellow mustache, weak.
eyes and insipid gallantrics of her devot-
ed Augustus, and though she intended in
the course of time to becom Mrs. Stick
ney, unless some sutton with an extra
thousand happened along, she couldn't
sec why for that reason she might not
entertain herself by breaking the heart
of her fathers handsome clerk in the
meantime.
What right had Miss Adelaide TO step
in thus unceremoniously between ner and
her intended victim? 1t was downright
mean. and she wouldn't submit to it.
Somehow, by some careless motion Of the
lady's wrist, her ieweled fan was iostled,
from its place, and sliding down her
long skirt ofrose -co]ored satin, fell direct
ly at Mr.. Warmers feet as that gentleman
was passing. Of course he could do no
less than to disengage his arm from his
companions and restore the misplaced ar
ricle. CHR. Stickney had turned his
head for fear of an Introductory, aud of
course he saw no attempt at fascination
in the beaming glance with which Miss
Helen's superb eyes acknowledged the
politenees. Of course, too, he failed to
be aware Of any art in the way that charm
ing young lady managed to engage him
in a sentimental conversation. or any CO.
quetish maneuyer in the skillful manner
in which it came about that almost be
fore he knew it Miss Adelaide was prom
enading the room with Mr.. Stickney, and
her naughty sister was clinging, a Devil
dering and affable substitute, to the sleeve
of his plcbian coat.
Perhaps, however, he noticed the little
shadow Of disappointment which fitted
over Adelaide's pretty face, as the even
ing drew to close, and he mad found nc
chance to speak with her again. How
could she know that it was not his incli-
/ nation, but Miss Helen that held him cap
tive? AT any rate he muttered to him
self in the solitude of his chamber thai
night:
elbow provoking it was! Helen's face
may have the most artistic beauty, bu
Adelaide's is sweet as all angels. / won
salary?"
At the same moment Miss Helen, Ian.
guidly disrobing herself, was remarking
with wearisome yawn which stretched
| her title rose of a mouth to a width tina
might have surprised her delicate ant
fastidious Augustus, that shat Warne
was a presuming fellow, and came nea
making love tie her. She would take hin
down a little. il she died for it. She die
wish Stickney would dye his mustache
while Adelaide, listening with burning
cheeks, snugglld her golden head dow
deeper into the great downy pillows, ano
let the embroidered sleeve Of her nigh
robe fall across ner face in such way a
to conceal the suspicious glitter of some
thing very like to tears on her silke,
lashes, and which made her blue'eyes lool
like May violets, after dash of summe
rain has sprinkled the meadows.
Mr.. Richard Warner went to the post
office one morning and got letter. 4
very. mportant-lo looking document it wa
thick, awkward and with foreigl
post-mark. He had only two correspond
ents in the world-his mother and hi