Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-02-15
TWO VALENTINES.

pSSpIc Nottii nave Sd4u, St-dl leu 10 MI.
Bray $: but other people had not the
same regard Tor Helen that he had, which
made ali the difference in the world.
Ii WAS toward evening. A soft SKY
still! te..evlI the delicate branches of the
elms; III: iile lights in the west room
made evening in the house, and cheered
the young man as his horse stepped care
fully Over the slippery ground.
he knew Just how Helen would vel
come him in the little sitting room with
the open fire, and make hun sit in her
fathers chair, and give him pretty
handscreen, and sit Gown before him,
shielding her own eyes with blue fan,
and how after she had asked for his mo-
Their ana sister, delightful silence would
tail upon them, and the horse was at
the door.
Mr.. Bray had seen the young man
coming. and FASTENED out with well
come.
- am glad to see YOU" he said. 1
feared I was in tor Il lonely evening
but now we Will have game of chess,
Helens gone to Springfield for a.
week
Dear ne! How different Mr.. Bray was
from Helen He did not stand by the
young man while he took OFT his coat,
nor did re give him the large easy chair
La fact, the Old gentleman seated himself
IN the easychair, and helped himself to
the hand screen, regardless whether
viii Adds eyes were burnt out or not
In the dining-room, Margaret poured
the tea 1t a side-table for the gentlemen,
both Of whom missed Helen, though in
different ways.
Mr. Bray remarked that he wished he
had some of Helen potato biscuits. Will
would have thought cold potatoes the
highest OF biscuits had Helen only been
smiling o. him from behind the shining
sllyer-hc would gladly have gone nun
CRY TO have heard her sHeet voice Still,
as starving himself would not bring her
back from Springfield, he managed to eat
Il very good supper.
After the usual talk on business and
politics. the two settled down to chess,
and passed = very pleasant evening.
Every Tuesday evening for some time,
Will Adds mad ridden over from the next
village II visit Helen Bray. When she
received her friends invitation, she had
put of har Journey for day, to see HIM
on Tuesday; and, after all, he had not
come.
This very Wednesday evening, he had
meant to tell her all that was IN his heart.
But now she was gone. He, however,
checred himself with the thought that
weeks almost always have ends as well
as beginnings.
viii was going the following night to
Boston, it occurred to him, as he went
dreamily about his business the next af-
ternoon, that he might drop letter at
Springfield as he went through. On,
happy thought II Helen would only
answer 1t, and let him stop at Springfield
and bring her back.
The train passed through Sprinfield
about midnight; and our friend with
the arrow in his heart as the poets say,
TOOK two letters from his pocket, posted
one he had written on business matter,
gave the other to the conductor with
generous fee, and SO clearly and repeated
" impressed him with the fact that it
was an important letter, and must reach
the house very early i'll the morning, and
that it must not DE forgotten, that the
conductor was glad to get it off his hands
and mind.
As soon rs the conductor reached the
depot, he, in turn, impressed lank fell
low who WAS always hang ing about there,
with its Importance, and gave him part of
the Zee to deliver it.
''Somebody's dead, guess. or is dy-
ing, or has had money left them, or
something, said the conductor; $50 you
see that that letters delivered on time,
night express, lightning train-do you
hearl''
"Yaas," replied the lank man, "Ill
see tot
Helen Bray was sleeping sweetly in the
pretty blue guest-chanlber. Her friend.
Mary Williams, was in the next room. A
furious pull at the bell awakened her.
It rang again and again. Mr.. Williams
hurried down, opened the door and asked,
"What's the matter?-a telegram as
something white was thrust into his
hand through the crack.
Dunno. Somebody dead or dyin','
the conductor said
The letter was addressed to Helen Bray.
He carried it to his wife, and she took it
to Mary's room.
Il wouldn't dare to wake her. said
Mary. There may be some trouble at
home, and she may have TO take the early
train. 1t is nearly one now
Helen was startled by seeing Mrs.
Williams and Mary standing by her bed,
one holding candle and the other
letter.
"Read it quickly, my dear, and see if
anybody is ill., said Mrs. Williams.
Helen tore open the envelope. She
knew the writing even in the dim candle
light. It read as follows:
"DHAR SIR: I have made Inc inquiries
you desired me 10 make, and find that the
firm does not stand well. Their paper is sell
ing very low. Wellman says he would not
put anything in ihere, and that if he lad any
thing in there, should get it out as soon Us
possible.
Very respectfully yours.
WILLIAM ADDS"
Helen looked about her in surprise.
us it a vaicntine?" asked Mary.
"What Is the matter? Do tell mel"
cried Mrs. Williams, shivering in her
OiUhtCOXD