Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1882-09-16

hearts, SUCH as he had never dared
to buy.
"Where did they come FROM" he
demanded.
"They grew, I 'spects-like Top
sy," answered Helen, laughing un-
easily.
Where did you get them, Hell
en- ?D
"You are inquisitive, Mr.. Van
Week. They were sent to me-"
"By Mr.. Sterling?"
"You do credit to your nationali-
ty; you're a capital Yankee. Yes,
by Mr.. Sterling, of course"
"Helen," he cried under his
breath-"Helen are you going to
marry Mr.. Sterling ?"
"I-I believe l am," she said,
dropping her eyes.
| Theodore never knew exactly
how he found his way out of the
house; he was vaguely aware OF
rushing against a stout gentleman
in q fur-trimmed ulster, as he shot
into the street; of a stately carriage
and pair standing at the door, and
dark-browed lady leaning out to
look after him.
The next day he resigned his po-
sition in the post-office, drew his
savings from the bank and left
Washington. 1t were well, per-
haps, if he could put deserts and
seas and mountain ranges between
Helen and himself. 1t seemed to
him that the earth had reeled from
its orbit, and it required time for
him to readjust himself to the sit
uation. His idea was all that was
left to him he put into it all his
earnings; he devoted his heart and
soul to its development, and he
finally forgot himself and Helen
Hildreth in his work and its sue
cess.
1t was seven or eight years later
that they met oddly enough, on
the Mount Vernon boat. Her vi
vacity was no longer the Spontane-
Gus effervescence of youth and hope,
she was a trifie passe, perhaps.
"Wealth and splendor have not
proved all her fancy painted them,'
he thought as their eyes met. "Mr.
Van Week." she cried, "who
would have dreamed of meeting
you here I" Was the pleasure
which frightened her eyes and
deepened her somewhat exaggerated
dimples reminiscence of her pow
er, or was Mrs. Sterling a married
flirt, he wondered. "We have
heard of you 80 often, to be sure"
she purred. "The newspapers have
not been silent concerning you and
your great invention. I've always
felt an ownership in that invention,
do yo;, know? | felt as If / were /
behind the scenes, let into the se-
cret before the rest of the outside
world, when it was only a dream.
I've resented every Infringement
81 am fiattered that you remein- /
ber my small AFFAIRS" said Theo- |
dore, hunbly. i.,.s T4-,J .t5a
Remember" she repeated, with
a lingering accent. l have nothing
else to do" ~ ijaaf ''1a3 ssal.s aiHI
~ comeuown here sometimes"
she pursued, after a brief pause,
"when we have holiday, for the
sake of Aum Lang Syne and try to
believe Pm seven years younger
and the world before me to choose.
1 like to come when the peach trees
are in bloom, as they were that day
when we built our castles in the
air. Mine have crumbled into
dust"
"Mrs. Sterling, am sorry to hear
you say So"
She stared at him an instant,
blushed and dropped her eyes in the
old effective way. Haven't you |
heard" she said, 81 didn't marry |
Mr.. Sterling?"
Perhaps she expected Theodore |
to beam with sudden happiness and
rehearse the old story she had re- |
fused to hear once before.
"You left no address, you know"
defending herself from the re-
proaches she anticipated. "Mr. |
Sterling died before the wedding |
day was set. l thought you would |
see it in the newspapers. l am a
treasury girl yet, Theodore. Do |
you know l sometimes wish that |
had never seen Mr.. Sterling ?'
Only the fates know what Van |
Week wOuld have answered, but
just at that moment bit of crepe |
lisse fioated into their neighborhOod,
and a voice like a summer brook, |
cried, ooh, my veil, Theodore !" |
Theodore put out a hand, but it |
eluded him; Helen made a quick
movement and caught it on the
wing.
"Let me introduce you to Mrs.
Van Week, Miss Hildeeth," he |
said. "She would like to thank
you." .s. .r .