The Abbeville messenger. (Abbeville, S.C.) 1884-1887, 1886-05-18
A SCRAP OF PAPER,

It was once an immaculate sheet of
white notc-paper, lying with its brethren
IN q plush case on the stationer's counter,
and was purchased with the rest by Mrs
Gordon for Hclen's birthday gift.
Before coming into Helen's possession
it spent a drcary time in a big, busy
work-room, where it was stamped and
pounded and generally ill treated, but
whence it emerged bearing a wonderfully
twisted blue monogram of which II and
B were the principal letters. Helen was
delighted with her gift: ahd exhibited it
with pride to Dir. John Cunningham,
who, however, observed hat it "wouldn't
be of much use," and added in an ex-
planatory whisper that '.shc would soon
need &C instead Of a b." Whcreupon
Helen blushcd, and pretended to be very
busy putting away the case in her pretty
secretaire. There, in a dim, violet-scent-
cd corner, our particular sheet, which
CHANGED to be about the middle of the
box,'lay undisturbcd for weeks, till, as
its fellows were gradually removed, and
sent forth upon various missions, it came
in time to be the top sheet. Then one
night --or rather morning-its mission
began.
About 2 o'clock on a Wednesday morn
ing Helen returned from q ball, and, in
stead of going quietly to bed, as usual,
h hurried into her little boudoir, and
dropping into a chair before the secre-
taire, buried her head in her hands, and
began to sob bitterly. "Oh, I wish
hadn't! wish I hadn'tr" she said over
and over again. At last, however, she
grew calmer; and, opening her desk,
drew forth the top sheet from its place
and began to write rapidly.
II know I can never rest, John, with
out frst-evcn though this can not be
sent till. morning-explaining to you
what happened tonight, and telling you,
dear John, that I am very, very sorry
and ashamed. know quite we'll that !
was wrong in giving three dances to
Captain Morse when you had expressly
asked me to'have as little to do with him
as possible; and, believe me, did not
intend dancing with.him at all. If it had
not been for Louise Hill I never should
have done so. You know her TEASING
way. In the dressing-room this evening,
before we went down stairs, she asked
me if 1 intended dancing with Captain
Morse, and when I wouldn't answer, de.
clarcd she believed that you had forbid.
den it, and ended. by darirg me to dance
with him more than once: Afterward,
when he asked for two dances, I happen.
ed to look up, caught Louise's knocking
glance, and was silly enough. on tho i'm.
pulse of the moment, to let him put his
name down twice, thinking that 1 could
explain to you how it happened. Ihad
no idea then that you were close b,
and had seen it ali, and when, later in
the evening, I tried to tell you about it YOU
were 50 cold and distant that my pride
rose, and, out of bravado, I gave him {
third dance. But when I saw your pain.
ed, stern look, John, I was quite misera.
BILE, and I even forgive you for flirting sc
abominably as you did for the rest of tho
evening with Louise. Now I have tol6
you oil about it. Please, dear, deares'
John, forgive your own HELEN.
SrP. ST will uyeor tho fool, w., I'll,
TO the opera party Thursday evening""
Then, a happy smile on her face, Hell
en- left her letter lying on the desk anc
went to bed.
The next morning, just as she was pre-
pairing to address IN envelope, "Mis
Louise Hill" was announced. Helen
welcome might certainly have becn NOR