The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1889-02-08

MISERY Cdluc ON0T HlIli ike U HOOu.
II suppose have your sympathy in
such case" ne retorted, dryly.
OF course" replied the other, iovially,
"though what you have to be glum about
is more than KNOW" he added, hypocrit-
ica.ly.
"And you won't know from my telling
YOU" was Harvey's mental comment. The
fellows manner grated terribly on his
overwrought nerves.
'St Valentine di int go back on you, d id
hel" and Miller put on look of innocent
inquiry.
What's that to your Harvey was
growing angry, and his tone was far from
pleasant
''Oh, nothing" returned the ether. with
assumed carelessness, 'only the jolly old
Saint used me so well that was hoping
you had been as fortunate also," and he
drew photograph from his inside pocket
as he spoke, and removing the tissue pa
per in which il was wrapped held out the
pictured face of Helen Montjoy before
Harvey's startled eyes.
The action was SO sudden that he had no
time to collect his thoughts and bear the
bitter blow composed lily, and he was white
as death as he said in voice which
trembled in spite Of him: "Thank you for
your good wishes, and of course you ex-
pect me to congratulate you"
He did not look up to see the look of NAL
ice and the triumphant hatred which was
pictured on Miller's face, he only saw the
sweet, naughty face of Helen, the girl he
loved so devotedly, in the hands Of one
whom at that moment he hated as cordial
ly as he was hated in return.
"Well, it amounts to that, don't 1t, old
boyp replied Miller, as he turned the
card and showed the tortured lover the
words, your Valentine" upon the back
traced in the unmstakable hand writing
he knew so we'll
He turned away sick and faint as the
bell rang. and the passengers came hurry
ing back to the train, and the office seemed
spinning around as he entered the door
again.
He staggered to chair and mercifully
forgot his pain for a few blissfut moments
of inconsistencies. Guess We tainted,
mister" said the office boy, who, with an
instinct seemingly common to the human
race, had seized water pitcher and
emptied its contents down the young
mans neck and into his ears as he lay on
the floor. ''Granville's ben q CALM fur
the last five minutes"
Harvey wearily arose and took the mes
sage in a listless, mechanical way, very
unlike his usual brisk, business-like man.
ner. He felt dazed and stunned by the
thought that Helen had so openly and de-
cidedly shown her preference for his de-
spised rival, the sight of the picture in
Miller's possession having all the signih-
canoe that Helen had intended it should
when received by himself, but the thought
never occurred to him that there could be
any mistake, and his trouble seemed
greater than he could bear.
His first thought was to write Helen an
upbraiding letter, telling her what he had
seen, but his love for her conquered the
impulse.
''She has the perfect right to choose
whom she will, but OIL Helen, Helen,
you need not have thrown me away Sc
scorn July, without the most ordinary
words of friendship"
His sore he art would have been com.
forted could he have seen Helen at that
moment as she sat in her room idly
twisting June's obnoxious valentine
around her white fingers; the BIT of paper
which was to have been q vexation Of
spirit to teasing June Ingraham.
Tears stood in her large eyes as she
looked into the fire, and she already re-
pented the haste with which she had re-
sented its receipt, and she cherished q
secret hope that he might yet write and re-
quest an explanation. Even now her love
whispered the possibility of mistake, bu,
her pride would not allow her to take the
first step to ascertain the truth, and so the
matter seemed likely to rest where it was,
Harvey's love being stronger than his re
sentiment and Helen's pride keeping guard
over her love.
Harvey had an intimate friend, . de
tective in Pinkerton's employ, and a
he was sending message in cipher
to his chief he said to him in a confidential
aside: There is a systematic robbing Of
the mail going on between Omaha and Chi
cago, and we have not as yet been able tc
get any definite clew to the thief, but il
will go hard with him when he is caught
He must be an old bird, not easily caught
with chan, fer we have sent out decoys
which would have spotted him at once II
he had meddled with them, but these have
been untouched"
BY curious conjunction Of ideas the
memory of Helen's photograph flashed
oyer Harvey. With the sneeringly tri
umphant expression Of Harris Miller's face
as ne had taken it from his pocket and,
for the first time since that miserable
morning, he had doubt happy, hopeful
doubt, as to his lawful possession Of it.
The detective noticed it. "You look Sc
renely happy over the intelligence. Have
you any clew to the mysteryr'
mo, no." replied Harvey, vexed with
his tell-tale face "only an impression, and
if it proves to be any thing more than thai
I will tell you" Much as he disliked
Harris Miller, he would not do him the in.
justice Of an accusation without proof.
The evening mail brought him an anx.
ious letter from June, saying that his
mother was sick and wished him to come
home, and, after procuring substitute
he started homeward, his affair with
Helen sinking into insigniicance com
pared with his present anxiety. for the
mother was frail little woman, and heI
frequent illnesses were times of sore trial
to her children. G,.E
Happily she was much better before
Harvey reached home, and the visit was 9
source of pleasure instead of pain, Is be
feared it would be.
.June Ingraham. where did you gel
thisin he asked. in an agitated voice.
His sister had drawn up an easy chair
before the fire, and had settled down fol
an evening chat. and Harvey was looking
over portfolio OF drawings. and the object
which had caused his exclamation was Z
r.chly- designed valentine, the very one
whica had 90 unexpectedly gone astfay.
why, you sent it to me, like dear, good
brother" replied June.
She was not usually demonstrative, but
she had been greatly pleased By Harvey'i
token Of remembrance.
The truth flashed over him in q moment