The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-02-14

-
PERHAPS THAT VALENTINE WAS NOT MEANT
FOR Me-
such evident sincerity that she really be-
lieved him
"Of course you will visit Helen and
have the matter explained - said June.
Would IL not be better to write 6rstl'
He actually dreaded to meet her after
such ridiculous mistake without pre-
vious explanation.
Had he known how sore Helen's heart
was, how she longed for sight Of his
ce he would not have been 30 mid.
She had long since repented her haste.
seeing in her cooler moments how unlike.
" II was that he had Designed the foolish
valentine for her, still, pride withheld
her from taking step toward learr ing the
truth.
Harris Miller, confident that he had made
a permanent estrangement between them.
had urged hts suit anew. only to be scorn.
fully repufsed, for girls Of Helen's stamp
do not shift their affections easily.
She was slit ng by her desk one evening.
her head bowed upon her hands, as she
was thinking miscrably how little life held
for her in comparison with the hopes q
few months since
"Ohi Harvey" she cried, and her fine
eyes were full Of unutterable longing, III
you only knew how gladly would undo
the past
few nom ants later servant called her tc
the parlor.
She arose with . weary sigh as she went
dnNu ~ = tat M In ~ MI -
chatter nothings with society friends to-
night" she reflected sadly as she opened
the door.
A familiar form stood under the chan
delicr, pair Of pleading blue eyes looked
| eagerly into hers and she knew from his
| look that the mistake, whatever il was,
had been righted, AMI she met him half
way a. he advanced.
"Helen, my Helen,' he said, and hts voice
had never sounded 30 sweet, % manly to
her before.
The horrors Of the unhappy past were
| all forgotten a. for few happy moments
they were claspcI Ia . close embrace. and
then Harvey said, roguishly: For my part
Of the explanation dearest. will say that
| my sister June ID anxious to exchange val.
| entines with you. for she fears you do not
properly appreciate the one selected for
her, not with the best Of taste, Ill admit.
| Think you will like the one ! supposed
had sent you the best" and he drew the
valentine which June had enjoyed so much
from his breast pocket.
She took Il with trembling hands, look.
lug at it through mist Of happy tears.
How much unhappiness might have
saved had stopped to consider she said
regretfully. ibid you receive my piet.
urei''
Your picturer, It was Harvey's TURF
to be surprised. us it possible you sen,
me your picturel''
VERY possible, Harvey she replied,
archly. "A cabinet photograph taken ex.
pressly for you and IN answer to your
postal thought the most acceptable
valentine could send you would be my.
self"
A grave look Swallowed Harvey's happy
face Then You did not send Harris Miller
your photograph
Harris Milleri What could have put
such strange idea into your head. deari''
She blushei as the caressing word, never
before used except in the privacy of her
own room, escaped her lips
He showed 1t to me. claiming that II
came from you as valentine"
She looked up at him in panied sur
prise. sAnd you believed hint"
How could do otherwise. It was only
the morning after l had received your
| package, and l had no other clew te
your reasons, and knew your exclusive
ideas in regard to your picture Oil Helen,
il you knew what have sufferei.n
| She was looking at him seriously. "Har.
| vey, how do you suppose Harris Miller came
| by that picturel 1t was securely wrapped
and sealed and know there is but the one
copy, 70. / brought home tho negative,
| and the artist positively assured me hi
printed no duplicates, and Harrison 10 :
| man Of his word.n
- fear.n and Harvey shook his lead,
that he came by 1t far from honestly
Tho conviction had been growing upon hin
that Harris Miller was the man whom the
detectives were looking for, and that b.
| would be In duty bound to tell what ht
knew
| He knows my handwriting even bette.
than you do, Helen rejoined, "for we oncl
| attended writin2-scho together, and hs
Was always laughing at my queer is and
HIS, and he could pick out my valentine &c
You from oil others. To think that he had
the audacity to ask me again to marry
him after doing such underh ,nd work.
II am afraid, Helen, that he has cone
even worse work than that replied har
vey. gravely, and he related his interview
with his detective friend, .ani II he ii
proven to be the thief he will have ample
time TO mediate on his misdeeds, for there
| will be no mercy shown him"
Harvey, can not we get that picture
| out Of his possessionln said Helen, look
ing earne ,tly In her lovers face, 1.-THE
thought Of my photograph in the hands O.
such man IS perfect torture.n
Since have the original can afYort
to be generousn said Harvey, teasingly
''let the poor fellow have 1t, since 1t is all o
you he can ever claim. seriously, dear.
fear we can not without the pa of per
sonal interview, and even then his malici
Gus satisfaction In annoying you woul,
prompt him TO keepit Possession 10 min,
points Of the law in his case"
1t was rs Harvey had suspected, an,
Helen's photograph was tho means Of un
earthing an adroit mail robber. whose sue
cess had made him bold and careless, o
he would never have ventured to show
the spoils Of his unlawful skill, even 10
loves sake, and Havvey and Helen wcr
married on the very day that Harris Nil
Ter put on his prison garb In tho peniten
tiary. MRS. F. n. Howard.
| 0
Valentine Vi9nettes.
/ A ~ .olo hot hn,.