Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-02-07

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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" saidJune.
Would it not be better to write frstf"
He actually dreaded to meet her after
such a ridiculous mistake without a pre-
yious explanation.
Had he known how sore Helen's heart
was, how she longed for sight of his
fee he would not have been so timid.
She had long since repented her haste,
seeing in her cooler moments how unlike
IL il was that he had designed the foolish
valentine for her, still, pride withheld
her from taking a step toward learr ing the
truth.
Harris Miller, confident that he had made
a permanent enlargement between them,
had urged his suit anew, only to be scorn-
fully repulsed, for girls Of Helen's stamp
do not shift their affections easily.
She was sitting by her desk one evening,
her head bowed upon her hands, as she
was thinking miserably how little life held
luz ACE III GUM lSOA Win bhO AOpCo q
few months since.
"Ohl Harvey" she cried, and her fine
eyes were full of unutterable longing, 'if
you only knew how gladly l would undo
the past"
A ring at the door-bell aroused her and a
few moments later servant called her to
the parlor.
She arose with a weary sigh as she went
down the stairs. 81 am in no mood to
chatter nothings with society friends to
night" she reflected sadly as she opened
the door.
A familiar form stood under the chan
delier, pair of pleading blue eyes looked
eagerly into hers, and she knew from his
look that the mistake, whatever it was,
had been righted, and she met him half
way as he advanced.
'Helen, mig Helen" he said, and his voice
had never sounded so sweet, 30 manly to
her before
The horrors of the unhappy past were
all forgotten as for few happy moments
they were claspei in close embrace. and
then Harvey said, roguishly: "For my part
of the explanation dearest, 1 will say that
my sister June is 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, rll 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 it with trembling hands, look
ing at it through a mist of happy tears.
How much unhappiness 1 might have
saved had stopped to consider" she said,
regretfully. Ibid you receive my pict-
ureF'
your picture!" 1t was Harvey's turn
to be surprised. "Is it possible you sent
me your picturer'
Very possible, Harvey" she replied,
| archly. "A cabinet photograph taken ex-
| pressly for you and In answer to your
postal 1 thought the most acceptable
valentine could send you would be my
self"
grave look Swallowed Harvey's happy
| face. Then you did not send Harris Miller
your photograph"
Harris Miller! What could have put
such strange idea into your head, dear2"
| She blushed as the caressing word, never
| before used except in the privacy Of her
own room, escaped her lips.
He showed it to me, claiming that it
came from you as valentine"
She looked up at him in panied sur
prise. "And you believed him?'
How could do otherwise. 1t was only
the morning after l had received your
package, and l had no other clew to
your reasons, and knew your exclusive
ideas in regard to your picture. Oh Helen,
if you knew what have suffered"
She was looking at him seriously. liar
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, for 1 brought home the negative,
and the artist positively assured me he
printed no duplicates, and Harrison is a
man of his word"
| 81 fear" and Harvey shook his head,
'that he came by it far from honestly"
The conviction had been growing upon him
that Harris Miller was the man whom the
detectives were looking for, and that he
would be in duty bound to tell what he
] knew.
He knows my handwriting even better
than you do, "Helen rejoined, "for we once
attended writing-school together, and he
was always laughing at my queer Us and
HIS. and he could pick out my valentine to
you from all others. To think that he had
the audacity to ask me again to marry
him after doing such und and work"
81 am afraid, Helen, that he has done
| even worse work than that" replied Har-
vey, gravely, and he related his interview
with his detective friend, ''an1 if he is
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 possessionf" said Helen, look
ing earnestly in her lovers face, '4the
thought of my photograph in the hands of
such man Is perfect torture"
Since have the original can afford
to be generous" said Harvey, teasingly;
'let the poor fellow have it since it is all of
| you he can ever claim. Seriously, dear, I
fear we can not without the pain of a per-
sonal interview, and even then his malici-
Gus satisfaction in annoying you would
prompt him to keepit Possession is nine
points of the law in his case"
1t was as Harvey had suspected, and
Helen's photograph was the means of un.
earthing an adroit mail robber, whose sue
cess had made him bald and careless, or
! he would never have ventured to show
the spoils of his unlawful skill, even for
loves sake, and Havvey and Helen were
married on the very day that Harris Nil
Ter put on his prison garb in the peniter
tiary. Mrs. F. NJ HovAsp.