River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1889-02-14


"St. Valentine iii int go back on you. did
hei'' and Miller put on a look Of innocent
inquiry.
whats that TO your Harvey was
growing angry, and mis- tone was far from
pleasant.
oh, nothing" returned the ether with
assumed carelessness, ''only the Jolly old
Saint used me so we'll that was hoping
you had been as fortunate also,n and nc
drew a 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 Montioy before
Harvey's startled eyes.
The action was so sudden that he had nc
time 70 collect his thoughts and bear the
bitter blow compose lily, and he was white
as death as he said ia a voice which
trembIed in spite Of him; THANK you foi
your good wishes, and of course you ex
pect me 70 congratulate you
he did not look up to see nc look Of mai
ice ana the triumphant hatred which was
pictured on Milier's face, he only saw the
sweet, naughty face Of Helen, the girl he
loved so devOtedly, in the hands of one
whom az that moment re hated as cordial
" as he was hated in return.
'tWell. IL amounts to that, don't it, old
card and showed the tortured lover the
words, Your Valentine" upon the back
traced in the unmIstakable handwriting
he knew so well.
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 enter Il the door
again
He staggered TO chair AID mercifully
forgot his pain for few blissful moments
Of uuconsciou sness. Guess We tainted
mister" said the office boy, who with an
instinct seemingly common to the human
race, had seized a water pitcher and
emptied its contents down the young
mans neck and into his cars as he lay or
the floor. 'Granvllle's ben a calm fun
the last five minutes"
Harvey YEARLY arose aud took the mes
sage in a listlcss. 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 II
MilIer's possession having all the signifi
cancc that Helen had intended it SHOULD
when rece we'd by himself, but the thought
never occurred to him that there could b,
any ulA5Ldhts anu us AIUAulb sNGultN
greater than nc could bear
his first thought was to write Helen al
upbraiding letter. telling her what lac had
seen, but has love for her conquered tn,
impulse.
"She has the perfect right to choose
whom she will, but. OH Helen, Helen
you need not have thrown me away 81
scOrniuIly, without the most ordinary
words Of friendship
His sore heart would have beeu com
forted could he have seen Helen at tha
moment as she sat in her room idly
twisting June's obnoxious valentn,
around her white fingers; the b Of papel
which was TO have been veXation o
shirt 20 teasing June Ingraham-
Tears stood in her large eyes as she
looked into th6 fire, and she already re
pented the haste with which she had re
Seuted its receipt, and she cherished q
secret hope that he might yet WI. te aud re
quest an explanation Even now her love
whispered the possibility of a mistake, bu
her pride would not allow her to take th'
first step to ascertain the truth, and so the
matter seemed likely to rest where it was
Harvev's love being stronger than his re
sentiment, and Helen's pride keeping guarC
over her love.
tective in Pinkerton's employ. aud al
he was sending a message in cphe
70 his chief he said 10 him in a confidential
aside: There is a systematic robbing o
the mail going on between Omaha aud chi
cage. aud we have not as yet been able Il
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 caugh
with chat. fer we have sent out decCy:
which would have spotted him at once il
he had meddled with them, but these have
been uutOuche -
b. curious conjunction OF ideas thu
memory Of Helen's photograph flashed
over Harvey. With the sneeringly tri
umphant EXPRESSION OF Harris MiIler's face
a. he had taken il from his pocket, and
for the first time since that miserable
morning, he had doubt, happy, hopeful
doubt, as 70 has lawful possession Of IT,
Tue detective noticed it you look Sc
renely happy over the intelligence. Hay'
you any ciew 10 the mysteryi'
No. no" replied Harvey, vexed will
his tell-tale face. "ouly an impression, anC
If il proves % be any thing more than tha
I will tell YOU Much as he dislike.
Harris Miller. ne would not do MIN the IN
Justice OF an accusation without proof.
The evening mail brought him an anN
ious letter from June, saying that his
mother was sick aud wished him TO come
home. and. after procuring a substitute
he started homeward, his affair Will
Helen sinking into insignificance com
pared with his present anxiety, for tn
mother WAS a frall little woman, and he
frequent illnesses were times Of sore tria
70 her children
Happily she was much better befor
Harvey reached home, and the visit was
source Of pleasure instead Of pain, as b
feared it would be.
June Inrranam. where did you &c
this e. he asked in an agitatcd voice.
His sister had drawn up an easy chat
before the fire. and had settled down 10
an evening chat. and Harvey was lookini
over portfolio OF drawings. and the obJec
which had caused his exclamation was
designed valentine, the very on'
which had 80 unexpe -tedly gone astray.
Why. you sent il 70 me. like dear, goo,
brother replied June
She was not usually demoustrative, bu
she sad been greatly pleased by Harvey
token OF remeu1 hrance-
The truth flashed over him IN . moment
and his face was scarlet as he thought o
Helen, his naughty. digniied Helen. re
ceivlnE that scarecrow IN coiors aud Dc
ifevinc that he had sent II - her
All the occurrences Of tae past were eS
planned. aud he could net blame her 70
takIng 10 as an insult
IF YOU will kindly explain what yoI 81
Z flushing and paliug about" said Jure, IL
piqued voice; perhaps that valeutin
T was not meant for me after al She va
quick At reaching conclusions.
To tell the truth. June. il was not, an
I the mistake has caused me the keenes
Z agony Of my whole life" and nc told n
story.
Z June could be q most SYMPATHETIC ssste
~ any real sorrow. and her heart went o.
10 him a he told how ne hal suffered
II alEays told you that unholy passio
T you have fcr teasing ne would bring 70
I &c grief somc dag, and ] was ira
T prophet, " said June, Is she wiped her eyes
II was vet too sore a SUBJECT for Harvo
G. smile over, but he replied; j nevc
I Will again, Juae. can promise you wit
such evident sincerity that she really be
I lieved him
sOf course you viii visit Helen an
I have the matter explained. ssid June