The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-02-09

queen as she went on her way.
Harvey was alone when the expires agent
handed him the package, and his eyes
lighted up with pleasure as he recognized
her hand. VIZ ting, and as he tore away the
wrapper and Deheld the fateful package Of
his letters, together with the few mpie
gifts which he had ventured TO send her,
he grew pale as death W tn emotion.
He had received no valentine from her,
but knowing her proud and reserved spirit
he had not been surprised but. this unex-
pected rebuff was something for which he
was totally unprepared, and he sank into
chair exciaiming: 'Oh, Helen, Helen,
what have 1 done to deserve such treat
ment, and from you"
He read her chilling note, but it gave no
explanation Of the mystery, and the lines
of years Of suffering had been added to
the handsome face before he tossed a
package of her letters into the glowing
fire, as she had requested him to, together
with his own, and miserably strove to go
on with his work.
The express came thunG sring in the
next morning, and Harvey stepped out
upon the platform as u relief 70 his rest
lessness, and paced up and down before
the train. He had passed sleepless
night, and looked hsggard, pale and old.
The mail sacks had been exchanged, the
passengers had gone into an eating house
near by for breakfast, when Harris Miller
called out:
"Hello, lngraham, what have you been
doing to yourselfl You look as If your
great grandmother was dead and you had
just seen her ghost"
Harvey started in unpleasant surprise
He had forgotten that this was Harris N l.
ler's run, and the sight Of his face, never
agreeable to him, but now doubly hateful
with its triumphant expression was SO un-
pleasantly suggestive Of Helen that his
misery came over him like flood.
II suppose l hava your sympathy in
such a case" he 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
overweight nerves.
"St. Valentine diln't go back on you, did
hea" and Miller put on u look of innoceAt
inquiry
whats that to youl" 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 we'll 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 it 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 compose 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 Miler'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 it. old
boyl". replied Miller, as he turnei the
card and showed the tortured lover the
words, Your Valentine" upon the back
traced in the unmlstakable hand writing
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 entered the door
again
He staggered to chair AMI mercifully
forgot his pain for few blissfui moments
of Inconsistencies. 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 ears as he lay on
the floor. "GranvIlle's ben calm fur
the last five minutes"
Harvey YEARLY arc So and took the mes
sage in 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 signiti
canoe that Helen had intended it should
when received by himself, but the thought
neve: occurred to him that there could be
any mistake, ami 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.