Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1895-10-01
su,u nelcn. But If it had been any
one else-well, should have said you

Nobody but Jack could have in
duccd me. Hclcn," Howard declared;
hes a great-heartel fellow, and it's
not half as bad for him to drink all he
wants as it would be for me to take a
single drink. Somehow you forgive
Jack everything-evcry one overlooks
Jack, he's such dear, frank follow. A
fellow would go on n lark with Jack
and think nothing of it, when he
wouldn't join his father in q drink.
And now that we are very sure that
we are going to be the hnppiest people
in the world, 1 will run down to the
Office for few minutes, if you'll ex-
cuse me. There's some important mail. /"
Howard, we are going to take you
for drive" said Helen, disappointed
ly. Couldn't you give up the office
just this once for us?"
"Well-cr-you see this is very inn
portant, but I'll tell you what we'll do.
Drop me at the office and come back
for me in a fcw-say ten minutes-and
then-anywherc you like"
NJ.
Howard Vcrdery bounded lightly up
the stairway and into his Office,
whistling as he went. No one was
about, not even the janitor, Us all were
enjoying the holiday, and heap of
letters lay upon the floor where they
had been pushed through the door by
the post,nan. Verdery gathered up
the lot and tossing them on his desk
began hurricdly running. through
them.
1t was the first minute that he had
had to himself oil day, and now as 1t
all rushed upon him, he felt sure, quito
sure, that in NIL the world there was
not happier man than he. lie sorted
out the letters, selecting such as he
deemed important, and ripping them
open, mastered their contents In the
quick fashion of the trained business
man. But he could not bring his mind
to the exclusive consideration of w hat
was before him. uelen's smile, Helen's
voicc-uelen, Helen, Helen was before
him.
There was light step on the stair
and the rustic of skirts "Helen al
ready, and I'm not half through" he
murmured gladly, his eyes moving over
the paper with greater swiftness. The
step was at the door, and springing
up, with beaming, smiling face, tho
letters falling to the floor, h c stood to
meet her.
"Helen-"
He fell back pace or two as if some
one had given him a blow. Ills out
stretched arms fell nimbly to his side
and the smile died on his face.
Howard, Howard"
1t was voice whose tones he well
knew, but which he had not heard for
years, and which he had almost for
gotten. a quecnly woman with pale
and troubled face stood before him,
holding out her hand.
Howard.
To the tortured man it seemed as II
a whole half hour passed as they stood
thus lie could not speak.
will you not speak to me?" she
asked.
what are you doing hcre?' he said,
in voice that was not his own.
Howard, speak to me-just word
speak to ms rs you once did, and can
tell YOU" The woman was almost
pathetic in her appeal. The tears
started from her eyes. So
II never expected to see you again, :
he went on rapidly, disrcgarling her
You have no right to come here.
had forgotten you-you are nothing to
me. What do you want here? Tel
| me-quiclk."
She was not woman to be fright
ened; her face bore proof OF that, but
his words completely unnervcd her.
Don't talk TO me that way" she
begged, don't. Forgive me for com.
ing to you, but could not stay away
had to come. i saw by the papers
that you were to be married and it
drove me wild. thought could leave
| you alone forever, but could not bear
1t. cannot bear to SEQ you marry an
other, Howard, cannot. l cannot.
It's nothing to mo, know, but you
shall not"
you are wild-:nad," he said, ex.
citedly. Her passion had aroused him,
almost frightened him. You are a
perfect fool. You don't seem to I'M
de-stand that was a boy, nothing but
boy, with no ideas of duty or love or
anything am man now; l have
crushed the past under my foot, and
you-you with it"
lie had grown very calm and reso-
lutte now. The necessity Tor quick,
effective action had impressed him.
ANY minute my afiianced wife may
come in that door," he said, land she
must not sec you here. Do YOU under
stand that? There is the door" He
pointed to it Electrically. But she did
not heed.
II shall n OF CO." she said. 81 shall
tell her. Not that want to harm you
Il would do anything in the world for
you-but I'LL could not allow you
to marry anyone. 1t would kill mel"
This is insanity!' he said, mad
ness! Why do you come here at this of
all times? If had cared anything for
you would have kept away from you
all these years? have forgotten you,
forgotten that you over lived. You
are nothing to me! Now, why do you
stay? Go, go-she, she-IIelen-will
and-she must not see you herem
lie alternated between GOODNESS and
intense excitement. The strain upon
his nerves was most severe. What if
Helen should come? The woman was
trembling with excitement, but des-
perately rcsolute.
II shall not CO." she said.
You SHALL" he shouted; "you shall
go! You shall not stay here and ruin
me just because of a schoolboy prom
Use. l was boy then, I am man
now! Now go!'