The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1895-09-13
observed with reference to his engage

/ ssivse piost OF The guests that had
been invited to make the occasion what
1t should be had departed Helen wa :
among the few who remained
| you should be very happy" said
the elder for the fiftieth time ..yor
have everything to make You SO: in.
iact, ! have never seen young people
start out more auspiciously. ii fine
prospects, good wishes and the quality
they call love can make a pair Of
youngsters happy I'm sure YOU two
VIII not fail to be. My blessing, nv
children, my blessing"
am sure we shall be-" said Helen.
There's nothing to prevent, except
we might quarrel. am sure we shall
never do that We understand each
other too well for that. If there
should ever be any trifling misunder-
standing neither of us would let it be-
tray us into ugly words We would
wait, sure that it would come
ont all right. We have already
adopted system of dealing with each
other in perfect honesty, and it has
worked SO admirably that feel it will
be agreat success when we are mar
ried. We tell each other everything
everything, don't we, Howard?"
why, yes,' said Howard, every
thing. l never felt tempted to keep
back anything but once, and that was
when ! met Jack Chambers, my old
friend Jack, the other day, and-well,
you know Jack will indulge-a-and
I've told her all about it. But it
wasn't SO wicked, was it"'
mo; when we consider it was jack
said Helen. but if it had been any,
one else-well, should have said you
ought not"
Nobody but Jack could have in
duced me, Helen" Howard declared;
hes great-hearted fellow, and it's
not half as bad for him to drink all he
wants as 1t would be for me to take
single drink. Somehow you forgive
Jack everything one overlooks
Jack, he's such dear, frank fellow. A
fellow would go on lark with Jack
and think nothing of it, when he
wouldn't join his father in drink |
And now that we are very sure that |
we are going to be the happiest people |
in the world, 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 ns?"
1'Well, -er-you see this is very i'm
portant, but I'll tell you what we'll do.
Drop me at the Office and come back
for me IN few-say ten minutes-and
then-anywhere you like"
Howard verdery bounded lightly up
the stairway and into his Office,
whistlirg as he went. No one was
about, not even the janitor, as all were
the holiday, and heap of
letters lay upon the floor where .hey
had been pushed through the door by
the postman. verdery gathered up
the lot and tossing them on his desk
began hurriedly running through
them.
1t was the first minute that he had
had to himself all day, and now as it
all rushed upon him, he felt sure, quite
sure, that in all the world there was
not happier man than he. He 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. Helen's smile, Helens
7oice Helen. Helen, Helen was before
him.
There was light step on the stair
md the rustic of skirts Helen all
.eady, and I'm not half through" he
gladly, his eyes moving over
he paper with greater swiftness- The
,tep was at the door, and springing
ip, with beaming, smiling face, the
etters falling to the floor, he stood to
meet her.
.'Helen-" Il
He fell back pace or two as if some
me had given him a blow. His out
arms fell nimbly to his side ,
md the smile died on his face.
Howard, Howard"
1t was voice whose tones he well
thew, but which he had not heard for {
ears, and which he had almost for l
often. A queenly woman with pale
nd trouble face stood before him.
olding out her hand.
Howard In
To the tortured man it seemed as II
whole half hour passed as they stood '
hus He could not speak. d
"syill you not speak to me-" she
sked.